Find your inner calm by containing your clutter

Can organizing your batteries make you happy?

Gretchen Rubin believes it can. Because little things do matter.

Rubin is the author of seven books, including best-sellers "The Happiness Project" and "Happier at Home." Her books have sold more than 2 million copies, she writes a popular blog, and she does a weekly podcast with her sister to share practical tips, good habits and life hacks.

She's continually exploring and identifying ways to build a happy life. Orderliness is one of them.

"Outer order contributes to inner calm," she says, "really more than it should."

Rubin says getting control of stuff can make you feel good. She's happy to tell you how doing a small chore, such as finding the perfect-size dog food storage container, gives her a surge of energy and a feeling of accomplishment. "A crowded coat closet may be trivial, but when people get control of the stuff in there, they feel lighter, empowered and ready to tackle big tasks," Rubin says.

She feels strongly that your home should be a restorative place, the cradle of your happiness - and messy places can drain your life force. Cluttered kitchen counters, the catch-all table by the front door and that chair in the bedroom where you pile clothing are spots that can zap your happiness quotient.

Making a plan to organize the clutter zones in your home, one at a time, is a good thing. But, she cautions, there are a few important steps to take before you go shopping for organizing accessories.

"You don't want to just buy more containers to jam more junk into," Rubin says. Get rid of anything you don't use, don't like or don't need. Measure the spaces you'll be buying organizers for so you get the correct-size container.

Rubin started her career as a lawyer and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She now lives in New York with her husband, two daughters and a dog in an Upper East Side apartment that could use more storage. We asked Rubin to join us at the Container Store (containerstore.com) and select five items that can help restore order. Rubin says: "I picked things that have worked for me. Buying these things and using them gives me a real sense of satisfaction."

Small drawers

Many rooms in the house have piles of little items that we need to keep at the ready. The Small Tint Stacking Drawers ($7.99 each) are stylish, stackable drawers (8¾ inches wide, 15⅜ inches long and 5¾ inches high) available in seven colors, including clear. They can be placed around the edge of a room, in a closet or on a desk or shelf. At her home, there's a stack of five in her daughter's closet and three in the play closet, mostly holding art supplies, crayons, scissors and school project supplies. "They are also easy to label, so you can really make them an organizing tool," she says. Rubin says this type of drawer also would be perfect for kitchen gadgets, underwear, tools, phone chargers and, of course, those stray AA, C and D batteries.

Storage on wheels

The Rubins have a storage room in their building where they stash out-of-season items. Rubin stores her holiday decorations (Christmas and Halloween) in these 103-quart Weathertight Tote with Wheels ($29.99) containers. They are extra-large capacity and could also be used for sports equipment, seasonal clothing or rarely used kitchen equipment. She likes them because they are stackable, have strong latches and help keep out moisture and pests. "These are great because you can see through them and immediately know what's in there," Rubin says. "Even your kids can pull this box along with the handle."

Clearly visible files

Rubin loves these Clear Project File sleeves ($3.99 for 10) because you can immediately see exactly what's in them. They are open on two sides so you can slip things in easily. There is always a stack of them on a bookshelf in her home office. She uses them for current projects and events: school-related trips, business meetings, vacation travel. She has a summer camp folder where she is keeping her daughter's camp information handy, such as packing lists, directions and schedules. These files are easy to slip into a tote bag or carry-on luggage.

Jars of wonder

Are your drawers filled with dozens of little birthday goody-bag toys that you're not sure what to do with, but are too cute to toss? Imagine a big glass canister filled with fun stuff that's fair game for anyone who comes to visit. A one-gallon glass canister ($12.99) is a mainstay in the Rubin household. These large, sturdy jars with glass lids are used in many homes for things such as cookies, flour or laundry detergent. But Rubin has a row of seven on a shelf in her family room. They are full of treats: erasers shaped like tiny ice cream cones, mini yo-yos, pens, balls and tops. "Colorful things look great in the jar, and the whole thing becomes decorative," she says. The jars can be pulled out on a rainy afternoon. Or, when other kids come over, you can invite them to dig in and pull out a handful of things to take home.

Sponge containment

A sponge is something most of us use several times a day. Because sponges get damp, they are hard to store neatly. Rubin swears by the OXO Steel Suction Sink Basket ($7.99), which keeps your sponge at the ready. Through drain holes, it allows any drips to go directly into your sink and keeps air circulating through the sponge. Strong suction cups allow you to stick it on the side or back of your sink. The aluminum is rustproof. "I like this because your sponge has a specific place to be stored and will drain itself dry. I think this method is much nicer than those sponge drawers in the front of a sink, which always look damp and dirty inside."