One of the things I miss about living in a big city are the abundant shopping options. Tulsa isn’t exactly the end of the Earth, but the choices here are much more limited than what I’d grown accustomed to while living in Austin. For instance, there is not a single Container Store in the entire state of Oklahoma – no one-stop-shop with aisle after aisle of clever products to solve every organizational challenge under the sun. What is an Okie to do?!
Well, I’ve learned that with a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can give Container Store a run for its money. There are plenty of simple storage solutions that can be made from recycled materials and other common household objects. Here are a few of my favorites:
clockwise from top: Soup Can Storage, Baby Food Jar Storage,
Pringles Can Organizer, PVC Curling Iron Holster, Cereal Box Magazine File
clockwise from top: Toilet Paper Roll Cord Container, Bread Tag Cable Labels,
Flip Flop Hangers, Sheet Sets In a Pillowcase,
Paint Stick Drawer Organizer, Branch Jewelry Organizer
Not only is it entertaining to shop your own recycle bin for potential storage solutions, but you will save alotta moola in the process. For those of you still playing along at home:
- Container Store’s Bamboo Drawer Organizer = 19.99
DIY Paint Stick Drawer Organizer = FREE - Container Store’s Magazine File = 9.99
DIY Cereal Box Magazine File = FREE with every cereal purchase - Container Store’s Cable IDs = 6.99
DIY Bread Tag Cable Labels = FREE - Container Store’s Flip Flop Hanger = 12.99
DIY Flip Flop Hangers = .99 (for decorative paper) - Container Store’s Jewelry Tree = 19.99
DIY Branch Jewelry Organizer = FREE
Organizing, recycling, and saving money at the same time – now that’s what I call multitasking, people!
1 Trackbacks
You can leave a trackback using this URL: http://www.designfinch.com/2011/05/15/organizing-on-a-budget/trackback/
[...] Containers – I’m able to reuse a lot of food containers that would otherwise go in the recycling bin or trash. Egg cartons, glass jars, tin cans, cereal boxes, and toilet paper rolls are perfect for organizing on a budget. [...]
11 Comments
Shayla: last time I checked — about 2 or 3 years ago? – Container Store was family owned with no intention of branching out to Oklahoma — I even asked them to consider Tulsa on a written suggestion/comment form in a store in Dallas —– to no avail
—- Tulsa would/could so support one here and it would be heaven!!!
I am loving this! I especially love the toilet paper roll around the extension cord, the bread labels on the cables (GENIUS!) and the cute pillowcases for storing sheets!!! I’m passing this along to all my friends.
@Terri Thames: Yes, getting a Container Store in Tulsa would be heaven! It is my happy place.
And I would totally take a part-time job there just to get the employee discount!!
@liz: I know…so simple yet genius! Wish I could take credit for thinking of these things first. Thanks for passing along my blog to your friends, Liz!
i am so much calmer when my home is organized. i recently went through my kitchen and front closet and have the other closets earmarked for later this month. i use mason jars for everything in the kitchen. they are inexpensive, versatile and sturdy. i feel like you can spend a fortune on keeping yourself organized but a little creativity (like putting the sheets in a pillow case, masking tape labels, shipping tag labels, etc) you can still be organized, have it look great and keep some money in your pocket! =) so fun to have stumbled on your blog.
@christi @ burlap and basil: Hi, Christi! Thanks for the comment; I’m so glad you found my blog! I agree….there are so many creative organizing alternatives out there. I’m a big fan of mason jars too because they have a wide mouth so they’ll fit larger items. Plus, they are clear so you don’t forget what’s inside.
Thanks for featuring my utensil drawer organizer!
Hi Shayla, Found you tin can idea interesting. I collected the cans, washed and spray painted them. Now, how do I connect them to each other then to the wall? Any help will be appreciated!
@marty cooper: Hi, Marty! I would try connecting the cans together with Liquid Nails Metal Adhesive (or any other epoxy the adheres to metal), then attaching them to the wall in two or three places with screws and anchors. Good luck! Please send me a pic when you finish and let me know how it worked out!
I love your gread idea! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! I just made dress shoe hangers out of wire coat hangers, I must be the only woman in the world with “extra” hanging space…