Home Ideas Home Organization Ideas For Those On A Budget

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Home Organization Ideas For Those On A Budget

Trista February 6, 2019

Fridge bins will save your food, and your sanity. Credit: Sorbus on Amazon.com

20. Fridge Bins

If you’re like most Americans, you have experienced the frustration of not being able to find something in your fridge. You just might discover that it was pushed to the back and hiding behind other items for months. Alternatively, maybe you buy something at the grocery store, only to realize you had two of the same thing already in your fridge. A solution to that problem is to buy a set of clear acrylic fridge bins. This way, you can divide similar items together. That makes it easy to find exactly what you need every single time, and you will always know when you are running low on any given item.

The 6-piece set featured in the image above is $35 on Amazon. If you’re prone to forgetting about fresh produce hidden away in your crisper drawer, try displaying it in a big acrylic bin like in the photograph above so that it’s right in your line of sight every time you open the fridge for a snack or soda. If you have a small fridge, you can maximize your usable space by stacking loose items like soda cans and yogurt cups in bins versus spreading them out across the entirety of a shelf’s limited space. They can also be beneficial for bagged items like shredded cheese.

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Trays are great for the bedroom or the living room. Credit: Shutterstock

19. Trays

Do you have a tray? They are handy to have, especially in the living room or dining room. Trays give you a place always to put your remotes, game controllers, drinks, charging cords, and more where they can’t get lost, stolen by dogs or cats, or knocked over. They also double the efficient sense of carrying breakfast in bed or anything else you may need to move from one place to another. Prices will change depending on where you buy your tray or what material it’s made out of. Check out HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls for some fantastic stylish options under $20.

Trays can also be a very chic and witchy way to display stationery sets in an office, gardening supplies near a houseplant nook, drying bundles of herbs and spices, and more. Rustic wooden trays can add a fun, magical vibe to any space, primarily when used to hold rustic items or something fun like rocks or crystals. Easy to clean plastic trays can be ideal in children’s rooms to help contain arts and craft materials in a more spill-proof, mess-proof way. In a kitchen, trays can hold loose ready-to-eat items like granola bars, shelf-stable meat snacks, and washed fresh fruit.

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Keep your books and trinkets on display. Credit: Shutterstock

18. Bookshelves

Buying a bookshelf to keep your books and trinkets might be evident for some people, but for others, it’s not. Some people think that it costs a fortune to get a good bookshelf, but the good news is that Walmart and Ikea both sell bookshelves for around $30. You can also scope out your local thrift store for well-made vintage shelves that will weigh a lot more but are also far more likely to stand the test of time than today’s fiberboard furniture. Bookshelves give you storage space and a great platform for decorating your space with plants, trinkets, art pieces, and more.

If you have a hobby like board games involving many big square boxes, Walmart and Ikea sell great bookcases with square shelving areas that are ideal for storing and displaying such boxes. The minimalist vibe of square bookcases also makes a stunning focal point for a living room or dining room storage area. Try combining natural and human-made elements in your bookcase, like rocks and plants, alongside books and art to create a lot of visual interest and lively, energetic space. Bookcases now come in more colors than ever, with finishes including glossy blacks and whites, aged grey wood finishes, natural pale beech finishes, and more.

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Take a lesson form Marie Kondo and start buying little boxes. Credit: Shutterstock

17. Boxes For Your Drawers

No matter how neat and tidy you may keep your drawers, the chances are that eventually, things get messy again, especially loose odd items like pairs of underwear and wads of anklet socks. Take a tip out of Marie Kondo’s playbook by getting small boxes to go inside your drawers. The good news is, these little plastic boxes are available at Dollar Tree for only $1 each, so you can load up on them at a reasonable price that won’t break the bank while making your home feel so much more neat and orderly. Anything that makes laundry less onerous is definitely worth $1 each!

Boxes inside drawers are convenient in children’s rooms to make it easier for them to dress themselves without tearing their room apart looking for their favorite pair of socks. They can also be used in kitchen drawers to keep packets like oatmeal or hot chocolate neat and organized. In craft rooms, they can keep paints and crayons together. If you keep any home repair supplies in a closet or under a sink, the little boxes are an excellent solution for keeping nails, screws, bolts, and more all safely organized without poking fingers. If you see a good sale on nicely sized plastic boxes, stock up since they will always have a good use!

