The Ultimate Labeling Guide For an Organized Home

I get questions about this all the time from people who are ready to get organized, baskets in hand, then pause at the very last step and ask, “Wait… what should the labels actually say?”

It seems simple, but the words you choose matter more than you think.

At The Orderly Space, we’ve learned that the magic of a truly organized home isn’t just in the bins or baskets, but in the language you use to define them. The right label brings clarity and consistency to your home. It helps everyone - from spouses to kids - instantly know where things belong.

Over the years, we’ve organized hundreds of homes across the Pacific Northwest - pantries, closets, garages, offices, playrooms - you name it. And after labeling just about everything you can imagine, we developed what we call our Label Language Standards: simple, specific wording that keeps every space feeling cohesive and easy to maintain.

So whether you’re ordering custom labels from our Etsy shop or creating your own at home, this guide will help you label with confidence - and create a home that not only looks beautiful, but functions beautifully, too!

Our Label Language Standards

A few things to keep in mind before you start labeling every bin in sight…

• Choose a consistent word like “Overstock” for bulk or excess items. For example: “Baking Overstock” or “Spice Overstock.”

• Keep your language consistent across categories. For example: Hair Care, Eye Care, Dental Care, etc.

• Choose broad categories that make sense for your family. No need to get overly specific!

• Avoid brand names when possible. A KitchenAid Attachments bin might make sense for your current items, but what if you switch to a different brand? Stick to non-brand names for longevity. Ex: Mixer Attachments > KitchenAid Attachments, Tissues > Kleenex, Vacuum Parts > Dyson Parts

Remember: this is a guide, not a rulebook. The goal is to create systems that make sense for you. Let’s dive in!

Pantry

When labeling bins within the pantry, we like to start with the basics… then layer in the specifics that fit your family’s lifestyle.

Common Pantry Category Labels:
Baking (Baking Mixes; Specialty Baking) • Bars • Bread • Breakfast • Canned Goods • Cereal • Chips • Crackers • Coffee • Condiments • Dinner • Drink Mixes • Drinks • Fruit & Nuts (Nuts & Seeds) • Grains • Pasta (Mac & Cheese) • Produce • Protein • Rice • Sauces • Smoothies • Snacks • Soup & Broth • Spreads • Sweets • Tea • Tomatoes

Pro Tip: Don’t over-label - think about how you actually use things! If “Snacks” works, you don’t need to break it down into five different bins.

Kitchen

Keeping this space organized is all about creating zones that work for your daily routines - from your morning coffee station to lunch prep to dishwashing.

Common Kitchen Category Labels:
Barware • Coffee Accessories • Dinner Mixes • Dishwasher Detergent • Dishwashing • Disposables • Food Storage • Garbage Bags (Waste Bags) • Grilling • Hosting • Kitchen Gadgets • Mixer Attachments • Paper Towels • Plant Care • Reusable Bags • Salt & Pepper (Seasoning Blends; Spice Blends) • Small Appliances • Supplements • Travel Mugs (To-Go Cups) • Vitamins

Bathroom

Between products, overstock, and that infamous under-sink zone - it’s one of the easiest areas to lose track of what you have. Keeping things contained by these categories (and labeled) will ensure nothing gets lost under the sink again!

Common Bathroom Category Labels:
Bath & Body • Body Care • Cotton • Eye Care • Dental Care • Facial Tissue • Feminine Care • First Aid (Bandages) • Hair Care (Accessories; Hair Tools) • Hand Towels (Towels; Washcloths) • Kids Medicine • Makeup • Medicine (Cold & Flu) • Nail Care • Personal Care • Shaving • Skin Care • Toilet Paper • Travel • Wellness

Laundry & Household Utility

Without a little structure, these storage spaces can easily turn into your home’s catch-all. But labeling by these categories will ensure that everyone in your household know exactly where to find things, and put them back!

