Advice To Girls Trying To Get Organized — Start With These Ikea Essentials

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Honestly, the KALLAX shelving units from Ikea are seriously one of the BEST storage pieces you can buy for a dorm, apartment, or small space. I used to store my books in these, but once you start adding baskets and inserts, you can organize literally anything.

Candles, electronics, wires, cups, mugs, beauty products, school supplies, snacks… the list honestly never ends. They make your space look so much cleaner while also adding a really cute aesthetic to your room or apartment.

Even without baskets, they still look amazing styled with vinyls, plants, lamps, books, or decor pieces. That’s why so many people love them — they work with almost every style and can completely change the look of a small space.

The amount of versatility these shelves have is actually kind of crazy, which is why they’ve become one of Ikea’s most popular products. Here are some of my favorite styles and setup ideas:

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I used these when I moved into my first apartment, and honestly, I’m not sure how I lived without them. They’re literally perfect for keeping everything organized without taking up a ton of space.

In my closet, I use the hanging organizers for shoes, while under my bed I store winter jackets, extra blankets for guests, and clothes I’m not currently using. They make small spaces feel SO much less cluttered and way easier to manage.

And that’s just how I use them — there are honestly so many different ways to organize with these depending on your space and lifestyle. If you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or any smaller room, these are seriously a MUST-have. Plus, they’re super durable, great quality, and last forever.

Here are some more ideas:

This drawer set is perfect for anyone who wants their space to look clean, organized, and well put together. The design honestly goes with SO many different themes and aesthetics, which makes it super easy to fit into almost any room setup.

I actually use this as my go-to desk, and it’s been amazing for keeping everything organized without making my space feel cluttered. While it may not have as many style options as some of the other Ikea storage systems, it’s still incredibly versatile and works great for offices, craft stations, study areas, or even dorm rooms.

If you’re someone who likes a clean and minimal setup, this is definitely one of those pieces that instantly makes your space feel more polished and functional.

You can even turn it into your own custom desks!

Here are some examples:

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I have this in my office, and honestly, I use it all the time for keeping my headphones, keys, chargers, and other everyday essentials organized and easy to grab. It’s one of those things you don’t realize you need until you actually have one.

There are honestly SO many different ways you can use these peg boards too. You could hang one near your front door for hats, keys, and bags, use them in your laundry room to organize cleaning products, or even put them in a garage to hold tools and supplies.

Not only are they super practical, but they also make your space look way cleaner and more organized without taking up extra room. These peg boards are seriously a MUST-have for small spaces or anyone trying to stay organized.

Honestly, utility carts are one of those things that don’t seem THAT useful until you actually get one — and then suddenly you use it for everything. They’re perfect for small apartments, dorm rooms, offices, bathrooms, craft rooms, and even kitchens because they give you extra storage without taking up a ton of space.

Personally, I use mine beside my desk to keep all my everyday essentials organized and easy to reach. I keep notebooks, chargers, pens, camera gear, random tech accessories, snacks, and study supplies on it so my desk doesn’t end up looking cluttered 24/7. It honestly makes my workspace feel way cleaner and more put together.

These are also AMAZING for craft supplies, beauty products, makeup, hair tools, school supplies, laundry products, or even mini coffee stations. Since they’re mobile, you can just roll them around wherever you need them instead of having one huge bulky storage unit stuck in one place.

One of the best parts is how versatile they are stylistically too. Whether your room is modern, cozy, minimal, Pinterest-inspired, colorful, or super aesthetic, these somehow fit into almost every setup without looking out of place. They’re seriously one of the most underrated organization products Ikea sells.

Here are some ideas for you:

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Seriously, so far we’ve gone over vertical organization with the peg boards and shelving units, along with horizontal organization using drawers, carts, and closet organizers. But these storage boxes are PERFECT for the random items you don’t use every day but still need somewhere to keep.

This could be anything from Christmas decorations and seasonal clothes to old textbooks, random wires, extra blankets, keepsakes, craft supplies, or honestly just those “I don’t know where else to put this” items everyone has.

I’ve found these work BEST in closets or under beds because they’re designed to stack perfectly on top of each other without taking up a ton of space. They make everything look way cleaner while also helping you avoid that messy “throw everything in the corner” problem.

They’re also super nice because you can separate everything by category (Get a labeler if your ADHD like me lol), which makes finding stuff SO much easier later on. Instead of digging through piles of clutter, you can actually keep your storage looking organized and intentional.

Here are some of my favorite ways people use them:

For example, one of my biggest problems was random clutter like wires, pens, pencils, papers, and notebooks. They were all things I barely used, but somehow they were ALWAYS making my room look messy. So for me, getting the lidded storage boxes was honestly the smartest first step because it gave all those random items an actual place to go.

Once I finally had all that organized, I started noticing what was still making my room feel cluttered — and for me, it was definitely my makeup and skincare products. That’s when I decided to get a utility cart, and honestly it completely changed my setup.

I organized everything by how often I use it, with the products I use the least on the bottom and my everyday essentials on the top. Not only did it make getting ready WAY easier, but it also made my room look so much cleaner and more aesthetic.

Honestly, once everything had its own place, my room started looking like something straight off Pinterest hahaha.

Honestly, getting organized doesn’t have to mean spending thousands of dollars or completely redoing your room overnight. A lot of the time, it’s just about finding smart storage that actually works for YOUR lifestyle and helps keep everyday clutter under control.

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, trying to survive dorm life, or just tired of feeling stressed every time you look at your room, these Ikea Essentials can seriously make such a huge difference. Once everything finally has its own place, your space starts feeling cleaner, calmer, and honestly way more put together.

For me personally, organization completely changed how my room felt. It stopped feeling cluttered and overwhelming, and started feeling like a space I actually enjoyed being in. Plus, when your room looks good, it weirdly makes you feel more productive and motivated too hahaha.

Hopefully this gave you some inspiration and ideas for organizing your own space! And trust me — once you start organizing, it becomes weirdly addictive.