What Professional Organizers Tell Every Client to Buy

Clients always want to know: what do professional organizers actually tell everyone to buy? The fantasy is that there’s a single product, a silver bullet, that transforms chaos into color-coded peace. The reality is a little less glamorous and a lot more practical.

To get to the truth, we went straight to Sharon Lowenheim, Certified Professional Organizer and founder of Organizing Goddess in New York City. She’s taught organizing skills to over 400 clients since 2006, and she’s not in the business of hype. She’s in the business of what actually works.

The Two Things Sharon Recommends to Almost Every Client

Not fancy acrylic bins. Not bamboo baskets. Not something trending on TikTok. Sharon says her must-haves are Ziploc bags and Post-it Notes.

Ziplocs, she explains, are indispensable because they’re see-through and versatile. Quart and sandwich sizes corral small items, while gallon bags keep larger things together. “I love that they are see-through, so you don’t have to guess what’s inside of them. And you can write on them with a marker if more information is needed to identify the contents.”

Post-it Notes, meanwhile, do more than just hold reminders. They literally turn paper clutter into action. “Writing the ‘to do’ action on a Post It note, along with the due date if appropriate, turns an intimidating stack into an actionable pile.”

In other words: every client, every project, every time: Ziploc bags and Post-its make the list.

Budget-Friendly Organizing Tools That Deliver Big Results

Here’s where Sharon gets strict: don’t buy anything until the space has been cleared. Why? Because you probably already own perfectly serviceable containers.

She ticks off the usual suspects:

• Shoe boxes
• Food storage containers
• Mugs
• Random small boxes
• Even egg cartons (for paper clips and other office supplies)

Buying shiny new bins before decluttering is like buying groceries before checking your fridge. You’ll spend more than you need and end up with duplicates.

The Overhyped Organizing Product

Organizers have their red flags. Sharon’s? Baskets.

• They’re opaque, so you can’t see what’s inside.
• They’re usually open on top, which means dust.
• They’re bulky and awkward to slide off shelves.

Her alternative is simple: clear containers. Visibility means you won’t waste time wondering—or worse, rebuying—because you forgot what you had.

The Game-Changer for Drawers

Sharon admits she used to spend hours trying to find drawer organizers that actually fit. Spoiler: they never did.

“I rarely found a perfect fit and there were always compromises to be made,” she says. Then she discovered AnyDrawer. “Now, with AnyDrawer, I can customize the drawer organizer to exact specifications. I have already added AnyDrawer to two drawers in my own home and I’m eager to introduce the product to clients.”

That’s the shift: from endless compromises to exact dimensions, every time.

How to Keep Small Items Under Control

Loose cords and random clips are clutter kryptonite. They pile up fast, and you never remember what belongs to what.

Sharon’s solution is Ziploc bags—one per device. “They are especially good for keeping a manual with the various cords and accessories that come with an electronic device.” Everything stays together, and the junk drawer doesn’t turn into a cable graveyard.

What Pros Keep in Their On-Site Kits

Professional organizers don’t just show up with advice. Sharon comes armed with basics:

• Letter openers (to help clients finally deal with mail)
• Post-it Notes
• Rubber bands (especially for wrangling cables)
• A label maker, if the client doesn’t already own one

“Labeling what cords go with what electronic device will help you down the road when you pick up a pile of cables and wonder, ‘What are these for?’” That, right there, is the difference between temporary relief and long-term clarity.

Function vs. Aesthetics

Every client eventually asks the same question: Should this look pretty or just work? And every organizer has to play referee between Pinterest perfection and real-life practicality. Sharon’s answer is firm but flexible.

• Hidden storage: if it’s going behind closed doors—like a closet shelf, a cabinet, or a deep drawer—function wins. Sturdiness, ease of use, and long-term durability matter more than whether the bin comes in sage green or blush pink.
• Visible storage: when something is going to live out in the open, like on a bookshelf or countertop, aesthetics do come into play. Clients don’t want to look at an eyesore every day, even if it works beautifully.

That doesn’t mean aesthetics rule the day. “You want to harmonize with the client’s décor, as well as satisfy the client’s tolerance for what they feel comfortable displaying. However, function is still important even if aesthetics need to be considered.” The point: beauty is a bonus, but never at the expense of usability.

When the Right Product Transforms a Space

Sometimes one product can be the hinge on which an entire organizing project turns. Sharon’s case study is the Container Store’s Elfa system, which she’s used repeatedly for clients who had zero closets.

• The coat closet fix: one client had nowhere to hang coats in her apartment. Sharon installed Elfa on a short wall near the front door, instantly creating a dedicated spot for coats, hats, and gloves.
• The bedroom solution: another client and her husband had converted their living room into a bedroom. Sharon installed Elfa on both side walls—one for her, one for him—giving each their own “closet wall” without building anything permanent.

The genius of Elfa is that it adapts to spaces where traditional furniture can’t go. Shelves, rods, and bins hang right on the wall, turning blank surfaces into storage workhorses. For Sharon’s clients, it’s not just a system—it’s the difference between a home that feels temporary and one that finally feels functional.

The Bottom Line

So, what do professional organizers tell every client to buy? Not baskets. Not “miracle” gadgets. Just Ziploc bags, Post-it Notes, clear containers, and the occasional label maker.

Sharon Lowenheim proves that organizing isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about using what works, project after project. And when the space calls for it, the right custom solution—like AnyDrawer—earns a permanent spot on the pro’s must-have list.