While everyone else was in the comments section of Jenna Lyons’s recent Instagram video debating if Brooklyn is “the city” or not, we were zeroed in on another detail. No, it’s not how close the RHONY star’s red fingernails were to her microplane, or any other unexpected touch Lyons is a fan of, but a little nook off to the left of her shiny brass countertops.

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Tucked away in its own neatly sized home is a roll of paper towels, flush on both sides (we applaud the contractor here). If you’re planning a kitchen renovation or have the room to incorporate built-in storage without a full gut, it’s a smart way to save precious countertop or cabinet space. We like to think you could even remove the roll when guests are over and display knickknacks there instead; they wouldn’t even know it was meant for the latter. 

The petite pocket got us thinking of all the discreet ways we’ve seen paper towels dealt with, whether that’s incorporated into cabinetry, nestled under a shelf, or installed beneath a shelf. Or you can go the opposite route entirely and just proudly put it on display.

Pretty Paper Towel Holders

NewMade LA Paper Towel Holder, West Elm ($68)

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Spool Paper Towel Holder by Sam Stewart, Areaware ($50)

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Undershelf Paper Towel Holder, Yamazaki Home ($14 was $20)

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Perkins Paper Towel Rail, Schoolhouse ($149)

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Alessi Mattina Paper Towel Roll Holder, Nordstrom ($76)

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East to West Magnetic Paper Towel Holder, Stainless Steel, Amazon ($10)

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The post Jenna Lyons Shows Us That Nooks Are for More Than Reading appeared first on domino.

The scent of Thai basil, mint, and citrus perfume the air of Kim Nguyen’s petite Southern California patio, her slice of respite after a grueling year of recovery. If you didn’t know, you might not guess that the inviting, greenery-filled space below is attached to a cozy studio in an assisted living community, all decorated by her daughter Kate Berry (yes, our Kate Berry).

In Kate’s eyes, an outdoor oasis was essential to her mom’s healing. Kim, a Vietnamese refugee who fled the country with her family in 1975, has been an avid gardener all her life—not to mention a self-made businesswoman, accomplished knitter, skilled cook, mother of four, and grandmother of five. When a stroke left her without the use of the left side of her body last July, her family had to mobilize quickly to usher her through a series of facilities and treatments. Once they settled on a long-term care home, Kate became determined to turn an otherwise cold apartment into a calming, comfortable place to live.

“There’s no right way; there’s no perfect process,” Kate says of feeling your way through caring for a parent after a medical emergency. “There’s no way to anticipate what somebody will need coming out of a situation like that.” What she and her family found out almost immediately was that her mom needed an entirely new suite of furnishings that would work for her condition, was compact enough to suit her new place, and that they could actually afford. Their search led them to West Elm, which has a substantial selection of ADA-compliant furniture. After some trial and error (more on that later), Kate designed a practical yet inviting layout and look with the brand’s help, and it works for her mom and makes everyone who walks in a little more relaxed. 

“It’s not groundbreaking, but it just looks so much better than it was,” she reflects, acknowledging that it’s really the first place her mother’s needs and comfort were put first. “All the nurses say, ‘Your mom’s room is the nicest room!’” Below, Kate breaks down all their furniture and decor decisions in her own words.

A Regular Bed, Made More Supportive

There’s no way around it: Hospital beds are ugly. All of them. We were renting this fancier hospital bed and mattress (uncomfortable, still ugly) that reclines and, come to find out, my mom doesn’t ever use the recliner part except to take her pills at night. She really just needs the bar so she can transfer from her wheelchair to the bed. So instead, I looked at the dimensions of West Elm’s ADA-compliant furniture and sourced pieces from across its collection that fit into that size range and that could be delivered quickly. We got the Leesa mattress and the full-size Romi kids’ bed. Then we picked up an assist rail from Amazon to attach to it. Once we made the switch, she told us she slept until 7 a.m.; it was much more comfortable. It’s upholstered, which really makes a difference. Looking back, my mom could have made do with a twin bed. She’s small, and the stroke left her paralyzed on her left side, so she’s not moving around as much as I anticipated. But it’s nice that the grandchildren and I can lie next to her on the full size.

My brother-in-law also found a remote control set at a hardware store that controls the lights. We’ve connected them to all the floor lamps, plus the bedside and dining table lights so she can easily switch them on and off from her bed.

The shallow media console between the bed and the wall is such a nice narrow option with great storage. It’s where my mom keeps her bedding and other things that she needs, and it holds her TV. She doesn’t need to get in between there because she’s not mobile on that side—she always has to get into bed on the side where her right arm can grab the bar. Once I found out that I could add these simple touches—that the whole space didn’t have to be hospital-grade—that really shifted my perception of what an assisted-living room could be.

A Wheelchair-Friendly Rug Trick

The floors are carpeted, but I wanted to introduce a rug to brighten things up. We picked up a handwoven, Persian-style design that is reversible and not very thick, which in theory makes it easy to wheel over and is great for disguising spills and dirt. My mom initially complained about it because it bunched up under her wheelchair, so we took it out. But the room felt drab without it, so we brought it back and carpet-taped the entire rug. That extra step solved the bunching problem, and the rug added the decorative layer I knew was missing.

