If you want to bring your home into alignment, there are some hacks from this corner of the world that might be able to help. Enjoy these Japanese organization hacks for your life.
Japan is known as one of the cleanest places in the world. Aside from the stunning countryside and beautiful attractions, this is a spot many travel to for calm, serenity, and peace.
With cities that prioritize tidiness and a transport system that runs better than almost any other, is it any wonder that there are some great Japanese organization hacks?
Marie Kondo, Japanese author of the ‘Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’, is the source of inspiration for many of the wonderful organizational hacks you’ll see on this list.
Read on for twenty-three Japanese organization hacks you must see.
Source: @crystalclearhi
First thing’s first, sitting down to a cluttered desk makes getting work done really difficult. Tidy environment, tidy mind, right? It pays to take a tip from Marie Kondo herself and declutter your desk.
If there’s anything you need to permanently remove from your desk, make sure to find a new home for it or dispose of it responsibly!
You’ll also want to see these brilliant desk organization hacks to increase productivity!
Source: @spark_joy_london
The problem with folding clothes and stacking them on top of each other is that those piles can immediately become a mess if you need to reach something at the bottom. But not with this technique!
This is a revolutionary folding technique that turns your clothes into ‘books’ that can be shelved. This way, you can see all the colors, patterns, and items with ease. It also saves a ton of space!
Source: @brightlyorganized
One of the most common organization hacks you’ll see in any country, including Japan, is the use of assigned bins. Labeling your bins can solve a lot of problems while making items easy to find.
A label maker like this one can help you transform any area of your home into an organized paradise.
Source: @aurore.studio
One of my favorite hacks is to include a rolling organization cart in your home somewhere. Whether you need to use it for stationery, baking utensils, or craft projects, it’s a great way to create a moving nook.
This is a seriously practical choice that’s great for small spaces, which explains its popularity.
Source: @eversoorganized
If you’ve ever stepped into a Japanese dollar store, then you know there are so many great items there for incredible prices! This set of document cases is something you’ll be able to find in there!
These are great to use to store your children’s art, toys, or décor to prevent them from getting wrinkled.
Source: @imagine.it.done
You heard me: label everything!! Labels are a quick and easy way to invite some better organization into your home.
They create a defined spot for everything, which makes it easier to maintain your chosen system.
Source: @getneat_withlisa
Wire baskets are functional and minimalistic, while also being versatile enough to include in almost any space in your home. Some great places to use these include your pantry, your closet, or even your entryway.
Marie Kondo recommends using baskets like these to segment the spaces that need storage, which is a great way to keep the clutter out!
Source: @theocdbychristine_
If you have deep shelves in your wardrobe or don’t have segmentation on your wardrobe shelves, then fabric storage cases might be the solution for you.
These are a popular solution in Japan (and many other parts of the world) thanks to their functional use and minimalistic appearance. You can grab some to get started here.
Source: @organizedetroit
If you have major trouble keeping track of your Tupperware lids, you’re not alone. It’s a tragedy most Tupperware owners encounter, but you don’t have to stress about it anymore!
Simply designate a spot for your Tupperware lids and invest in one or two baskets to store them all together.
Source: @littlegusthebus
When it comes to drawers, it’s easy for the insides to devolve into clutter pretty quickly. After all, out of sight, out of mind! But if you’re working with minimal space or don’t want the clutter, a divider can help.
This is a common practice in small Japanese homes, where kitchen space is carefully allocated to make sure everything has its place.
Source: @abowlfulloflemons
Give your fridge a little bit of tender loving care with these food storage containers. I love using clear storage containers because it lets me see what’s inside every container, even if it’s shut.
This can help you use all the available space in your fridge, as it’s much easier to stack vegetables on top of one another if they’re safely protected in a glass box!
Source: roomclip.jp
Even your snacks could use some organization! This is a great way to keep track of what you have and what you need to add to your grocery list (and make sure your snacks are in easy reach!).
I love these snack storage baskets, straight out a Japanese home catalog.
Source: @mayukoslittlekitchen
Whether you have a chest freezer or a built-in freezer that’s part of your fridge, it pays to maximize the space with tubs. This is a great way to divide your weekly essentials.
Make sure to pick freezer-friendly containers to prevent glass from cracking or shattering in the cold with this freezer storage hack!
Source: @insidenumber49_withclaire_x
If you’re low on towel storage in your bathroom, one of the best things you can do is create space for them on your walls. Namely, try rolling them up!
Marie Kondo highly recommends rolling fabric items up to save space, and that applies beautifully here.
Source: @joy.bee.happy
Headed somewhere beautiful? Make your packing more efficient by using packing cubes! These are especially useful if you’ll be living out of a suitcase for a while.
They let you almost create the same ‘sections’ in your suitcase as you might have in your closet.
Source: thebudgetdecorator.com
The area under your bed is one of the best spots to include some extra storage. It’s not useful for anything else, and it’s easy to access whenever you need it!
If you’re working with a small space, consider investing in under bed storage drawers like these to make this a sleek storage spot.
Source: @blueticking
Japanese-style storage baskets are a wonderful way to add a touch of interest to your functional home décor. Baskets like these were originally used to store kimonos, so they are quite large and strong.
Thanks to their size, they’re a great choice for deep closet storage or even under bed storage.
Check out these pretty ways to organize with baskets!
Source: @thefunlunchmum
Love using bento-style lunchboxes? Those usually come with a few accessories, which can be easy to lose track of! But this genius hack uses an acrylic turntable with sections to store those loose items.
Now, you can find whatever you need at a moment’s notice. This would easily fit in a drawer, in a cupboard, or even on a countertop.
Source: @henriettainthewillows
Looking to add a natural texture to your in-office organization? This bamboo organizer hack is the way to go! This is a super simple and affordable desktop organizer ideal for notebooks and loose items.
It even comes with a little drawer to store things like Post-It notes.
Source: thediyplaybook.com
In the ‘Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’, Marie Kondo encourages getting as creative as possible with your storage solutions. Using something like these tension rods under the sink certainly fits the bill!
With this no-drill method, you can hang your cleaning bottles from a tension rod to optimize the vertical space under the sink.
Source: yankodesign.com
In Japan, it’s common to immediately take off your shoes once you enter your home. Rather than having them clutter the entryway, that means you need somewhere to put them!
These wall mounted shoe racks are the perfect way to create that space without doing any major renovations. This fits seamlessly behind your door for easy-access storage.
Source: mojoboutique.com
Using a multi-functional towel storage system like this is a great way to add some functionality to your bathroom while encouraging your aesthetic of choice.
Not only does this towel storage idea help to air out your towels appropriately, but it also looks great!
Source: @krissyorcullo
Finally, we have cable management! Having loose cables all over the place can make even the neatest home look untidy, which is why I love this cable storage rack.
This cable storage idea is an easy wall-mounted installation with hooks for looped cables and a shelf for power boxes to sit on. A great way to organize the behind-the-scenes tech.
