<p>H and I are planning a trip to IKEA (the closest one is about an hour away). We are is search of some things that will heip us stay organized . . . Anything in particular we should look for?</p>
<p>I got a low and wide bookcase, where I can store file cabinets.</p>
<p>Around the winter holidays, I bought coloring kits with paints, pencils, markers, plus stuffed animals, and other toys for the young kids in my family.</p>
<p>S bought the cube shelving unit and a few rattan baskets that fit neatly in the cubes.</p>
<p>I love their desklamps, but if you get one make sure you buy bulbs. They often aren’t included and are “odd” so spares are hard to come by.</p>
<p>Over the years we have purchased various types of storage boxes in several materials (cardboard with patterns, fabric covered one D1 kept under her bed at college, some small plastic ones for storing items in my home office).</p>
<p>One thing not to buy is the rubber spatulas (flat ones in color). Ended up with red rubber in my scambled eggs with one of those. They apparently are not meant for use with a heated pan.</p>
<p>Other things we like from Ikea (not storage, though): comforter covers and a drying rack for our laundry room.</p>
<p>I LOVE the nylon storage cubes (either large or small in varying sizes) for closet storage. They fold flat and have a zipper in the bottom. Come black or ivory. Large are great for clothing storage on shelves and the small ones organize your dresser drawers. and pretty cheap too!.
IKEA has great book cases too.</p>
<p>I like to pick up one of the bamboo plants each trip - cheap, like $1.99! Pick up one of the inexpensive squareish glass containers and a bag of their small stones and you’ve got a cute live plant - D1 also bought one for her dorm room each year - she liked having something to take care of. :)</p>
<p>Simple picture frames. </p>
<p>Cotton dish towels - the white ones with a red stripe down one side - I think they are under a dollar - they have a loop for hanging so we keep one by the back door to dry off doggies paws after walks. 
I use them for cleaning, for cleaning the stainless steel appliances, etc. - very handy, and they wear well!</p>