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, look around to see what you already own. This will solve three problems you will have saved money, you will not have brought a new item into your house and you will have found a place to store items.
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.
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.
Most houses have cereal or other boxes that they have to dispose of regularly. 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 nice fabric to the wood or staple it to keep it in place. One of these ideas would be good for a children’s room.
You may also want to keep old baskets rather than throwing them out. 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.
Embellish an ice cube tray with ribbon or beads along the edges. You can then use the tray to store earrings or other jewelry items in a fun way. 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.
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 re-purpose items you already have. 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.