9 Clever Ways To Get Organized With IKEA's GLIS Storage Boxes

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When it comes to staying organized, there are all sorts of resources on the market designed to help you. Some bins and containers work best for keeping cleaning supplies tidy, while others are fantastic for making pantry essentials, like snacks and spices, easily accessible. Often, however, it's the small items that are challenging to store well — unless you have the right organizational tools. As it turns out, IKEA's GLIS collection of storage bins is perfect for containing all kinds of miscellaneous household items, from nail polish and light bulbs to art supplies and your first aid kit. These small bins snap shut and stack securely, making them easy to stow away when not in use.

Take just one glance at an IKEA GLIS container, and your brain is likely already scheming how to put it to use in your home. If you're in need of a little inspiration, however, here are some ideas to get you going. Kids' toys like LEGO bricks, dominoes, or bouncy balls, which easily get misplaced or become disorganized, can be stashed in the range's smallest bins. The larger containers with internal dividers work great for anything that comes in multiple sizes, colors, or styles you need (or want) to keep separate. Clever applications abound because the way you use the GLIS storage system in your home comes down to personal need.

The larger IKEA GLIS clear box with lid ($7.99) has a generous capacity, making it perfect for holding lots of small items. Beads, for example, can be securely contained within the organizer's various divided sections, making them easy to sort through when you or your kids are working on a craft project. There's also space for beading tools, like scissors and cord, that you might need. Customers have given this box a 4.7-star average rating for good reason.

The smaller IKEA GLIS box with lid — $3.99 for a three-pack in red, pink, and yellow — is a wonderful resource for markers, colored pencils, crayons, and more that your family uses often. Whether your child loves to draw or you enjoy chilling out with a YOURnotes Publishing Mindfulness Coloring Book For Adults, this GLIS set provides a sturdy container to keep your tools safe. You can organize by art supply type, which is great for anyone who likes to stay tidy. This set has a 4.3-star average rating from IKEA customers.

If you have a child at home who is an avid builder, get a few sets of the smaller IKEA GLIS boxes with lids in yellow and blue. These containers are brilliant LEGO storage ideas that busy parents need to keep the house tidy. They're small enough to sort out different types of LEGO pieces, from simple colored bricks to wheels, figures, and machinery, yet large enough to hold a substantial amount in each container. They're stackable, so you can stow them away neatly when playtime is over.

Certain items need to be kept safely out of reach of small hands at all times. Scissors, whether safety or standard, fall into this category. While safety scissors are less dangerous than standard scissors, there's no reason to tempt fate. Keep all your scissors and other cutting craft tools securely stowed in a small IKEA GLIS box with lid — anything under 6 inches long will fit. That way, you can easily find them when needed while keeping your household safe.

Fragile household essentials like light bulbs can be challenging to store safely. When you buy a new box of bulbs, you probably won't use them all in one go. Don't leave the extras sitting around unpackaged; keep them in a lilac, green, or blue IKEA GLIS box with a lid. With the snap-on lid and sturdy sides, it offers secure protection, helping prevent the bulbs from shattering before you can use them. A single box will fit two standard screw-base bulbs (E26 or E27) or multiple smaller bulbs.

Small toys can be challenging to organize — they get lost when not properly stored, causing frustration for parents trying to find them for upset children. If you want to empower your child to keep their smaller items tidy and easy to find, pretty much any IKEA GLIS box, with divided compartments or without, would work. Dominoes, bouncy balls, fidget spinners, building blocks, toy cars, and more can all be kept in one or more of these storage containers.

Here's an innovative use for the large, clear IKEA GLIS box with a lid and dividers: use it to keep the emergency supplies that every household should have stocked easily within reach. The small compartments in assorted sizes are ideal for Band-Aids, bandages, tubes of ointment, medicine bottles, and pill packets. Snap the lid closed and the items will stay in their respective spots and remain protected from harmful moisture. Make a few kits to keep indoors and out — in your garden shed or garage, for example, or on a shelf in your pantry.

Household batteries need to be kept somewhere cool and dry to avoid deterioration yet accessible enough to grab quickly when you need them. The GLIS containers are IKEA products that are perfect for organizing your utility closet — at least where batteries are concerned. If you have loads of batteries, choose the larger box with dividers. Stash big batteries in the large compartments and tiny button cell batteries in the small spots. The lid snaps shut securely, helping to keep the batteries moisture-free. Slide the box onto a shelf and you're done!

If you enjoy painting your nails, you probably have an enormous collection of polish and tools to keep organized. The large, clear IKEA GLIS box with a lid and dividers is a great resource. Each compartment holds bottles of nail polish, as well as cotton balls, swabs, and various nail tools. No more need to fumble through a bathroom vanity drawer to find that pesky bottle of top coat. Plus, the sides and lid of the box are clear; you can see everything you have at a glance, making restocking a breeze.