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Velvet hangers save space, and are better for your clothes. Credit: Shutterstock

16. Velvet Hangers

Anyone can buy a pack of hangers from Dollar Tree. But when it’s time to move, those plastic hangers are so annoying to transport, and over the years, they may bend and break. If you want to give your closet an upgrade, consider buying felt or velvet hangers. They stack easily, so they take up less space than plastic hangers. They also help fabric cling to the velvet, which is perfect for any clothing items that frequently slide off the plastic-like heavy sweatshirts or sweaters. The thin hangers look neat and save space on your closet bar if it’s at a premium.

In August, back-to-school time is a great time to watch for sales on velvet hangers as stores like Target release their curated dorm collections that tend to have inexpensive moving items like hangers. Stores like HomeGoods and TJ Maxx are also great places to check for reduced price overstock velvet hangers. Velvet hangers are also an excellent way to hang up blankets in a storage closet since the velvet helps the fabric grip and the thin profile lets you hang more blankets in the same amount of space over traditional thick, bulky plastic hangers. Velvet hangers are one of those items that simply is always worth the slightly higher price.

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There are special holders for belts and scarves. Credit: Umbra on Amazon.com

15. Belt and Scarf Hangers

If you have a collection of belts or scarves, it can be challenging to figure out how to organize them and keep them easy to grab to complete an outfit on the go. Brands like Umbra create stylish metal hangers that allow you to display your scarves and belts like works of art, but there are other brands out there to accommodate your accessory collections. They are almost always under $20, making them an affordable option for tidying up your closet and making sure your accessories are easy to find and use to complete the perfect outfit each day.

If you don’t want to make your scarves and belts into works of art, there are also simple and inexpensive hangers that can simply be hung up in your closet alongside your clothes to make finding them simple and easy. For crafters, these types of hangers are great for hanging yarn to dry or simply for hanging partial skeins to keep them organized, as well as lace and other trimmings and cordages. Much like hanging old quilts as decor, if you have any old pieces of interesting fabric or lacework, the more decorative hangers are a great way to display vintage fiber art inexpensively.

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Create extra storage space in your bathroom with suction cup containers. Credit: Amazon.com

14. Suction Storage Cup

If you have recently moved into an apartment or house with a bathroom without a proper vanity, you may be clogging up your countertops with a bunch of necessities. A great solution is to get a suction cup container that can stick to mirrors and walls. The holder above is $15 on Amazon. When properly applied to clean, dry walls, these cups can hold a surprising amount of weight and can keep your toothpaste, deodorant, and other toiletry items neat, tidy, and at a convenient arm’s reach. They come in various colors and finishes that can match any bathroom color scheme and design aesthetic, making them a fantastic flexible storage option.

As with many of the items on this list, suction storage cups can be an excellent fit for many other situations than just bathroom storage. They can be used in a nursery to keep nursing supplies near at hand to a rocking chair or crib. In a child’s room, they can be used to hold markers, paintbrushes, or other art supplies near a little desk or table at child height that can’t be knocked over like a traditional storage cup. They could hold a few choice cooking utensils on a backsplash near the stove in a kitchen instead of having to take up counter space with crockery.

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Bedside tables with storage help to keep extra items in your bedroom organized. Credit: Shutterstock

13. Bedside Tables With Storage

It may be tempting to get charming bedside tables that are trendy and minimalist, but if they don’t come with storage, you are losing a lot of space for that minimalist aesthetic. Next time you are searching for bedside tables, look for ones with drawers so that you can hide away your TV remote, medications, earplugs, face mask, books, and magazines, or anything else you may need nearby for sleeping and relaxing. Ikea, Home Depot, and Walmart all have bedside table options with storage for around $30 each. If you use a humidifier, look for a plastic or metal table since the wood will swell and warp over time.

Suppose you’re a tech aficionado who needs to have their smartphone, tablet, and maybe even a video game system near at hand when winding down before bed. Then you should consider a bedside table that has hidden charging docks inside or even a charging pad for compatible devices to make sure all of your tech toys are always at full charge. If you use a CPAP machine or a humidifier, hidden power strips or charging bays are even more beneficial for minimizing the wire mess that could clutter up your bedside area and make it less calming and tranquil for your sleep hygiene.

