Vertical Organization Tips

Use your vertical space to organize any room.   In a central location of the home, such as the entryway, kitchen, or even a hallway, you can use a well-mounted organization center for the whole family.   A bulletin board with maybe a key rack, file folders, and specific spaces for each family member where they can put pictures, schedules for sports or lessons, will make good use of your vertical space and keep the refrigerator clear.   The file folders are a good place to put mail.  Leave room for a calendar and cards.  If you are putting the bulletin board near an entrance, you may want to add some wall-mounted hooks for backpacks, purses, coats, and jackets, and a floor or bench-style shoe rack for a one-stop out-the-door station.

This idea is also good for a child’s room.  Make a colorful board to match their room, maybe with a little shelf with some hooks for their electronic cords, and some file folders, homework aids, times tables, etc.

Another organization tool is to use a large dry-erase calendar on an empty wall.    Attach a cup to hold the markers.  At the beginning of every month, each person can add their schedule.   Family members can have their own designated color, which will make it easy for them to see their activities.  Adding some magnetic clips will allow you to hang up invitations, notes, and photos.

Small walls can also be used for a family information center.   The side of a hall tree can be used to put a small chalkboard, corkboard, or dry-erase board, a wall folder for mail or a wallet, and a key rack.

Of course, over-the-door storage can be a beneficial vertical storage solution in any room.   In the kitchen for cutting boards. grocery bags, spices, and staples, in the kids’ room for stuffed animals, socks and underwear, diapers, small toys, and even for Barbie dolls.  In the bathroom, for hand towels, toiletries, extra soaps, shampoos, brushes, hair accessories.   In the office for supplies.    There are over-the-door organizers for gift wrap supplies, for towels, hats, shoes, lid organizers, cabinet storage, broom holders, drying racks for the laundry room, and shower caddies.   Even an over-the-door rack for an iron and an ironing board.   They come with hooks, pocket holders, baskets, or shelves.  The possibilities are endless.