The Chair-and-a-Half That Has a Secret

This cute chair-and-a-half is actually a sleeper sofa—it’s been a game changer for us. When we visit, my daughter Quinn and I, or my sister and I, can fit on it and it’s comfortable for us. I can just rotate it if I want to pull the mattress out. Before we added the sofa, my mom would just sit on the bed or in her wheelchair all day, even to watch TV. That’s just not comfortable. Now I can prop her up on the chair to relax and recline. She can watch a show from across the room; her sight is actually still really good despite only being able to see out of one eye.

A Faucet Fix for Easier On-and-Offs

My mom has always been an amazing cook with great knife skills. While she can’t cook in the same way she used to, we’re trying to figure out what she can do. So far, she has a microwave, a rice cooker, and a kettle. We’ve made everything from rice to sweet potatoes in the cooker for when she wants something simple rather than the food that is served in the care facility’s restaurant. My sister added this attachment onto the faucet so my mom could reach it from her wheelchair, too. There are just some things that are more functional than aesthetic, and I had to let go of it not being pretty.

Well-Positioned Shelves

We put up these shelves as a spot for pictures, keys, mail, and other accessories under my mom’s calendar. We installed the one near the door low enough so she could wheel up to it and use it as a mini counter. She can also look up at her schedule and see what she’s doing that week, whether that’s different therapy appointments or activities.

Tables She Can Roll Up To

The dining table is a really simple square oak table with clean lines. It actually comes with two leaves, but for now we don’t need them. We placed it against the wall to give my mom more space and so she can look out onto the patio plants while she has her tea. The legs are wide enough for her wheelchair to fit right in.

The side table next to the upholstered chair is another accessible surface and storage spot. Other than gardening, my mom’s favorite hobby is knitting. She’s really a master of it and has created countless sweaters, hats, scarves, and pants. One of the things that has been really hard on her, and us, is the fact that she can’t knit like she used to. She’s been discouraged this past year, but I’m determined to help her get back to doing it again. To start, I made her needles and yarn easily reachable by putting them in a basket that she can pull from the side table’s shelf while still in her wheelchair. Then I simply tied a thick rubber band to the left armrest of her wheelchair where she can secure a needle. That way, she can knit with one hand. It’s not a perfect system, but we’ll get there.

An Outdoor Space That Smells Like Home

My mom took so much pleasure and joy in her garden in sunny Orange County. She cultivated everything that she had grown up with in Vietnam: passion fruit, citrus, lemongrass, longans. That was her solace, her place to escape and be happy. When she was recovering, my brother brought a humidifier with essential oils into the rehab center so it always smelled like lemongrass and lavender. So even though she couldn’t be in her garden, it would smell familiar. Everyone would come into her room and say, “It’s like a spa in here.” 

In her new living arrangement, we really wanted to create an outdoor space with plants that she could watch flourish, citrus that would bear fruit, and fresh herbs to pluck from a “garden.” When she moved in, my siblings and I outfitted a little sitting area for her and her friends. We installed teak snap tiles over the cement floor, which instantly warm the space up and don’t interfere with the nurses transferring her to a seat. We added a taller rectangle planter that creates a divider wall from the neighboring patio for privacy. With a couple of lounge chairs, a teak and wicker table, and a bunch of plants, it has a whole new vibe.

Personal Touches to Make It Feel Extra-Cozy

There are a number of little things that we did to make her studio feel like home. For one, I took a panel from the Nordic Knot sand-colored shades I use at home and put it up over her sliding patio doors. It provides shade when it’s closed but still filters sunshine into her room; her eyes are sensitive to too much brightness these days. It also adds a layer of softness to the beige walls.

The little glass jar on her nightstand was meant for my niece from a White Elephant we did last Christmas with the grandchildren, but she ended up with it and thought it was so cute. It’s for all her bingo quarters from her winnings (which isn’t much, but that’s not the point!).

My friend Paul Ferney painted a portrait of Quinn that hangs in one sunny corner. The ceramic box on the shelf near her bed was made by my sister when she was a child and my mom has kept it all these years. We put pictures of her and the grandchildren up everywhere; they’re the number-one thing that makes her happy. She loves the pictures of her and the kids in Mexico, the last family vacation we took together before the stroke. My mom left everything behind when we had to get out of Vietnam at the end of the war. As a refugee not having anything when you leave your country, you hold onto a ceramic that reminds you of the time your daughter was younger and photos that transport you to happy times.

This process has been really hard for all of us, but especially Mom; we’re learning to adapt to a new normal. A friend whose father had a stroke a few years ago said to me: “There will be good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, and good months and bad months.” That has given me patience and perspective when dealing with difficult moments. 

The above portrait of her, where she’s smiling, really makes me happy, but not because she looks happy. It’s because the way we knew how to get her to smile was to remind her of a moment she had a couple of months after her stroke. She had to be taken to the ER in an ambulance because of a complication and, after that, she could not stop talking about the handsome paramedic who looked like Kyle Chandler (yes, the coach from Friday Night Lights). She told us how he flirted with her, referring to my sister (her daughter) as her sister. Now all we have to say is “Kyle Chandler” for her to crack a smile. And just like that, a new funny memory.

The post When My Mom Had a Stroke, My Goal Was to Make Her Assisted Living Apartment Calm and Cozy appeared first on domino.