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Instead of rummaging for pens and pencils in your drawers, get a pencil holder. Credit: Shutterstock

12. Pencil and Pen Holders

If you are only of those people who can never find a pen when you need it, chances are, you need a pencil or pen holder. That can be as simple as grabbing an old mug that you already own, or you can get a stylish acrylic cube on Amazon for under $10. Most dollar stores will have pen holders, as well. As with many simple containers, they can hold far more than just pens on a desk. If you have children with art supplies or have many art supplies, you can divide up and organize your supplies by type and store each in their own pencil container for easy access.

Anything long and thin can be stored nicely in these containers, so markers, colored pencils, paintbrushes, crayons, and more can all be conveniently stored. If you use reusable metal straws in your drinks, keeping a pen holder to keep them tidy in the kitchen is a fantastic idea. In the bathroom, they make a cheap and easy toothbrush holder and can hold combs and brushes as well as makeup brushes. They could even hold candy if you’re a fan of suckers or pixie stix. We recommend keeping a small stash of pen holders on hand for tidying up any tall, loose items.

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By hanging pots on your wall or ceiling, you can get them on display, and keep them organized. Credit: Shutterstock

11. Hanging Pot and Pan Rack

Storing pots and pans can be a considerable challenge, especially if you have a small kitchen. Stop hiding your cookware under your oven or inside cabinets. You may want to go vertical with a hanging pot and pan rack, which can be attached to a wall or even hung from a ceiling in kitchens with a high ceiling. The prices of pot and pan racks will vary depending on the material. Amazon.com has a metal option for $40, but expect to pay a lot more at kitchen supply stores. You can simply get a metal rod that attaches to a wall with brackets and then hang your pots and pans from S hooks for the cheapest and simplest option.

Hanging your pots and pans has advantages beyond just storage, with pans that are routinely nested often getting damaged by rust through small amounts of moisture lingering after washing or simply scratching each other in storage when being jostled around. Hanging pots and pans not only put them at arm’s reach but allows them to nicely air dry after coming out of the dishwasher and keeps them from being scratched by other pans. If you have a nice set of pans, you may want to hang them even if you have room for more traditional storage simply to extend the lifetime of your pans.

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If you cook a lot, it may be time for you to get a proper spice rack. Credit: Shutterstock

10. Spice Rack

Spices are essential in a great cook’s kitchen. So if you find yourself having tons of spices clogging up your cabinet space, it may be wise to get an organization system. The good news is that spice racks come in all different styles and all different price ranges, starting at just $5. Most of us probably spend time rummaging through a cupboard looking for that one needed spice. Hence, a spice rack is a significant investment to make cooking easier, more fun, and less time-consuming by neatly displaying all of our spices in the open. Spice racks also make it easier to keep track of what spices you’re running low on and, if you date them (which you really should), which spices are getting old and losing flavor.

Spices don’t love direct sunlight or humidity. Make sure you don’t put your spice rack too close to the stove because of cooking humidity. Likewise, don’t expose it to direct sun in a window. Some spice racks are meant to fit inside shelves, keeping them safe from the elements and making them slightly harder to see. New shelves on the market are magnetic and allow the spices to easily be plucked off a flat surface for use and then stuck back on, which is incredibly fast and convenient. No matter your kitchen setup, there will be a spice rack that suits your cooking needs.

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Sink caddies help keep your sponges and supplies off of your counter space. Credit: Crate and Barrel

9. Sink Caddies

If you like to keep your counters clean, but you still need supplies in your sink to clean your dishes, using a caddy can be a great solution to store your sponges all in one place. These are usually available in stores like Home Goods, Amazon, and more. The sink caddy seen in the photo above is available at Crate and Barrel for $16. Most sink caddies are large enough to hold a dish brush, rag, and sponge, and many have drainage holes to stop sponges and cloths from getting mildew. Some caddies even come with built-in soap dispensers so you can avoid having a full bottle of soap out on your counter.

If you are a dedicated bath taker, sink caddies can be used on the edge of bathtubs to hold your phone, a soda, and more. There are many dedicated bath buddies and trays for that kind of thing, but sink caddies tend to be far less expensive and are smaller and less obtrusive. If you have a laundry sink, consider adding a sink caddy there as well for stain removing bars, a stain brush, and more. These little caddies are such an inexpensive way to declutter your kitchen counters that there’s no reason not to stock up on them!

