The TikTok Trend That Keeps Essentials Organized & Within Reach At All Times

It's a daily saga: moving from room to room with your essential items so you can keep everything you need nearby, only to have to relocate the collection every time you visit another spot in the house. If toting around items like your phone, chargers, wet wipes, personal care items, and even your snacks and drinks has become a task all in itself, it may be time to consider getting yourself a helper. No, this doesn't mean you have to hire a personal assistant (or rope a family member into it). Although carrying a tote around the house sounds odd to some, organizing supplies in a house purse is a popular trend that makes grabbing what you need easier. Instead of using a typical purse, though, upgrading to a caddy allows you to place your collection anywhere and have a sturdy vessel to keep it safe while also minimizing household clutter.

If you're having trouble envisioning what one of these would look like and why anyone would want one, just picture a shower or cleaning caddy, and consider how easy it is to fill and haul these around. Popular options like the straightforward Casabella Plastic Multipurpose Storage Caddy or the more compact AOZITA Multiuse Caddy Organizer are large enough to hold a variety of items. The handles let you grab and go, and the compartments inside have room for anything you regularly use. While a simple cart can completely change your house decluttering process, a smaller tote will also keep your most-used clutter in one place so it's ready when you need it.

People have been upcycling or reusing these organizer caddies for storage all over their homes, but following the house purse trend ensures you'll get everyday use from yours. Your first step is to find the caddy type that suits your needs. While you certainly want the luxury of a carrier that can hold larger items, like water bottles, electronics, books, and planners, you don't want anything overly cumbersome. Caddies come in a variety of materials, including plastic mesh wire and even wood or wicker, but you could also repurpose items like an unused tote bag or, if you only need to hold smaller supplies, an old makeup bag.

What you store in these and how makes all the difference. For a tote that you plan to carry around with you everywhere, you want a space to keep your phone as well as any chargers and electronics that you use regularly. If you like to read when you're just hanging out, this is a good place to keep your e-reader or book. Keep lotion, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes handy inside this as well. If you have kids or pets, holding onto a stain remover will catch a lot of spills and mess. Lastly, you can find a space for your water bottle to ensure you always stay hydrated.

Remember, you're not necessarily aiming for style here, but you can try to find more fashionable options that will blend with your aesthetic. Just because this is supposed to be a functional accessory doesn't mean it can't be painted or upgraded to match your home. Some options come in fairly neutral colors, while others are bright and bold. If you need to cover the exterior of one of these, get as creative or understated as you want. While painting the caddy is a great option, you could also see this as a creative way to use decoupage, contact paper, or decals for an even more unique look. By making it less utilitarian, you may be able to turn your house purse into decor, taking some of the focus away from the fact that there's a tote that might otherwise be considered out of place in the room.

Having a place to store your caddy in various rooms may also help keep it out of the way but still handy whenever you need it. This could be in between two pieces of furniture, under a table, or even inside a larger basket you keep for storage. These are good areas to also keep your caddy if you don't need it at all so you can easily find it again. And just likely learning how to properly stock your cleaning caddy, once you know what to keep in your essentials tote, you will never find yourself going from room to room in search of them again!