Over the course of the pandemic, the second bedroom in our Brooklyn apartment morphed from a place where someone might sleep every night to our home office, a library, and where my husband plays music. Since then, one corner has been designated the home gym, which, until recently, has housed a supremely unorganized pile of resistance bands, recovery tools, and foam rollers. Another stash of stuff like gels and electrolyte powder resided in the closet that’s partially blocked by our Peloton, not a total impediment but always another step.  

A few months ago, I was at the brink: I couldn’t take another morning of rooting around for the proper gear to get me out the door on a run, or trying to magician an uncluttered look when out-of-town friends come to stay. I started searching for a solution—whether that was to be bins, floating shelves, or something else entirely—and landed on the Container Store’s website, as this dilemma often compels someone to do. Scrolling around, I caught a glimpse of an over-the-door product styled with gym equipment. Funny enough, once the page loaded, it showed wrapping paper, ribbons, and all manner of gifting supplies stuffed in baskets and hanging on the utility board. That didn’t deter me: I could see yoga mats fitting where those rolls were. I clicked the “add to cart” button. 

Elfa Classic Mesh Gift Wrap Door & Wall Rack

All of the components arrived swiftly within a week. Packaged well without too much plastic, the epoxy-bonded steel racks and pegboard as well as the wire-mesh baskets felt solid yet totally lightweight upon first hold. Installation requires little more than a Phillips screwdriver and an Allen wrench, and you don’t have to drill any holes—a win for renters who want their security deposit back. 

Installation, in four steps, took all of 15 minutes: Position the brackets in the center of the door, fit the rack into the bracket so that it will tighten without being too tall, and then screw it in. Attach the different components onto the rack (mine came with a gift-wrap holder, pegboard-style utility board, boxes, hooks, and two medium baskets). The pegboard can be finicky, so make sure it’s properly secured. That’s it. That’s all she wrote. Our interior doors aren’t painted, so we see a small sliver of the brackets on the other side, but if you have white doors, I bet you’d forget they’re there. 

Price-wise, there are certainly other organizers from Rubbermaid or Amazon off-brands that are cheaper. But what I love about the Container Store’s version is threefold. It’s part of the larger Elfa system, which means it’s compatible with all kinds of different baskets and bins made for the line, so you can tweak it over time as your needs change. It’s not terribly unattractive, as far as visible organizers go. Lastly, the durable steel construction means it won’t buckle under heavier loads, and very few plastic parts makes it more sustainable. 

A true testament to its versatility? I liked the rack so much that I picked up another version for our teeny entry closet. It fits right between a few existing hooks we still use, and where there was once a top shelf loaded with cleaning supplies and toilet paper, there is now room for other things we’d like to hide away, too. How’s that for creating something out of nothing? 

Elfa Classic Mesh Gift Wrap Door & Wall Rack, The Container Store ($160)

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Elfa Utility Mesh Over the Door Rack, The Container Store ($161)

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The post This Organizer Was Meant for Crafts—Here’s How I Use It for Gym Gear Instead appeared first on domino.

Even though our closets hold some of our most important possessions, we inevitably end up neglecting them. So we’re asking clever homeowners and renters to share their time-tested organizing methods that really (really!) work in our new series, Reclaim Your Closet.

You can stack your pants in a dresser, file-fold them Marie Kondo style, roll them as if you were packing them in a suitcase, or hang them in your closet. But TikTokers are specifically recommending the latter these days—and not in the way you’d expect. The genius twist: Use kids’ clothing hangers instead of adult-size ones. “In case you guys didn’t know, baby hangers are not just for babies,” Lisa Jacobs, the founder of professional organizing company Imagine It Done, recently told her TikTok followers. “When you look at a closet, you want to look at the clothing. You don’t want to see the hangers protruding.” 

Beauty influencer and makeup artist Sona Gasparian is also a new convert—and she’s not just using them for denim. “I was like, why stop there? Why not use them for tank tops?” she shared in a recent review of the Utopia Home ones she bought on Amazon.  

This simple swap isn’t going to magically result in loads of extra space, but it does make your closet look a whole lot more streamlined. “It’s just as efficient; it’s just all about the size,” as Jacobs put it. To see what all the hype was about, I popped into a Target and bought a pack of five Brightroom kids’ hangers for $4 to put to the test. 

Target Brightroom Kids’ Hangers

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Brightroom 5-Pack Kids’ Flocked Hangers in White, Target ($4)

Nonslip hangers are the key here, as they minimize sliding. The Target ones I picked up use 80 percent recycled PET for the interior structure—another little perk to feel good about. I’ve been using them for jeans, pleated trousers, and skirts, and the hangers’ shorter width makes the weight distribution nice and even, so nothing gets knocked out of place accidentally. As Jacobs attests, you see more of your clothing and less of your hanger, which makes it easier to find and pluck what you need when you’re in a rush. Not to mention they’re big upgrade from my old clip hangers, which inevitably left behind indentations. While I wasn’t expecting any surprises, it was still satisfying to confirm: This is a Tiktok hack that really does work.

More Baby Hangers

Kid’s Non-Slip Velvet Hanger Black Pkg/40, The Container Store ($28)

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Utopia Home Kids Hangers Velvet (Pack of 20), Amazon ($17)

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Casafield Velvet Infant & Toddler Clothes Hangers, 50 Count, Walmart ($23)

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Rubberized Baby Hanger – Pack of 6, Zara Home ($15)

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The post I Took TikTok’s Advice and Bought Baby Hangers to Organize My Clothes appeared first on domino.

