What Type of Organizing Containers do You Prefer?

[AmyBoz]

When using organizing containers in your home, what type do you prefer? Wicker baskets? Plastic containers? Metal containers? Everyone has a different system that both works for them and that they like the look of. What works best in your home?

In our playroom, I use plastic, see through containers. The kids need to be able to see what is in the containers and drawers, otherwise they'll empty everything to find the toys they need.

In the living room and adult areas, I use baskets that are lined with linen bags. They contain the "stuff" and they look nice while doing it.

How about you?

[mommy4ever]

It depends. For my things I like wicker. It's homey. However for the kids I like plastic as it doesn't break easily. I rarely use metal, but do have a few photoboxes in metal.

[Darlene]

Contain? My messes are in piles, I'm afraid my downfall are papers, magazines, books & the like. Everything else is in drawers or cupboards. I should by some nice wicker baskets for the "piles" of stuff or get rid of most of it. Seems like I get on top of them, turn around & the piles are back. Kitchen table & coffee table are my spots.

[Neeley]

I am obsessed with organizing my things and should hold stock in the Rubbermaid corporation.

In my craft room I use all Rubbermaid containers in every shape, size and form. I have 30 of the shoebox size ones that hold everything like pencils, crayons, balloons, glue gun sticks, tape, scissors, string, glue, and so on. I also have the larger 5-7 drawer style that hold scrapbook papers and larger sheets of stickers. Then there are the smaller 4 drawer containers that hold the smaller scrapbook paper squares and scraps. I use the plastic baskets in there to hold things like my paper cutters, stamps, stencils, etc...

We drink a lot of Wal-Mart brand Crystal Light type drink mixes. They come in a plastic cylander(sp?) container I use to store my ribbons in. I hole punched the lids, filled the containers with my ribbon and fed the ribbon through the lids. I also use these to store my buttons in. The buttons are organized by color.

The containers that Parmesan cheese (like you use on pasta) come in are used to hold baking soda in the laundry room. Since they have the holes in the lid to shake out the cheese, it makes dispensing baking soda very easy.

On my desk I use terracotta planters I painted and decorated with ribbon to hold my pens, pencils, letter opener and erasers.

In the laundry room there are several sweater size Rubbermaid containers that hold things like extension cords, gift bags(organized by occassion), first aid, misc. pet items, extra notebooks and paper, emergency items(like candles, matches), and so on.

The storage room is all 18 gallon and larger Rubbermaid containers. We have everything from clothes to holiday decorations, to keepsakes, etc....in there.

All of the animal food and animal snacks are organized in plastic, airtight containers, too.

As far as the rest of the house goes, we don't use any containers. There isn't really anything that needs to be stored in a container. It is either in a drawer, cabinet, or shelf.

[IntlMom]

In the laundry room there are several sweater size Rubbermaid containers that hold things like extension cords, gift bags(organized by occassion), first aid, misc. pet items, extra notebooks and paper, emergency items(like candles, matches), and so on.

I use rubbermaid container too. Like Neely, I have all of these things in containers too, but my very favourite container is the one that holds all my spare batteries. I love knowing exactly where to go for a new battery. When I notice that I am low on a particular size, I pick up a pack next time I'm at the store.

[geckoace]

we use a combination of everything. i am partial to plastic coffee tubs for craft supplies my mother procures them from work. but in our main storage room its plastic tubs for most stuff, plastic drawers for tools and a shoe org for hand tools and caulk and that kind of stuff.

clothes are stored in space bags under the bed or in a small gap between my wardrobe and the wall.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

I've got giant glass pickle jars for food stuffs in my pantry like oatmeal and sugars. Also dozens of the tupperware big cearl containers.
Out in the garage its giant plastic clear pretzel jars for extension cords, clothes pins, etc. Old coffee cans for dozens of other things. For long term storage its big blue rubbermaid tubs. If we get a storm that brings water into the house or takes off the roof these items stored in the attic will be safe. When the plae flys over showning damage pictures you'll see my blue tubs lined up lol.
In the trucks its coffee cans painted different colors and written on as to whats inside.

Laurie in Bradenton

[forHISglory]

Great question and answers!

I have the gallon sized glass jars from restuarant supplies with various types of pasta. Makes it easy to see how much pasta I have. I use lots of Tupperware in the kitchen. I also got a couple of boxes from Aldi that they put taco spice packets in. I spray painted them to match my kitchen, and I store my gravy packets, spaghetti sauce packets, chili and taco seasoning packets, etc. in them. They fit nicely in my pantry. I also keep tea bags in an antique glass peanut butter jar.

In the living room, I have a basket for magazines, but that's it. In the spare bedrooms, I keep rubbermaid under bed boxes for my school supplies. I keep materials for each course that I teach stored in separate boxes.

In my craft area of the basement, I have these plastic stacks of drawers.... think they were made by sterilte, anyway, I got them at Walmart. They are great for holding stamps, stickers, ink pads, paper, glue sticks, etc. I have a fancy tin that candy came in to use as a pencil/pen holder, and another one for my scissors.

Laundry room has a 8 foot run of cabinets, so I don't put supplies in anything else.

I'm enjoying all your ideas!

[AmyMCGS]

I like baskets. Mail, books, kitchen stuff, aquarium supplies, tissues, etc.-- it's all in various types of baskets throughout my house.

For kid things and craft supplies, I prefer plastic tubs or plastic drawer units.

In my master closet, I use cardboard file boxes with lids to store out of season clothes on the top shelf. Those aren't necessarily my favorite, but they were cheap and fit the space.

[shoiji]

Have a couple of baskets in living room and kitchen. Clothes are stored in the big plastic containers. A couple plastic containers under bed. For long term food storage like glass containers. Everything else is in the good old fashioned cardboard box.

[Frugal Nurse]

.... I just don't care if that place is wood, plastic, glass, wicker, paper... or open. I pretty much organize with anything I have that holds anything.

I'm not picky. But I don't store things in open areas. So, those plastic rubermaid type bins are used in areas that are generally dusty, dirty... like the attic or basement.

Other than that, all other organization is done in drawers and cabinets.

I can't say I have a particular like or preference. I take what I can get- reuse what I have. Whatever that may be.

[momof42003]

For me, I like to use baskets. I have one holding gaming supplies(controlers, games, cords), and I have one for magazines. I also like to use small totes. I have some on my desk holding everything from the digital camera, regular camera film to frequently used cd's. In the pantry I too use the giant pickle jars for everything, I have some smaller ones I use for sugars and raisins. I have totes, bins, baskets (plastic and wood), to boxes (good ol shoe boxes and some wooden ones) to store pretty much anything that needs to be corraled and isn't in the drawer or cupboard.