If keeping your home clean and organized seems like a constant battle, that's because it is. There's always something that needs to be done or something that needs to be put away. While you might not ever be able to completely absolve yourself from cleaning, there are things you can do to make tidying up your home a bit easier with affordable items from the dollar store that make things so much easier. And the best part of all is that you don't have to go out and spend tons of money on chic decor! Read on for some innovative and exciting organization hacks using items available in the dollar store near you.
Keep Track Of Pot Lids With A Magazine Holder
Who reads magazines anymore, right? We're just kidding. You should definitely read magazines; you just might help keep a journalist employed. But even if you don't, you should run by the dollar store and invest in a magazine rack. They can help you keep your pots' lids organized, and they look really good hanging from a wall. If you're anything like us, then most of your lids are probably scattered about your kitchen.
Get yourself a magazine rack and get your lids out from random cabinets and off of shelves. Just make sure to pick one up that feels sturdy and has enough space for all of your lids.
Turn A Makeup Bag Into A First Aid Kit
This is a great little hack that we hope you never have to actually use. You can get a small, clear makeup bag from the Dollar Store and turn it into a first aid kit. There are a couple of reasons you might want to use one of these over a box. Firstly, it allows you to neatly organize all of your supplies instead up just throwing everything inside a box.
Secondly, you can easily carry one of these anywhere you go. If you're going camping, hiking, or anything else, you can just throw the bag in with your other supplies, and you're good to go.
Display Jewelry With S Hooks And A Curtain Rod
If you have so much jewelry that you don't know what to do with it all, then this hack is for you. All you need is a couple of S hooks and a few small curtain rods which every dollar store has. Attach your rods next to your mirror or on your bathroom door, and you have a clutter-free way of picking out and displaying jewelry. This will also keep everything from getting tangled up together.
If you don't have enough jewelry to warrant something like this, then this hack can still be used for things like hats, coats, scarves, or anything you think of that could be hung.
Use Tension Rods To Organize Cutting Boards
Do you normally just keep your cutting boards laying out or stacked up next to one another against a wall? Well, there is a better way, and it involves tension rods. Grab yourself some tension rods, preferably ones that match your kitchen's color scheme, from the Dollar Store and use them as dividers. They're awesome because if you get the right color, then they just look like a natural part of your pantry or cabinet.
You can also use them to store things besides cutting boards, such as larger plates or sheet pans. And, of course, they're adjustable and easy to remove if you ever want to change anything up.
Use A Shoe Holder To Organize Spices
Herbs and spices can be a pain to organize. They're usually all over the place, even though they'd look so neat and organized if they were displayed in one spot. Luckily, there's a simple hack that will allow you to do just that. You can use a shoe holder from the Dollar Store to neatly organize and keep track of herbs, spices, and just about anything else that will fit inside the holder's pouches.
Spice holders look great on pantry doors, but a kitchen door will work just as well if you don't have quite enough room in your pantry for anything else.
Use Plastic Folders To Store Takeout Menus
Most of us store our takeout menus on our fridges or hide them away in drawers. However, let's face it, they don't look great when hung under a magnet on a fridge, and they can get cluttered in a drawer. So, why not pick up some plastic folders and use those to store your takeout menus? Hang them on the inside of a pantry or cabinet door, and they'll always be there when you need them.
It also looks much more organized than hanging them on the fridge; plus, plastic folders and adhesive tape are both really cheap, so you wouldn't even be spending that much.
Organize Snacks With Shower Caddies
This is a neat little hack, and it involves shower caddies. Those little containers that you hang in the shower are perfect for organizing and storing all kinds of things besides shampoos and conditioners. You could use them to store fast food items, like in this photo, or you could just use them to store things like oils, spices, or other kitchen essentials. Just try to pick one up in a chic color.
They could be set out on a table or island, or underneath your cabinet and used to store cleaners. They're also really easy to store when you're not using them.
Turn A Dish Rack Into A Mail Organizer
Dish racks make for great little pieces to help keep things like mail organized in your foyer or kitchen. We recommend picking up one that's a bit more rustic or that looks more like a wire basket, but the choice is completely up to you. Just grab one, set it on the table, and start storing your mail in it. This will help with keeping it off the table or out from inside drawers.
Of course, you don't just have to use one of these for mail, and they would look just as great organizing items in your pantry or in a cabinet with glass doors.
Organize Drawers Using Plastic Trays
This hack is great if you have a bathroom or kitchen drawer that needs to be decluttered. Just invest in a couple of cheap plastic trays and throw them in your drawers. They basically work like little dividers so that you can neatly organize things by category or usage. You can also switch it up a bit with different-shaped trays and different sizes to make things look more interesting.
In addition to keeping your drawers organized, these will also take the brunt of spills if anything ever leaks or isn't closed tightly enough within a drawer, which is especially helpful.
Hang Cords From Adhesive Hooks
It's time to clean out that cord drawer, but don't worry; we have a much better alternative. You can invest in a couple of adhesive hooks or hangers in order to better store all of those cords. That means no more rummaging through your cord drawer in an effort to locate that one cord you remembered seeing a couple of months back. With this hack, they're all neatly organized and within view.
The number of hooks you're going to need will depend on the number of cords you have, but you could run them all the way down your door, and there should be enough space.
Incorporate File Boxes Into Your Bathroom
Many of us have far too many things and far too little space in our bathrooms. So, file boxes can be great tools to help keep your bathroom organized. You can use them to store extra cleaning supplies, and toilet paper or even use them as laundry baskets. And the best part is the ones you can pick up at the dollar store look completely at home in a bathroom.
