You Asked: Basket Case

I recently received an email from a reader, and I thought it was perfect since the question about where I get specific storage has come up quite a few times in the past:

Hello,
I just have to say I found your blog through moneysavingmom.com and you are amazing! I absolutely love your house! It is just adorable! I so desire to be organized! I just don't know where to start! I see you have so many cute containers to hold things and i'm sure that helps you stay organized... where to do you find your things? Are they spendy? How do I remove so much clutter? I feel like every room is just overflowing with stuff and I have such a small house. I tend to get overwhelmed and give up and just do the daily pick up and it seems that is all I have the energy for because it is so bad!
please help!

Thanks in advance
Ashley

The first thing I shared when I replied to Ashley, were two links to some good start up posts.  One is focused on, "Where Do I Begin?" and the other is, "Budget Organization".

But I realized I didn't have a post on my favorite storage containers.  Gasp!

So here it is!  Are you ready for a record breaking world's longest post?!  I hope I don't get banned from blogger after this one...

You can expect to see some uber cheap {or free} ideas, and some off the wall expensive ones.  Bottom line, my philosophy has evolved on purchasing storage containers to this:

I invest in storage that I believe will last me a lifetime.  I try to choose colors such as whites, creams, espresso, clear and nickel, because I know they will remain relevant for years, and the colors are versatile enough to go from space to space if a change is ever in order.  Simple baskets, buckets and bins can easily be updated/transformed by velcro labels, chalkboard labels or decals, which all can be removed without damaging the storage itself.

So without further ado....

Baskets, baskets and more baskets: 
Baskets come in every possible shape and size.  Here are the favs I have floating around my home.


Wicker.  I pop espresso wicker baskets everywhere, to hold things such as living room pillows and blankets, to storing "stuff" and shoes in our shoe closet.

This basket itself was found in the storage isle at Target around Thanksgiving.  It actually sported two wicker handles and a liner.  I found it on clearance, so I snagged it up, and then I didn't hesitate to snip the handles off and remove the orange liner to make it work for us.  Yep, even baskets can be modified to fit your needs!

Here, I found that these Ikea baskets were the perfect size for some stackable storage shelving we installed in our bedroom closet.

We used these baskets for scarves, belts and other undergarments.  

The best thing about wicker baskets is that you can find them just about ANYWHERE!  Home improvement stores, craft stores and department stores!  Prices vary, however, I typically don't spend much more than $10-$15 on any given wicker basket.

Plastic.  What can I say, these lace baskets had me at, "HELLO!"

I found these beauties at the Container Store for $25 each, and picked up two.  It is probably the most I have ever spent on a single basket, however, I haven't regretted it or looked back since.  In fact, many of you have probably seen them all over my house in previous posts, because they absolutely make every space I put them in and are the most versatile storage I have found.

Soap Storage

Scrapbook Paper Storage

Toy Storage

Book Storage

Still in the plastic family are stackable baskets, which have handles that flip out and allow you to stack them upon one another.  Yes please!

I also used these babies in our pantry, they are perfect in there for holding breads, snacks and produce!

As you can see, just because they are boring plastic, they can still be dressed up with some hand made labels and ribbon!  And the best part is that they only cost a couple of bucks, and I can snag them from my local Target.

Plastic bins from Ikea are the perfect solution for toy storage when combined with one of their Expedit bookshelves!

In this case, size really does matter!  These bins are so much bigger than they appear, and I am always impressed with how many toys I can fit inside!  They are perfect for Duplo blocks, wooden train tracks and Little People accessories!

My last plastic basket must have, is actually more of a bin.  A shoe bin.  These babies only cost about a buck at any home improvement or department store and are SO great for sorting the smaller things.  I used a bunch in our garage for miscellaneous hardware and tools.

Yep, all that storage {again, making pretty laminated labels}, only cost me $9!

Steel.  Oh how I love me some steel baskets.  Another extremely versatile storage option, I have been known to use these all over the house!

Like for stashing my cookbooks...

Or keeping some extra paper on hand in the bath:

I found both of my wire baskets back at the common theme store, Target, in the bathroom section.  I like to check the hidden end caps for their clearance baskets, I didn't fork over more than $6 for either of these baskets!  I also love using them for extra rags/towels in a kitchen or bathroom!

I adore the look for steel buckets which are typically used for gardening, however, I think they also work great doubled as either a waste basket, cleaning caddy or bath tub toy storage!

This wire stationery station is the perfect way to keep my address book, cards, stamps and note pads all together on my desk top!

And if I ever want to move it or change my color scheme, it would be a breeze to update with some spray paint!

