Decluttering: 9 Tips for Organizing Space from Our Projects

Spring is a perfect time to get rid of unnecessary items and tidy up. But a general cleaning alone won't suffice — you need a well-thought-out storage system. How can it be improved and what helps clear any space, designer Laura Galinurova explained. Save and use professionals' ideas!

Laura Galinurova is an expert, interior designer, and studio director at LauraDesign

Store Items by Categories

To avoid clutter and quickly find what you need, organize everything into categories. Keep only groceries on one kitchen shelf and dishes on another. Apply the same principle to decluttering all cabinets and dressers.

Things you use daily should be placed closer, while rarely used items should be hidden in the back of drawers. Organize items more easily with dividers, boxes, and organizers. Remember to label everything and use transparent containers for convenience.

Design: INT2architecture studio

Add Hooks to Expand Storage

Hooks are one of the simplest and most effective ways to expand your storage system. They can be mounted anywhere, and you don't need to drill into walls — just use door-mounted or hook-on models. If you choose large accent hooks, they can also serve as a great decoration for empty walls.

Design: Irina Primak and Anna Kudrina

Use Rods and Rails

Rods, rails, and railings will make your life much easier. Usually, they come with a variety of modules, hooks, and storage containers, making these accessories useful in almost every room. They can help solve storage problems for kitchen tools, small planters, towels, accessories, and even clothes.

Design: Rodion Davydov

Mount a Magnetic Strip or Board

Another way to utilize an empty wall in the kitchen is to use a magnetic strip or board. You can mount knives, kitchen shears, small spice jars, and other metal items on them. One advantage is that they are always within reach.

Design: Irina and Alexey Korne

Install a Clothing Rail

Sometimes you don't want to hide daily wear in a closet — it's inconvenient to fold, search for, and retrieve them again. That’s why many people hang clothes on chair backs or leave them on benches. However, this looks untidy and clothes get wrinkled. If space allows, install a clothing rail or floor-standing hanger in the bedroom. This makes it easier to maintain order and keep items easily accessible.

Design: Liliya Asfandiyarova

Plan Storage for Shoes

Before the start of each season, sort through your shoes and keep only those you'll wear in the next few months. Clean the rest and store them away. If storing shoes in boxes, label each one — it makes finding the right pair easier. It's even more convenient to use special shoe boxes with transparent windows, through which you can see what’s inside.

If shoe storage is full, you can turn shoes into an interior accent. For example, mount small shelves or special holders on the wall.

Design: Alexandra Ostanovkova

Install a Perforated Board

Another interesting storage option is a pegboard. It looks like a perforated board where you can mount hooks, rails, and baskets. Pegboards are often used near workspaces to organize stationery, notes, and other small items.

Designers also use pegboards in other ways. For example, you can mount a perforated panel with hooks in the entryway. It takes up less space than a floor-standing hanger, and you can add or remove hooks as needed.

Design: Deus Of House studio

Organize Storage in the Entryway

Even if your small entryway doesn’t have room for a closet, minimal storage should still be planned. For shoes, you can use narrow shoe racks that don’t take up much space. For coats, wall hooks and hangers will work well. To prevent keys and other small items from scattering around, set aside a specific spot in the entryway. This could be a wall-mounted key holder, a small shelf, or a hanging mini cabinet.

Design: Ulyana Skapcova

Suspend a Bicycle to the Wall or Ceiling

Not everyone has the luxury of storing a bicycle in a garage or bike park. Storing it on a balcony can also be inconvenient: carrying it back and forth through the apartment is difficult, and if you ride it, dirt gets on the floor. Try organizing wall or ceiling-mounted bicycle storage as close to the front door as possible. You’ll need special mounting hardware — wall or ceiling hooks, rails. Choose what works best for your space.

Design: Valeriya Mironenko

Cover Image: Design Project by Rodion Davydov.