Tuesday, November 13, 2012

41 DIY Storage: You Can Do It!

It's been awhile since I have had a good DIY storage fest around here.  Budget saving, custom, hands on, made amazing storage eye candy.

There are times I hear concerns that organizing is so expensive.  Sure it is, if you let it be.  And I have been a sucker for expensive storage from time to time, but the act of organizing is FREE and storage can be crafted and made by hand to save boatloads of dollars!  Sweetness right?

So, I thought I would pop some inspiration your way, of great yet PRETTY storage that has been or could be DIY'd.


Let's start out easy shall we?  Got a box?  How about some decorative scrapbook or wrapping paper?  Even fabric will do.  Pair your paper or fabric with some spray adhesive and you have custom storage that will blow your mind!

Shoe boxes are given new life with some simple maps:

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Dress up inexpensive cardboard magazine files with pretty paper and a label and you have saved yourself over $10 each!

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Diaper boxes are known for durability and are always in abundance {not for you?  ask a friend}.  Paired with pretty wrapping paper, you have delightful storage for all sorts of goodies!

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Here are a couple of fabric options for you, which provide a little added durability over the paper boxes.  

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Jars are another item that are a dime a dozen.  Baby food and mason jars are amongst the most popular, so it should be no surprise that they have been turned into fantastic, inexpensive storage all over the blogosphere.

Paint always makes a room look fresh and new, so imagine what it does to jars!

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Or, just paint the lid so you can see the contents!  Baby food jars are especially perfect for craft spaces to hold all those small bits and pieces!

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Just because it comes as a jar, doesn't mean you can't make it more fun and decorative!  I love when folks add fun toppers like drawer pulls and animals to give the jars some extra flair!

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I am always amazed when I see PVC in organizing projects!  It makes so much sense, yet isn't often the first thing you think of when searching for storage solutions!

It can be used as drawer dividers!

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Or as a fun desktop organizer!

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Or as fabulous workshop storage!

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The great crate is one of my favorites.  Wood can be finished with paint or stain and always looks classic.  And it is oh so durable and will give you sturdy results.

I used a craft crate cut in half and mounted on the wall for books, but think of all the other goodies these could be filled with!  And for only $7!

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The incredible DIY friends over at The House of Smiths built some of the prettiest crates I have ever laid eyes on!

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Looking to maximize the space under the bed and save some money while doing it?  Build some rolling crates and you have conquered bedroom clutter!

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Got a spare frame laying around?  No?  Head over to Goodwill, they have hundreds.  Then, turn one into a lovely and organized jewelry display!

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Or use some chicken wire to make a beautiful memo board!

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Speaking of memos... One of the most inexpensive yet also one of my favorite ways to display cards, memos, artwork, photos, etc... is simply with a piece of string and some mini-clothespins.

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And never forget to reuse awesome containers.  When you purchase something and it runs out, always look at the container it came in as a potential piece of free storage!  Sometimes some simple paper will dress it up, sometimes, you don't need to do anything at all...

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Pretty inspiring little roundup right?  So much to love!  I adore when storage can look amazing with a little creativeness, a low budget and some great DIY spirit!

What storage have you been making by hand?


Like this post?  Here are a few other budget friendly DIY storage roundups for you here, here and here.

41 comments:

  1. Those are some great ideas. They really get the creative juices flowing. Now I'm looking around at things in the house wondering if I can DIY them into something that looks totally new!

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  2. Love this round up! The map boxes and jewelry display have my name written all over them! =)

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  3. I used an old diaper box and some rope to create a storage box... my only issues is that the rope ended up adding up, and it was not so cheap. Although, I then used colorful duct tape on another diaper box, and it turned out so cool. When you have 8 month old twins, you have no shortage of diaper boxes.


    http://nate-and-megs.blogspot.com/2012/11/basement-tour.html

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  4. I actually have a very tall stack (my hubby calls it a mountain) of empty diaper boxes just waiting for me to redo the office and ds's room. :-) Thanks for more ideas!

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  5. Love these ideas! Thank you for some more inspiration.

    Thank you for all that you d and your wonderful ideas and decorating tips. I have been looking in on your blog for a few months and am just amazed at how creative you are. If I am stuck on a organizing idea, I look to your blog. :)

    Julie

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  6. Thanks for posting this! I actually think it's a neat idea to "swap" items with friends and family (if they agree, of course) to see if they have things they're no longer using that may be helpful to you (and vica versa) for storage! We did this recently with an old box my FIL had created back in the 60's, to store small things in our office cove.

    http://managingthemanor.blogspot.com/2012/11/office-overhaul-storage-box-makeover.html

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  7. I just left Pier 1 and saw so many Jen ideas there. Tons of white dishes, cute containers etc. While I only bought what I went in for today, my mind was going in circles.

    One thing that I think makes those organizing ideas so great is the uniformity of them all lined up together + the paint. The baby food jars with buttons are a prime example of that. Thanks!

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  8. Like the map covered boxes. I just saw on Pinterest a cereal box covered in pretty paper and cut into the shape of magazine holders - great idea! My personal fave is pen pots from old tin cans, I used the woolly sleeves of a jumper to cover mine - http://tidyawaytoday.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/cheap-and-creative-storage-solutions-top-5/

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    1. I have been making magazine holders for my recently sorted through hoard of crafting mags. Just using 1kg cereal boxes. They turn out the same size as bought ones and are a tiny bit less sturdy until you fill them with mags. So cheap and easy though :-)

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    2. I'm definitely going to make some :-)

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  9. The box my erincondren planner came in is fabulous. Very sturdy! I am covering it with fabric to use as storage for cardstock or other papers.