I am SO excited to use some locker bins I just picked up on sale.  They are going to be perfect for an upcoming project I have up my sleeves...

They are so strong that they will provide the most durable storage I have found, which is perfect for life with three boys on the roam!


Acrylic.  I just adore it because it's so pretty!  And versatile.  And light and airy.

Here, I used an acrylic caddy to corral all of my nail polish.  It can also double as makeup storage or a utensil caddy! {If you google around, I think they have cheaper identical options, like this one}

And I also used acrylic in my kitchen drawers.  This was a bold move, but I couldn't resist the impact they made!

Canvas.  I don't have a lot of canvas storage, but it is fantastic to be used when it comes to clothing and linen closets.  It's very durable for little ones and also great in nurseries for changing stations.  And it's typically inexpensive which is always great!

The way I took advantage of canvas is here, in which I placed a bin for each boy on a shelf in their bedroom, and use it to lay out their clothes each day!


Multi-functional storage:
I think this totally sums up my reason for hearting organizing oh so much!  You can totally take anything meant for one thing, and put it to better use as something else!  It's all about thinking outside the box as I always say.

Here are a couple of examples....

This wire basket was originally intended for toiletries and jewelry storage... I like it for holding my fruits in my kitchen:

These egg crates {which can be found here and here}, were originally intended for eggs.  I like them better for jewelry and desk accessories!

Glass cups are so wonderful for things from pens to toothbrushes {and again, can be snagged up anywhere!}

Sure, spice tins are great for spices, but why not put them to work holding small scrapbook accessories?

And you all know IHeart cheapo white vases for corralling everything from bathroom storage to art supplies to kitchen cooking utensils!

All of these were found for between $1 and $4 at Ikea!

I have also been known to repurpose a drink bin.  This one is great for adding a pretty decal and placing it on top of my washer to hold my delicate laundry:

I found that one at Target for $15.  The next one was found at Crate & Barrel outlet for $8 and is perfect for the kids to tote around their stuffed friends!

Bowls.  Bowls are wonderful for keeping together those smaller things!

I use them for keeping desk accessories at my fingertips:

And to keep my dryer balls from rolling away:

And to act as a catch all when emptying pockets before washing clothes:

Again, I love that you can find these bowls anywhere, my favorite places to look at Target, Pier 1 and Home Goods.


Free Storage:
Anything I can make at home to save some cash and organize my life at the same time, is my absolute favorite kind of storage!

Kleenex boxes are great when covered with decorative paper!  They can hold anything you want them too... I used mine for spice packets and seed packets!

Soup cans covered in pretty paper make great tool storage and pencil cups!

And extra scraps of wood, scrapbook supplies and paint can whip up an awesome window box for toiletry storage!

Many things come in pretty packaging.  If there is something that I am particularly drawn too, I reuse it to store something around the house.

This pretty cleaning wipe bin got some ribbon and now keeps extra rags corralled in the laundry room!


And now for the most asked about storage I have shown on the blog:

White filing bins.

These bins of awesomeness are meant for files, however, I have used them all over for kitchen counter storage and bathroom storage and now affixed to the wall in my desk space to hold birthday, thank you and holiday cards, along with magazines, books and notebooks.  I found them at Target back in the spring of 2010, and haven't seen anything as awesome there since, however, I have seen a similar option at CB2.

Memo Station!

This combination was found from Pottery Barn.   I know, gasp.  It was easier for me to afford back in the day when I had a great management job before I became a full time stay at home mommy!  I blogged about it here, and know that you can find equally functional and pretty versions around if you keep your eyes peeled {like at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond or other home stores}.  Or even better, you could make your own like these awesome readers did!  However, you get your hands on one, they are wonderful for stashing mail when you walk in the house and for sorting through kids school paperwork!

Pencil cup storage!

I get questions about these pencil cups almost daily!

They really do belong in any and every office space.  That's just my personal opinion though!  hee hee.

I originally blogged about these awesome containers here, but here is the lowdown.  They were found at Ikea, here is a link to the rail, a link to the hooks and a link to the white cups.

And they absolutely don't need to be limited to office spaces.  They can be found in the kitchen section in the Ikea showroom floor, which would mean to me, they are meant for kitchens!  I like them in laundry rooms also!

Here, I used the same rail, but I picked up these cheaper holders which are equally as functional!

So there you have it!  What do you think?  Helpful?  Are you on storage information overload?  If anything, hopefully your fingers got a good link clicking exercise!  It's amazing the response that could come out of such a simple question right?  What's your favorite storage solution?  Did I miss anything?