Whenever I work with my organizing clients their #1 question is usually “what type of storage containers should I buy?” And while I agree that storage containers are a big part of any organizing project, I ALWAYS tell them not to buy anything until I’ve taken a look through their house first.
The majority of the time, I can find something they already own and re-purpose it as a storage container for their specific space. And although I LOVE saving my clients money, I also love the fact that these storage containers often serve as decorative pieces around their house — so much nicer than bulky bins and tubs!
For the next 3 months, I’ll be partnering with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Organizing Blogger! I’ll be sharing lots of tips for living on a budget — and I’m starting this month with creative, decorative, and inexpensive storage solutions…
Here are a few of my favorite ideas from around our house!
Bathroom:
We have a very small master bathroom, however it is packed full of decorative storage — my favorite of which are these gorgeous wicker baskets that we’ve filled with extra toiletries, towels, toilet paper, etc.
These baskets not only serve the functional purpose hiding our “clutter”, they also look fantastic!
Clothes:
If you have a small house and/or limited closet space, you might have to get creative with your storage sollutions and come up with decorative ways to conceal your clothes clutter.
We have a small armoire in our living room that acts as a make-shift mudroom.
And we have really cute bins in our nursery for clothes that are too big, extra baby supplies, etc.
Both of these storage ideas were extremely inexpensive and added tons of decorative storage.
Jewelry:
I’ve shared several decorative storage ideas for jewelry in previous posts, but I’m still partial to using old ice molds and muffin tins to store my own jewelry!
I also LOVE using ladders to hang necklaces and other “hang-able” items.
Both storage solutions keep the jewelry at my finger tips AND serve as fun decorative pieces for our bedroom!
So even if you have a REALLY small space, there are still plenty of ways to keep it organized, functional, AND nicely decorated without breaking the bank!
What are your best decorative storage Ideas?
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Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. |
Ann says
I need some new ideas for storing scarves! I am getting more and more and love wearing them every day in the fall and winter but I just don’t have a terrific way to store them! No room in drawers and they get hidden in the closet. I like to see all my choices.
Jeni says
Hi Ann! I just saw a neat scarf storage idea on Pinterest: use round shower curtain rings on a clothes hanger (clip them on the long, straight part you would fold pants over) and then feed a scarf through each ring. Hanging this in your closet would make the scarves easy to access, but still neat and organized. I store my scarves in a hanging canvas shoe rack that loops over the rod in my closet (most of my scarves are big like pashminas and are too big to loop through a shower curtain ring.) This takes minimal space yet keeps them visible and neat. Hope this helps!
Ann says
Thanks! I currently use a pants hanger to hang them because otherwise I would need several hangers for my many scarves. I don’;t really care for this solution as it is difficult to get them on and off. Perhaps if I put shower rings on that I could unclip it would be easier?
Lisa Taylor says
Hi Ann,
I was reading about your dilemma with scarf storage.
My company, Clever Container, has a neat product called the “Versatile Scarf Holder” that holds a minimum of 18 scarves, and accomodates those that are “fluffier”.
You can see this, and our other products on my webpage at
http://www.clevercontainer.com/lisat
Let me know what you think 🙂
Sincerely,
Lisa Taylor
auburndebi says
Try using old fashioned clothes pins on a regular wire hanger. You can hang appx 10 scarves this way, and all are visable. One can be removed without disturbing the others and it is cost effective.
emily says
I mod podge scrapbook paper on diaper boxes (we used target brand diapers, my fav!!) and use those for storing everything from toys to shoes. My girls each have a box in our mudroom for all their shoes. One thing I have discovered over the past 5 years of toy organizing is that my girls will not play with the contents of a box unless they know what’s in it. Clear storage bins have become my go to item for toys. If the box isn’t clear I take a picture of the boxes contents and tape it to the front. I have found the clear boxes to work the best! 🙂
amy martin says
I am getting more and more organized and you’re helping a ton, so thank you! One of my favorite organizing things lately started with my recycling bin overflowing with jars and milk jugs so I have been re-using old sauce jars, baby food jars, etc… to give them a uniform look I just use spray paint on the lids… chalkboard paint makes them even more versatile!