Frugal ideas for home organization

[elphie]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.15fbb3a.html

I really like Peter Walsh's trashbag idea- we will definately be doing that one this month.

[forHISglory]

Don't know if this is what you are looking for, but we save various types of cardboard boxes and paint them. I sponge painted some boxes to match the decor of my office and use them for storing papers and envelopes, etc. I also use some in my pantry to store gravy mix packets and other small items. The best box for this is from Aldi; it's a divided box that they actually use for sauce and gravy mixes. I also use these painted boxes in my closets for storage. And painted boxes work well in my craft room for storage. Hubby uses painted boxes in his shop and garage for small items. Cereal boxes can be cut and painted to be magazine storage boxes or file folder boxes. Loads of ideas for cardboard boxes!

Sometimes I spray paint the boxes; sometimes I sponge paint them. It's fun to do different paint techniques with them. I have also tried covering them with fabric or contact paper, but paint is my favorite way.

[pollypurebred39]

I'm totally in love with the hallway organized by interior designer Christopher Lowell. Oh my, if I could do that in my home!

I like using those old hard cased lunch boxes for things like gravy packets, salad dressing packets, etc. Or in the hall cupboard for things like band-aids, extra toothbrushes, combs, chapstick, antibotic cream, Benedryl cream, ect. They seem to be at almost every yard sale. They fit really nicely stacked flat one on top of another and are easy to label so you know exactly what's in them and are behind closed doors so no ugly factor.

I also have covered cardboard boxes with fabric, or an old roll of wall paper, or contact paper.

And I really like IKEAS pick a wall and bank it with shelves or other organizers and hang a curtain from the ceiling from wall to wall (they have really inexpensive hardware for this) that pulls closed to hide all your organized stuff. I plan on making a closet in one of our rooms exactly this way. I don't need to buy anything but the hardware, I'm just going to use what I already own. No one will see it hidden behind the curtain anyway so nothing has to match. I can use my wooden shelf, my plastic shelf, my folding table, and my wire basket drawers. I'll add one of those accordian mug racks (always at yard sales) to hang scarves/belts. I'll put a few hooks up over the table to hang hats. It still is in the planning stages but I plan on following IKEAS ideas. I have their catalogs from the past 3 years. A wealth of decorating/storage ideas.

[TigerGirl1226]

When Target had school supplies on clearance last year, I picked up some hard sided pencil boxes for little things like Koolaid and gravy packets. I always found I was buying too much of stuff because I couldn't see it on the top shelf.