Guest post by Kaui at Thrifty Military Mommy
I was taught that when you do something, you do it only one way and any other way is wrong. Likewise, if you have a product, you were only supposed to use it for what it was made for (i.e. a towel rack should only be used to hang towels and nothing else).
It wasn’t until we were dirt poor that I realized this kind of thinking was obsolete: we simply did not have the money to be picky about what we used. Even now that we make good money and we’re debt-free I still try to use what I already have on hand to organize before I go out to buy anything since it saves so much money.
Change Your Perspective
Throw all those beliefs out the window that say you need to buy something to help you organize your things. Chances are, you already have something at home you can use that requires just a few or no adjustments.
Our bed system turned into a pantry/bookshelf
Who cares if it’s not beautiful? Far too many people buy things because they’re pretty rather than recognizing that organization makes a home prettier. I get many more comments on how well organized my home is than on the beautiful book cases I have.
You can find many websites and blogs that will show you step-by-step how to make something prettier than it is. Using this method will still save you tons of money, even if you have to buy some paint to repaint your table.
Hanging towel rack turned into an organizer in our kitchen
Same hanging towel rack turned into an organizer in our bathroom
Just about everything we have can be used for multiple purposes. All it takes is a little bit of brain storming and creativity. Check out YouTube (just type in the word “organize” and you’ll get hundreds of videos) and I’m an Organizing Junkie for many great ideas.
It really is fun to transform something you already have into something chic and beautiful. You’re organizing, beautifying and saving all in one! Nothing is better than that!
Kaui Eiklor currently lives in Fort Lewis, WA with her husband and two beautiful kiddos. She stays at home with the kids and enjoys blogging on her website at Thrifty Military Mommy about military life, children, and thriftiness.
Gwen says
Having only one bathroom and six people it always slowed us down getting ready because our hair products and accessories were locked in the bathroom. I solved the problem by hanging a shoe organizer on the outside of the bathroom door for our hair stuff and added a mirror to the hallway.
Donna C says
We used (2)pot racks (the half circle kind that hangs on the wall w/a little shelf on the top) to organize coats in our narrow foyer entry way…. hardly anyone believes they were meant to hold pots! You wouldn’t believe all the compliments, people love them!!!
Britni @ Our Eventual Homestead says
This is great! I used one of those pocket shoe organizers in our closet to organize all of our electronic cables, cords and instruction books. That way I don’t have to wonder where that one obscure cable is that we use twice a year. Love the helpful hints!
Rebecca says
Ann…. thank you. Couldn’t have said it better myself, I was just afraid to be the one to say it. 🙂
Kate B says
I have repurposed many things. (Some things more than once) I had an old book shelf in the basement that I was going to donate or freecycle, but never got around to doing.
I ended up repurposing it to the tv stand in my living room. With the advent of flat screens, they are so light you don’t need a big clunky stand. It also holds my cd player, boxee box and cd player. I had to cut small holes to fish the cords through. However, it looks so much nicer and more sleek than the huge tv cabinet. Love the towel bar idea!!
Charity says
I love this post! Reminds me of the saying: Necessity is the mother of invention.
Stacy says
This gave me a whole new perspective for yard saling!
ann says
I also love the idea of being organized. But I do have to say that I CARE if it is beautiful. It would drive me crazy to have cans of food or boxes of cereal sitting in an open bookshelf. A few salvaged cardboard boxes covered with fabric or paper could be tucked in to open shelving to conceal stored food. There are ways to be creative about storage solutions and have a beautiful home at the same time!
Kaui Eiklor @ Thrifty Military Mommy says
I agree. Sadly, I haven’t mastered this one yet 🙁
Rae says
Over the door shoe holders are the absolute most versatile storage item ever made. There are purposes for them in every room… spices/utensils/etc in the kitchen; shampoo/lotion/washcloths in the bathroom; hair pieces/scarves/small accessories in the closet; small tools/cords/packs of spare screws in the garage; yarn/ribbon/tools in a craft room; small toys in the kids room; stockpile items in a hall closet,,, etc, etc. Not to mention the original purpose… SHOES. lol I LOVE them so much.
And if somebody gives you a pretty wine rack (or you see one free or super cheap somewhere) they make beautiful towel storage (roll instead of fold) especially the wrought iron ones.
Andrea Q says
I have one hanging in my closet against the back wall. It holds mittens, wool socks, scarves, an umbrella and flip flops, depending on the season.
Ramona Nowak says
What great ideas! I especially love the towel rack to hang kitchen items as that would definitely work in my kitchen. I am really trying to repurpose items so you’ve given me some great ideas.
I have a 3 tiered plastic container (probably 12 by 12 inches) that snaps together on the sides and every time I tries to stack it, it always fell apart. I was going to throw it out but I kept it and used it to hold my seedling trays when I started vegetables. It was a great way to hold them togheter and there was less mess when I watered them.
