6 Steps to Organize Your Space with Creative Craft Storage Ideas

Do you have craft supplies everywhere?

If your answer to this question is yes my friend, you are not alone. I have some creative craft storage ideas that will help you organize your space.

Did you know that in most households, only 20% of the things they own they actually use? TWENTY PERCENT! That blew my mind. And get this, research estimates that the average person will spend 3,680 hours of their lifetime searching for misplaced items. Seems like such a waste doesn’t it? So Sis…Bro…let me help you with this. I just finished my own craft room organization and it has saved me time and money.

6 Steps to Craft Organization

After spending hours and days, even weeks trying to find the best solutions to organize my craft room, I did a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. I’ve come up with these 6 organizational steps, which are full of creative craft storage ideas. I’ve eliminated all the bumps in my journey to hopefully make your process easier.

Step 1 – Start by taking inventory of what you have and where you would like to eventually store it all.

Take a day and pull out every craft supply you have. If it’s all over the house (like mine was) find a central location like your basement or spare room and bring everything together. Take an informal inventory of everything you currently have. There’s a cute quote that says:

You will probably find things you forgot you had. I found a whole bag of scrapbook paper from at least 8 years ago. It was in perfect shape. Score!

The benefit of taking this first step is to see what type of craft supplies you have and decide what’s the best way to group them and organize them. Also, there are certain tools that I think every crafter needs. Take this time to look through your stash to make sure you have the essentials. I’ve compiled a list of 5 tools that everyone needs with actual links to the exact tools I own. I’m not affiliated with any of these brands, I just want you to have want you need when it’s time to craft. Fill out the form below to get your FREE copy of my list.

Take a picture to serve as a quick reminder in your phone. Also measure the space where you want to ultimately put these items. This way, when you are looking for storage you know what dimensions you need.

Step 2 – Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

When I was first planning to organize my craft supplies, I was sketching ideas for tons of custom craft storage ideas I had. I would rack my brain trying to come up with the best way to store stuff. Listen, I had BIG dreams. I was gonna video the whole process and help my craft tribe. I was being creative and helpful, Right? Wrong.

For example, I have several little acrylic paint bottles. I was going to build a custom container to store them. It would’ve been super cute but also time consuming to build. Around the same time, I got an email from the craft store Michaels that said storage was on sale. I took a quick look and low and behold, they had a paint storage caddy that was EXACTLY what I wanted. It was the perfect size and I had a coupon that made it 25% off. Yippee. I saved myself time and money just by not reinventing the wheel. My best way to help my craft tribe this time is to tell you about the amazing things that are already out there. So here’s the caddy…don’t’ be like me, just get it. LOL

Step 3 – Shop for craft storage supplies

If you completed Step 1 then you know what you have, and you know the measurement of the area where you will store everything. Now it’s time to shop for storage solutions. Listed below are the things I’ve found useful and where to purchase them.

Before you hop in the car and drive like mad to the nearest store, or add everything I mention to your online shopping cart, first create a budget. Storage can get very expensive, so have a plan in mind of about how much you wanna spend for this project. Below, you’ll find solutions for every budget.

• The top 3 craft supply stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Joann) all have storage options. Tons of containers and pretty boxes. I found the most variety at Michaels. They have a complete Modular Storage line that is a little pricey but very useful.

• I have this great grab and go tote that has three convenient pull out containers with built in dividers. It comes in several sizes but I have the large. It was great for my jewelry supply storage when I had limited space. My niece bought me a gift card for Christmas (her first gift she bought her Auntie now that she’s an Adult) and I bought it on sale for $25. I love being an Auntie so it’s special to me.

• Plastic bins are still in. Almost every store you go in will have some kind of plastic storage bin, but the ones at the Dollar Tree are still my favorite. At $1 a piece, you can do some great organizing for less than $10. They are great for college dorms, classrooms, closets, etc. My tip: buy as many as you need all at once because the style of the bins change over time. Am I the only one that is OCD and likes all my bins to match? LOL
• While you are at the dollar store walk up and down the food storage aisle. They have tons of cute little containers that would be perfect for beads, stickers, paperclips, etc. I use the 2 packet drawer organizers for my BLING drawer.

