We have all been prone to falling for a trend here and there – be it a closet ‘essential’ or a cookery gadget. The worst ones, however, are usually trendy storage pieces that don't last.
Not only are they a waste of money, but they also take up space and can make your home even more difficult to organize, and experts say they need to go.
Here, they shed some light on the trendy storage pieces making your home organizing ideas harder to actualize, and the useful, durable, stylish pieces to replace them with, while the sales are in full swing.
5 trendy storage pieces you need to replace
Most organizing trends can help you build more helpful habits, but the rise of social media means that there are some storage ‘essentials’ that are really just a money grab in disguise.
To help you pick the fabulous from the fodder, Laurie Hise, founder of Passionate Penny Pincher, reminds us, ‘Effective organizing goes beyond aesthetics; it prioritizes practicality, affordability, and simplifying daily routines. Rather than following every storage fad, concentrate on straightforward, cost-effective methods that genuinely improve functionality.’
With that in mind, these are the five you may want to replace with something a little more practical.
1. Over the door organizers
Adding drawers to your closet for small items can mitigate the need for over door storage.
We are always looking for smart ways to use vertical storage to save space, however, it turns out that over-the-door storage is not the best tool for the job. In fact, they are now one of the many things pro organizers wish you wouldn’t spend your money on.
Jennifer Williams, professional organizer and owner of Saint Louis Closet Co. begins, ‘Over the door shoe organizers became a trending hack solution for everything from organizing cleaning supplies to snacks. The problem with this is that they create visual clutter and often aren’t built to support the weight or variety of items being stuffed into them.’
Sandy Eaton, professional home organizer at New Day Organizing, agrees, adding, ‘Those inexpensive over-the-door pocket organizers ($10-15) seem like a great way to use dead space, but they are among the most disappointing products.
'The cheap fabric sags immediately. Items fall out when you open and close the door, and the thin material tears at the seams in months. Even upgraded versions with more structure ($30-60) may still look messy when not attached to the door correctly or when too much weight is added.’
To solve the problem, Jennifer suggests ‘replacing them with custom adjustable shelving or pull-out baskets inside cabinets or closets. It’s a cleaner, more durable solution.’
Plus, you never have to worry about which things to never store in an over-the-door organizer again, for more intuitive storage.
Available in four wood finishes and custom sizes, these custom pull-out drawers make the most of every corner of your cabinets and keep items easily accessible. This can be a great addition to a tall cabinet with dead vertical space, or deep ones that are not accessible.
For more practical spaces such as attics, garages, and sheds, use adjustable, stable shelving units such as this one from Wayfair. They are 10 times more durable than over-door hangers, and keep the rest of your home looking neat and tidy.
If you have to use over-door storage due to a lack of space, opt for sturdy metal hangers that can be fixed to the inside of cabinet doors to reduce visual mess in your home.
2. Designer fabric baskets
Pick baskets with structure for more robust storage.
We want to be clear here – we are not dismissing all storage baskets as trendy. So long as you use storage baskets correctly, they are an absolute essential for keeping your home in order.
However, as Jennifer continues, ‘Woven baskets and fabric bins are popular because they look great on shelves and in open storage systems. But many people underestimate how impractical some of them can be. Some of these baskets often lack structure, making them bad for stacking or holding oddly shaped items.’
Laurie agrees, saying, ‘Pretty to look at, sure, but honestly, they can be pricey and don't hold up well. They get all saggy and messy-looking, especially when you load them up. You're much better off grabbing some clear, solid plastic bins with lids [such as the clear weather-tight totes from The Container Store, which come in eight sizes].
'They keep their shape, stack great, and keep everything dust-free. Want to make them look nice? Just slap on some cheap peel-and-stick labels.’ The Avery color-coding labels from Walmart can add an extra touch of organization without any fuss.
3. Egg containers
Keeping the original containers also helps you keep tabs on expiration dates.
Managed to get your hands on some eggs in America in 2025? Meghan Cocchiaro, founder and lead organizer of Organized by Meg, urges you to leave them in their original container when organizing a refrigerator.
She laments, ‘Come on, people! If you are choosing a rolling egg or drawer storage type, this is only practical if you are grabbing only one or two eggs at a time, or else you risk dropping some on your way to the stove.
'If you choose a clear storage egg container (with or without a lid) so that you can see the quantity inside, you now have to "decant" your eggs from their carton with each purchase to place them inside a heavier egg container that you now have to carry to the stove.
‘This, to me, is an example of over-organizing your home – it may look nice and follow social media trends, but it is a waste of time and money.’
If you do want to add a little bit of extra organization to your fridge, pick products that make better use of the space, such as stackable plastic drawers that can keep loose items neat while making use of vertical shelving height.
4. Stackable can organizers
Keep pantry organizers simple to make mid-week cooking a breeze.
Social media is rife with tricks for organizing canned goods so you can actually find them, but there are some solutions that are useless if you want to organize a pantry and keep a kitchen practical.
Laurie says, ‘Those fancy pantry racks that promise ultimate organization? They're often more hassle than help. They're designed for one can size, but most kitchens have a variety, which means cans don't fit well. Plus, good luck getting a can from the bottom without everything falling over.
‘You'd be better off with some deep bins or open baskets [we like the slim stackable storage bins from Walmart, which can keep cans grouped by type]. Use some labels on them, and you'll find stuff easily and keep your pantry neat.’
Rather than group cans, consider using shelf risers to add height to your kitchen shelving so you can see what's stored at the back easily, and offering versatile storage for anything from tins to dinnerware.
For shorter shelves, use a tired riser to elevate tins at the back of a pantry, so you can easily see and grab what you need.
To make better use of cabinet corners, add a lazy Susan. They are a great option for taller bottles that hide behind one another on flat shelving, so you never lose track of your stock. These work well in fridges, too.
5. Vinyl print-out labels
Keep labels simple to save time when organizing.
A label maker is one of those tools that all the most organized people have in their homes, but it is possible to take things too far, usually by using vinyl printers to custom-design labels with fancy fonts, colors, and designs.
Mindy Godding, president at the National Association of Productivity and Organizing professionals, says, ‘Craft vinyl label makers (like Cricut) laser-cut intricate shapes into customizable designs and fonts. They enable high design creativity but are fussy.
'Many vinyl label makers that are marketed to crafters require infinite dexterity and patience, as you must peel out each small cutout of negative space. For people who want the utility of custom labels without the fuss of fancy fonts, a standard, no-frills label maker is usually sufficient.
‘With the rise of social media and resulting aesthetic organizing trends, we want to be able to choose fonts that appeal to our client and match their aesthetic. We always look for label makers that are capable of producing a spectrum of fonts that can be customized.
'Since we are creating labels on the spot in our clients’ homes, efficiency and ease of use are valuable features as well. I recommend the Brother P-Touch Cube [available at Walmart] as the best option that checks all of these boxes.’
Alternatively, you can keep it super simple with peel-and-stick labels from Walmart and some colored Sharpies, also from Walmart.
Meet the experts
Since starting on blogspot back in 2009, Laurie has used Passionate Penny Pincher to helped millions of folks save money all over their homes.
Besides being a CEO, Jennifer is an organizing and home-improvement expert. She is also a member of the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals.
Since being set up five years ago, Organized by Meg, an in-home full-service professional home organizing company, has helped busy women and families quit tidying habits that hinder their happiness.
Sandy is a certified home organization specialist with over five years of experience who helps busy professional women transform their chaotic homes into peaceful, functional spaces.
While you are re-outfitting your home for improved organization, consider picking up some of the storage products professional organizers can’t live without. They are staples for a reason and will ensure you do not end up wasting your time and money again.
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