As much as I love looking at beautiful organising accessories in catalogues, magazines (I am talking to you Real Living mag) and shops I don’t often appreciate the associated price tags. I am always on the lookout for ideas using non traditional items in new ways. Here are some of my current favourite examples from pinterest.
Ice cube trays – this idea can be used endlessly for storage and sorting.
You can put your collection of cute bowls to work for you in so many ways sorting and storing in drawers and on open shelving.
Buckets used to store magazines, towels, supplies for daily outings (think sunscreen, kids hats, sunglasses etc)
Repurpose kitchen storage items in new ways
reuse a dish rack to organise colouring books and crayons
use a cutlery tray and small door knobs to make a jewellery organizer
Dip into your recycling and repurpose a variety of items
paint empty glass jars and use to store art supplies, pencils etc
Furniture and storage made from repurposed wood
add wheels to old dresser drawers and use for underbed storage
combine apple crates and turn them into a bookcase
Have you used recycling or non traditional items to get organised? Link to a post showing what you used or add a photo to the Home Life simplified facebook page.
Find your simple,
Deb
If you would like to check out more ideas for organising with non tradition al items please check out parts 2, 3 and 4
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I use the egg cartons quite a bit, but mostly for jewellery!
Great tips, thanks Deb.
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Twitter: findyoursimple
September 21, 2011 at 11:08 pm
We have chickens but the next time I need a supply 9like when we return from camping soon) i am going to put aside the carton fro use somewhere!
Debra Dane recently posted..5 Life lessons learned at the gym
Wow, I love these ideas! Particularly the kids book holder/dishwasher rack.
Twitter: findyoursimple
September 21, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I know – and who would have thought to use it for filing too…I am going to be looking at dish racks differently now.
Debra Dane recently posted..Making self care a regular part of your life
Twitter: shlomoskinner
September 21, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Deb:
Some great ideas here. I like the ice cube trays.
I’ll share one with you that we picked up a couple years ago from another blog. We hang one of those plastic hangers with pockets for shoes on the door to my office. We use it to store phone chargers and cables. It’s great for all of those small things that you need frequently but don’t want out all the time. This way they are stored, easily accessible, and not all tangled with the cable you don’t want.
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Twitter: findyoursimple
September 21, 2011 at 11:11 pm
That is awesome – someone told me just today to get one of those shoe hangers to take on our camping trip as they do the same as you suggested but in their tent (keeps their phone, little bits and chargers etc all off the floor and accessible)
Ice cube trays are awesome – we have a lot of them and i do use them for everything from storage to crafting to setting up kid’s paints to freezing portions of sauces, lemon juice, wine, etc.
Debra Dane recently posted..How to get organised with non-traditional items
oh yes deb, great idea for camping!!!!
I also love these ideas. esp the dishrack as a book rack. I actually bought a multi coloured 4 tier round little craft organiser (the type for small things). I now have Lil’s hair bands and clips neatly sorted in each one. the all twist together. I’ll try and post and link up if you like.
Twitter: findyoursimple
September 22, 2011 at 5:59 pm
definitely link up here or FB as it sounds like a great idea but I am having trouble visualising it.
Debra Dane recently posted..5 Life lessons learned at the gym
LOVE these ideas! Hubby and I especially liked the apple crate bookshelf, I think we will have to try something like that. I liked the ice cube trays for holding earrings as well, such a great idea! Thanks!
Twitter: findyoursimple
September 22, 2011 at 2:14 pm
ooh let me know if you use the crate idea – it looks fantastic.
Debra Dane recently posted..5 Life lessons learned at the gym
Twitter: crashtest_mummy
September 22, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Some really ingenious ideas there! I use a small galvanised metal bucket hung on a shelf bracket above the sink for my dish brush, detergent etc. Keeps it off the bench and out of the way.
Laney @ Crash Test Mummy recently posted..Tips for housework in a hurry!
Twitter: findyoursimple
September 22, 2011 at 2:15 pm
thanks Laney – buckets are great. I use cute and colourful small ones (IKEA) in my linen closet and several for the kids craft supplies.
Debra Dane recently posted..Making self care a regular part of your life
Love the ribbon sorter idea! x
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These are the just sort of great ideas I’m always looking for – very inspiring – thanks for putting the collection together! I know you can get a lot of affordable organizers these days but they soon add up if you buy them for every room in your house. Using what you’ve got or making your own is a much better idea. Dish racks are so versatile. I’ve got a few holding pan lids, chopping boards and bakeware. Ooh also a picture rail holding some high heeled shoes.
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Twitter: findyoursimple
September 23, 2011 at 7:27 am
Thanks for commenting Chloe – love the picture rail for high heels idea!
It IS amazing how fast “inexpensive items” add up.I love how many alternatives there are if you look around. I posted on our facebook group, but Ilove IKEA plant pots – they come in all sizes, have clean and interesting lines / designs and can be used to corral so many things. I use smaller ones for my utensils in the kitchen saving me heaps of cash as traditional ones cost a lot here.
Debra Dane recently posted..An epic list of 50 ideas to start taking care of yourself
I love the idea with the ribbons in a basket! Never would of thought of it
Twitter: findyoursimple
September 23, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Thanks for commenting Hayley!
I know – it is a great idea – and looks so pretty too.
Love the books on the dish rack! Books sprawling everywhere is a non-stop problem here.
Twitter: WAMAustralia
October 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Love this – so creative. I love the bucket for magazines
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