No matter how many times you KonMari your apartment, there are some things you simply have to hang onto. Paper towels, computer chargers, coffee filters, and Wi-Fi routers are all a part of life. But there’s a magical place dedicated to concealing these unsexy items: Yamazaki Home. 

If you don’t already own a piece or two from the Japanese housewares brand, you’ve likely come across them at one of its stockists like West Elm or Amazon. Easily spotted thanks to signature white steel and ash wood accents, the items offer a clean, minimal look that couldn’t be further from the clutter they clear up. 

In addition to creatively concealing your eyesores, plenty of Yamazaki pieces are made to actually display the stuff you want to see. A discreet under-cabinet organizer, restaurant-style stemware racks, and a magnetic storage caddy all keep your prettier objects where guests can see them and inevitably encourage you to reach for them more often in your daily life. You could spend all day browsing the endless smart solutions on the site, but we’ll help you cut to the chase with our roundup of the top 10 that thrill us the most. 

Our Favorite Yamazaki Home Products

Under-Shelf Organizer

Undershelf Organizer, Yamazaki Home ($33)

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The kitchen counter is precious real estate, but what about all that open air right above it? This organizer magically adds another surface to your kitchen with its slide-on design and is far easier to install than a wall-mounted spice rack (we’re talking to you, renters!). And if you’re tucking your pretty oils and spices in your cabinet, this is an ideal landing spot to show them off.

Magnetic Paper Towel Holder

Magnetic Kitchen Towel Hanger, Yamazaki Home ($22)

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This magnetic paper towel holder has followed me around from apartment to apartment, as it conveniently mounts to the side of my fridge. If you’re short on storage or don’t want your paper towels to be a focal point, it’s an easy way to keep them out of the way. 

Two-Tier Dish Rack

Two-Tier Dish Rack, Yamazaki Home ($88)

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Freeing up counter space is a trend at Yamazaki. If you also happen to lack a dishwasher, this rack is the answer. Managing shopping editor Samantha Weiss-Hills picked one up for her pocket-size kitchen right before the pandemic, and she’s glad she did; cooking at home for months produced mountains of plates and prep bowls to wash. “The double-decker design makes room for so many more dishes than you think,” she says. “And our countertops are dark, so the black color camouflages the whole thing. The steel, resin, and silicone construction has held up for nearly four years with little wear, and it’s easy to clean since the components come apart.” 

Over-the-Door Hook

Over-the-Door-Hook, Yamazaki Home ($18)

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I bought this when prepping my apartment for a subletter in an effort to give her more places to hang clothing. I had never seen anything like it; the hook folds up and down and can hold up to six hangers. Now that she’s gone, I’ll use it for planning outfits for trips, hanging dry cleaning, and storing guests’ coats. I didn’t want a hook to take up wall space that I frankly don’t have, and a door is a perfect place to make use of.  

Under-Shelf Stemware Holder

Undershelf Stemware Holder, Yamazaki Home ($28)

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Another handy kitchen piece is Yamazaki’s under-shelf stemware holder. Weiss-Hills has limited cabinet space and supplements storage for her glassware and serveware with Muji SUS shelves. The steel holder slides easily onto and snugly fits the 0.70-inch thick shelves, and the white colorway all but disappears. Weighing in at just a pound, each one holds up to 4.4 pounds and keeps six glasses from getting dusty.

Toilet Supplies Stocker

Toilet Supplies Stocker, Yamazaki Home ($68)

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No bathroom ever looked better with a toilet brush out in the open. And Yamazaki’s towerlike shelf conceals it along with other cleaning supplies; all you see is a sleek ash wood panel. At just 5 inches wide, its narrow design is built to fit in the space between your toilet and the wall. To top things off, it offers a small surface to leave your phone or even a little plant.

Under Desk Cable & Router Storage Rack

Under-Desk Cable & Router Storage Rack, Yamazaki Home ($49)

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Cords can get messy. And for those who work from home, you’re likely looking for ways to minimize the office vibes as much as possible. Yamazaki’s under-desk rack clamps on to hold everything from a router to a power strip to a charger, so you can say goodbye to tangles and dust bunnies.

Rolling Storage Cart

Rolling Storage Cart, Yamazaki Home ($145)

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It’s amazing what you can do with just a 5-inch-wide space. This rolling cart can wheel in and out of an awkward nook almost like a drawer and holds bottles up to 13 inches tall in its bottom section.

Magnetic Storage Caddy

Magnetic Storage Caddy, Yamazaki Home ($35)

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Just like the magnetic paper towel holder, the storage caddy is a great way to make use of your unused fridge exterior. Add items you use all the time, like go-to olive oil or salt and pepper shakers, so that they’re always in reach. Plus the wood dowel gives it a little style that, in the spirit of Marie Kondo, definitely sparks joy.

Magnetic Coffee Filter Case

Magnetic Coffee Filter Case, Yamazaki Home ($27)

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You probably didn’t know that reaching for a coffee filter could be a satisfying ritual. But we’re not talking about the paper packages from the grocery store—decanting your filters into Yamazaki’s magnetic holder not only looks better, it prevents your filters from getting wrinkled. Plus that’s one less thing to fit into your cabinet.

