Condo Blues: Five Repurposed Home Organizers

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Five Repurposed Home Organizers

I am organized because I’m lazy. If I have a flash of inspiration I don’t want to hunt all over the house for the things I need to make my vision come to life. That is why I live by labels. It also keeps me from putting something “in a better place” and then promptly forgetting that I moved it leading to a whole house search.

As much I love wondering the aisles of the Container Store, I’m kinda cheap green. I try to repurpose what I have before I buy. If it works, I might upgrade it.  Sometimes I don’t under the if it’s not broke don’t fix it mantra.

Wood clementine boxes are fantastic for storage! I store my tea collection in two Clementine crates in my pantry. When I want a cup of tea, it’s easy to pull all of the tea from the pantry and take my pick.

 Yes I have a lot of tea. I don't have many vices, so this will have to do.

A clementine crate keeps washcloths from flopping into the stack of hand towels that share the same shelf in my linen closet.
 
I have the world's smallest linen closet. This box fits nicely on the teenay shelves.


I don’t have nice tall shelves in my cupboards to store our water bottles upright. I can’t stack them on their sides because they shift and fall out of the cupboard and on to my head. I repurposed the wine rack I got as a wedding present for water bottle storage.

 My apologies for all of the crazy shadows. I'm still trying to figure out my new to me DSLR.

After I used a cardboard drink holder in my refrigerator to organize condiments I realized that six pack holders had many more uses! I store our Wii controllers in a six-pack holder in a cupboard.

 Our craft beer hobby comes in handy when it comes to organizing!
 
I store craft paint in another drink holder. I should decorate this six pack carton since it sits on a shelf in plain view. I'm going with the excuse that I know the brewer (a reprint of his signature is on the carton) even though the reality is this project is dead last on my To Do List. It stays as it is for now.

 Drinking local is green, right?

What are your favorite repurposed storage items?

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This post is part of January's Green Mom's Carnival where our topic is decluttering. Check out all of the posts hosted by Amber of Strocel.com January 17, 2011.

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25 comments :

Team Chastain said...

I've been repurposing my clementine boxes for years, too -- and I had to smile when I saw you store your teas in one, because I do this as well. :)

The Environmental Goddess said...

These are great ideas! I especially like the beer cases...and I think with decoration they could be even cooler (I'm encouraging the painting :P)

Darci said...

I repurpose, too! My mom was throwing out some vintage striped pattern boxes (think 1970s). They now hold MY gigantor tea collection.

I also like putting reused baskets and bins in the fridge. I forget my fruits when they're hidden in the crisper.

YAY for organized (lazy) living!

Michelle@Sustainably Chic Designs said...

I repurpose glass jars from spaghetti sauce, pickles, salsa, etc for my baking ingredients such as baking soda, baking powder, corn starch, etc. I posted about it here:

http://sustainablychicdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/chalk-board-paint-projects-some.html

Unknown said...

What a great idea for water bottles!

Laura Kaeding said...

This is great, I've always wondered what we could use those clementine boxes for! Thank you!

gengen said...

They are a good ideas and thanks for sharing. Visiting from 2nd Time Around Tuesday. See you.

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

Michele Chastain, Simply Green - I love to eat Clemintines but I think I buy them more so I can use the boxes as organizers.

The Environmental Goddess - I like the blue stripes on the Brooklyn holder. Maybe I should cover the logo up with a cutout of Blitzkrieg's head?

Darci - I never thought of using baskets to organize a fridge. I love it!

Michelle - I like your glass jar storage but I love your chalkboard paint projects more :)

Sami said...

Great ideas. I have repurposed some old plastic baby wipes containers to hold cake/cookie decorating supplies in the kitchen. They are the perfect size for all the tips, sprinkles and food coloring and they stack easily.

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

Sami - Great idea! I like covered storage for things I don't use very often.

Carmen said...

I LOVE the idea about the wine rack for water bottles. I am always looking for a good way to manage water bottles for a family of five. Might work for coffee mugs too? I will have to see.

FunIntheMaking.Net has the cutest idea of turning a clementine box into a little 4-poster doll bed. Very cute for those with kids.

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

Carmen - Thanks. I gave myself a big pat on the back when I came up with the wine rack water bottle storage idea.

Autumn said...

Such cute ideas. I love repurposing! I am going to use that six pack idea for my girls room, only recovered with some cute paper. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

These are some great ideas.

Thanks for linking up!

Ashley

Becky@Organizing Made Fun said...

You really did great repurposing things! I try to use old boxes and cut them to the right size {height-wise} or even put pretty paper on them. You have been very creative! Nice job organizing!

Becky B.
www.organizingmadefun.blogspot.com
Organizing Made Fun

Ginger said...

Awesome! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

abeachcottage said...

Nice ideas here. Loving the wine rack for water bottle storage/holder.

AllieMakes! said...

Great job! My famiily is always teasing me when I say, wait! Don't through that cardboard or wood or plastic something or other away, and then re-using it... Great job!
Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can't wait to see what you have for next week!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

Diane said...

Cute storage containers, Lisa! I reuse sauce and jam jars for the food I preserve in the summer - they work like a charm, and are free, to boot!

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Now that's what I call true repurposing. Love how you turned the wine holder into water bottle storage. Great ideas!

Thanks for sharing at my party. Look forward to seeing what you've got up your sleeve each week. ;)

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Holly Lefevre said...

great idea...i save glass jars. I use them for storage, candles, and let the kids paint them for the holidays. Love repurposing. Thanks for linking to tickled pink.
Holly

Sandy Jenney - Organize with Sandy said...

Hey lady! I found you on Thrifty Decor Chick. You need to come and link this up on my Organizing Mission link party!
It was good seeing you the other day.

Renee said...

Wine rack for water bottles = awesome!

Green Global Travel said...

Great tips. We've been collecting clementine boxes for years to organize small tools, electrical stuff, adhesives, etc. I never thought of using them in the pantry.
Thanks for posting!

Ruby Knolls said...

Great ideas, thanks for sharing

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