Everything You Need to Know About Keeping Your Closet Organized

How To Organize Kitchen Cabinets

The most important thing to focus on when organizing your kitchen cabinets is maximizing space. That just means making the most of the space that you have, because no matter how big your cabinets are, if they're filled to the brim with items that don't have a dedicated spot, it's going to feel cluttered.

Focus on keeping similar items together, using up vertical space by stacking where you're able (like with bowls or glasses) and making sure that every object has a dedicated space.

Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas

Use your cabinets to hold more than just kitchenware — display books and plants to bring some personality into your kitchen. You don't have to save all the fun for your bedroom and living room!

If you live in a small apartment, or just don't have cabinets, you can still take part in the fun. Use the space above your sink or your countertop to add your own shelves. This is a great option because when you're doing it yourself, you can customize the storage to your needs.

If you don't want to stack your plates (or you don't have the room for all the designs to have their own stacks), set them upright instead with a DIY plate rack. (via PMQ For Two)

Okay, so this one isn't technically cabinet organization, but it will definitely save you room in your cabinets. DIY this wine rack that will move your wine bottles from your cabinets onto the wall and add color to your room at the same time.

The Home Edit's organization tips are totally inspiring thanks to their efficiency and their color. Grabbing bins from somewhere like The Container Store or Target can help you contain your products so they don't end up spread across your shelf, and they also make it easier to stack your items since they won't fall over.

Don't underestimate the power of labels. When you buy your bins, tubs, and other organizers, write what you intend to store inside on all the containers and make sure that the corresponding product is always inside. That way, you'll have one bin of flour instead of multiple half-empty bags. Plus, it just looks prettier!

For a quick update on the system you already have, stack your plates so that like plates are together, with the biggest plates are on the bottom — this will ensure they sit together in a way that takes up the least amount of room.

Make sure all the rims of your glasses are touching when storing them in your cabinets, and when you're organizing mugs, face the handles toward each other so there's less empty space and more room for new mugs. Because let's be honest, we can always buy new mugs.

Don't forget to use up the space on top of your cabinets too! Grab some baskets to organize new bottles of olive oil, bags of coffee, or cleaning supplies that you get from the store. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Kitchen Cabinet Organizers

If you love to stay hydrated (ie: you have nine water bottles in your cabinet), then you should grab a product like this YouCopia UpSpace Bottle Organizer ($25+). It'll keep all your water bottle snug together so that you have more room for all your mugs. Speaking of...

The great thing about these Better Houseware Undershelf Cup & Mug Hooks ($10 for two) is that since they hook around the top of a shelf, they don't take up any room at the base.

One way to make sure you save room is to use up vertical space instead of horizontal space. That's why we love the Chrome Roll-Out Bakeware Organizer ($66), which stacks all your muffin tins and cookie sheets on their end. Trust us: this will save you tons of room.

Your fruit deserves a comfy spot to hang out in, so grab a Macrame Fruit Hammock ($30) that will keep fruit off the counter. Cute!

The great thing about a container like the Everything Organ Cabinet Depth Pantry Bin ($101+) is that it's clear because you know what you have at all times. You won't have to pull out the bins to see what's inside!

Use an Expandable Countertop Organizer ($38) in your cabinets — or use it on your counter to clear out your cabinets). We love that this pick's expandable because that means you can move it around to different areas, no matter how big the area is.

A pot organizer like this one from MUDEELA ($22) will keep all your pots and pans together, and you won't have to put up with the noise of when they're stacked on top of each other.

You can't forget about the spices! A rack like this Spice Rack($25) will keep all your spices together and make accessing them a whole lot easier.

Some mDesign Metal Pull-Out Baskets ($21) will create organization within your cabinet the way that cubes do. It's like a two-in-one storage space!

Hack 1: Keep your staples front and center

“People always ask me, ‘what’s your system?’ But it’s different for everyone,” Pollack says. “Do you think a skirt is casual? Do you wear more color or neutrals? For many people, their work and going out attire overlap.” Pollack recommends that instead of sectioning your closet into work clothes, going-out clothes and the like, think in simple terms and keep your staple items in front so they are easy to find. “Black tie clothes are for a rare occasion, so stick them in the back of your closet or a whole other closet all together.”