The post Every Yamazaki Home Product Is Smart, But These 10 Are Genius appeared first on domino.

The most surprising thing about the 120-year-old carriage house that my husband and I rent in Brooklyn is not its bundle of quirks—spanning from the more charming layout and windows with comically large molding to the more taxing absent dishwasher and barely there bathroom. No, the biggest revelation is a true New York rarity: bedroom closets that afford an unusual amount of storage space.

Although I am grateful for this unique bonus, with extra square footage comes a need for organizational discipline, something I don’t have a knack for when it comes to closets. Our previous setup consisted of one metal bar and a long shelf—the result, as you can see, below, was lacking big-time. After three years, a global pandemic, and no will to invest in more bins that I wouldn’t maintain, I was excited to hear that Pottery Barn was rereleasing its classic ’90s Hold Everything Essential Closet. Before Marie Kondo took the world by storm, there was Hold Everything—a brand of organizational solutions launched by Williams Sonoma back in 1983 and later picked up by Pottery Barn in 1993. For the two decades that the line was around, its products were a favorite among home organizers. 

While other systems exist, Hold Everything appealed to me as an ideal in-between of off-the-shelf and custom. (I also own a Vitsoe 606 Universal Shelving System, but that’s for display, not hiding away.) Plus, after the product line’s return, it became a favorite among Domino readers, topping our best-seller list for February. When the opportunity to review the legendary Essential Closet presented itself, I committed to installing it without hesitation. To find out whether or not it helped our closet—and me—reach peak storage potential, read on.

Pottery Barn Hold Everything Essential Closet

The System

Finding the right Hold Everything system begins with a choose-your-own-adventure move: Are you looking to outfit a reach-in or walk-in closet? The main difference is in the posts—for reach-ins, you get a single post that connects to the wall in two locations at top and bottom. For a walk-in, it’s a double post that connects to the wall only at the top. 

Modular in design, there is just enough customization for either style without catapulting things into “I am paralyzed by the choices” territory. The post height is just over 7 feet tall, and widths vary between 4 feet and 8 feet. Optional components include basic shelves, shelves with rods, shoe racks, dresser drawers, cabinets, and cabinets with glass fronts. 

If you are looking for color or darker wood, this is not the system for you. If you’re hoping to keep your closet light, bright, and devoid of anything that borders on industrial, you’re in the right place. Everything is made either from white powder-coated steel (brackets, posts, rods) or MDF finished in white (shelves, drawers, cabinets). 

Essential Reach-In Closet by Hold Everything, 8′ Hanging System with 4 Drawers​, Pottery Barn ($3,061)

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To maximize the large size of our bedroom closet—and to avoid putting a dresser in the room, an already tight space—we opted for an 8-foot-wide reach-in style featuring several regular shelves, shelves with rods, and two 4-drawer dressers. Note: Measuring ahead of ordering is advised again and again by Pottery Barn, and being precise in this step is necessary for the system to fit properly (more on that later).

The Price

The systems are constructed from solid, coated MDF and metal frames, which helps justify the cost (the walk-in versions range from $1,123 to $4,305; the reach-in styles are anywhere between $763 and $3,061). These numbers are comparable to many full-priced options you’ll find at the Container Store, and the look is leaps beyond anything from Rubbermaid or what you’d see on Wayfair. We’re not talking custom California Closets, but there’s definitely a finished look at the end, which feels decidedly upscale.

The Installation 

Pottery Barn recommends hiring professionals to install the Hold Everything system. In an effort to get as close a look as possible at the entire process, my husband and I decided to do it ourselves. 

We collected the products at our doorstep since our building has a difficult entry, but white-glove delivery is available for an additional fee. At present, if you order today, you will likely wait no longer than a few weeks to get your entire closet. Boxes began arriving within a week, but the whole apparatus was not in our apartment until closer to the end of two. I am not lying that the amount of packaging took up three-quarters of our second bedroom; our set came with 31 boxes to manage. (Editor’s note: Within each box of brackets, there were 10 pairs packaged in their own boxes, which added up to quite a lot more.)  While I appreciated how carefully wrapped and packed everything was, as well as the fact that the system is certified nontoxic, this part would be my main complaint—breaking down all the cardboard, wood braces, foam, and plastic felt like it took as long as installing the unit itself. I couldn’t help but feel wasteful, even with a good portion of the packaging constructed from cardboard.

First, we had to deinstall the makeshift system from our closet—a bit of an ordeal, but we made it happen. After everything for the Hold Everything setup was out of boxes (which took, in total, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours), we were ready to go. Each box comes with the hardware and anchors you need, which is nice reassurance, but we thought the excess of small Allen wrenches to be overboard. We had a drill and drill bits handy, which we found necessary in the few instances that the drillable anchors weren’t sharp enough to get through wall material.

Now’s the time for another reminder: Measuring and ensuring your closet walls are free of obstacles top to bottom is not something to take lightly. Ditto goes for reading the instructions a few times through. This is particularly true with the reach-in style. It connects at the top of the post and also at the bottom, about 8 inches above the ground. 