Carlye Rankin says
Thank you so much for this post! My husband and I are trying to re-organize our house and we need a shelving rack for his grill tools, pans, ect. I have the $10 off bathroom furnishing at Target still. I am hoping I can still get something that would work exactly for this purpose…kind of like the picture above! I would love for this to work out since I would only have to pay $4.99 plus tax!
Thanks again!
Kristin says
As a teacher I use a clear plastic over-the-door shoe holder on the back of my office door to hold all my office supplies as well as all of the other “teacher things” that are needed all of the time. This keeps them well organized as well as easily accessible at all times.
I also use one on a rolling garment rack to hold student’s individual headphones for their computers. Each student has a shoe compartment labeled with their name and their headphones fit perfectly in the compartments. It makes it easy for the kids to find their headphones, as well as put them back after being used. It also makes it much easier for me to see if any children’s headphones are missing.
Sarah says
I use the clear over the door shoe holder in our TINY bathroom to hold anything and everything that won’t fit under the sink or in the medicine cabinet.
Martha Artyomenko says
I use one of these to organize small craft supplies and school things. It is a wonderful use for it!
Laura says
Thank you so much for mentioning my site!! I do a blog series once and awhile about how many uses I can find for a particular piece around my house.
http://orgjunkie.com/category/how-many-uses
I am currently looking for help from readers to help me with this. If you can think of multiple ways to use something to help you get organized please let me know!
Kaui Eiklor @ Thrifty Military Mommy says
lol, you’re welcome. I love your site!!! It saved my life when it comes to organization.
Oh, and I’ll start brainstorming now on “dual purpose organizers.”
Kate says
I recently reorganized/excavated my basement storage room. As I found any sort of organizer/box/container, I put it in a pile. When separated from what the way I originally planned to use it, it was easier to see alternative uses for it. I also did this when we moved – all racks, organizers, baskets, etc. went in one big moving box. When we got to our new home the spaces for putting things and what I needed to organize were different and I could look in the box to see what I already had and how it could be re-imagined. It’s the “seeing with new eyes” part that’s a little hard sometimes.
Making My Own Luck says
I use an old silverware sorter to store my son’s socks. Here’s a picture if that helps:
http://cookingluck.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-sons-closet.html
Caolyn says
I use a old Buffet for in our living room for blanket storage in the bottom and candles & scent items in the drawers. Using a old storage cabinet with glass doors in the master bath to hold towels. Don’t at things for what they are….. look at them and wonder…” What else can i use that for”.
You will be suprised.
Cheryl says
Great ideas and they give me thoughts of other ideas that I wouldn’t have thought of without seeing these.
Sakura says
I use those cloth shoe organizers that hang from a door on the inside of my office door to organize everything from pens, paperclips, labelers etc. The bottom row is used for different sized batteries. My kids know just where to find any school supply they may need.
Kimberlee says
Great post!
I just cut the tops off the plastic containers my strawberries came in and used them as drawer organizers :).
The Prudent Homemaker says
I use shoeboxes from the children’s shoes. They keep their socks in that box in their drawer.
Kimberlee says
Ooh-another good idea-thanks!
Heart and Haven says
I try to do this as well! I have a beautiful credenza (that I bought on craigslist for $50)…when we downsized and didn’t have a formal office anymore, it serves perfectly in the living room for toy storage!
Elle says
Great idea. Ikea has a lot of affordable dual purpose organizing products.
Ginger says
Its not just stuff you have, but cheap stuff to organize with. I dont have extra towel racks lying around, but I could.. My house the sellers left an old buffet, its now my tv stand. For kids we use closet shoe hangers (the kind that look like cloth shelves) to put an outfit of the day in each one. I use one for my sweaters. I want to find an old wooden cd shelf (like 2ft long by 2ft high) to put my babys board books on. I <3 coffee mugs as pen holders. Our chinese takeout place gives awesome containers with lives for their food, I wash and use for things like cooking packets (like gravy), pen holders, coupon sorters. Whew I am wanting to find more ways to do this now.
Andrea Q says
Most stores don’t carry CD shelves anymore (thanks to digital music), so I’m scouring yard sales for them. No luck yet, but I’ll keep looking!
Kaui Eiklor @ Thrifty Military Mommy says
Oh! I use coffee mugs as pen holders too, lol!!!
Super Amazing Savings says
I love doing stuff like this … I think it’s important to re-purpose if you can and then buy small things to enhance. I would have never guessed that’s a bed thing I thought it used to be a desk or something. Very cool!
Vickie says
I do this all the time in my house too, especially as my kids grow, I find new uses for their outgrown furniture. Right now my “microwave cart” is actually a repurposed computer desk.
Jennifer says
i love this thank u so much. I have a DVD rack that i use for our shoes at the entrance instead of having shoes all over the place by our livingroom we put them on the DVD rack and the top shelf is for my purse and diaper bag i have gotten so manny compliment on it and some say im going to do the same LOL
Andrea Q says
That’s an awesome idea, Jennifer! As a family of six, we have a lot of shoes!
Kimberlee says
That’s a great idea Jennifer!
Andrea says
Can you post a picture here? Would that work?