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Last updated on December 23rd, 2022 at 10:58 pm
What should you do when you literally have nowhere to put things? You’re good at not collecting things you don’t need, so there isn’t anything extra lying around. But when you’re lacking the storage space to put the things you need, what do you do? Aaaannd, you have Container Store style on a Dollar Tree budget.
I’ve definitely gotten creative back in the day when it comes to finding places to put things when I had no money. Once I designed my own shoe rack …out of cardboard and Scotch tape. (I was a kid, k? No judging.)
Even if you don’t have closets and drawers to spare, you’re still on the hunt for the right furniture, or you don’t have a big budget, you can still have homes for all your stuff.
Here’s 3 tricks I use when I’m lacking storage space for the things I need to keep.
1 | Repurpose
I do a lot of repurposing around here. Most shoe boxes I get are repurposed as drawer organizers. Right now, I’m using them to organize kids clothes and hair styling supplies. They’re also useful for corralling things under the bathroom sink. Even though they’re not the most attractive things ever, I keep them in hidden places where I’m only able to see them if I open a drawer or cabinet.
Lids for random boxes are also useful drawer organizers for kitchens and offices. Although the lids aren’t the greatest thing ever made for my coffee drawer, they get the job done.
If you have a lot of diaper boxes lying around, you can give them a quick makeover like this one and use them to coral toys together.
You might realize a piece of furniture, like a bookshelf or dresser, could be used more purposefully in a closet. Move and use it and see if it makes things easier to organize.
2 | Establish a home
If you don’t have a place to put the things you need, make one. A lot of times, clients get stuck wondering what to do with an item that’s useful and purposeful but there’s no obvious place to put it.
If you’re stuck on where to put something, ask yourself, “If I was looking for this, where would I go to look for it?”
Boom! You just found a home. Even if it’s “on the floor in the kids closet,” because you don’t have a fancy closet system, it still has a place to go. Knowing where you’re storing things will help you as you figure out what kind of storage system or furniture you need.
3 | If you are buying organizers, buy ones that can be used for anything
I’ve gotten a lot of really useful organizers on a small budget. One of my favorite budget organizers are these Sterilite Storage Boxes. We use them to organize all our bath toiletries in the linen cabinet and in the medicine cabinet. I make them prettier with “customized” storage labels …which is fancy for “I write labels on them with an oil-based Sharpie or chalkboard labels.”
Mason jars are great low-budget storage, especially since they’re bought in bulk at a very low cost. (I get mine at Walmart.) I use them to store nuts and dried fruits, but I’ve seen them used for organizing craft items too.
Even though I spent a very minimal amount of money on these organizers, they made a huge difference in containing the chaos of having stuff.
Are you inspired to get creative with your organizing when you’re lacking storage space? What can you repurpose? What is lying around that needs a home? And what small amount can you invest on multi-purpose organizers?
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