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Vacuum sealing helps to save space and keep food fresh. Credit: Shutterstock

8. Vacuum Storage Bags

Where you are trying to store food or clothes, using vacuum storage kits will suck the air out of your stuff to make it easier to put away. For food, the starter kits begin at $40 to $50 on Amazon, and for clothes, starter kits are around $30. If you live in a four-season area like the Midwest of the US, where every season has its own clothing requirements, vacuum storage can be an absolute lifesaver for storage. You can shrink down huge, heavy winter coats and big fluffy bed comforters to a fraction of their original size, making them far easier to tuck away into closets or bed boxes for storage under your bed.

Vacuum storage bags can also help the kitchen for individually sealing items originally bought in bulk, like steak or fish filets. Make sure you use only food-grade plastics and equipment when storing food! Many families wind up with boxes and boxes of children’s grade school art, report cards, and other paper items that they would like to save for sentimental reasons. When stored in boxes, they are subject to mice invasions, dust, mildew, and more. What many people don’t realize is paper goods can be vacuum stored! Simply neatly stack the paper items and seal them away to keep them protected from the elements.

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Over-the-toilet shelves help in small spaces without a lot of storage. Credit: Amazon.com

7. Over-The-Toilet Shelves

These incredibly convenient shelves start at around $25 and go over $100, depending on the brand, material, and design. EHomeProducts make the shelf that is featured in the photo above on Amazon, and it is sold for $40. If your bathroom doesn’t have built-in storage options, an over-the-toilet rack can be the ultimate space saver and convenience item. They are durable enough to hold toiletries, extra toilet paper, towels, or whatever you need them to within reason. There are metal and wood options to match whatever aesthetic and pre-existing features and fixtures are already in your bathroom.

These shelves are another fantastic item to keep in mind with an open mind since they can be used in creative ways that go far beyond the bathroom. If you have a fish tank and need somewhere to put your aquarium supplies, these shelves are wide and tall enough to go over small fish tanks and can hold your monitoring supplies, chemicals, and fish food in an organized out-of-the-way space. They could go over a printer on a small table to hold ink, paper, and more in an office. With any cheap shelving units, keep an open mind and an eye on your space to see if they could work for you in non-traditional ways!

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Under-the-bed storage helps save space. Credit: Amazon.com

6. Boxes Under the Bed

For some people, putting boxes under the bed for extra storage is a no-brainer. But there are boxes out there that are specially designed to fit under beds- They even come with a handle to help you pull them out! They are usually around $20, and these can be great for storing your off-season clothes or any other item that is necessary but not frequently used. Of course, make sure you talk to your furry friends first since many dogs love sleeping under beds! However, if the space under your bed isn’t at a dog premium, under the bed boxes are a great way to keep many items dust-free, and if you have a lovely sham, the boxes will be invisible.

Seasonal items like gift wrap are ideal for hiding under the bed. There are friendly zip-up bags and boxes specifically for that purpose. Seasonal items like winter clothing or summer sports equipment are also ideal items to tuck away under the bed for later use. If you end up storing a lot of boxes under the bed, make sure you clearly label them on the outside, so you don’t end up spending unnecessary time pulling out box after box looking for one specific item. You could use colorful tape or even luggage tags on the handles to label the boxes’ contents.

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Plastic shelving is great for the garage and basement. Credit: Argos

5. Plastic Shelving in Your Garage and Basement

Plastic shelves are easy to assemble, and they hold a surprising amount of weight. They are perfect for keeping things off of the floor in your garage, basement, or attic. Prices vary anywhere from $20 to $40, depending on where you buy them. They are always available in Lowes and Home Depot, and larger Staples stores. While they certainly don’t look the best, and you wouldn’t want them in a feature room of your home, they are incredibly versatile and easy to clean and are a fantastic way to keep items up off the ground, damp basements, or dusty garages. Always check the weight limits on your specific model!

Plastic shelving is also an ideal solution for cleaning closets and laundry rooms or anywhere you’re storing things that could potentially spill. It’s much simpler and easier to clean up than on metal, or wood shelving liquids could damage. Plastic shelving is also an excellent choice for children’s play areas due to the lightweight and resiliency of the material for children who might want to draw on or otherwise tamper with the shelves. Plastic shelves can also work nicely for items of odd sizes, thanks to the open sides that are tough to replicate in wood shelving and are much cheaper than metal shelving.

