When we talk about decluttering, we’re really talking about decluttering and organizing. Decluttering is removing the excess, organizing is putting the remainder back systematically.
If you’re decluttering and reorganizing your whole home or even a whole room, places like Amazon, Target, and The Container Store have a ton of beautiful organization solutions. The problem can be the price tag on those items, though.
I would love to deck my home out in the acacia wood organizing bins from Neat Method, but when one lined bin is $54, buying the twelve or so I’d want to use all at once isn’t financially realistic. So, I get creative.
There are many inexpensive ways to store things while you gather the final solutions for your space. In the end you may even find that your inexpensive solution is the final solution!
DOLLAR STORE
I can’t talk about creative and inexpensive organizing without mentioning the dollar store. Years ago, I bought butter dishes from the dollar store, turned them upside down, and found they fit perfectly on a shelf in my bathroom. They were such a perfect fit that they did become my final solution.
This is just one small example of the tons of items dollar stores sell that a little out-of-the-box thinking can turn into awesome organization. Here are a few more ideas to get you started:
Glass vases as pencil or kitchen utensil holders.
Perforated plastic baskets as clothing bins.
Magazine holders for cutting board or lid storage.
TENSION RODS
Anywhere that you have two walls relatively close together can become storage with a tension rod. They come in a number of lengths, widths, and strengths to accommodate your needs.
Under the sink to hold spray bottles.
Under upper cabinets with hooks to hang utensils, dish cloths, or bananas.
As dividers in a spice drawer.
Vertically between shelves to divide plates or lids.
MASON JARS
The uses for mason jars are almost limitless, and, at some point in the last twenty years, they became trendy and chic. Whether you paint them or keep them clear, it doesn’t get much more versatile than this.
Create a matched set of bathroom organizers with different sizes for toothbrushes, cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair ties, etc.
Kitchen utensil holders.
Craft supply holders for glue sticks, pencils, pens, crayons, scissors, paint brushes, etc.
Fill with rice to hold the stems of artificial flowers for arrangements.
Nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and every other small item that needs corralling for home repairs.
BACK OF THE DOOR
Especially in smaller homes that need to take advantage of any space they can find the backs of doors are necessary for storage. In my own home the back of my bedroom door is covered in baseball hats as my husband has more of them than I have shoes.
A hanging shoe rack can be used to store anything from toys to toiletries, and even shoes.
Use small Command hooks for a jewelry display.
Mount towel hooks to hold larger bags to wrangle items like scarves and mittens.
Apply magnetic strips, and attach magnets to your spice jars, for a hidden spice rack.
DRAWERS
Drawers can become the messiest places in your home. Even your “junk drawer” can be organized, though. Instead of digging around for what you need, try some of these ideas.
Ice cube trays for earring storage.
Custom cut cardboard as dividers for any size items.
Plastic tea light cups for small items like rings or earrings.
Jar lids for paper clips and other small office supplies.
UPCYCLE TOILET PAPER ROLLS
Something we all have in our house is toilet paper, and those cardboard rolls usually just get tossed. Start saving them up for organizing! These ideas can apply to paper towel rolls as well, of course. Keep in mind you can fancy them up any way you like with paint, ribbon, or decorative paper.
Keep extension cords corralled inside rolls.
Tape nine or more (more = greater stability) together as pen, pencil and other office supply holders. Cut to fit!
Organize socks and underwear by standing rolls up in drawers.
Keep wrapping paper from coming undone by sliding a roll over the tube.
COMMAND HOOKS
Finally, no creative organizing list is complete without Command hooks. 3M, the company that makes Command hooks, went above and beyond in the creation of every type of hook you might ever need from the delicate and decorative to the strong and hefty.
Keep in mind that the quick release of some Command hooks does not work forever, use those only if you really think you’ll be moving the hook, like for Christmas decorations.
NOTE: Many other companies do sell stick-on hooks for less money.
Jewelry and accessory organization on a wall, the back of a door, or the inside wall of a shelf.
Inside kitchen cabinets to hold lids, measuring cups, utensils, dish cloths, etc.
Place a rod between two to hang rolls of ribbon.
Hang baskets off them for decorative wall storage.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
I hope this gave you a few ideas to run with. You can apply any of these to many of the needs around your house. I use imitation Command hooks in my laundry room to hang the cloth vegetable bags I put used, damp microfiber cloths.
Because necessity is the mother of invention, I’d love to hear what solutions you create! DM me on Facebook or Instagram @soulfulspace.coaching, or email me at kate@soulfulspacecoaching.com, and I’ll share your ideas with the Soulful Space community.
For more help with thinking outside the box to create a home you love reach out for Decluttering Coaching, and we’ll get your home organized in a snap!