We know how it is. You’ve got stuff. Important stuff like a snow dome collection, your grandmother’s cookbooks, knitting projects and toys. Toys upon toys. So you need ideas for your stuff. Do you want to show it all off? Put it in order? Or do you need to hide it away? We have easy, quick ways to do that and the really good news is that they’re all more exciting than plastic bins or gun-metal grey shelves. Here’s what we mean:

• Before You Buy: Organize Your Thoughts
• A Good Idea Is Worth Repeating
• Preventing Clutter Before It Happens
• More Storage, Big Style

Before you head for your Pier 1 store, it helps to make a list. (See? You’re making progress already. Lists are the hallmark of any organized person.) Ask yourself:

• What do you want to display? What do you want to hide?

  For treasures like memorabilia and favorite books, you’ll want open shelves with lots of display space.

  If you have lots of small items—toys, home office and craft supplies, guest towels—you might want a trunk or storage units with lots of drawers. Larger items like serveware or table linens sometimes require the deeper proportions of a cabinet.

  And if you need to restore order to a mudroom, entryway or hallway, you may need a storage piece that gives you a mix of open shelves for quick access to keys and phones plus drawers to hide the inevitable clutter.

• Work or play?

  Do you need storage for a home office that’s sometimes a guest room? Are you looking for a toy chest that can sit in the living room with adult furniture? Maybe even dining room storage that can look dressed up? Pier 1 has it. Ask us about new pieces that can multi-task or even mask their true function. All you have to do is make a note of room colors and décor and we can steer you to what will fit right in.

• Measure your space.

  You need to take advantage of every inch available. What will fit in your entryway without blocking the door? Even if you have shelves and you’re looking for all-purpose storage containers, measure shelf length so you’ll know how many you can line up on one shelf.

This is the designer approach: whatever you choose, grab several of the same pieces to create a unified, harmonious look.

You’ve seen the classic look—the shelf lined with multiple, identical baskets. But take it in new directions and to a new level.

If one hinged trunk is a good idea, two might be even better—they can double as matching nightstands while storing out-of-season sweaters. Line up three against a wall for storage that serves as extra seating.

Several matching shelving units look more impressive and less random than one. Who ever regrets having more storage space than they need? No one. At least, no one living in the real world.

Every home has them—spots where the traffic is especially heavy or the gravitational pull is extra strong so: clutter happens. Where is it in your home? How can you keep it away?

• Entryway: Maybe it’s as simple as a pedestal table for keys and mail. Maybe a tray for phones, newspapers, with a matching tray on the floor for shoes and totes.
• Bathroom: For countertops, novelty glass jars and even kitchen canister sets are excellent for cotton balls and swabs. Narrow shelves, a 3-drawer unit or a small, multi-tiered table can store towels without taking up much space.
• Bedside: For books, remotes and watches, look for nightstands or accent tables with bottom shelves. Add a carved lidded box to keep it all hidden. Another good option here: a magazine rack.
• Kitchen: One room, so many cookbooks, supplies and gadgets. Don’t even get us started on workspace or family calendars. A neat, unassuming desk with a basket might solve everything. Or, for a really cute catchall, try a scaled-down shelving unit with a few cubby holes.

Think of it. Collecting cool storage pieces could be your new hobby. It’s easy. There’s always something new at Pier 1—a dining room cabinet that looks like an exotic heirloom or a drawer unit with hand-woven accents. The fun thing is, once you go in search of stylish, unexpected pieces that can double as storage, you can find them nearly everywhere:

• Vintage—or vintage-like—luggage and trunks
• Hat boxes
• Restaurant supply shelves
• Souvenir trays
• Antique ice boxes
• Reclaimed school lockers
• Retro coolers and ice chests

You’re already thinking of more, aren’t you? Better make a list.