Dale Aucoin

I recently did a complete estate cleanout and even after the estate sale, there were a lot of items to dispose of. After doing a lot of online research I finally found homes for all of the household and clothing items that were left. Some of the businesses in this list are non-profits, some are for profit, some you need to book months in advance, others are more readily available, but charge a fee. Some of these are local to New York City, but most also have a national presence.

If you live in a small space like I do, you sometimes need your furniture to serve double-duty by giving you extra space to store what you probably should just get rid of but can't. From hollow ottomans to beds that lift, this list has it all.

Spices and supplements can be a challenge because of their size and the number of objects you need to store. A good organizing system makes it easy to see everything and allows easy access. You don't want a system where you have to be searching and moving things around to find what you need. Hidden spices are lost spices.

Not all cabinets are created equal and we don't all have the money for a kitchen renovation so off-the-rack shelving units or risers are a great option. Basically with the right size and shape you can double your storage by creating a second level on the same shelf. Sure, sometimes you can stack things, but you're basically doubling your work when it comes to taking things out or putting things into your cabinets. Plus you're more likely to drop and damage your dishes. Make sure you measure carefully and find the one that fits. If you're using these under a sink, I recommend chrome or other non-wood options.

If you have drawers full of utensils and are constantly digging to find what you need, it doesn't have to be that way. These organizers are inexpensive and can make the difference between feeling like a mess and feeling in control. Measure carefully and make sure to get one that's smaller than the interior dimensions of the drawer. Use the space around the organizer for additional storage.

When you live in a small space you have to get creative and select furniture that serves multiple purposes, and/or folds away when not in use. I can't vouch for the quality of all of these items so do you homework. As with any of these assemble-yourself products, I always recommend a bit of wood glue on each join to keep things solid.

These are my favorite shoe storage options. I can't vouch for the quality of these since I haven't seen all of them in-person. Pro tip: if its made of wood and put together with screws, I always recommend adding a bit of wood glue to the joins to keep things solid.

These are a few products for the home that I use on a regular basis. From soap to trash bags and frying pans, the one thing they have in common is they're good for the environment, or minimize their impact on the environment in one way or another.

We're so lucky to have real Vegan restaurants in New York. I've been to all of the places in this list multiple times, and have always had good experiences.

These are a few of my favorite accessories for making your kitchen cabinets more accessible and organized

If you live in a studio and want more space or just want to turn a living space into an occasional spare bedroom, you need a Murphy Bed. I've created a list of a few offerings from some of the better known suppliers. You'll want to know your limits in terms of DIY as putting together a Murphy Bed is a big undertaking. If you're not up for the challenge, there are plenty of places that will do it for you, for a price.