Is your home feeling a little snug? Do you feel like you’re drowning in stuff that doesn’t have a dedicated home? Organization and storage can certainly help free up your space, but elaborate storage systems can get pricey quickly. Here are 5 ideas for DIY storage that use things you already own or low-cost materials to help organize your space!
1. Upcycle Storage Furniture
Bookcases aren’t just for books, and armoires aren’t just for clothes. If you have a piece of storage furniture – such as a bookcase, armoire, or dresser – that you no longer use, try upcycling it.
Upcycle a bookcase
Bookcases are easy to paint and can hold anything from games to shoes and gardening tools to office supplies. If you don’t like the idea of open storage, use small baskets or bins to organize items.
Upcycle an armoire or chest
Armoires are pretty big, which can work to your advantage for upcycling. Give your unused chest a fresh coat of paint and use it to store seasonal decorations, kid’s toys, or messy crafts you want to tuck away from sight.
Upcycle a dresser
Whether your old dresser just doesn’t match your style or has a hole in the side, you can use it. Try moving it to the garage for tools, gardening supplies, or dirty shoes.
2. Build DIY Tote Storage Shelves
DIY tote storage tutorials have exploded on the internet recently, and for a good reason: they’re pretty straightforward to build with inexpensive lumber, and plastic totes are a great way to organize your garage. If you aren’t familiar with how to build storage shelves for plastic totes, Build It Make It has plans and a great tutorial video.
So, what can you put in storage totes?
- Seasonal clothes such as winter coats, especially if you pair them with vacuum clothing storage bags to maximize space
- Seasonal decor like wreaths, Christmas tree ornaments, Halloween decorations, and holiday lights
- Camping equipment such as tents and backpacks
- Miscellaneous items that don’t have another obvious home, like pool toys or snowshoes
3. Hang It Up With Hooks
Got a blank piece of wall? Put up a few hooks and get some of your clothing and gear off the ground.
Big hooks
Large, screw-in hooks can be beneficial for storing large items in your garage or basement. These are great for things like bicycles, ladders, and larger equipment such as skis or kayaks.
Small hooks
Small hooks, such as those that use adhesive or nail into the wall, can be great for taking advantage of horizontal space in your home. Smaller hooks can hold jackets near the doorway, seasonal decor in a closet, or even pots and pans in your kitchen to free up countertops for appliances or cabinet space.
4. Try WFH or Craft Room Storage Ideas for Repurposed Shoe Organizers
Have one of those hanging shoe organizers stuffed in a closet somewhere, or only partially filled with two or three pairs of shoes? Give it a new life for storing items other than shoes, including:
- Cleaning supplies
- Hair and makeup accessories
- Home office supplies
- Craft supplies like paintbrushes, fabric, and yarn
- Small kid’s toys, such as figurines and dolls
5. Build DIY Shelves
DIY storage shelves are a simple way to use more of the wall space in your home. The simplest shelves are just wooden boards with brackets, screws, and wall anchors. It doesn’t increase the cost too much to make them more visually appealing with paint or wood stain.
Bonus Tip: Turn to CORT Furniture Outlet for Wallet-Friendly Furniture and Decor
Sometimes, all it takes to breathe new life into your space is organizing and finding the right storage solutions. And those solutions don’t have to break the bank with a little creativity and elbow grease!
Shopping for furniture and even more storage doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank, either. At CORT Furniture Outlet, new and previously-leased furniture and decor provides designer quality and style at a fraction of the price: up to 70% off retail prices. You can invest in high-quality pieces with confidence, knowing that our team of experts has inspected and cleaned every item. Visit your local CORT Outlet or shop online today.
