Seeing Clearly: The Dos and Don'ts of Clear Organizers

Even though there’s been a rise in the availability and selection of clear organizers, they are surprisingly still not widely utilized in home storage. The urge to hide belongings in opaque organizers [with lids] is easily understandable; it can eliminate the visibility of unsightly clutter and bring an instant sense of peace and uniformity. However, clear organizers have a valuable purpose and can enhance the functionality of a space and surprisingly minimize visual overwhelm (when used properly and strategically).

I’ve put together a quick guide for you below to help you determine why, where, and when to use clear storage organizers for your home.

Benefits of Clear Organizers

• immediate identification of items without having to open or pull out the organizer

• instant reminder of items that need restocking or replacing

• cognitively reinforces where your items are located

• increases productivity and efficiency

Drawbacks of Clear Organizers

• everything is visible, leading to overwhelm (especially when you’re already under added stress)

• spaces can still feel or appear disheveled (unless items are kept tidy inside the clear organizers)

• labeling effectively can be more challenging (the label can be difficult to see amidst the sea of items visible through the organizer)

NOTE: The list of drawbacks is quite short ... because clear organizers are so useful!

When to Use Clear Organizers

• kitchen/bathroom cabinets

• refrigerators

• bedroom/foyer/hallway closet interiors

• underneath sinks

• inside drawers

• hidden areas behind a door

• a garage, shed, or unfinished basement

• anywhere the sight of extra items doesn’t feel visually overwhelming to you

When Not to Use Clear Organizers

• open concept living areas

• open storage that can be seen all the time (i.e. bookcases)

• office or school nook that opens up to a room

• any area that has a lot of papers or office supplies

• when you feel visually overwhelmed at the sight of seeing everything

I hope this short guide is handy and helps you see the possibilities of clear organizers. For a curated list of some of my favorite clear organizers, grab this free gift. Plus, I’ve included the dimensions, best uses and benefits for each organizer, and exactly where you can get them.