10 Organizing Hacks for Gen Zers Moving into Their First Home

Gen Zers are taking their first steps into homeownership—and are willing to take on big changes to make it happen. Moving to a different state in search of more appealing housing markets is a valid strategy for Gen Zers. In fact, over 417K, or 19% of the Gen Zers who moved state-to-state in 2023, purchased a home shortly after relocating. States like Florida, Texas, and even pricy California are seeing tens of thousands of young Americans moving in and buying homes.

Moving into your first home, particularly after relocating to a new state, is a big deal. It’s the ultimate “adulting” moment—equal parts freedom, excitement, and stress. Chances are you don’t just want a home that’s functional; you want a space that reflects your personality, your aesthetic, and can hold your extensive emotional support water bottle collection.

Not sure where to start? Check out these ten organizing hacks tailored for Gen Zers to help you settle into your first place, keep your aesthetic on point, and make sure you actually know where your phone charger is when you need it.

Use every inch of wall space

Since buying a massive house straight out of college isn’t exactly the norm, most Gen Zers are working with rather small quarters. When floor space is prime real estate, the only other direction to expand your storage space is vertical. Floating shelves aren’t just practical—they’re perfect for showing off your favorite books, plants, and cool thrift-store finds. Over-the-door organizers work wonders for shoes, bags, or random things that don’t fit anywhere else, and hanging pegboards can keep your workspace from becoming a black hole of lost pens, memory sticks, and chargers.

Make your furniture work overtime

Gen Z is all about efficiency and flexibility, and that should apply to furniture, too. Double-duty furniture is your best friend. A couch that turns into a bed? Perfect for when friends crash. An ottoman with hidden storage? Great for all those “I’ll deal with this later” items. A foldable dining table? Ideal, because let’s be honest, half the time you’re eating on the couch anyway. Choosing furniture that works for your lifestyle—instead of taking up space for no reason—makes your home feel less like an obstacle course and more like a place where you actually want to hang out.

Rent a self-storage unit

Gen Z loves their stuff, from statement decor, book stacks, and trinkets to aggressively curated collections of mugs, sneakers, or vinyl records. That’s why self storage can be a total game-changer for this generation.

If your first home doesn’t have enough closet space for your necessities plus all your favorite items, renting a unit means you can still hold on to both. Whether it’s seasonal clothes, extra furniture, or those boxes of nostalgic childhood treasures you’re definitely not ready to part with, self storage lets you keep everything while still having room to breathe.

Keep the chaos in check with a digital command center

Planners are cute, but let’s be real—Gen Z is all about digital organization. Set up a Google Calendar for rent payments, utility bills, and when to water your plants (because let’s face it, you’ll forget). Use smart home assistants for reminders and timers and keep all your important documents saved in the cloud, not crumpled at the bottom of your tote bag.

Set up your closets the right way

Now it’s the perfect time to re-think the way you organize your closets, so that you can make the most of your wardrobe. Many of us are dealing with the same old problem: closets bursting at the seams, while simultaneously feeling like we don’t have anything to wear. However, a few simple tweaks can make a huge difference on both fronts.

A good first step is to organize your clothing by categories and by season, which makes it a lot easier to locate specific items. It sounds like a no brainer, but many of us don’t actually take the time to do it properly, which is a shame, because it truly makes a huge difference.

You could also try the reverse hanger method—hang all your clothes so that the open end of the hanger faces you. Every time you wear something, flip the hanger. After a few months, whatever’s still facing the original direction probably isn’t getting worn, and it’s time to donate, sell, or repurpose. It keeps your wardrobe fresh and gives you an excuse to go thrifting again—because obviously, that’s the real goal.

Organize by aesthetic

The easiest way to keep your space from looking like a chaotic mess? Group things by color, theme, or vibe. Your books, skincare, decor, even your fridge contents—if they’re arranged in a way that’s visually satisfying, you’ll be more likely to keep them neat. It’s the same logic behind rainbow-sorted bookshelves and perfectly organized pantries—when things look good, they just make sense. And let’s be real, it makes for a killer TikTok tour of your new place.

Create a drop zone so you never lose your keys and sunglasses again

Every home needs a “drop zone”—that magical spot where all the random things you need to leave the house actually stay put. Instead of frantically searching for your keys, wallet, and headphones every time you’re late, set up a designated space by the door with a bowl, tray, or small shelf where everything lives. Future you will be so grateful.

Don’t let your bathroom become a black hole of products

Gen Z loves a good skincare routine, but with all those serums, face masks, and “must-have” beauty buys, bathroom storage can escalate out of control fast. Drawer organizers, acrylic bins, and lazy Susans under the sink can save you from the horror of knocking over 12 bottles just to find your toothbrush. Keep only what you actually use every day within easy reach and stash the rest where it won’t take over your counter.

Turn decluttering into a habit

Instead of waiting for your space to become a disaster zone before cleaning it up, set a rule: Every time you buy something new, something else has to go. Got a new hoodie? Donate the one you haven’t worn in two years. Bought another scented candle? Maybe finish the other three first. Small, regular decluttering keeps your home feeling fresh without having to go full Marie Kondo every six months.

Make your home truly yours

At the end of the day, your first home should be a place that feels authentically you. Hang up your posters, fill the space with plants, play around with bold colors—do whatever makes you happy. Organization doesn’t mean your space has to look like a sterile Airbnb rental; it just means creating a system that works for your life. And when your home is both functional and fun to be in, that’s when you know you’ve nailed it.

Moving into your first home is an adventure, and getting organized doesn’t mean sacrificing your personal style. Whether you’re stacking storage bins, renting a self-storage unit for the “overflow,” or just trying to keep your space from looking like a tornado hit it, these hacks will help you settle in without losing your vibe.