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  10. So many great ideas here! I've got diaper boxes coming out of my eyeballs - I need to get on that and make them into something pretty and functional!

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  11. Fun roundup of awesomely cute organization :)

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  12. Thank you for this! Your blog has inspired me to go on a whole house organizing spree, and I basically have no budget. I'm surprised what I've been able to come up just from what's hanging around already. You've been me tons more great and doable ideas. This is a post I'll be referring to again. You made my afternoon!

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  13. Thank you for this! I'm bookmarking this post for sure :) A while back I shared this post: http://www.artsymomma365.com/2011/12/kids-clothing-organiziation-budget.html

    And here I thought I was being original, lol. It has been working amazingly though. I'm off to go dig up some jars...

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  14. Great ideas!! I was amazed when I discovered how easy it is to spruce up a cardboard box. I covered one in twine and lined it with fabric at the top, looked almost bought-from-the-store!!
    xx

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  15. I embellished these IKEA magazine folders with wrapping paper, they look so cute!
    http://casadeberry.net/2012/08/03/file-it-with-flowers/

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  16. I don't know if you get them in the US but here in Australia we get postal boxes. They are perfect for medium sized things (kids toys, sewing patterns, papers). I have been meaning to cover some myself but wasn't sure what to use to put the fabric on with. Now I know - spray adhesive. Thank you!

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  17. Love these ideas. I especially liked the jars - I hadn't thought of painting the entire jars - I'm going to have to check this out. I started organizing my craft area and still have so much to do!

    Thanks!

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  18. Thank You for bringing all these cute and fun organizing tips in one place. I will be organizing a craft closet soon and some of these are going to be used pretty soon.
    Have a great week.

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  19. love the jars! I recently came across a cool recipe for tinted mason jars. You put some food coloring in modge podge and then pour it in the jars. Swish it around to coat the inside and then dump out excess. Bake in a 380 degree oven until the color is clear and there you have it :)

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  20. Love these ideas. Now I'm jealous of those of you with kids still in diapers! For her birthday my gift to my mom was a promise to help her organize her 60 years worth of unfiled papers (EEEEK! Jen HELP ME!!!) My mom is all about the pretty and I'd love to cover some diaper boxes in pretty fabric to make organizing more fun for her.

    Meanwhile I might never look at a glass jar the same way again :-)

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  21. Wonderful ideas, Jen, and the very first one was my favorite! I love to cover and re-purpose boxes.

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  22. I have actually been contact papering boxes to use for my storage boxes I'm surprised more people don't talk about using contact paper instead of fabric or scrapbook paper. I've found cute ones at Marshall's and even at Dollar Tree. I wrote about it here: http://afromartha.com/make-your-own-storage-boxes/

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  23. I'm totally inspired! I love the jar idea. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. I use plastic baby wipe boxes as drawer dividers -- they're great for corralling baby socks or other small items within a larger drawer.

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  25. I love all these ideas!!!! Great roundup, chica!

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  26. This round up is just full of inspiration! I'm such a huge huge fan of repurposing jars and cans. I think I learned that from my daddy - he always used old coffee cans to store things like screws, nails- etc in his workshop in the garage. :)

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  27. Soc cute and inexpensive and fun! I have just started organizing my art room it's no where near what your house looks like but I find things so much easier!! Great Job!!

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  28. I love the shoe boxes with the maps covering them! They would look great in my classroom!

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  29. love the jewellery frame - especially the mesh for earrings! perfect!
    love seeing your site- always refreshing

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  30. Great ideas. I love all of them, especially the crates, cut in half. Could you give me an idea of how to stick them to the wall? I'd very much appreciate your advice since I have a few crates here that need New use.
    Cheers from Germany,
    FrauSchmitt

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  31. I think you mean NON-budget busting, lol! Great post! You've always got/find the best ideas.

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    1. BTW - do you have any idea why I can't comment using just my name or a URL anymore? Not sure if it may be a glitch or a change.

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    2. I have been receiving 100+ Anonymous spam comments/day which I was required to review and moderate, so I turned off anonymous commenting temporarily to see if that helps with inbox overload. Sorry that it also impacted you? It should still allow for you to use your name/url so I will look into it.

      Thanks much!

      xo,
      Jen

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  32. wow there are so many ideas here, I don't know where to start but I am inspired, truely....I like the jars, covering the shoe boxes...em all the ideas!
    J
    http://lifelovesand.blogspot.ie/

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  33. I absolutely love your blog!!! And this post came at the perfect time for me. Thank you!!

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  34. I've never thought of the customization ideas. So far I have re-used empty tins and jars as it is, but having seen you decorating them in your own way, it really does make a difference in the entire storage and organizing concept. The different storage containers can all be customized using the same decorative paper or sheet to complement each other and match your furniture and decor. Then, they can be placed on the cabinets to make up one whole set without looking awkward or out of place. I especially like the baby food jars idea because they are easily available if you have young ones at home, but often get disposed off so easily because sometimes we overlook its alternative purpose as a storage container. Next is the PVC tubes. I have never had the idea that they can be of so much use! However, you have to be really careful when cutting them to the desired lengths. The edges tend to be sharp and thorny so ensure they are carefully smoothened to avoid unnecessary injuries.

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  35. What do you use to attach wrapping paper or other decorative paper to boxes? I would really like to do this for craft and kids storage but am worried about the wear and tear over time. Thanks!!

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    1. You can use anything from Mod Podge to spray adhesive to double stick tape. The thicker the paper, the better the results. I typically only wrap boxes in decorative papers if they won't receive a lot of wear and tear. Boxes that receive that extra attention do better when wrapped in fabrics or adhesive drawer liner/contact paper.

      xoxo!

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