From the Desk of Clearissa Coward’s Command Center – Divinely Organized
How to Create Pretty Storage Solutions with Items You Already Own
If you’ve been with me for awhile, you know that I like to do everything I can on a budget and upcycling is my love. That is also the case for finding storage options in the home. You don’t always have to buy new bins and totes to get organized and if and when you do need to purchase more storage stuff, be sure to first check dollar stores and/or thrift stores. Also, always shop your home first. Why? Because whatever you use from your home can be considered FREE! Finally be creative and think outside the box when trying to find ways to create pretty storage solutions with items you already own.
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One of the main reasons you end up with clutter in your home is probably because you have run out of storage areas for the things you own. There are things you do not want to let go of, but you have no place to put them. Keep reading to learn how to create pretty storage solutions.
You may be tempted to purchase a plastic tote or another storage item the next time you need to store something. Instead, first as I said before, shop your home. When you use items you already have you solve three problems – you save money, you avoid buying and bringing something new int your home, and you find a place to store items that you have decided not to purge.
Make a list of the items you need to store. Most likely there will be a variety of things. Some will be big or bulky like clothing or stuffed toys. Others will be smaller and easier to store. Sort the items by size and kind so you can store like items together.
- Glass jars are a great item to store smaller items. Placing buttons in a glass jar, tying a pretty ribbon on it and putting it on a shelf near your sewing area is a great way to store the buttons and have something nice to look at. Having the buttons in the glass jar will also help you find the right button the next time you need one. And the jars can be old pickle jars, peanut butter jars, Italian sauce jars, etc., you get the picture.
- Let’s face it – nuts, bolts, nails and screws simply are not attractive to most people. You can use the same idea as with the buttons, but use a pretty label to cover what is inside. Place the jar on a shelf to organize small items and keep them handy. Another idea is to actually paint the jar and label it, to avoid seeing the not so pretty, but necessary items stored inside. You won’t see through the paint and your items are still nearby. This works great for the nails and screws you want to keep inside the home.
- Most of us have cereal or other boxes. Rather than toss the boxes, cut the corner off with a craft knife and cover each box with pretty wrapping paper or paint it. Use the covered boxes to store magazines, instruction manuals or warranty information. Larger boxes, like old suitcases may not even need to be covered. You can store items in the suitcases and stack them next to the couch or chair to use as an end table. No one ever needs to be the wiser.
- Paint an old dresser or shelving unit to breathe new life into it. Boxes and drawers can be painted and mounted on the walls for use as a display unit. If you do not enjoy painting, you can also glue or decoupage nice fabric or paper to the wood or staple it to keep it in place. These ideas would be good for a child’s room, bathroom, or even a kitchen.
- One of my favorite storage ideas, is to use old baskets rather than throwing them away. Wash them off, give them a coat of paint to coordinate with a room and then place it in the corner. This is a great idea for bathrooms. Roll washcloths or towels up and place them in the basket for easy reach. Throwing away baskets is just unacceptable. 🙂
- Embellish an ice cube tray with ribbon or beads along the edges. You can use the tray to store earrings or other jewelry items in a fun way. Or you can use them to organize a drawer. Think of other small items that you could put in an ice cube tray and you have ready-made storage from something you already own or can purchase for little or nothing.
The goal with organization and storage is to keep things that you want to keep out of the way. Try to think outside of the box and come up with new ways to repurpose items you already have to make your storage attractive. You can use these ideas to help you along or perhaps ignite your own creativity to create pretty storage solutions with items you already own. The possibilities are endless.
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Until next time…I remain in my Element – God Bless!
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Ok, you have a lot of great ideas here. I d try to shop my home for things, that’s helpful.. I I’ve this, so useful!!!!