Upgrading my underbed purse storage with this one item forced me to finally declutter and overhaul my collection

For as long as I can remember, I've had a tired, large, zipped bag holding my purse collection under my bed, but I recently decided it was time for an upgrade.

This collection included purses from years ago, random straps and handles, and even an odd sock, and was not only taking up valuable storage space, but was ripped, too, and therefore failing to protect my purses.

I decided to clear the unnecessary items and finally upgrade my storage ideas to something a little more suitable, so the purses I decided to keep had a proper and suitable home with a plastic lidded bin. The rigidity of the new solution forced me to declutter, and honestly, I'm not mad about it.

Why I decided to upgrade my underbed purse storage to a plastic bin

My underbed purse storage was a well-worn bag with a broken zip and a huge tear, so I upgraded it to a Sterilite Plastic Storage Bin available at Wayfair. I have previously used these storage boxes elsewhere in my home for my shoes and off-season clothing and found them to be sturdy and fit for purpose.

And, while swapping out this old bag I'd held onto for so long, I decided I wanted to implement a storage solution that didn't just help to organize my purses, but actually helped to protect my purse collection, too. Therefore, lidded plastic bins were a no-brainer, and luckily I had an empty one already lying around at home.

Like me, Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved here at Homes & Gardens also banishes stubborn mess with clear organizing bins all around her home, and says they've 'transformed' her storage spaces for the better.

She says, 'In a busy household, it can be so difficult to keep things neat, tidy and organized, and traditional underbed storage solutions can often lead to items getting lost or misplaced.

'While they're great for clothing, particularly when labelled, I recommend plastic bins instead when it comes to purse storage. That way, you can keep stock of your collection and find what you need quickly, without rifling around under your bed when in a rush. It also protects them from indoor pests.'

The first logical step to me was decluttering, so I began by hauling my huge bag out from under my bed and emptying the entire contents out on the landing. I like to think visually, so the chaos decluttering method is perfect for me, and was particularly so in this instance.

Then, I went through item by item, and used the pile decluttering method to separate my whole collection into keep and donate, with the odd one also finding its way into my younger sister's wardrobe.

As my plastic bin of choice was considerably smaller and certainly more rigid than my previous storage solution, I knew I had to cut my collection down, and this really helped me to get motivated to declutter.

Before long, a huge pile of bags ready for donation had grown, many more than I expected when setting out to get rid of at least one, in accordance with the 'one-in, one-out' rule, after purchasing a new purse while on holiday recently.

Then, I was able to pop my purses into my plastic bin, storing tote bags and backpacks by folding them up neatly, laying the rest flat, and snapping the lid on to keep them secure, and protected from dust and moths.

Now, when I go to find a specific purse I have in mind, they're organized and accessible, and I can see exactly what's where with a quick glance, thanks to the clear sides of my plastic bin. Really, my only qualm with this organizational upgrade is that I wish I did it sooner!

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All prices were correct at the time of publication.

While I love storing my purses in mine, there are a number of things you should never store in plastic bins, from important documents and valuables to food.