For a lot of us, decluttering can feel like a Sisyphean feat. And we know we’re not the only ones who “organize” by throwing a bunch of things inside a cabinet door or bin, and shutting the lid.
Out of mind, out of sight, right?
The problem is, putting something inside opaque storage is the surest way to forget it exists. We spend days opening drawers, hunting for that phone charger we swore was right here. Or we buy a new shampoo bottle only to discover an unopened one already sitting in our bathroom cabinet.
If this sounds like you, we have two words: transparent storage.
We’re talking clear bins, glass doors, and open shelving. Whether it’s for clothing, medicine, or toiletries, see-through storage make everything visible — so it’s that much easier to know where to put things and to find items when you need them.
If you want to go the extra mile, try labeling. Labels might conjure up images of unattainably meticulous pantries and closets, but they can be a real lifesaver for neurodiverse people. The labels don’t have to be fancy — a Sharpie on masking tape works just as well as customized stickers.
Because the less you have to think about what goes where, the more likely you are to put something where it belongs – and find it when you need it.
Clear Bins
Tinted Drawers: A stack of bins that look exactly alike can be overwhelming no matter how well you label them. Which is why these tinted bins and tinted drawers from The Container Store caught our eye. They’re great for craft corners, garages, playrooms — basically anywhere you need a lot of bins. You could use the different hues to color code your items — or just catch some cool visual stim.
See-Through Shoe Boxes: There should be a name for the kind of stress that comes with seeing a heap of shoes on the floor — and the relief that arrives when you finally get them organized. Take these transparent boxes for shoes. We literally feel a warm glow whenever we see these stacked in the closet, shoes housed in neat, orderly rows. The door on each box is easy to open, and it closes with a satisfying, audible click.
Clear Medicine Bins: When you’re feeling crummy, the last thing you want to do is rummage through an overstuffed medicine cabinet to find what you need — especially if half the medicine is expired anyway. We love using these stackable storage drawers, which accommodates most medicine bottles. You can take it to the next level and label each drawer to categorize your medicine by ailment, such as cough, cold, or stomachache.
Cord Organizer: Rather than tossing your devices’ chargers into that random drawer, store them in this transparent cord organizer. The dividers are removable, so you can adjust the size of each compartment. Ambitious labelers can code each compartment to remember which cord goes with which device. (Because who really can tell them all apart?)
Open Shelves
Baker’s Rack: Whether it’s tea packets and canned soups or whisks and measuring spoons, once something gets shoved to the back of a drawer or cabinet shelf, you may not see it again for months — or longer. (I’m looking at you, expired protein bars.) A baker’s rack keeps food, utensils, and gadgets out in the open, so it’s easier to find what you need and keep track of what you have. It’s also much easier to grab a favorite mug or coffee grinder when it’s right there under your nose.
Don’t Use Sideboards — Use These: We love sideboards because they’re storage workhorses, but we tend to forget what we put in them — from books and notepads to remote controls and board games. An open shelf like this one from World Market holds a ton of stuff without obscuring it behind doors. We especially like how the shelves are divided into compartments if you want to lightly organize items.
Over-the-Door Organizer: Even if you’ve got open shelves in your pantry, things will inevitably end up hiding in the back as a result of daily rummaging and restocking. Which is where this handy over-the-door organizer shines. The shelves are roughly one item deep, so everything is always visible. It’s a great place to store the things you reach for the most, like condiments or spices.
Glass Cabinets
Shallow Shelves: We love Ikea’s Billy cabinets because they’re just 11 inches deep. While deeper shelves hold more stuff, items can get lost in the recesses. With shallow shelves, items are less likely to get obscured and forgotten — especially when you’ve got glass doors. With Billy cabinets, you can opt for glass doors from top to bottom. Or you can use glass doors for some shelves and opaque doors (or no doors at all) for the other shelves.
Entertainment Cabinet: Is your board game collection slowly growing in a closet, filled with games played once and then promptly forgotten? Stash them instead in a glass entertainment cabinet, where everyone can see what’s on the menu when it comes time for game night. The see-through cabinet is also a great place to stow living room essentials that you frequently use, like throw blankets, candles, and remote controls.
Bathroom Cabinet: If your shampoo, soap, and other toiletries are constantly getting lost in the depths of your under-sink cabinets, you might benefit from a glass bathroom cabinet like this rustic piece from Pottery Barn. A glass cabinet that you can peruse at eye level lets you see clearly which products you have and which ones need replenishing. It’s a simple way to help avoid duplicate buying. We also love transparent apothecary jars to organize smaller necessities like cotton swabs, flossers, and hair bands.
