Organize Now: Simple Weekend Projects
Check out these quick and easy DIY projects you can make this weekend without spending a bundle.
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What it is: Personalized bath storage that gives each person a designated, portable tote for his or her stuff.
How to make it: Mount shelves on a bathroom wall near the sink. Give each family member his or her own labeled bin and place on the shelves.
What it is: A fits-anywhere organization station to corral essentials near the door.
How to make it: Place a divided bin on the wall for organizing gear. Install a few sturdy hooks for bags, hats, and coats. Use smaller hooks to hang large binder clips to organize important papers that you'll need to grab before leaving the house. Position a large bin or box below the installation as a catchall for other items.
What it is: Solving the no-pantry dilemma, a well-appointed armoire packs in plenty of storage and can fit just about anywhere.
How to make it: Watch the video to see how adding specialized storage to an existing cabinet will help you organize your kitchen.
What it is: Magazine pockets for organizing stacks of periodicals.
How to make it: Cover a piece of plywood with upholstery-weight fabric. Cut strips of fabric long enough to be wrapped around the board and wide enough to be folded in half lengthwise to create a pocket deep enough to hold magazines; hem as desired. Fold the strips in half lengthwise and wrap around the sides of the board with the folded edge facing downward. Secure the ends of the fabric to the back of the board with staples. Keep the top layer stapled a bit looser than the bottom layer so that the pouch can accommodate a few magazines. Finish the edges with wood trim.
What it is: A retired suitcase gets first class treatment as underbed storage.
How to make it: If desired, give the outside of the suitcase a fresh coat of paint. Install a small caster on the bottom of the suitcase at each corner. Stow sheets or seasonal clothing inside the suitcase and roll beneath the bed for out-of-sight storage. Before you begin, measure the height of the suitcase and casters to make sure the finished product will fit under your bed.
What it is: An antique toolbox repurposed for a modern necessity: Charging devices.
How to make it: Drill a hole in the side of a toolbox; the hole needs to be large enough to feed an electrical plug through. Place a plug strip inside the box and feed the plug through the hole. Cut a board to fit inside the box and drill holes on the board (large enough so that one end of your charging cords can feed through them). Plug the chargers into the plug strip, feed the ends through the holes in the board, and place the board inside the toolbox. Fire up the plug strip and start charging.
What it is: A bar-height table with built-in organization made from bookcases and a prefab wood or laminate countertop.
How to make it: For a 36-inch-tall table, use 34-inch bookcases and a 2-inch-thick countertop. (Edge-glued wood tops are available in different sizes at big box stores.) The countertop should be the same width as the bookcase. Long countertops will need a center support. Attach the counter to the bookcases using L brackets.
What it is: An old cabinet repurposed as a catchall for an entryway.
How to make it: Remove the center door of a three-door buffet and fit the interior with shelves or small cubbies for stashing mail and other papers. Label the cubbies in a system that makes sense for your home. Assign a cubby to each family member, or give each cubby a specific purpose (magazines, bills, outgoing mail, etc.). Use the cabinets and drawers to conceal other items.
What it is: A piece of art that also holds your favorite pieces of jewelry.
How to make it: Trim a metal radiator cover or wire screen to fit inside a frame. Stand it at the back of a dresser. Hook earrings through the grid and use small S hooks to hang other items
What it is: A memo board crafted from an unexpected salvaged find.
How to make it: Watch the video to see how chalkboard paint and an old window create a spot for jotting down your schedule.
What it is: A stylish, vibrant skirt that hides unsightly storage.
How to make it: Measure your table and cut a piece of fabric to fit around the sides of the table you want to be skirted and cut to the proper length (the fabric should begin at the tabletop and reach the floor). Hem or finish the fabric as desired. Following the manufacturer's instructions, place hook-and-loop tape around the edge of the table and along the top edge of the skirt. Attach the skirt to the table using the hook-and-loop tape.
What It Is: Simple wood crates unite to make fabulous bath storage.
How to Make It: Reinforce stapled slats on the crates with screws. Paint or finish the crates as desired. Stack the crates together and attach with screws. Make sure your configuration as a sturdy base to support the crates above it. If you have children, use molly bolts to attach the crates to the wall.
What it is: A shoe organizer that works just as well in the kitchen
How to make it: Add three screws to the top of the door and suspend a clear shoe bag from ribbon hangers. Label each pocket with a colored tag and store kitchen tools and supplies.
What it is: An old table receives a fresh start as an office on wheels.
How to make it: Choose a table the width of a standard hanging file, then sand, prime, and paint it. Screw metal strips to the sides to accommodate hanging files, use a jigsaw to cut holes in the top for glasses or small storage buckets, and attach casters to the legs.
Quickly create a place to store all of your cleaning supplies.
What it is: An old ladder extends storage space and adds vintage charm.
How to make it: Give a ladder a fresh coat of paint. Add old vent grates to each rung and simply screw them into place.
What it is: A chic and inexpensive way to store pencils and pens.
How to make it: Use hook-and-loop tape to wrap ordinary paint or soup cans in leftover wallpaper scraps.
What it is: A pretty and practical solution for keeping track of dirty clothes.
How to make it: Sandwich the top of a pillowcase in an embroidery hoop and attach a ribbon to the hoop's fastener for hanging.
What it is: A garden tool tote turns into a picnic pack and easily transfers kitchen items to and from the picnic site.
How to make it: Pile all of your picnic essentials into a sturdy repurposed canvas carryall, taking full advantage of divided pockets for flatware, salt and pepper shakers, and refreshments.
BHG Tip: Once the contents are unloaded on the table, insert a plastic bag to hold dirty dishes, recyclables, and trash for easy transport back home.
What it is: A fast and fashionable way to keep small bath accessories organized.
How to make it: Give plain terra-cotta flowerpots a lively coat of hot pink paint; swirl rub-on accents (found with scrapbooking supplies) add interest.
What it is: A basic ready-to-assemble bookshelf gets a makeover and, in turn, can work even harder.
How to make it: Cover the inside of your bookshelf with a decal that's easy to remove and update later. Then hot-glue two layers of ribbon to the front of each shelf for added embellishment. Add tags made from scrapbooking papers to keep books organized by genre.
What it is: A nifty divider that neatly organizes living room space into a hardworking entry.
How to make it: Assemble and attach three cabinet units together. Add hooks on the entry side to hang coats and bags.
What it is: An easy-to-spot shoemobile you can customize to store and roll anywhere.
How to make it: Keep pairs of shoes together in clear containers and place on shelves with easy-to-attach wheels.
What it is: A kid-friendly way to store just about anything.
How to make it: Add bun feet to an upper kitchen cabinet and top with a seat cushion in a durable fabric or vinyl.
What it is: A bookcase outfitted with personalized storage buckets keeps entries clutter-free.
How to make it: Prime and paint buckets to match your decor. Adjust bookcase shelves to make room for the buckets. Secure name tags to the buckets with a metal fastener and use magnets to add to-do lists and messages.