• Trendy bins are popular now too. Walmart had these great bins with a modern matte look and a wood grain lid. I’ll take two please.
• As I said earlier, you can find beautiful boxes and trunks at the hobby stores that will look very pretty out in open spaces.

• Ikea is a wonderland for craft storage ideas. The bottom floor is packed full of inexpensive containers that can be used for many purposes. There were also some amazing shelving options. And don’t forget the fabric storage boxes, Ikea has the nicest and cheapest that I’ve found.
• I also used Ikea’s Kallax cube shelving units as part of my custom craft table.

• Pegboards are space savers. You can purchase a basic pegboard at Lowe’s or Home Depot. I store my scissors and other flat tools on my pegboard. Of course, I unable to just do “basic”, I mean I do call myself a diva. You can frame it and paint it within one day. Click here to check out my step by step tutorial.
• I can’t list everything, but here are a few other stores I found great things at: Home Goods, Lowe’s, Amazon, and the Container Store. Check them out, especially at “Back to School” time or at the beginning of the year when they have the best sales.

Step 4 – Consider unconventional items

Your craft storage doesn’t have to be all items created just for storage. Look around your home and repurpose items you already have.

• Use Amazon boxes as a container. You can wrap the box with paper or paint it to match your space. I needed something to store my wrapping paper but only had a narrow space in my craft room. I cut an existing box to fit the size I needed, cut a few strips for dividers and hot glued them inside. Now my wrapping paper stands up neat in that little corner.
• Use pipe cleaners or twisty ties (that you probably already have) as cord organizers. I hate cords hanging every where, so I normally bind up the extra part of the wire with twisty ties or zip ties.
• Use bookcases for more than just books. I couldn’t find a printer stand to hold my printer and Cricut, so I measured the length and bought a bookcase that would fit both. This is where your measurements from Step 1 will come in handy.
• Looking for a place to store Vinyl rolls…The plastic bag organizer from Ikea is a wonderful hack and inexpensive for only $3.
• Use foam board (I buy mine at the dollar tree) to create scrapbook paper shelving. With the straight ruler from my “5 tools” list above, a straight knife and some hot glue you can make custom shelving for less than $10. These retail for over $60.
• Hobby Lobby has a a very large selection of glass containers that I love. I use them in the bathroom, in my craft room, even as a gift container. They provide storage and look pretty on a shelf.
• Antibacterial containers can work as paint brush storage. The top can also be used to hold your paint brush.
• Paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls can turn into pencil holders or containers. Tape a piece of paper or shelf liner on the bottom to create a cup. I store my glue sticks there. You can decorate them to match your decor.
• Tic tac containers work great for small items like sewing needles or seed beads for jewelry making.

Step 5 – Explore Pinterest for ideas

If you can’t figure out what you want to do or how to pull it all together, head to Pinterest. Pinterest is a visual database of everything creative. Just search for craft storage ideas and you will get a plethora of suggestions. I have a Pinterest board, just for organization, Check it out here.

Step 6 – Stop buying until you organize what you have

I didn’t lose you did I? Shopping in Step 3 is fun, I know, but if you continue to purchase craft supplies before you organize your current stash, you are just making it worst. When your craft storage is complete you can then start to purchase those things you don’t have.

My only exception to this rule is to purchase the 5 tools that I think every crafter needs. These items are vital. I use them almost everyday. No matter what type of crafts you’re into, I think you will need them, so go ahead and purchase the important stuff. Fill the form out to get your FREE copy of my list.

Organizing is worth the hassle

Most people don’t do organization because it can be a hassle. It takes time and sometimes lots of money. But I’m here to tell you it’s worth it. As previously stated, I just completed my craft room, and it is now my happy place. When I need something, I know exactly where to go grab it. Honestly, it reduces my stress level. I find myself doing more craft projects in shorter amounts of time. Hopefully these craft storage ideas help you on your organization journey. Now, KEEPING my craft room CLEAN is a whole different story.

Until Next Time…Stay Crafty!

Angie