I Sent a Home Stager to IKEA with $40 — Here’s How She Fixed My Fridge Storage

It may seem basic to recommend a container for food, but the basics matter, and the type you use really can make a difference. Meal prepping with sad, warped plastic containers can feel depressing, but this elegant, stackable, glass container with a bamboo lid can make your weekly ritual of chopping, portioning, and planning feel a lot nicer. Rapp sums it up nicely: “Food storage is a must, and [as a] bonus, it’s pretty!”

Rapp isn’t just a home stager — she’s also a professional organizer, so she knows her stuff. “Containing ‘like with like’ is key in getting organized, but also staying organized,” she explains, and this advice will serve you well, whether you’re tidying up your kitchen, yard, or to-do list. This $4 clear, stackable bin comes with a lid and is designed to go in your fridge. Use them with the lid to group together smaller items like fruits and without the lid to corral taller options like sauces and drinks.

I love a lazy Susan. Having a full fridge can be a great thing, but there can be downsides, including accidentally knocking over jars and bottles every time you need to grab something from the back of the fridge. “Lazy Susans or ‘turntables,’” Rapp says, can be the perfect solution “for all those condiments,” as you can rotate them for easy access, no matter how far back your hot sauce is. Plus, you can get multiple and use some for your cupboards or countertops, too.

Freezers are a beautiful invention, but because things last so long in there, food clutter can pile up fast. You know you have chicken thighs in there, but where? These simple, affordable boxes can make a big difference. “These are the best for freezers to keep breakfast foods separate from dinner meats,” says Rapp; take her lead and label and categorize each container by mealtime, type of food, expiration date, or whatever makes your life easier.

This is one of the newer offerings from IKEA’s KLIPPKAKTUS storage series. The box is clear, so you can easily see everything in it, and it is designed specifically with ventilation holes. This makes it an ideal choice “for larger fruits and veggies,” Rapp says, like broccoli, bundles of leafy greens, and ears of corn. And if you’ve already mastered the art of produce storage, it could also serve as a handy addition to your bath or shower, as it’ll drain easily as well.

When it comes to glass jars, the possibilities are endless — especially when your jar has an attached lid with an airtight seal. Jars like this one, says Rapp, “will ensure visually you are not overcrowding or cluttering your fridge,” especially if you tend to buy bulk items. If you started out with, say, a liter of pasta sauce and now have much less, transferring what’s left from a large tub to a simple jar will look nice and free up precious shelf space.