How Simple DIY Updates Turned a Closet into Craft Storage

The remedy for Tiffany DeLangie's "dumping ground" started with a new job title. She promoted the guest room closet in her Raleigh home into a craft supplies station—one that's removable in case she wants a standard closet again someday. Tiffany's to-do list: Clear out clutter, remove (and store) the doors, replace a wire shelf with a melamine one, and refresh the walls with leftover paint.

A bookshelf and dresser, along with boxes, baskets, and bins, cost about $500. Command wall organizers, which come with adhesive mounting strips, form a handy display.

After the cleanup, the new space came together in a week.

"My DIY journey began because I was picky and had a limited budget," says Tiffany, who aims to inspire family-friendly, budget-wise design with her Pretty Real blog projects. "But I also love creatively solving problems and bringing my vision to life."

Tiffany focused on dividing then subdividing her supplies for painting, paper crafts, and gift-wrapping to give everything a designated spot.

Fabric bins are smart for hiding assorted supplies. Tiffany made dividers to keep the bins from becoming a messy jumble. She cut slits in two pieces of plastic corrugated board from the crafts store and assembled them into an X shape.

Buy It: HOONEX Large Foldable Storage Bins ($29, Amazon)

Adhesive-back wall organizers maximize the space above the dresser. Crafting tools hang from hooks, paint and glue line up in clear caddies, and a picture ledge ($20, Walmart) holds ready-to-paint canvases. An LED lamp runs on a built-in rechargeable battery.

Buy It: Command Adhesive Wall Caddy ($7, Target)

To utilize even closet corners, a fabric laundry hamper fills a sliver of space next to the dresser; the structured rectangular hamper holds rolls of wrapping paper. More wall hooks ($11 for two, Amazon) keep gift bags neatly visible and within reach. Tiffany simply clears the dresser top to wrap gifts.

Tiffany can see supplies in the dresser drawers at a glance. She outfitted the top drawer with a series of containers ($2, Target) to hold small items. Stacks of paper, paper punches, and other supplies fill the bottom drawers.