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Floating shelves save space and add storage wherever you need it. Credit: Shutterstock

4. Floating Shelves

Sometimes, there is simply not enough room for all of your stuff. Floating shelves are a great solution because you are creating storage space out of thin air. Since it’s out in the open, it also encourages you to keep it neat and tidy. Prices will vary depending on the style you choose and where you buy your shelving, but the entire project should always be under $50. Check out stores like Lowes and Home Depot for simple and affordable DIY floating shelf kits containing all of the materials you need and installation instructions to make the whole process painless and simple.

Floating shelves are a terrific option for house plants, thanks to their airy open design that allows maximum sunlight and airflow around your tropical treasures. If you’re finding yourself running out of space for house plants, find a sunny wall in your room and try adding floating shelves for small plants. Floating shelves with a mixture of plants and decor are also quite stunning and can add a ton of visual interest to an otherwise dull wall. Try placing an interesting geode or crystal on a shelf with a couple of plants and enjoy the pop of color of energy that it brings to your room.

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Keep your papers organized with letter holders. Credit: Amazon.com

3. Stackable Letter Holders

If papers end up piling up on your desk, it’s probably time to get yourself some letter holders. The great thing about these is that you can buy as many as you want since they stack. You can divide up your paperwork by category as it comes in throughout the week. They are available in most office supply stores like Staples. The set of two-letter holders in the photo above is $18 on Amazon.com. Stores like TJ Maxx tend to be filled to the brim with stackable organizers like these in various colors and materials, including acrylic and pretty metallic. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a set to match your aesthetic.

Stackable trays can be useful not only for business but also for hobbies. If you’re an artist, you can stack paintings or ink drawings to let them dry and rotate easily between in-progress pieces since they’re all visible and organized. You can also put various devices like drawing tablets or sketchbooks in them to have them at arm’s reach to make it easier to dive into your hobbies. For those who need help getting organized, stackable trays are a great way to keep everything visible, so there’s no issue of “out of sight, out of mind” for items like bills or correspondence.

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Magazine racks can be great for keeping your items organized. Credit: Amazon.com

2. Magazine Racks

There are many different magazine racks out there, but they can be used for so much more. As you can see in the photo above, this rack is being used for notebooks, journals, and an iPad. This way, you can keep all of your reading materials in one spot on your desk, which will prevent them from getting scratched. The acrylic rack pictured above is $22 on Amazon. There are many fashionable new racks available online and in stores like TJ Maxx that are the perfect size for modern devices like tablets and even smartphones. You can organize your desk or bedside table and keep books in good shape while keeping screens scratch-free.

If vintage items are more your taste, there is a massive variety of vintage magazine racks dating back to the turn of the century that are relatively easy to find and typically quite inexpensive due to their larger size. Magazines used to be quite large, and many magazine racks were meant to sit on the floor next to a chair or sofa. This magazine rack size can be ideal for holding larger sketchbooks for artists, large tablets or laptops, and many other crafting or hobby items to keep them safe and off the floor or from taking up valuable table space.

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Containers like this can help keep all of your wrapping supplies under your bed. Credit: Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

1. Wrapping Paper Containers

There are all kinds of wrapping paper containers you can buy. Some wrapping paper boxes are made of clear plastic and can sit in your closet, while others, like the one pictured above, can lay flat and slide under the bed. Prices will vary, but for the most part, these containers are anywhere between $15 to $30. Some options include special little compartments for ribbon, tags, and pens so that you can have your entire gift-wrapping collection all in one convenient air-tight, dust-free place for when the holidays roll around. Saving the time you’d typically spend hunting down gift tags can be a holiday lifesaver!

The unique size of wrapping paper containers can also make them ideal for storing plenty of other odd-sized items in your home or garage. If you have kids into racquet sports or baseball, the flat zip-up models are the perfect size for keeping sports equipment clean and out of the way during the off-season. Rolled-up posters or pieces of art you’re saving for later display can also fit nicely since they’re so similar in size to gift wrap tubes. With any storage piece meant for a single specific item, you’ll likely find myriad uses if you keep an open mind. Keep an eye open for after-Christmas clearance sales to get yourself organized!

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