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There are a couple of things you need when you’re organizing: a good technique that puts you in the right state of mind and motivates you, and the right organizational tools for the job. Picking out the right containers or shelving for the space you’re organizing, though, isn’t always easy. But if you’re shopping for those items in person at someplace like IKEA or the Container Store, here’s a trick to make sure you’re buying exactly what you need.
Use the “paper trick” to get the right storage supplies
Watch this video from TikTokker MDDesigns16, who shares organization tips with her 382,000 followers.
In the clip, she takes some large paper (think packing paper, parchment paper, or even wrapping paper) and cuts it to the exact size of the drawer she needs containers for. Then, she takes the paper to the store and arranges holders and spacers on top of it to get the perfect fit.
This is brilliant and simple. Writing down measurements is fine, but it can be harder to visualize your setup and layout once you’re face-to-face with all the container options. Look at the sheer volume of options when you search for “drawer organizer” on Amazon. Why bring math into this when cleaning and organizing is already hard enough? It’s much easier to arrange the options on a piece of paper.
Other uses for the paper trick
Don’t just stop at organizing your drawers, either. This can be used for shelves, cabinets, and cupboards, too. Physically seeing how holders, vessels, and other organizational tools will fit in the allocated space can make this process much simpler and help you avoid having to return items that don’t fit or, worse, waste space by just settling for what you got. You are less likely to use the tools you have if they’re not quite right, so make sure they fit where you need them to fit before you buy them so you can actually get things that will be useful in your organizing journey.
