The Best Home Products To Organize and Elevate Your Space

Best Storage Baskets: Zara Round Cotton-Lined Basket

Storage solutions don’t have to be soulless plastic bins. These braided paper baskets (available in three colorways) offer just the right amount of flair. The cotton-blend fabric insert is removable, and the basket itself has a metal base, so it won’t lose its shape.

Best Storage Furniture: Mustard Made The Kit

If you feel like just one extra cabinet could solve a lot of your kitchen (or office…or living room…or life) problems, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Choose from a dozen colors, from white and blush to bright poppy red, and mount this “locker” on any wall for instant additional storage you’re bound to get compliments on. Mustard Made has so many other storage options, too, and we're big fans of them all.

Best Food Storage Containers: Bentgo Signature Glass Food Storage Set

Storing leftovers in reusable containers is already a waste-reducing win, but using glass over plastic is even better. This storage set from one of our favorite food container brands (they make great kids’ lunchboxes, too) has five glass containers and five lids with leakproof silicone seals. The multiuse containers can go in the microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher.

Best Makeup Organizer: The Flat Lay Co. Marshmallow Makeup Box Bag

That makeup-caked free gift bag from 12 years ago has paid its dues…so if you’re ready for a makeup storage solution that’s both cute and extremely well-designed, you’re looking at it. As the name suggests, this bag’s main design feature is that when zipped open, it becomes a flat tray — making it super easy to find your favorite lipstick or eyeliner right away.

Best Hangers: Amazon Basics Slim Velvet Non-Slip Space Saving Hangers

Simple but effective (and cost-effective, too, at around 35 cents per hanger). Because these are so thin, you can fit a lot even in a smaller closet, and the velvet surface means your favorite shirts and dresses are less likely to slip off into a messy floor pile.

Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Kit: Blueland The Clean Suite Kit

Samet is a fan of this set for its environmentally friendly formulations and refillable, aesthetically pleasing bottles. Blueland’s starter kit includes dish soap powder, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, hand soap, and several bathroom cleaning products, plus a multi-surface cleaner. Each one comes with a reusable bottle plus one refill. The cleaning solutions are microplastic-free and kid-safe, so this set will transform your whole-house cleaning routine for good.

Best Pet Stain Remover: Mrs. Meyer’s Pet Stain & Odor Fighter

Upton praises this spray for cleaning up accidents and getting rid of any less-than-inviting pet smells. Choose from two scents, and use the active probiotic formula — free from hydrogen peroxide, bleach, parabens, phthalates, and other potentially harmful additives — on anything from bedding to crates and sealed hardwood flooring. (Just be sure to read the full instructions before you spray, because it’s not designed for use on materials like brass, untreated wood, and marble.)

Best Kitchen Towels: Geometry Kitchen Tea Towels

These fast-drying, absorbent microfiber towels also add a pop of color to your kitchen, with bright patterns featuring fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more. At $18 per towel, they’re on the pricey side, but will save you tons of money over time compared to paper towels or less effective kitchen towels you need to replace again and again.

Best Appliance Cleaning Tablets: Affresh Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Yes, you need to clean your garbage disposal, but no, you don’t need to spend an hour watching YouTube videos to figure out how. It’s super easy with these citrus-scented tablets. They’re septic safe and will work not only on the disposal itself, but also the drain pipe underneath. One box lasts you about six months, so set up an auto-order and never worry about gross sink smells again. We swear by the brand's dishwasher tablets and washing machine tablets, too.

Best Vacuum: Shark PowerDetect™ Cordless Vacuum Clean and Empty System

You know you’re getting older when you get this excited about a vacuum. But there’s a lot to get excited about. This cordless cleaner runs for more than an hour on a single charge, and best of all, its included dock both empties the tank of dirt and charges the vacuum itself every time you put it away.

Best Drying Rack: JOOM Tripod Drying Rack

This tripod-style drying rack is a step or two above the folding metal one you had in college. You can expand all the arms at once or just a few as needed, and the whole thing can hold up to 45 pounds of clothes at a time. “This is a great option for people who live in small spaces or apartments because of its ease of storage,” Samet points out. You don’t have to keep it out all the time, but when you need it, it sure “beats hanging things on doorknobs and windowsills.”

Best Detergent Pods: Dropps

With options for everything from free and clear detergent to an activewear-specific formula, Dropps has all your laundry room essentials covered. These perfectly-portioned pods (which don’t have phthalates, phosphates, sulfates, chlorine, or dyes) work in HE or regular machines, and they come in paperboard boxes so you won’t be dumping a big plastic jug every couple of months.

Best Fragranced Detergent: Dedcool Dedtergent

If having a signature scent for your sheets, towels, and wardrobe in general is important to you, you need Dedcool’s scented Dedtergent. Try the “Taunt” version, with notes of bergamot, cassis, vanilla, and amber, or other options like “Milk,” “Mochi Milk,” and “Spring.” It’s basically a perfume you don’t even have to think about putting on.

Best Detergent Sheets: Proofed! Laundry Detergent Sheets

On a mission to reduce microplastic exposure in your life? Work these into your laundry routine. These USA-made detergent sheets are both fragrance-free and 100% plastic-free. They dissolve completely and work for all washing machines.

Best Fragrance-Free Detergent: Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry Detergent - Free & Clear

If you or someone else in your house is sensitive to fragrances — or you’re doing laundry for a baby — this free and clear detergent (with no dyes or artificial brighteners) is the answer. It’s hypoallergenic and effectively combats stains and smells while keeping your skin happy.

