Fight Clutter With An Organizer System 

You're running out of space in your house.

Clothes and shoes are strewn everywhere in your bedroom. The kids' toys seem to be taking over the house. And your mail and important paperwork? Good luck finding a new nook to store all that.

You need some kind of organizer system.

An organizer system will keep everything in the proper place -- and keep things out of sight from visitors.

But in spite of all the options on the market, it can still be difficult to find the best organizer system that suits your needs, will last for years to come and also fits your budget.

Here are a few things to consider before you buy:

Budget

First, decide what your budget will allow.

If you're looking to buy a custom-made organizer, a professional will come to your house, take the necessary measurements, get your input, and then start working. That, of course, can be expensive.

You can also build your own organizer system, which will save money. Whether it's a mom and pop shop or a big box store, most hardware stores will have everything you need to build your own organizer system.

Decide what you need it for

Organizer systems will help you stay organized, will save time and help stave off clutter.

If you're just looking to keep your bills and mail out of sight and organized, a plastic organizer system may be the way to go.

But if you're looking to organize your closets, solid wood organizer systems are probably what you're looking for.

Types of organizer systems

� Canvas: Canvas is a popular type of organizer system for your closet. Canvas is good for storing loose articles of clothing, like T-shirts, and shoes. Canvas organizers come in different colors and are easy to move around, but they're not very sturdy.

� Plastic: A plastic organizer system is good for storing things like your kids' arts and crafts, mail and can even be used in your closets.

Like canvas, plastic organizer systems are easy to transport and inexpensive, but they're not very sturdy.

� Wire: Wire organizer systems are sturdier than canvas or plastic, can be assembled yourself, and are relatively inexpensive.

You can buy the materials for your wire organizer system to fit your exact specifications, but they may be a challenge to disassemble.

� Wood: A good, solid wood organizer system will last longer than most of your other options.

You can have wooden shelves custom made right inside your closet for things like shoes, shirts or shorts and pants. You can utilize the space below your hanging clothes and for a wooden dresser or other organizer system.

Wood is sturdier than the other materials, and most wooden closet systems are relatively easy to assemble (although some come preassembled). For a look at some wooden closet organizer options, check out Solid Wood Closets' Web site.

Wood can also be used outside of closets, for example if you need a pantry for the kitchen.