Crafty people often collect tons of supplies for their projects. With so much stock, efficiently organizing and storing it is essential to save space, avoid clutter, and ensure easy access. That being said, it can become difficult to sort these out, given the diversity of items – specialty paper, tools, tape, paint, colors, brushes, markers, strings, and much more. So, developing a storage system for craft supplies can help keep the home organized.
1. Declutter
It’s quite usual to hold on to old, unfinished projects or supplies from a hobby one no longer pursues. While these emotional ties can be hard to break, the first step to achieving an organized craft room is decluttering. Toss or give away things that are no longer needed, such as tiny scraps, empty packages, dried-up paints, etc. Keep only those items that currently serve a purpose. Additionally, it is a good idea to practice mindfulness when shopping for new craft supplies. This will help save money, space, and time.
2. Invest in storage sets
Take a trip to the kitchen storage section at the big-box store and pick up a pack of clear plastic storage containers or bins for crafts. The tall, narrow containers work best for longer, slimmer items like paintbrushes, while the others can be used to store bottles of paint, glitter, and other craft supplies.
3. Use a paper towel holder for yarn
Yarn spools tend to tangle up when stored in flat boxes. To avoid the hassle of untangling them each time, repurpose a paper towel holder as a spool storage solution. Not only is this a great craft supply storage and organization hack, but it will also ensure easy access to the yarn when working on a new project.
4. Add or reuse a cabinet
Chances are, there is already a dedicated cabinet or small space for all of one’s craft supplies. To organize it, start by emptying it entirely. Pull everything out and group similar items together. Then, line the shelves with jars, baskets, or bins of various sizes and use these to place the grouped items neatly. Alternatively, one can also add a new wardrobe or cabinet to increase available space and re-stock their supplies.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to label every craft storage bin (or basket) appropriately to keep track of one’s belongings.
5. Set up a crafting station
Use a pegboard to set up a crafting station in the room. These panels can be found at just about any hardware store and cut to one’s preferred size. Paint the pegboard, let it dry, and then hang it over the workstation. A simple idea to make the pegboard in the craft room more functional is adding hooks and attachments to hang up supplies like ribbons, scissors, pencils, etc.
6. Head out to the vintage market
For those who want to organize their crafting supplies on a budget, it may be a good idea to head out to the vintage or pre-loved markets to look for storage solutions. This could be the cabinet itself or smaller storage solutions, such as boxes, bottles, jars, etc.
7. Make paintbrush bouquets
Old jars and bottles can be used to make decorative but practical holders for tall items like paintbrushes and pencils. Simply stack them, brush (or lead) side-up, and set them on the desk. Similar solutions can also be used for smaller items like paper clips, beads, rubber bands, etc.
8. Use drawer dividers
Maximize the available space in the drawers by inserting drawer dividers. Here, it may be best to make use of a combination of dividers and small plastic bins to keep things in order. Remember to store everything in one layer only for quick and easy access.
9. Pick a sectioned box
Take an old sectioned box and repurpose it to store small items. These could include screws, beads, rubber bands, eyelets, nails, etc. This will help avoid any misplacement of these supplies and keep things at arm’s reach. Use a transparent box and keep similar objects together for convenience. Also, add labels to the box just for reference.
10. Upcycle old cans
Another affordable way to organize craft supplies is by upcycling old cans. Clean them out properly and wrap them up in decorative paper. Add a label, and these cans have now become a DIY craft storage solution for supplies like pencils, brushes, etc.
For smaller items like buttons, beads, and needles, one can also repurpose old spice bottles or use a spice rack. Not only does this add visual interest, but it is also a great way to keep track of tiny craft supplies.
11. Make an album
Use plastic sleeves to store supplies like stickers, stencils, die cuts, etc. Stack them together in a binder to create an album for easy viewing and access. These binders can be stored one on top of the other or stacked upright on the shelf for a neater look.
12. Rely on a hanging shoe organizer
Hanging shoe organizers can also be used to store craft supplies. Their depth makes them perfect for keeping taller items like brushes, pens, and pencils. Depending on the space available, these can be hung on the wall or the curtain rod. In smaller spaces, these can be hung inside the cupboard to maximize storage space and keep things organized.
