Use Eco-friendly Containers to Organize a Special Space

August 17, 2009

I’ve been a hermit lately, finishing some household projects that have been on my plate for way too long. A couple of years ago I moved into a new (old) house which I bought strictly because it had the greatest studio/crafting space in the universe! Problem is, I never really organized all the stuff once I moved in… so, for the past few weeks I have been tackling the organizational beast that I like to call my studio. Filled with shelves and sitting up high in the trees, it the ultimate inspiring space. Well, except for all of the plastic boxes and clutter. I’m a believer in organized clutter, not total disarray. So, this weekend all of my energy was devoted to finishing the daunting task of making this space into the kind of place where you can let your mind take a walk.

OUT! evil plastic…

The shelves were filled with Rubber Maid containers, which I had bought when my kids were young. With their snap-on lids, they certainly had served their purpose, but my aim is to achieve more than just “purpose” in this room. (Actually, 5 million plastic Rubber Maid containers would only be a mild overstatement of what I took out of the studio). But, what to do with them now? Looking at the bottoms, I found they are a number 5 plastic, which our local recycling center does not accept. So… nothing else to do, but to resuse them! I plan to repurpose them for my upcoming basement re-organization.

My new, favorite containers:
Paint, scissors, fabric scraps, ink bottles, brushes… you name it, years of accumulated art materials were scattered all across the floor. With my treasure trove of stuff released from plastic prison, I hopped around the floor, reminding myself of this inconvenient truth: you can never have too many art supplies! So, keeping in mind that I needed functionality combined with sustainability and the right “aura”, I went searching for new containers. Here’s a peak at my new favorites:

• Baskets. Finding the right baskets took 2 whole days of hit-or-miss shopping. After visiting Pier One, Importers Warehouse and Walmart, I hit the jackpot at our local HomeGoods store. They had, by far, the best selection of sizes, textures and price. Here’s how my shelves look now:

Baskets, baskets, baskets

• Ball jars. Normally used for canning and preserves, these are a great resource for storing brushes , pens and small craft things, like sequins and buttons. They come in different sizes, and I love being able to see what’s inside!

Ball jars and an old pickle jar

• Votive candle holders. With no tops, these are perfect for dropping little miscellaneous things into… like flocked bunnies!
  
  
• Oversized jars. I really don’t what these are intended for, but they make the perfect place to put unused yarn, or leftover clay. I love seeing the colors shine through! My sis gave me a heads up on these… spotted them at Walmart, of all places!

So, I’ve just about tamed the studio. I also added a TV cabinet that I bought on clearance at Pier One. I drilled holes inside, added shelving and it now has a happy new life as a paper cabinet! See below for a look at how the studio looks today. I love my new baskets and jars. Future pickle jars, mayonnaise jars and market baskets will be finding their way to the studio, because like I said, you can never have too many art supplies! If you ‘ve found a creative way to repurpose containers for storage, I’d love to hear about it!

Filed under: Eco Around the House,Uncategorized

Tags: art, containers, crafts, eco-friendly, organize, storage, studio