Our closet width measurement was slightly off (we’re only human), so we had to use three bays instead of four. And thanks to our building being a century old, there are small pipes running through our closet along with molding at the bottom—right at the exact spot we needed to attach the posts. Because of this, we had to raise the floor up with wood from the hardware store to make the attachment possible. Securing the posts and drawers was definitely the most time-consuming part; it took us approximately three painstaking hours, considering we wanted each component to be level and secure. The drawers are supported by brackets but also secured to the wall; we had to install ours slightly higher due to the aforementioned pipes. Once those were up, we decided to call it a night. The following day, everything else went in pretty smoothly. Shelves screwed in easily, and rods were added quickly. Once it was 100% in, the system felt extremely durable—and I haven’t noticed anything to suggest otherwise in the weeks we’ve had it. 

The Final Word 

After going through installation firsthand, my final opinion: If you have the bandwidth in your budget and/or your home has tricky edges or some extra character, hiring a pro is worth it. If your home is on the newer side with perfectly smooth, squared-off closets, two able-bodied people could absolutely install the Hold Everything system—but it is definitely a weekend project. 

Even after all of this, I would still recommend the Hold Everything system, particularly for new construction or a gut reno or someone who wants to get as much out of hidden storage as possible. I could even see the system being used in a linen closet or craft closet, too—not just for clothes and shoes. The posts are well constructed, and the MDF feels hefty and stable. The hardware and anchors are pretty dummy-proof once you get the hang of it, and I like the ease of being able to move shelves around. The biggest perk? I’m actually inspired to put my clothes away instead of tossing them on our dog’s crate at the end of the day. 

Editor’s note: In a previous version of this article, the number of boxes noted included additional packaging that was sent erroneously, as well as boxes included within boxes. According to Pottery Barn, the average number of boxes across all closet configurations is 19.

The post I Didn’t Think I Needed a Closet System to Get Organized Until I Tried Pottery Barn’s Version appeared first on domino.

Meet our Organization Heroes, holy grail products and strategies for getting—and staying—tidy.

My affinity for headscarves started as an early-aughts style statement and evolved into a necessity as I started embracing my natural hair. These pieces have also become my favorite souvenirs because they’re easy to pack and I know they’ll actually be used. And yet: All these years of collecting have left me with an unruly pile that never seems to find a real home in my place. 

From classic Western bandanas and silky designer scarves to vintage wraps and athletic headbands, I lost count at 60-something, and it feels like it’s taken that many years to figure out a smart way to store them. In one very optimistic attempt, I Marie Kondo’ed them into little squares that I lined up in my dresser. That didn’t last 24 hours. I also tried those circular scarf hangers, which worked with the longer pieces for a while, but my smaller, silkier options would never stay put. I had all but given up until a window-measuring mishap led me to a game-changing closet hack. 

I needed a quick fix for my high-water drapes, so I turned to Amazon, hoping an order of clip-on curtain rings could make up for the length. It was there, in the reviews, that I stumbled upon a treasure trove of tactics for hanging awkwardly sized headgear. From DIY hat racks to rows of baby shoes, I instantly knew this was the solution to my scarf problem. I put one order in my cart for my windows and another for the closet trick I was about to try. As fate would have it, I was also in the process of reworking my walk-in shelving with an L-shaped garment rack, and instead of filling both sides with clothes, I reserved a rod just for the rings. Once I slid them on and screwed the pole back into place, I started clipping scarves by their corners, one by one (then two by two when I ran out of empty clips), and I couldn’t help but grin at the end result. Finally, all my wraps were in one spot, easily visible, and best of all, so much simpler to actually keep organized. 

The beauty of this trick is that it can work almost anywhere you’re able to install a bar—as long as you can remove it with enough room to slide on your choice of rings. The clips allow you to quickly hang and remove whatever you decide to use them for. In the depths of more than 9,000 positive ratings, I found stacks of baseball caps, tangles of suspenders, and a bounty of bows, neatly mounted on walls, over doors, or in closets like mine. If only I could give these reviews a 5-star rating. 

The post This $15 Amazon Find Helped Me Finally Organize My Closet appeared first on domino.

Meet our Organization Heroes, holy grail products and strategies for getting—and staying—tidy.

I like to think of myself as clutter-averse. Having lived in small spaces for the past six years, keeping up the appearance of tidiness—aka closing the door on all my stuff—is important. 

But shortly after moving into my latest apartment (a petite one-bedroom on Manhattan’s Upper West Side), I struggled to find the solution to my main organizational woe: keeping an ever-growing collection of canvas and cotton totes neatly tucked away. Over a short time, catalyzed by New York City’s ban on plastic and tax on single-use bags, they had magically multiplied to an unruly number. I didn’t want them to be on display 24-7, and there were simply too many to just hang on a doorknob. My entryway closet, however, was filled to the brim with jackets, scarves, cleaning supplies, hats, vases, umbrellas, seasonal decor, coolers, even a badminton net—you get the idea. 

In other words, the reusable bags had to go somewhere else.

Urban Outfitters Upholstered Bamboo Storage Bench

The Requirements  

Initially, I attempted to stick Command hooks on the inside of my closet’s bifold doors, but even the large utility options could only hold two or three before they started to slip off, falling into a heap on the floor. So I turned my attention elsewhere. Specifically to the odd, narrow hallway that connects my entrance to the living area.