Best Bamboo Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set

Yes, these are a splurge — but we’re highlighting the very best. When you’re in the market for a bedroom upgrade and you want to start from the sheets up, treat yourself to these ultra cozy 100% bamboo viscose sheets. They work for any season, and they’re designed to be slightly large so that you’ll never break a sweat trying to wrestle them across your mattress.

Best Percale Sheets: Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set

If you prefer the crisper feel of percale, this is the set for you. “I love some luxury sheets and these are the best,” Upton says, raving about both the feel of the cooling fabric, and how well they hold up in the laundry. They come in a super wide range of colors and patterns, so grab some for the guest room, too.

Best Bed-Making Tool: NiHome Mattress Lifter

You’ve been making your bed (presumably) since you were a kid…why add an extra tool now? Because it makes it 10 times easier, for less than $8. Upton praises this “simple but effective” teak wood tool for making it much easier to achieve neat, presentable sheet tucks. Start teaching your own kids now, and gift them their own when they eventually leave the nest.

Best Duvet: Parachute Down Alternative Duvet Insert

We love this cotton sateen duvet insert (stuffed with recycled microfiber) because it feels great, but also because it gives you options. Choose from three weights — lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight — and then treat yourself to the duvet cover(s) of your choice to make your bed both cozy and cute. It’s easy to wash and dry at home, which is a major plus.

Best Humidifier: Carepod One

A good humidifier can make all the difference for comfortable sleep, and this one definitely fits the bill. It’s stainless steel, and designed with ease of cleaning in mind, so it won’t be a huge chore to keep it mold-free (it's dishwasher-safe). A full tank works for up to 30 hours in a space up to 500 square feet.

Best Shower Lights: Bgmonster Waterproof Shower Lights

You’ve been taking showers since you were in grade school, but have you ever taken one with ambient lighting in the color of your choice? It’s actually an affordable possibility thanks to these rechargeable waterproof lights that you can use to simply boost the (normal-colored) lighting in your bathroom, or turn shower time into a pink, purple, blue, green, or multicolored sensory experience.

Best Towels: Hommey Bath Towels

These look like the kind of towels your rich grandma would have in the bathroom, and we mean that as an enormous compliment. They’re made from thick, cozy cotton, and come in a wide range of colors and patterns, from light blue and yellow pinstripe to a deep chocolate. They’re even easy to hang up thanks to the brand label sewn into one end.

Best Medicine Cabinet Organizer: The Container Sotre The Home Edit by iDesign 2-Tier Organizer

“This is great for adding more space to a medicine cabinet and making it feel less cluttered,” Samet explains. The shelf on top basically doubles your storage space, and the containers on either end are great for odds and ends that might get lost otherwise. Just remember to make sure it will fit the depth of your cabinet before ordering.

Best Bath Mat: Pottery Barn Morgan Memory Foam Bathmat

“Sometimes you just need a luxury bath mat to make you feel like a day at the spa,” Upton says, and naturally, we agree. With lots of neutral colorways (and three sizes) to choose from, this is a worthwhile upgrade to any bathroom.

Best Under-Sink Organizer: SPACELEAD Slim Storage Cart

The cabinet underneath your bathroom sink can quickly become the place where old toothbrushes and half-used bottles of lotions go to die. But an organizer like this can change all that. We love that you can modify it to fit your needs, so it can either be a rolling cart that makes use of a tiny sliver of space between cabinets, or a two- or three-story shelf (with wheels removed) for tidy under-sink storage.

Best Hardside Luggage: Away The Carry-On

There’s a reason you see these every time you travel: Away’s hard shell suitcases are good-looking, but have the durability to back those good looks up. Samet particularly likes this carry-on’s two distinct interior sections and praises its surprisingly large capacity, plus the fact that “you never get stopped by the flight attendants saying that it won't fit in the overhead bin.”

Best Weekender: Dagne Dover Monaco Garment Duffle

The perfect one-and-done carry-on for special occasion trips does exist, and it’s this garment duffel. It’s tailor-made for any quick trip where you’ll need fancy clothes, whether that’s a work conference or a bachelorette. Just lay your nice clothes flat in the garment bag portion, zip your heels into the included shoe pouch, then zip the sides of the garment bag together and fill the inside of the duffel portion as you normally would. There’s even room for your computer, whether you need that for scanning spreadsheets or working on an Airbnb house playlist.

Best Softside Luggage: Lipault Suitcases

Lipault’s sophisticated-looking monochrome bags have quiet luxury written all over them. They’re made from soft materials like nylon and rubber-effect polyester polyurethane (which is water-resistant), and they somehow stand out despite their lack of eye-catching patterns or external bells and whistles. The carry-on and “long trip” suitcase both have two sets of wheels, plus three carrying options — two hand straps and a rolling handle.

Best Personal Item: Baggu Small Cloud Carry-On

An easy-to-carry, machine-washable bag that fits everywhere really is a travel game changer. This nylon carry-on can slide right onto your rolling suitcase or fit over your shoulder, and has an exterior pocket (with zip) that keeps your laptop accessible for productive work trips. Best of all, you can fully collapse the bag and pack it into a little pouch, so it’s great to throw in your larger suitcase if you think you might be returning with more than a couple souvenirs.

Best Portable Charger: Anker Nano 3-in-1 Portable Charger

Throw this thing (fully charged) into your carry-on, and you’ll either be your own hero or someone else’s on every trip you take. No need to worry about staying near an outlet, or whether letting your kid watch two hours of YouTube in the airport will leave you with a dead phone for the rest of the day. The USB-C charging bank also has a wall plug, so when you are near an outlet, you can charge your phone and the backup at the same time.