I’ve been a professional organizer since 2014. Here are the inexpensive items I use to organize my own home as well as my clients’ homes.

Getting organized does not have to be expensive! You do not need a $5,000 custom organizing system for your closet. Nor do you need to buy 100 color-coordinated bins from Pottery Barn. Or even “declutter” by storing extras in a storage unit you have to pay monthly rental fees on.

But before we get to the items themselves, let’s talk about…

Your stuff.

If you are going to take the time to organize, make sure you are only organizing things you WANT or NEED to keep.

Do NOT buy storage containers just to shove everything in them and then forget about them.

Pretty please?

If you are going to organize your kitchen, for example, take a look around first. Are there appliances you never use taking up valuable counter space? Gadgets clogging up the drawers that are seldom used? More coffee cups than you’ll ever need?

If it is something you don’t use, but someone else can, either donate or sell it. If it’s broken, toss it. Not only will you be helping someone else, you will be gaining space in your home.

And it is much easier to keep your home organized when you have fewer items.

So, now that you only have what you want and need, let’s get to those inexpensive organizing items, shall we?

(Just so you know, this page contains some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, for example, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only ever mention products I love and would recommend whether I was being compensated or not. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.)

All the links in this post are from Amazon for your convenience, even though many of these items can be purchased locally as well.

The 10 inexpensive organizing items I use as a professional organizer:

First up: Storage containers

There are all kinds of storage containers out there. For bookcases and shelving units, I really like using square foldable bins. They have a handle for easy access, come in a variety of colors, and make your storage look neat and tidy. These can be found at the dollar store, Walmart, Target or online.

Baskets work just as well to keep smaller items neat. I like these baskets from Amazon.

My favorite large storage bins are the clear ones from Sterilite or Rubbermaid. They are sturdy and have lids that lock tightly to keep out pests, dust, and moisture – perfect for garage, attic, and basement storage. Clear bins work best so you can see exactly what’s in them. But if you only have solid bins, attach a clear page protector to the side. Write out an inventory on a sheet of notebook paper, put it in the protector and keep it updated as you add or remove items. That way you’ll know at a glance where to find things.

I use a Rubbermaid one to store all my pasta. It’s a great way to keep the bugs out!

But don’t forget about FREE!

Start saving some of those diaper boxes, copier paper boxes or ones from all those online purchases you’ve had to do lately. Cover the outside with contact paper, wrapping paper, rope, or fabric. Line it with a pillowcase to store linens and toys, like this:

Check out this post for 10 free organization ideas for the whole house using items you already have.

Are your drawers so crammed full of stuff you don’t even know what’s in them?

Not only does keeping drawers organized save you a lot of time and energy, it also helps you find things easily and put them away in a snap. There are tons of great drawer organizers out there, like these.

But you can also make custom drawer storage using smaller cardboard boxes.

Here’s how I organized my junk drawer with them.

The second of my inexpensive organizing items is pegboard

Pegboard can be used all over your house for organizing. Add it in your kitchen to hang pots and pans or utensils, or in the garage to store tools. Add it in your craft room to hold your supplies, or to help create easy storage in the closet you converted into a home office. Check out all the different styles you can get here.

You can also get whole sets of hooks, baskets, and other items to organize your pegboard, too.

Here are more ways to use pegboard to organize your home.

The third is shoe bags

Shoe bags are inexpensive and so very versatile.  I love using shoe bags to organize all kinds of things (even shoes)!

There are tons of various styles of shoe bags out there. But I recommend you get ones that have clear or mesh pockets (like these) so you can see what is stored in them.

Here are 25 ways to use shoe bags to organize your home!

The fourth of my inexpensive organizing items are over the door shelves

One of my favorite tips in getting organized is to use ALL the space. Use the walls. Hang things from the ceiling and on the inside of cabinet doors.

And most definitely use the doors. Over-the-door organizers are inexpensive and easy to install. You can either hang them over the top of the door or mount them onto the door itself using screws.

Either way, these add a ton of extra storage to your bedroom closet, linen closet, pantry or kid’s room.

This is the kind I use in my own pantry.

The fifth organizing item is magazine boxes

Magazine boxes come in many varieties and are inexpensive. Metal, wood, cardboard, plastic. No matter which style you choose, magazine boxes are great for organizing all kinds of things. Use them to neatly store travel mugs and water bottles. Or use them to store flip-flops and sandals in your closet. Use them to organize kids’ toys, too.

Attach one with Command strips to the inside of a kitchen cabinet to hold foil and cling wrap, like I did.

Sixth are bin labels

As I mentioned earlier, bins are a great way to organize, but they are not see-through. So a great way to know what’s in each bin is to add erasable bin labels. I love these because they can be reused over and over. They simply slip over the edge of the bin and stay there securely.

The seventh of my inexpensive organizing items is a label maker

I know this is a stereotypical thing for a pro organizer to say, but using a labeler IS a great way to keep your storage containers organized. For example, I use them on bins and boxes in the pantry, linen closet, office files, even our boxes of items in the garage and attic. The possibilities are endless and today’s label makers come with different fonts and different colored tapes to really customize your labels.

This is the kind I like to use.

#8 on my list is tension rods

I love to use tension rods because they are inexpensive, easy to install, and so versatile! They come in a variety of sizes and are great for my organizing clients to use because they don’t require any tools to install and don’t leave any damage behind, so they are perfect for renters.

You can use them to organize baking sheets and cutting boards in cabinets, to hang cleaning supplies up under the sink, to organize shoes, even use them as a baby or pet gate!

Check out 10 ways to use tension rods right here!

#9 are under the bed organizers

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to use all the space in your home efficiently. Under the bed organizers are great for when you don’t have a lot of closet storage space. Use under the bed organizers to store out of season clothing or seasonal decor. Use them to store seldom-used craft supplies or extra bedding and linens. They have zippers so they seal nice and tight and are pest and dustproof.

I like these for under the bed storage.

By the way, are your craft supplies a jumbled mess? Get a FREE copy of my top ways to organize them below. 👇

And last, but not least… # 10 of my inexpensive organizing items are shower curtain rings

One of my favorite ways to organize closets is by using shower curtain rings. Really! And not only can you use shower curtain rings to organize multiple areas of your closet, but they are really inexpensive, too! You can pick up a set of 12 at your local dollar store for a just buck!

Use them to organize scarves, hats, and more!

See ideas for using shower curtain rings to organize in this post.

So there you go! 10 inexpensive organizing items I use as a professional organizer that you can use, too!

Happy organizing!

P.S. Know someone who is chronically messy and disorganized? Find some great gifts for them in our ultimate gift guide for the unorganized!