Hack 2: Don't be overly sentimental

You must learn to let go of those items you are never going to wear, like the jeans you keep thinking you’ll fit into someday or the t-shirt that you wouldn’t be caught dead in but reminds you of freshman year of college. “If you haven’t worn it in over a year and your weight and lifestyle have stayed pretty much the same, pass on it,” Pollack says. Other items Pollack says you need to chuck — anything irrevocably stained, not worth repairing, clothes you’ve tried on at least three times this year and rejected and items that make you feel unattractive.

Hack 3: Store seasonal items cleanly and neatly

Pollack says the best way to keep your clothes in good shape when you are going to go months without wearing them is by first making sure they are clean, neatly folding them and sticking them in a cedar chest.

Hack 4: Create a system for shoes based on your closet size

Unless you have a shoe organization system set in place, your shoes are going to end up in a big heap on your closet floor. “If you have room for shelves, I like putting shoes there, at eye level,” Pollack says. “If you have a lot of closet floor space, I like double and triple shoe racks. But a hanging shoe rack works too.”

Shop Closet Organization Items

Amazon Basics Non-Slip Suit Clothes Hangers

Space-Saving Pants Hangers

Novogratz Closet System

Clothes Rack With Shelves And Drawers

Modular Storage Shelving Unit

Canvas Comforter Bags

Closet Storage Box With Front Window

Underbed Folding Box

Shelf Dividers

Follow us on Pinterest for more design inspo!

This post has been updated.

Main image by Anastasia Shuraeva

Imagine sipping Champagne above a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or indulging in a heavenly spa treatment with the Manhattan skyline in view. Even if your wallet can't quite stretch to a full-blown luxury getaway, sprinkling a touch of luxe into your travels can turn an ordinary trip into a memorable adventure. That idea sparked our new series, Flights of Fancy, where we take you along for a trip to the luxury experiences around the cities we adore.

It may be the greatest city in the world, but let’s be real: it can be extremely exhausting to live in — and visit — New York City. There are plenty of spas where you can snag a $300+ deep tissue massage, but that's not always practical. Instead of constantly carrying that tension for days (and weeks and months and years) to come, I finally took my self care needs over to Bathhouse Williamsburg for a spa day.

Bathhouse Williamsburg isn't exactly a spa. You won't get a facial — or even cucumbers on your eyes — there, but you'll find relaxation in so many other tangible ways. From their available array of amenities included in the day pass to the specific treatments like scrubs and massages, Bathhouse is perfect for taking a step back from a city that requires oh-so-many steps.

When did bathhouses start?

The earliest bathhouses originated around 10,000 B.C. — AKA the Neolithic Age — according to the BBC. While some bathhouses in earlier years were used for religious purposes, many were social hubs that superseded socioeconomics. Essentially, bathhouses were for everyone to come, cleanse, and calm down.

The bathhouses we know today are more about getting R&R, but their ancient predecessors were meant to literally bathe people. If you think about it, people didn’t have showers and bathtubs in their homes back in the B.C. times. Irrigation for farming didn’t even exist until 6,000 B.C., let alone plumbing that went to and from individual houses.

At these public bathhouses, people could wash the week off with the rest of their community. And while health and hygiene was key during baths, this was also a time that people could come together and socialize with each other — extremely similar to what I saw during my own bathhouse experience.

Are bathhouses still a thing?

Yes! There are multiple bathhouses in New York City to chooses from, let alone across the world.

What are the benefits of a bathhouse?

A bathhouse experience isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are many elements to a bathhouse — saunas, hot tubs, cold tubs, etc. — so each time you go could help with something else. Here’s a rundown of what goodness you may get at your own bathhouse visit.

Saunas

It’s no secret that saunas are highly sought after self care luxuries. Forbes reported that of course there are more typical benefits of saunas like relaxation and pain relief, you could also improve your hearth health, immune system, and respiratory system.

Hot Tubs

Like saunas, hot tubs are really peaceful environments that can put you at ease, the Cleveland Clinic noted that there are a lot of other wins to dipping your toes in this water. With regular visits to the hot tub, you could lower your blood pressure, improve the quality of your sleep, and ultimately improve your heart health (alongside other factors like exercise and diet).

Cold Plunges

Cold plunges and ice baths aren't anything new — you've probably seen Tiktokers and athletes alike sinking into an icy tub — but why? According to TODAY, cold plunges decrease inflammation, increase dopamine and endorphins, and speed up physical recovery after a workout or training.

