The Best Plastic Storage Containers for Every Room

For many, a garage doubles as a catch-all storage room. Items are out of sight but still within reach. But this can become a safety hazard if you don’t have a good storage system in place. Clutter is easy to trip over and you want to keep tools and toys from banging into or rolling underneath your vehicles. You can spend more for more dynamic options like steel garage cabinets and storage systems, or you can save money and buy freestanding plastic garage shelves and a few heavy-duty storage bins. 

Visual clutter can overwhelm a garage, so opt for storage bins with opaque sides. Make easy-to-read labels to help organize them. If you live in an area with frequent rain or snow, choose water-resistant storage bins to help protect your items from the elements.

Consider yourself lucky if you’ve got a basement, as it’s an ideal room for storing out-of-season sports equipment, plastic camping gear, blankets packed inside vacuum-seal bags, plastic toys and anything else you don’t have room to store in your closets.

Like the garage, you’ll want to go with water-resistant storage bins. Basements can get damp and can also flood due to storms or a leaking hot water heater. 

Make sure your basement storage bins are also stackable. Plastic lids bend if too much weight is placed on them and they aren’t designed for stacking.

Like basements, attics are ideal for storing items you’ll only need once a year or less. Attics are even better for storing keepsakes and other sensitive items, they’re usually dry, and you don’t have to worry about flooding.

The issue with attics is access, so lifting heavy storage bins over your head or carrying them up rickety attic steps can be dangerous. Stick to small and medium-sized storage bins for your attic and make sure they are all well labeled, since months or years might go by before you access them again.

Plastic storage containers work wonders for organizing your kitchen. For example, you can place pasta, cereal and dry goods into clear sealable containers to prolong their shelf life. Using clear containers makes it easy to see when you need to add items to your grocery list too. In addition, smaller storage bins can help organize popular seasonings, and larger containers are great for storing small appliances and accessories.

Make use of the hidden space under your bed and on the top shelf of your bedroom closet to store seasonal clothing, hats, shoes and linens. Small clear storage bins will work in any closet and under bed storage containers can serve as convenient drawers if you don’t have any. A storage trunk can double as decor and storage. Use it to store things like extra blankets and spare linens. If you live in a small space, a bedroom closet might be your top storage option, so choose bins that are stackable and go vertical.

Keeping a kids' playroom organized is like digging in the sand. It can feel like an exercise in futility, but with the proper toy storage system, you can stay a bit more organized.

Clear containers are the way to go when storing kids' toys. You can instantly see the contents of each bin and how full it is. Choose lids that are easy to open and close so your kids can help you, or better yet, clean up for themselves. Opt for storage drawers to keep toys like building blocks, cars and dinos separated and organized. Open plastic storage bins are also a great solution that your kids will love as they provide easy access to all their toys.

Laundry room storage can take many forms, but plastic storage bins are among the most versatile options. Larger bins can be used to store extra detergent, while smaller bins can help organize dryer sheets and whatever else you might find in your kids' pockets.

Decorative bins and baskets add a design element to your laundry room and soften a utilitarian space. They are available in a variety of sizes, materials and colors to match your look.

Sheds are a great place to store tools, outdoor power equipment and camping gear. Tools are durable, but they’re susceptible to rust, and tents and sleeping bags can get moldy if not stored in a dry place. Large water-resistant storage bins work great in sheds and rolling storage bins work even better for moving heavy items around.

If you don’t have the budget or room for a shed, an outdoor plastic storage container is a great option. These are available in the form of freestanding storage cabinets or smaller deck boxes in a variety of sizes.

These outdoor storage containers won’t rot from exposure to sun or rain, and they can be disassembled and moved for use in various locations. Bikes, lawn mowers and lawn tools can fit into these durable structures. Some of them are also lockable if needed.