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25 Home organization tools for ADHD adults that really work (and some that don’t):

This list of organization tools for ADHD adults includes many of my favorite products. While many of them work well specifically for ADHD brains, some are excellent organizing products that everyone can benefit from and I use many of them with my clients frequently.

Whether we’re talking ADHD or not, there are organizing products out there that seem like great ideas but don’t work well in the real world. They’re either clunky, difficult to maintain, or not all that functional.

So what makes an organizing system ADHD-friendly?

It is important to find solutions that are simple, low-maintenance, and visual. For many of us with ADHD we have to be able to see something to remember to do it. That’s why clear containers and open-topped bins are helpful.

Overly complex organizational systems end up contributing to your stress. Simple systems that are low maintenance are best. For example, do you really have the patience to sort and fold every pair of socks that you own into individual compartments? Will you actually keep refilling and labeling those clear spice bottles you bought? Ditch high-maintenance products.  

You are much more likely to keep up with this system. For those with ADHD, it is best to organize things so they are easy to find, retrieve, and put away with minimal effort.  

Having the right organizational tools and systems in place can be the primary difference between staying on top of things and feeling in control, and having clutter and chaos take over the whole house. So without further ado, here are my top 25 home organization tools:

Organization tools for ADHD adults: Kitchen, Pantry, Mudroom, Entry/Exit Doors:

1. Lean into where things seem to gather rather than constantly moving things to a different location.

If shoes seem to end up by the back door, put a shoe rack there. If coats or backpacks constantly land on the chair near the front door, install a hook rack on the wall near there.  

2. Create a system by the exit door to remember the items that need to go with you each day. 

This serves as a visual reminder for you and your family not to forget important items. Place anything you need to take with you, lunches, backpacks, instruments, coats, sports gear, etc. there to grab as you are walking out the door.  If you don’t have built-in storage or a mudroom for this, consider a freestanding bench and coat rack with built-in storage.

3. Create a visual system for keeping track important appointments.

To keep you and/or your family organized, hang a magnetic calendar on your frig. This will give you a visual calendar and a central hub where you can jot down appointments, and deadlines.

4. You may want to consider a digital family calendar system.

If you have a busy family and want to go a little more high-tech, the skylight calendar,  helps families stay on top of everything that needs to get done each week. This will ensure that nothing is forgotten and there are no overlapping appointments.

5. Control household paperwork clutter.

Does paperwork clutter your kitchen counter? Get some decorative baskets or bins to hide it in or put a hanging paperwork organizer on a nearby wall. Use my free paperwork management flowchart to set up a simple system for keeping household paperwork organized.

6. Store things vertically for easy access.

See what can be stored standing up. Things that are stored upright are always easier to access and put away and take up less room. This is especially true in the kitchen. I installed a wire rack in the cabinet above my frig., which saves me a ton of space. Where can you install one?

7. Separate and containerize to find things easily. 

Use clear plastic bins  in your pantry to keep related food categories together. Using containers will go a long way in keeping your pantry organized. And the clear bins will allow you to see and find everything quickly. Label the bins so that family members are discouraged from tossing things in the wrong bins these are the pantry labels I like to use.

8. If you can’t find and grab it quickly, find a simpler way to store it.

Avoid stacking too many things on top of each other or placing frequently used items in hard-to-reach areas. Use an expandable tiered shelf to store spices and canned food so you can see everything you have.

For those with ADHD, kitchen clutter is more overwhelming than it is for those with neuro-typical brains. So it is important to take a critical eye to every single thing you own. Take time to go through your drawers and cabinets and get rid of anything you don’t use or have too many duplicates of. This will make all of your storage space more functional and user-friendly.

9. Keep everyone’s electronic devices organized.

Assign a designated home for all devices. This multi-device organizer dock neatly corrals and charges everyone’s phones and iPads keeping everything tidy and contained.

Organization tools for ADHD: Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and Closets:

10. Don’t micro-organize.

Place shoebox-sized bins inside your dresser drawers and on closet shelves to keep like items together. Place 2 or 3 smaller bins inside your sock drawer to toss all your unfolded socks into, sorted by color. Fancy sock organizers are pretty but too high-maintenance for most ADHD brains. Besides, who sees your sock and underwear drawer other than you?

11. Try this if you struggle with using dresser drawers and need something more visual.

Keep your clothing visual so that you can see and find what you have quickly using open front cubbies. Add these to your closet or bedroom in place of a dresser.

