Simple Closet Makeover with White Bins
I ended up taking a page from Benita Larsson’s book. If you’re not familiar, Benita is the talented organizer behind Chez Larsson, and I’ve always admired the clean, functional, and beautiful simplicity of her Scandinavian-inspired spaces. This quick closet refresh reminded me of that calm, organized aesthetic.
The catalyst was a small bedroom rearrangement that left the closet directly in my line of sight from the bed. Before, the pile of baskets and half-folded clothes had never bothered me, but seeing them every night before sleep became increasingly distracting. I wanted a cleaner, lighter look—something consistent on every shelf.
Originally I considered classic white baskets, but while browsing the organizing section at Ikea I spotted a stack of simple plastic containers that are actually designed for waste sorting. Their straight lines and smooth surfaces clicked with the aesthetic I wanted. I grabbed six and flipped them so the handle indent faced inward—visually cleaner and less busy. They still slide out easily like drawers and now hold socks, underwear, pajamas, shirts, and shorts.
I also took the opportunity to declutter: donating an old shredder and moving a booster seat to the attic with other outgrown kid gear. With a few minutes of tidying and organizing, the closet transformed from messy to orderly. The consistency of the bins gives the space a calm, cohesive appearance and makes it much easier to find things at a glance.
Here’s the top section before the update:
And the top after:
Here’s the bottom before:
And the bottom after:
We considered labeling the bins with dry-erase markers—perhaps a loose, scripty font for a personal touch—but for now John finds his things without labels. Most of the items in these bins belong to him; my clothing stays in the dresser in our bedroom. We’re both enjoying the simplified look, and I especially appreciate the view from the bed. Bedtime routines are a little more peaceful now.
John: Goodnight Burger, goodnight lady-wife. I love you.
Sherry: Goodnight Burger, goodnight hubs. I love you.
(silence)
Sherry: Goodnight new bins. I love you.
John: (audible eye roll)
At $6.99 per bin, the total cost of this little closet makeover was about $40. That’s not insignificant, but it’s a reasonable investment for a tidy, wipeable solution that feels more modern and easier to maintain than woven baskets. The plastic bins can be cleaned quickly and won’t trap dust the way natural fibers sometimes do.
If you’re thinking about a similar update, here are a few simple tips for a successful, budget-friendly closet refresh:
- Start by removing everything unnecessary—donate or store items you no longer use to free up space.
- Choose uniform containers for visual consistency; identical bins create a calm, organized look.
- Flip or reorient containers if a specific side looks cleaner; small adjustments make a big difference visually.
- Consider temporary labels like dry-erase markers so you can change categories as needs evolve.
- Select materials that are easy to wipe down—plastic or metal work well in high-traffic closets.
This little project proved how a focused, affordable change can improve both the function and the feel of a room. Have you made any small organizational swaps that dramatically improved a space? Have you repurposed containers intended for one use into storage solutions elsewhere? I’d love to hear what worked for you.
P.S. If you want more organizing inspiration, check out the archive of posts on cleaning and organizing for additional ideas and step-by-step projects.