But as it’s the main walkway, I was worried a console table would soak up too much square footage. Installing shelves would have been tricky; I definitely don’t consider myself a pro with power tools, and drilling into the wall would have meant screws in the back of my kitchen cabinets. Instead I decided to look for a low piece of furniture with a slim silhouette. After a days-long deep dive on Pinterest, I finally came up with a new idea: a storage bench. 

The Solution 

Upholstered Bamboo Storage Bench, Urban Outfitters ($129)

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I’d always thought this type of bench belonged in a bedroom. In fact, that’s exactly where Urban Outfitters contextualizes the budget-friendly bamboo number. But at just 19 inches tall, with a depth of 12 inches, it sounded like the perfect fit for my entryway. Plus it isn’t too bulky or heavy (less than 15 pounds), so returning it to the nearest store wouldn’t have been a huge hassle, and a restocking fee would have only set me back $5. Hitting “add to cart” was easy.  

It shipped in a flat box with all the necessary hardware and even a little Allen wrench, so with the assistance of my partner-slash-roommate, it came together in just 15 minutes. Looking back, I probably could have figured it out on my own (this is noteworthy because, sadly, following directions when it comes to assembling furniture is not my strong suit). I was immediately impressed by the quality and finish of the wood. The very few negative reviews noted it felt flimsy, worrying it might crack over time—but I couldn’t disagree more. While some other products I’ve purchased at Urban have had alignment and assembly issues, this bench had zero. 

Like most other buyers, I found it to be sturdy and stable, even on my old warped parquet floors. In fact, I frequently pop a squat on the upholstered portion to either lace up or untie my sneaks; our most frequently worn footwear hangs out on and below the slatted shelf, doubling as a shoe rack. It doesn’t creak or wobble, and at almost two years old, it still appears new. 

The top lifts with ease to reveal what at first looks like a shallow opening (it is only about 2.5 inches deep, and I had my doubts when I started filling it), but it currently holds 16 tote bags with no closing issues. I fold each to roughly the same size, layered in sets of four. And since the bench is located by my front door, I hardly ever end up at Trader Joe’s without a bag tucked under my arm. 

The Final Word 

My absolute favorite thing about this storage bench (aside from the affordable price point, of course) is that it helps hide the fact that I actually own one too many totes. This way, I can continue keeping up my clutter-free illusion. 

The post This $129 Storage Bench Keeps My Ever-Expanding Tote Bag Collection in Check appeared first on domino.

Utility-chic rolling storage carts can handle just about any organization headache you throw at them. Need to conjure a pantry in a tiny kitchen or corral bathroom and laundry products? Grab a cart. Want a movable kids’ library or crafting station? Get some wheels. Need a hardworking bedside table or a modern spot to display your cocktail gear? Cart, cart!

When searching for the best storage carts with wheels, Amazon takes the cake for its surplus of fast shipping options across varying price points. The only drawback is that many of the e-tailer’s options are, womp, plastic. If you’re in the market for a less synthetic or more durable material, then consider the ones we’ve sourced, below. Our favorites are made from candy-colored metal and solidly crafted wood frames—you won’t find any plastic bins or buckets here.

Our Favorite Metal Storage Carts

Metal is, perhaps, the most traditional material for a utility cart—which, aside from making it a more durable option than plastic, lends it a cheerfully retro feel (it’s giving Schoolhouse Rock). Many of the metal storage carts with wheels on Amazon come in eye-catching primary colors, like our top picks featured here. We envision putting these to good use inside a playroom, stacked with books or toys, or as a living room bar cart, filled with a mix-and-match display of glassware and cocktail-making treasures.

Duraweld Adjustable Height Cart, Yellow, Luxor ($216)

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Rolling Book Library Cart, Blue, BestEquip ($200 was $230)

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Steel Rolling Utility Cart with 3-Shelf Plexiglass, Dyrabrest ($252)

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Rolling Stainless Steel Utility Cart with 3 Shelves, VEVOR ($199)

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3-Tier Utility Cart, Red, Goplus ($110)

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3-Tier Metal Utility Cart, Green, AGTEK ($46)

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Shop more metal storage carts with wheels on Amazon.

Our Favorite Wood Storage Carts

Wood storage carts with wheels are tougher to come by on Amazon, but we uncovered a few gems made from bamboo, craft wood, and beechwood. Our picks lean toward kitchen-style carts and mini library-on-wheels types. If you don’t need to store dry goods or an overabundance of reading material, then these options would function just as well as a movable shoe rack or makeshift wine cellar. Aside from being kinder to the environment, wood is easy to personalize; slap a coat of chalk paint over any of these frames for your own custom finish.

Art Cart Storage Organizer, 3-Tier, MEEDEN ($160)

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Birch Double-Sided Book Display Stand, ECR4Kids ($180 was $220)

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The 24 Tub Tower, Jonti-Craft ($579)

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Corinne Six Drawer Rolling Storage Cart, Linon Home Decor ($85)

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Wooden Book Library Cart, FixtureDisplays ($176)

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Bamboo Bar Serving Cart, 3-Tier, Soges ($40)

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Shop more wood storage carts with wheels on Amazon.

Storage Cart Customization Ideas

Whether you’re looking to inject some color into your wood cart or change up the wheels on your stainless steel storage, we’ve corralled a few products that will help you get the custom DIY job done.