Massages

Massages are more than a part your honeymoon package at the hotel spa — they have very real physical benefits. Alongside reducing overall stress and muscle tension, the Mayo Clinic states that massages can actually help improve your immune system as well!

Body Scrubs

Although your skin sheds dead cells naturally, sometimes the process could use a little speeding up — especially after cold, winter months. Healthline said that body scrubs can aid in moisturizer absorption, clogged pores, and uneven complexion. Specific benefits can vary depending on the ingredients of your scrub, so be sure to understand what you want to work on while you pick out your own at-home or at-spa scrubs.

Do you wear clothes in a bathhouse?

While the early bathhouses of yore were likely fully nude, people typically wear swimsuits in modern bathhouses. Depending on what you’re signed up for, you may want to consider wearing a two-piece swimsuit — this makes treatments like scrubs and such much easier and more accessible.

Enter: Bathhouse Williamsburg

In typical Haley fashion, I was rushing to make my appointment. I huffed my way through the front door, and everything instantly slowed down. The bright, earthy reception area was exactly what I needed — real, down to earth, and above all...quiet. The hosts at the front desk checked me in, made sure I had my swimsuit, and made sure I understood the run down:

1. Here are your towels.
2. The locker room is around the corner and through those doors.
3. No cell phones outside of the locker room and restaurant.

I headed off to the locker room, changed into my suit, and made my way to the pools. I'd never been to a bathhouse before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Praying I wouldn't meet the eerie silence of a university library, I walked downstairs to the pools. It was definitely a soothing environment, but thankfully it wasn't sterile — people talked, people read, soaked, people lounged. A soothing music subtly played over the speakers, but nothing intrusive. It was exactly what I needed.

First thing's first, I needed to soak. Out of the three available pools, I picked the hot tub because I knew what I needed: to melt away my worries. Deadlines? Moving? Family? Didn't matter — I had a jet on my back and my head leaned back. My company rotated here and there, from friends chatting about a recent scandal to a family testing the literal waters to see how hot it was. All the while, I found myself finally and truly relaxing.

Next, I sauntered over to the tropical sauna, and it was toasty to say the least. The music from before is amplified here, with little-to-no conversation. The air smelled fresh as I focused on my breathing and tried to meditate. My muscles continued to relax, as the heat worked its way through my body. A little over five minutes later, and it was time to go get ready for my scrub.

After cooling down on the bench for a few minutes (and trust me, I could use the cool down), my esthetician took me back to my treatment room. She was super kind, willing to talk as much as my Chatty Cathy self wanted to, answering my every question. While I love the quiet at times, I feel the most comfortable when I can carry a conversation with someone. Maybe it's the journalist in me, maybe it's the ADHD, but talking takes the pressure off in a way.

Well, talking and peacefully poured warm water paired with a gentle body scrub. I was in for a Hammam scrub, described as their "take" on a more traditional Moroccan scrub. As I laid on the table, rotating from one side to another, she "buffed away dullness" from my body, washing the mixture away with buckets of water as she worked.

Post-scrub, my esthetician applied CBD oil on my skin and advised me to let it soak in the steam room. I'm not particularly a rule follower, but I figured my new friend wouldn't steer me wrong.

The steam room was a purple-blue filled with starry lights...and lots and LOTS of steam. I could hardly see in front of me enough to find a seat, but I eventually found my way as my eyes adjusted. I was completely engulfed in steam, feeling like I was on another planet — one where my muscles didn't know tension, but were very, very familiar with CBD oil's relaxing charms. After about five to ten minutes, I knew it was time to head out and rinse off in the rain shower.

A quick rinse later, and it was the perfect time to take my last moments in the neutral pool. The water temperature was wonderful, and there was plenty of space for the ever-circulating guests. I felt refreshed and ready to take on the rest of my day, so I snuck back into the locker room, washed off, and head to the restaurant for a little snack to send me off.

How often are your feeling mindful and relaxed by mid-afternoon on a Friday after a long week? Well, that was me for the first time in a really, really long time. With a crisp salad and glass of bubbly, I knew this wouldn't be my last visit to Bathhouse. For the rest of the weekend — and honestly well into Monday afternoon — I wasn't cracking my neck as much, my skin was incredibly soft, and I felt good.