13 Inexpensive Organizing Solutions

The idea of organizing your home can be overwhelming. If that’s true for you, I’ve got several organizing solutions and pro tips to help you go from overwhelmed to organized.

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Home Storage Solutions

Before you buy storage containers, be sure to measure your space and have a general idea of what you will be storing. This will save you time, money and energy once you start organizing.

How to Get Started with Organizing Your Home

It helps build confidence and momentum when you start small, for example with a junk drawer, or a shelf. With that in mind, choose an area that is causing stress or overwhelm for your household. Then, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the primary purpose of this space? (How can it best function in order to serve your needs.)
• What items do I need in the space in order to carry out that purpose?

And if the space is multi-purpose, also consider the secondary purpose and what you’ll need for that.

It’s up to you whether you declutter before you organize or after. Either way you prefer to do it, it’s really helpful to start with an empty space. Emptying your space allows two things to happen:

1. Removing items from your space helps you mentally and emotionally detach from your things so you can see them more objectively.
2. Shows you how much space you have which typically provides further motivatation to cull and edit your belonging.

If it’s not practical to completely empty your space, or if the idea is just too overwhelming, start small with one shelf, cabinet, drawer at at time.

As you’re removing items, sort them into one of five categories.

1. Keep (If you’ve already organized, then you won’t need a keep pile.)
2. Donate
3. Recycle
4. Trash
5. Return (to the person or room it belongs to)

Inexpensive Home Organization Ideas

You don’t have to spend money on expensive containers to get organized. Some of my personal favorite home organization products can be found in your home. 

Upcycled Home Organization Products

Jars – Use jars to store school supplies, office supplies and craft supplies. Put them on a lazy susan for easy access. You can also use jars to store loose change or on your bathroom vanity to store makeup brushes, toothbrushes cotton balls and cotton swabs.

Tin Cans – Tin cans can be used the same way as jars. I also like to use them as sorters inside baskets. For example, if you have a paper products basket for parties, you can sort plastic ware in the tin cans. That way they’re ready to grab for the next get together.

Tupperware Containers – Plastic storage containers are perfect for storing medication, or a first aid kit, and even game pieces. I use one to store pet grooming supplies.

Dollar Store Shoe Boxes – Shoe boxes come in handy to organize under bathroom sinks. You can use them to store toiletries, extra bath and body products, guest room toiletries, manicure/pedicure supplies or hair accessories.

Votive holders – I love using votive holders to store my eyebrow scissors an tweezers in my medicine cabinet. You could also use them to hold cotton swabs or bobby pins. Set one on your nightstand to hold earrings and your ring at night.

Egg crates – cardboard egg crates make great jewelry organizers. You could also use them to sort sewing notions. If you don’t have an egg carton handy, use a plastic ice cube tray instead.

If you still need containers after shopping your home, try going to the Dollar Tree.

My Favorite Dollar Tree Organizing Products

Plastic shoe boxes – The Dollar Store is a great place to buy clear, plastic shoe boxes. You can use these for shoes or toys. They also make great fridge organizers.

Felt Hangers – They also have the best felt hangers. They’re sturdier and better quality than any other velvet hanger I’ve ever bought. They save space in your closet and keep your clothes from falling off the hanger. Highly recommend!

Hooks – The Dollar Tree carries Command Hooks as well as a good selection of over the door hooks.

Storage Baskets – They carry all kinds of baskets that work for organizing your pantry, linen closet, clothes closet, and toys. I use and recommend these fabric storage baskets to sit on the shelf below your hanging clothes. They’re perfect for storing travel items, clothes care essentials, extra linens and shoe care products.

Mugs – You can use mugs much the same way you do jars or tin cans. I personally like to use them as desk organizers to keep pens handy. They’re also great as utensil holders when you’re hosting dinner. The Dollar Tree has a big selection to choose from. (The white mugs are my favorite since they go with any decor.)

Drawer Organizer – This drawer organizer is a popular choice for organizing essential oils. Of course, you can use it to organize nail polish or cosmetics, too.

One of my other favorite organizers is the lazy susan or turntable. Unfortunately, the Dollar Tree doesn’t carry them. (At least not to my knowledge.) But, you can easily order one from Amazon. Be sure to measure your space first since they come in different sizes.

You can use lazy susans to corral like items and make them easily accessible.

• I have cleaners on one in my linen closet.
• I store condiments, oils and vinegars on lazy susans in my pantry.
• I’ve used them in the fridge for condiments as well.
• And I’m about to get another one to use for office supplies in my command center.

As you organize your home, it’s important to keep in mind that home organization is an ever-evolving process; you’ll need to evaluate and tweak your organization system from time to time depending on the needs of your household. That is the key to any successful organization project.

For more home organizing solutions and ideas, read:

• 5 Expert Tips on How {and Why} to Get Organized
• Do My Things Really Need to Spark Joy?
• Home on Purpose: Mindful Living in a Hectic World

Before you go, be sure to click here to get your free organizing mistakes guide! I created a list of the top 5 mistakes (and how to avoid them.) This little cheat sheet will save you so much time, energy and money.