Swap in a New Set of Wheels

Designer Swivel Plate Casters in Kermit Green, 4 Pack (2 Inch), Headbourne ($21)

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Solid Antique Brass Swivel Caster Wheels, 4 Pack, A29 ($55)

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Solid Polished Brass Swivel Caster Wheels, 4 Pack, A29 ($55)

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Red Polyurethane Caster Wheels Swivel Stem, 4 Pack (4 Inch), Best Service ($23)

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Slap on a Fresh Coat of Chalk Paint

Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint, 12 oz, Tate Green, Rust-Oleum ($11 was $13)

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Eco-Friendly Chalk Paint in Fresh Mustard, Pint (16 oz) ($26)

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The post The Best Storage Carts on Amazon Work as Nightstands, Bars, and Tiny Libraries appeared first on domino.

Legos, games, school supplies, figurines, craft kits—kids come with a lot of extra things in tow, all of which inevitably have multiple parts. So how do parents keep their spaces feeling sane? We reached out to seven moms in our community—who are also organizing pros—to learn about their go-to products and strategies for saving their home from kid-stuff overflow. Whether the best toy basket, tried-and-true IKEA bin, Montessori-inspired closet upgrade, or repurposed wood wine crate (genius!), here’s their full storage-secret download.

For the Desk

We had to create additional space for our 6-year-old daughter, Milo, so she can be on her Zoom school calls. It has been such a challenge, but we made it work by using some cool storage ideas for her work area. We love Hightide’s Penco containers. They have vintage-looking caddies and bins in various sizes. Milo keeps her colored pencils, erasers, glue sticks, and scissors in them—essentially all the school supplies she uses often. —Caroline Rodrigues, Merci Milo

Penco Storage Caddy by Hightide, Amazon ($22)

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For the Bedroom

These DIY caddies really helped make the space underneath our kids’ bunk bed more functional. Before adding the bunks to their room, we kept toys and blocks in different baskets that were too tall to fit beneath the new bed. Wine crates are just low enough to clear the bed frame, and adding rope handles means that little kid fingers won’t get pinched when sliding the crates under and out from the bed. —Erin Boyle, Reading My Tea Leaves 

Wooden Crate, Amazon ($25)

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For the Living Room

Expecting all the kid stuff to stay compartmentalized in one place is just setting yourself up for frustration. I keep my boys’ things in the living areas, as well as in their room. My favorite bins are these coiled rope baskets from Target. They are easy for kids to carry; soft, so when kids drag them across the floor or toss items into them, it’s quiet (play is loud enough!); and durable and inexpensive—plus they fit with most decor styles. I store ours in a built-in cabinet. The mistake I see a lot? Having one catchall box or several bins that are too large. All manner of toys get randomly thrown in there, so when kids are trying to find what they want, they dump everything out. Individual smaller baskets, a limited quantity of items (kids don’t need to have access to all their things all the time), and a specific home for each makes finding, playing with, and cleaning up the toys easy. —Lindsay Downes, A Considered Home

Coiled Rope Baskets, Target ($12)

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For the Closet

When we decided to transition to a toddler-friendly Montessori closet, I wanted to keep it simple and have a system set in place that my 1-year-old son could follow along with, too. Our amazing wood wardrobe from Sprout creates sections that are easy to organize by also adding additional woven storage baskets. We keep items at his height, and on the top shelf I have things that are intended for me to reach, like blankets and sheets. —Alexis Kristiana, Liquid Gold Vintage 

Alba Montessori Wardrobe, Sprout ($180)

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For the Playroom

IKEA Kallax shelving has been a favorite toy-storage solution for us for years. In the past we hid all the toys in soft cubbies, but now we use it as a more organized system for our train gear. My three kids love to build tracks together, and it can be frustrating when you can’t find the right piece, so we store turn parts, bridge pieces, and straight pieces in different cubbies. It makes building fast and fun, and cleanup is a breeze when everything has its own place. —Jennifer Borget, Cherish 365

Kallax Shelf Unit, Ikea ($70)

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For the Outdoors

Our back entrance and deck were starting to look like a dumping ground for skateboards, balls, Rollerblades, scooters, and the like, so we needed an organization solution—something simple for the kids [ages 2 to 15] to use. We built this skateboard rack one afternoon and placed it on our fence for the kids to hang up their skateboards as they come in. I recommend the pegboard method for keeping unwieldy supplies easily accessible. —Courtney Adamo, Babyccino Kids and In the Loop

Pegboard Wall Organizer by Zuiver Bundy, Dutch Furniture ($175)

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For All the Odds and Ends

These pom-pom baskets from Pehr are super-cute and perfect for streamlining toys, books, and blankets. Trust me, with three kids, organization is key. —Lizzy Mathis, The Cool Mom Co 

Pom Pom Baskets by Pehr, Amazon ($25)

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Shop the Look

12-Cube Organizer, Better Homes and Gardens ($169)

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Ferris Ivory Square Basket, CB2 ($17 was $50)

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We Do Wood Scoreboard Coat Rack, 2 Modern ($240)

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2-Piece Galvanized Steel Bucket Set, Houston International ($49)

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The post The Sanity-Saving Organization Products 7 Moms Swear By appeared first on domino.