12. Avoid products that allow you to cram more stuff into your closet but arn’t user-friendly.

Convoluted multi-item hangers and flimsy canvas hanging shelves require too much work to use, so they are not functional. Instead, do some closet decluttering so that your clothing easily fits in your closet. Fancy wood hangers are expensive space hoggers. I recommend the velvet hangers, they are well made and the velvet coating stops slick or wide-necked clothing from slipping off the hanger.

13. ADHD-friendly storage for accessories.

Store similar items like purses and scarves together in open-topped storage bins to keep them together. Remember to store items vertically to make things easier to see and retrieve. Hang belts together using hooks or a belt organizer. 

14. Add additional shoe storage.

If your closet does not have ample shelving for your shoes, (builders often skimp on this) add a sturdy shoe shelving unit. Avoid flimsy shoe units or ones with slanted shelves, they are not as functional since shoes often slide off of them.  

15. Add easy-to-use hooks to the backs of doors and inside closets.

 Install hooks and start using them to hang often-worn items like robes, PJs, or the outfit you plan to wear tomorrow.

16. Keep your bathroom countertops and other flat surfaces from looking cluttered.

If your flat surfaces are filled with stuff, this will make the whole room look cluttered. Use a rotating decorative bin to corral often-used items together. This will keep things contained but visual so that you can see them and remember to use them without cluttering your surfaces. 

Organization tools for ADHD adults: Productivity

17. To get your day started on the right foot, get all your to-do’s out of your head and down in one place.

I honestly think that the simpler the daily planner the better. This Daily Planner Notepad is specifically made for those with ADHD. When you sit down and get all your to-dos on paper, it not only helps you be more productive and organize your day, but as you check each item off your list, you can clearly see that you’re getting things done, which feels good.

18. Use your Google or Outlook calendar on your phone to remind you to do household tasks.  

This is especially helpful for tasks that you don’t like to do or don’t need to do frequently. Once you get something on the calendar, it is more likely to get done. I also sync my calendar to my email so I get an additional reminder to get the job done.

19. One of the most common and helpful organization tools for ADHD adults is a timer.

If you tend to get distracted while using your phone as a timer try a Timer Cube to help you get things done.

20. Find a good ADHD productivity app and actually use it.

There are several good productivity apps out there that have been recommend by others with ADHD. Brain Focus, Todoist, and Ticktick are all good examples. The biggest challenge those with ADHD have with using a productivity app lies not in finding the right one, but sticking to and using it.

21. Block distractions when you need to get serious about getting things done.

Find a quiet, clutter-free space to work where you won’t be easily distracted. Those with ADHD struggle more with tuning out background noise than others. Use noise-canceling headphones to stay focused when you need to.

Tools for ADHD adults: Cleaning & Laundry

22. Find a reminder device that works well for helping you remember to do laundry or cleaning tasks.

If you have an Alexa device for your home, you can turn it into a helpful tool for reminding you to do important cleaning and laundry tasks.  Ask Alexa to remind you to vacuum the house, take out the trash, or do a 10-minute tidying session. Use a timer lanyard you can keep around your neck to remind you to switch out the laundry.

23. Consider automation possibilities to help you keep up from week to week.

Investing in an automatic vacuum like a Roomba can help you vacuum each week. I have one and love that it saves me 45 minutes of vacuuming several times a week.

24. Make getting laundry into a hamper super easy to do.

Place a hamper in every closet, and bathroom to make it super easy for everyone to toss laundry into, rather than onto the floor.

25. If trash buildup is a problem in your home, place an open topped trashcan in every single room to make for easy dumping.

A big open-topped trashcan in every room with trash build-up will act as a visual reminder to remind others to use it. You can also place one in your garage as a reminder not to leave your car without cleaning it out first.

Conclusion:

As someone with ADHD, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to stay organized. But with the right tools and systems in place, it is possible to create a relatively calm, organized, and functional home. Keep in mind though, that it is best to remain flexible because no home with ADHD in the mix is likely to be perfect.

I hope that by sharing these ADHD-friendly organization tools, I can help make your life a little bit easier too. Because you deserve to feel empowered, productive, and in control.

Feeling Stuck?

Schedule a coaching call, virtual organizing session, or a home assessment with me, and get the support and encouragement you need to move forward.