Common Laundry & Household Utility Labels:
Batteries • Bedding (Blankets; Linens) • Candles • Cleaners (Bathroom; Floor; Specialty; Disinfectants) • Cleaning Rags • Cleaning Supplies • Dusting • Fabric Care (Apparel Care) • Floor Cleaning • Household • Laundry • Laundry Detergent • Lightbulbs • Manuals • Outdoor Skincare/Seasonal • Party Supplies • Pet Care (Pet Supplies) • Pillowcases • Sheets • Utility • Vacuum Attachments

Closet

Closets are personal - which means your labels should reflect your lifestyle, not someone else’s. A good labeling system brings order to all of it, so getting dressed feels effortless!

Common Closet Category Labels:
Accessories • Activewear (Athletic Bottoms; Athletic Tops) • Bras (Underwear) • Donate • Handbags (Bags; Backpacks) • Hats • Keepsakes • Long Sleeves • Loungewear • Pajamas • Pants (Jeans; Leggings) • Seasonal • Shapewear • Shorts • Skirts • Socks • Sports • Sweaters • Sweatshirts (Hoodies) • Swimwear • Tank Tops • T-Shirts • Too Big (Too Small) • Travel • Winter Gear

Pro Tip: “Too Big” and “Too Small” bins are a lifesaver for kids’ closets. For adults, a labeled “Donate” bin frees up space for what you truly love.

Office & Craft Room

From paperwork to craft supplies, the right categories make staying organized actually doable (and might even make working from home a little more productive!).

Common Office & Craft Room Category Labels:
Activity Books • Arts & Crafts (Crafts; Craft Supplies; Craft Kits) • Binder Accessories • Cards • Coloring • Electronics • Filing • Folders • Gift Wrap (Ribbons & Bows; Tissue Paper; Gift Bags) • Gifts • Mailers • Notebooks • Office Supplies • Paper • Photos (Photo Albums) • Printer Accessories • Projects • School (Work; Kids) • Stationery • To Do (To File; To Shred)

Pro Tip: Label by action - “To File,” “To Do,” and “To Shred” - to keep things moving instead of piling up.

Garage

The place where tools, paint, Costco overstock, and sports gear all somehow end up sharing the same shelf! The key here is zones for each activity or category of items, then labels to subcategorize.

Common Garage Category Labels:
Adhesives • Auto Care (Auto Parts) • Baby Gear • Biking (Bike Accessories; Cycling) • Camping (Fishing; Hunting; Outdoor) • Car Washing • Christmas Decor (Lights; Linens; Ornaments) • Chains (Straps & Rope) • Electrical • Exercise Equipment (Workout) • Extension Cords • Fasteners • Gardening • Hardware • Halloween (Holiday; Seasonal) • Home Decor • Home Repair • Lawn Care • Life Jackets (Inflatables) • Lighting • Outdoor Toys • Paint (Painting Supplies) • Pest Control • Safety Gear • Sports Equipment • Tools (Power Tools; Took Kits) • Water & Sand Toys • Winterize • Yard Games

Pro Tip: Store small items (like straps and rope) in clear containers within larger bins. You’ll thank yourself later!

Toys & Playroom

For parents, grandparents, and anyone who’s ever stepped on a Lego barefoot - this one’s for you. 😅

A well-labeled toy system helps kids learn independence and responsibility (and hopefully keeps you from repeating “pick up your toys” quite so often!).

Common Toy Category Labels:
Animals • Blocks (Building; Construction; Lego) • Books • Characters • Costumes • Dolls (Doll Accessories) • Games (Small Games; Card Games) • Kitchen • Learning • Music • Playsets • Pretend Play • Remote Control Toys • Puzzles • Sensory • Science • Stuffed Animals • Vehicles • Video Games

Pro Tip: Keep categories broad and easy for little ones to understand. If they can read it (or recognize it), they can clean it up.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the thing - there’s no “perfect” list of labels. The right ones are the ones that make sense for your home and your life.

Maybe your pantry is full of snacks and cereal, or maybe it’s stocked with baking mixes and canned goods. Maybe your garage needs bins for tools and paint, or maybe you have an entire area dedicated to holiday decor. Whatever your home looks like, your labels should fit the way you live, not the other way around.

And when everything has a place and everyone in your home knows where it belongs, that’s when organization starts to feel effortless.

Because that’s the real goal, isn’t it?
Less searching, less stress, and more peace.

Ready to bring that feeling home?
Shop our custom label collection on Etsy and start creating systems that actually stick! ❤️