5 Ways to Get Organized Without Breaking the Bank

by Quick and Dirty Tips

You need these simple, inexpensive solutions.

Flickr//Moline

When I work with clients who want to get their homes organized, one of the things I often hear is that they don’t want to spend a ton of money. Most people want to make their homes functional, but don’t want to have a large upfront cost. I’ve also had a number of clients who have been burned by the temptation of stocking up on cute, expensive organizing supplies, only to have their systems fall apart a few weeks later. After months (or years) of having stashes of pricey, yet not-quite-functional bins around their home, they have realized that buying expensive organizing supplies is not what will get their homes in order.

So, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite inexpensive organizing supplies. Most of these are under $10 each, and can get your home functioning in no time. They are all good enough to keep your home tidy and looking good, or they can be used for place holders in case you want to upgrade to a more expensive option in the future.

Flickr//CookinCanuck

1.) Ikea 365+ Kitchen Storage

My kitchen lives and breathes by the 365+ line at Ikea. You can find a number of great storage options for the kitchen, but my absolute favorites are the clear pantry containers. They come in three different heights, but all the containers are the same dimensions otherwise. This means they can stack on top of each other and the lids are interchangeable. The tall ones are great for cereal and pasta, the medium ones for rice, beans, and other grains, and the short ones are perfect for nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. With a label maker, these containers can make your pantry look pristine in no time flat!

FLickr//Joanna Alderson

2.) Plastic Shoe Boxes

I am a huge fan of plastic shoe boxes from dollar stores. They aren’t as sturdy as some of the plastic boxes sold at fancier stores, but they do the job for nine out of ten organizing projects. My favorite way to use these boxes is to organize the items that I store under my bathroom sink. These are often bottles or jugs of liquid, and for reasons I have yet to understand, they occasionally leak. Having them stored upright in a plastic container keeps their openings up, as well as provides a contained, easy-to-wash place for them to be stored. Often times I use these boxes without the lids, but if I need to store multiple boxes of small items, I separate the items by category and label the outside of the plastic boxes before stacking them in the cabinet.

Flickr//Camille Turcotte

3.) Craft Store Baskets

A few years ago I was searching for a basket for my home, and was having no luck at department or décor stores. On a whim, I went in to a craft store and discovered that they have the mother load of baskets. Baskets of all sizes, shapes, and colors were available at great prices. Plus, craft stores are notorious for offering 40% and 50% off coupons on a regular basis. Not only can you likely find a great basket that fits your exact needs, but there’s a good chance you can get it at a great price. I have a number of baskets around my house, including in my bathroom to store rolled towels, in my living room to house folded blankets, and in our workout area to contain small workout tools. Wherever you look in our house, you are likely to find a basket, and it was likely purchased on sale, with a coupon, from a craft store

Flickr//Pilar Flores

4.) Adhesive Hooks

Do you know the most underutilized space in most homes? It’s the walls. Most of us think about organizing our closets, under the bed areas, and shelves, but there is a ton of vertical space that can be used for organizing a multitude of items. For some areas, I prefer to use permanently installed hooks. These areas are usually ones where I know things are going to need to be hung, like by doors or in closets. For all the other areas, I use adhesive hooks. 3M seems to have the market locked down on this item. They have hooks of varying shapes, sizes, strengths, and materials. Not only are they inexpensive, but you can change your mind at any point in time. If you don’t like where the hook is hung, just remove it and put it in a better spot. In my life, I use hooks a lot on the backs of doors. I store a broom and dustpan on a hook under the kitchen sink, measuring cups and spoons on the back of cabinet doors, and purses on the back of my closet door. The next time you have a few small items that you aren’t quite sure where to store, think about the walls and backs of doors and cabinets. You’ll be amazed at how much work these cheap little hooks can do for you!

Flickr//bee [kathy]

5.) Hanging Shoe Bags

Hanging shoe bags are great for storing shoes, but did you know that they can be used for a ton of different organizing projects? Most of these hanging bags are around $10, and they can store a variety of items, from cleaning supplies to winter gear to pet items. They are easily hung on the back of a door using the hooks they come with, or if you want to add some versatility to where you hang the shoe bags, you can use the adhesive hooks from Tip #4. In areas that I am certain I want the bags to stay, I have also hung them using small nails both at the top and bottom to secure them to the wall. These hanging bags are great for containing multiple items that you need to grab on a regular basis. You can keep them all contained, yet still separated so you know where the one you want can be found. They pack a major organizing punch for $10!

Flickr//Ariela Bonen

And there you have it: my top inexpensive organizing items. They are easy to find, easy to use, but can make a major impact on the functionality of your home. Just like with any organizing project, though, make sure you don’t go out and just buy a bunch of organizing supplies. Sort through your items, and really figure out what you are going to store before purchasing any storage items. This will help you save money, as well as frustration because you’ll always have just the right size container for your organizing project.

5 ways to get organized without breaking the bank, organizing, storage ideas

For more organizing ideas, make sure to check out my Pinterest boards. There you can see some of the projects I’ve put into place in my own home, as well as other great ideas I’ve found online.

Until next time, I’m the Domestic CEO, helping you love your home.

Originally posted here: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/house-home/organization/5-ways-to-get-organized-without-breaking-the-bank?page=1

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

2 questions

Lynda on Feb 19, 2016
YOUR RED SUCTION CUP HOOKS. ARE THEY STICKY ONES OR JUST REGULAR SUCTION. LOVE THE RED COLOR. WHO MAKES THOSE? THANKS

0
Jewellmartin on Feb 19, 2016
Great ideas here. I haven't seen the red suction cups before. I just bought a couple of packs of the removable hooks, but I'm hesitant to use them. I'm afraid they will fall with whatever I am hanging from them. Can the size you show hold more than a set of keys?

0

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 6 comments

Duv310660 on Feb 19, 2016
We are updating the shelves in our 'pantry' that was originally a HUGE armoir. I opted to make the shelves not to deep and create shelving for smaller items just inside the doors - but wasn't sure about what measurements I will need for the new arrangement. Now I plan to use interim hanging shoe bags while I decide what will make the most sense to store on the inside doors - thanks very much!

Like Reply
Debra McMenamin on Feb 20, 2016
Love this. Thank you!!

Like Reply