Repurpose Items for Organization

June 08, 2015
Find new uses for old household items. Boost comfort and organization in your home with these easy DIY projects that use items you probably already have.
Start Slideshow

1 of 22

Organization Hub

Hang a wire mesh utensil organizer near your door as a hub for keys, sunglasses, and other essentials. Use nails with small heads (that fit through the mesh of the organizer) and hang it. Let the nails stick out far enough from the wall so that you can also use them as key hooks.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 22

Framed for Organization

Organize kid's toys by providing visual cues. Print photos of toys and place them in frames. Attach the frames to plastic bins to designate where blocks, action figures, and other small toys belong.

3 of 22

Hang It Up

Use a trouser hanger to suspend a make-up bag in an easy-to-reach place. Position the hanger on a hook on the back of a vanity door and clip the bag to the hanger.

Advertisement

4 of 22

Suitcase Storage

Take something as basic as antique suitcases and use them for a stylish storage option. Stack suitcases in order from largest to smallest under a hall table to give the space an old-age, homey feel. The suitcases are perfect for storing small objects in a convenient, yet hidden location.

5 of 22

Heavy-Duty Storage

A portable tool cart works just as hard in the kitchen as it does in the garage. Add a slab of butcher block to the top of the cart for a kitchen-friendly surface and use the cabinets, drawers, and other built-in storage for utensils, pots, pans, oven mitts, and all of your culinary tools.

6 of 22

DIY Buffet

Turn an ordinary shoe organizer into a stylish buffet. Place same-size cubby-style and shelf-style shoe organizers side by side and screw them together. Cut a MDF top and base to span the length of the organizers with a slight overhang on the sides and front. Secure a stemware holder underneath, and outfit the buffet with barware and fun accessories such as the tall glass vessel.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 22

Tackle Tangles

Preserve jewelry and prevent tangles and scratches by sorting pieces into bags. Label and organize in a clear recipe-card holder for an easy DIY jewelry box.

8 of 22

Hang Together

Minimize the chaos and clutter of power cords by clinching them together with a small hair clip. If needed, use more than one clip to keep cords under control behind a console, entertainment center, or computer.

9 of 22

Separate in Style

Snatch a few clips from your home office and use the handy helpers to hold matching napkins together. When it's time to dress the table, you can grab the color and number of napkins you need without a frantic search.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 22

Visible Storage

Store your shoes in easy-to-see clear plastic boxes for a clutter-free closet and hassle-free morning.

11 of 22

Shoe Lover Storage

For a low-cost alternative for shoe storage, reuse original shoe boxes and cover them with decorative paper to create streamlined shoe storage. Attach a picture of the shoes to the front of the box to help you find your favorite pair.

12 of 22

Keep 'Em Snug

Secure cord bundles with stretchable bands designed to slip around baby bottles and sippy cups. Bands can be customized with any text, including information about cord length and usage.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 22

Stand Up Straight

Use fabric scraps to make weighted pouches to use as cute bookends. Cut two rectangles of fabric and place the right sides together. Sew around the edges, leaving a small opening. Turn the pouch right side out and fill with sand. Sew the opening closed. This technique can be used for a doorstop, too. Simply use larger squares of fabric and more sand.

14 of 22

Crafty Compartments

Fashion your own budget-friendly drawer dividers with simple items found around the kitchen. Silicone muffin cups and a repurposed egg crate organize small items such as pencils, rubber bands, tacks, paper clips, and keys.

15 of 22

Ledge Logic

When space is at a premium, call the front of a shelf into office duty. Here, stenciled letters designate days of the week, and repositionable clips hold reminders and to-dos for that day of the week.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 22

Prevent Mess

Nix the water puddles that are inherent with snowy and rainy weather. Dry shoes by resting them on metal cooling racks inside a large plastic tray in the mudroom or entry room.

17 of 22

Can-Do

Wrap metal containers in pretty paper and fill with pens, pencils, and markers. Use extra-strong neodymium magnets to hold the containers in place on a mesh panel, or store them on top of your desk.

18 of 22

Handle Space

Use hardware handles to turn tight spaces inside a closet into storage for hanging ties and scarves. Gently knot scarves after hanging to keep them from slipping to the ground.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 22

Stash Supplies

When a lack of bathroom counter space has you backed into a disorganized corner, call on your walls for storage relief. Hang a bucket from a hook mounted next to the sink to corral supplies in a bathroom lacking storage space.

20 of 22

School Smarts

Help yourself, your child, and his or her teacher keep track of important papers. A clear zipper bag connected to a backpack with a carabiner makes notes and field trip money easy to spot.

21 of 22

Winning Idea

Stop misplacing board game pieces and make setup a cinch by organizing cards, dice, markers, and other accessories in individual bags.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 22

Battery Packs

Fill coin purses with a single size of rechargeable batteries. Carry them along with on-the-go devices such as digital cameras, flashlights, and media players.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next