12 Common Household Items You Can Repurpose Into Genius Organizers For Crafting

Every crafter knows how cool it is to have a dedicated crafting space. And every crafter also knows how quickly that space can spiral into cluttered chaos without some genius craft room organization hacks. Many of said organizational hacks require you to create more storage space or buy specialist storage solutions. We love a good decorative basket or labeled bin as much as anyone. But we also know how expensive it can be to head to the store to purchase tons of bespoke containers and jars just to house all your craft goodies.

Instead, why not take a look around your house? You never know what handy solutions you already have tucked away somewhere. You can upcycle all kinds of common household items into craft room storage. Whether you're working in a giant space or have carved out a little crafting corner, you can find ways to reuse anything, from a ketchup bottle to a toilet paper roll, to keep your craft room spick and span with these decluttering tips. Old paint cans make for great pen and pencil bins; plastic fruit containers convert easily into ribbon dispensers; and the pockets of an over-the-door shoe hanger hold all manner of haberdashery.

Got a revolving spice rack collecting dust? Give it a new life in your crafting space instead. Rather than filling the jars with spices, place small items that quickly cause clutter, like beads, buttons, sequins, googly eyes, or glitter, inside. Or ditch the matching containers altogether and insert small paint bottles into the holders. This hack makes it easy to see and access your supplies, all while saving space.

Mason jars or old coffee mugs can often double as storage for markers, pencils, scissors, and other thin crafting supplies. But we love how wide an old paint can is, and how the shape is uniform. It has straight sides, so space isn't wasted with a shoulder. Paint cans are perfect for holding huge collections of colored pencils or markers. Plus, they're super easy to decorate. Paint them, wrap them in leftover wallpaper, or tie a ribbon around them — no matter what you choose, they're useful and they look cute.

Now that photographs live on our phones or computers, you might have some empty photo albums or postcard books lying around. They're excellent for organizing flat items like stickers, iron-on patches, stencils, notecards, or scrapbook embellishments. This would also work with plastic sheet protectors left over from school or a corporate gig. Snap them into a three-ring binder and store them on a shelf, or slip them into some old magazine holders to keep them all in one place.

Don't throw away the plastic squeeze bottles when you finish your favorite condiments. Clean out all of your used ketchup, dish soap, shampoo, or hair dye bottles. Then, fill them with paint, glue, or dye — really any liquid that could benefit from the easy and precise application of a squeeze bottle nozzle. This is extra helpful and cost-effective if you've got crafty kids who go through buckets of glue or paint. It's cheaper to buy these items in bulk and refill your bottles when needed.

Don't toss plastic fruit containers — turn them into a genius craft organizer! The plastic containers that hold berries or lettuce are sturdy enough to make great containers for all the craft supplies you need to see clearly. They're also perfect for tangle-free ribbon storage. Stack all your ribbon reels in a row across the container and close the lid. Pull the end of each ribbon through one of the holes in the container or through the opening in the lid.

Old prescription medicine canisters are especially helpful if you share your craft space with young children. Keep the childproof lids on and use them to store items you don't want kids to get their hands on, like needles, pins, or choking hazards like beads and glitter. Don't like the color of the plastic? No problem! Spray paint the bottles or wrap them in contact paper. You'll have cute, organized little containers that look made for a craft room rather than a pharmacy in no time.

There are tons of genius ways to repurpose a curtain rod for storage, but one of our favorite places to use them is in the craft room. You can fit tension rods inside a closet, nook, or shelf, or you could install curtain rods from wall to wall across one corner of the room. Then, instead of a curtain, thread rolls of wrapping paper or ribbon onto the rods. The result? An easy-to-use, tangle-free, and aesthetically pleasing way to keep your wrapping paper organized.

If you don't have a suitable place to mount curtain or tension rods in your craft room, an upside down stool is another smart way to store wrapping paper — or any other long, cylindrical supplies like bolts of fabric or wallpaper rolls. This one is super easy, too. Get an old stool with a footrest all the way around, flip it upside down, and stick your rolls of wrapping paper inside. Spruce this storage solution up with a coat of paint, or attach a canvas bag to the legs to hold scissors and tape.

Hanging planters aren't just for flowering vines. Hang a couple from the ceiling or on an old clothing rack and stuff them full of balls of yarn, fabric swatches, or those faux flowers you use for your creations. Alternatively, remove the chains and sit the basket on a shelf or tabletop. It's a smart way to make use of vertical space in smaller crafting spaces and makes it easy to see and grab your supplies. And, if you fill them with colorful items, it adds a little whimsy to the room.

There's a reason these are a staple in workshops. There are ways to use pegboards for all your organizing needs. Use one in your craft room to hang almost anything: spools of thread, small crafting tools, scissors, and all kinds of bits and bobs. You could even attach a shelf, basket, or hanging jars to it, using the vertical space to house markers, paint bottles, and other supplies. If your pegboard is on the smaller side, place it inside a repurposed picture frame. It'll add a little more charm to this industrial workhorse.

If you have a stationery collection but prefer to keep your items separated by color, type, or tip style, cut up and hot glue empty toilet paper rolls to a cardboard base to create a cute DIY desktop storage holder. Decorate your creation with ribbons, patterned paper, or paint. You can also cut toilet paper rolls in half lengthways or horizontally to use dividers inside a drawer, decorative bin, or old shoebox. Keep your collections together while preventing a chaotic mess.

A transparent over-the-door shoe organizer is perfect for storing a wide variety of craft supplies, from paint tubes to thread to all those odds and ends you collect in the hope of upcycling someday. The see-through pockets allow you to see everything at a glance, while keeping all the items neatly in their designated places. This idea is especially helpful in art nooks or tiny craft rooms where every inch of space counts.