This is also a great option for those who might be short on cabinet space or don't have enough shelves to store things like towels or extra toiletries.
Keep Your Fridge Clean With Placemats
This hack is pretty genius, and we're kind of jealous we never thought of it before because we loath having to clean the fridge. You can keep your fridge cleaner by setting some placemats down on the shelves. This should soak up any small spills and extend the length of time between cleanings. When the placemat seems like it's getting a bit dirty, just swap it out for another one.
Of course, you'll still want to wipe your fridge down eventually, but this will help put that cleaning off for as long as possible. If you get the right pattern, they also just look good in your fridge.
Pick Up A Chic Metal Shower Caddy For The Kitchen
Shower caddies are great for organizing items. After all, that's what they're made for. However, you can take it a step further and pick up a metal one to use in the kitchen. They can be used to organize just about anything, and they look great doing it. Alternatively, they could just be used to add some greenery to your kitchen. Just place some pots in them and make sure they're counterbalancing each other.
If you're the type of person that's blessed with a green thumb, then you could also consider growing some herbs out of your metal shower caddy. Just make sure it's placed near a light source.
Organize Makeup With A Shoe Holder
There are a couple of different hacks involving shoe holders on this list, and there's a reason for that. They're just so great at keeping things decluttered. That's especially true for makeup, which can easily become chaotic in a drawer or bag. Instead, try storing all of your makeup in a shoe holder on your bedroom or bathroom door. It'll allow you to easily break things up by category or color, too.
A smaller shoe holder should do the trick here unless you have way more makeup than you know what to do with. It'll also look great when it's fully organized.
Repurpose A Cake Stand To Hold Perfumes
Because cake stands usually come in really great designs, they can be repurposed in a number of ways. They look really good when you place them in the bathroom or on a vanity and use them to hold things like soaps and perfumes. Just make sure to get one that already kind of matches the decor in your bathroom. You can also repaint them, though, if they don't quite fit.
Either way, they'll free up some space in your drawers and add a bit of elegance wherever you decide to place them. Soaps also look really great when displayed this way.
Declutter Your Car With Carabiner Clips
Sometimes, keeping your car free from clutter can be just as tiresome as trying to constantly organize your home. So, why not invest in a couple of cheap carabiner clips you can hang items from? It's much better than just throwing everything in the back seat. If you hit one sharp curve going a little too fast then everything in the back seat is either going to go flying or fall on the floor.
However, if they're fastened to carabiner clips, all of your stuff is going to stay secured and organized. It'll also keep your seats clear in case you have anyone riding with you.
Save Space By Using Storage Hooks
Storage hooks are great little tools for keeping a garage or workbench organized, but not many people think to use them in their kitchens. They really should, though, because there are so many opportunities to hang things, such as spoons, spatulas, pots, and pans. You can also place them on the inside of a kitchen cabinet's door to avoid cluttering your walls or if you just prefer things be hidden away.
These hooks usually come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can buy them to fit your needs. They're also really easy to install and don't usually require you to drill holes.
Store Candy In Clear Jars
Who doesn't love a glass jar filled with treats and candy? They can make a room pop with all the colorful candies stored inside, and they just bring an entirely different vibe to a kitchen. You can usually pick some glass jars up for pretty cheap, so make sure to stock up on a couple if you like this idea. You might also want to stock up on some candy as well.
The only issue with this tip is that you might be tempted to snack more than you would normally, but a single piece of candy every now and then isn't the end of the world.
Turn Plastic Pencil Trays Into Spice Racks
Plastic pencil trays make for great spice racks. They're usually just large enough to be able to fit a couple of different spices in them, and you can hang them above one another. They can also be hung in clear view, such as in this photo, or they can be attached to the inside of a kitchen cabinet's door if you want to hide them away but still want easy access.
Alternatively, you can stick them on your wall by the stove. Just make sure to also pick up some adhesive tape so that you can stick them to whatever you choose.
Create A Stationary Spice Rack
Sure, spice racks are great for organizing spices, but let's be honest; do you really ever refill the containers? If not, then why not put your spice rack to good use by organizing all of your stationery? You can use it to store things like paper clips, staples, sticky notes, batteries, etc. That means your stationery drawer will finally be free to be used for something else, hopefully, something a little less cluttered.
If you don't really have any use for a stationery organizer, then you could also just use it to organize random items from your kitchen or bathroom drawers.
Keep Cans Organized With File Holders
Cans are already pretty good at not taking up space, but if you have a cabinet that needs to be decluttered, then you might want to consider this hack. The last thing you want is to reach into your cabinet and have a bunch of stacked cans fall on the floor. So, instead, use a file holder to hold and organize your cans. They'll fit perfectly and save you some space.
They also make it really easy to restock and grab a can when you need it. But don't just stop with soup cans; you can use them to store Coke cans, too.
Turn Cardboard Boxes Into Baskets
Most of us have seen baskets like the ones pictured here in stores. And while they are incredibly useful for storing items, you don't actually need to buy the baskets themselves from stores. You can easily make your own. All you need is a couple of rolls of twine, cardboard boxes, and some fabric. Just wrap your cardboard boxes tightly in twine, and place your fabric on the inside, and you have the same thing for a fraction of the price.
You can use them for a couple of different things, depending on their size. For example, the boxes look really great in bathrooms and when they're stored underneath tables.
Attach Pipe Cleaners To Hangers To Avoid Creases
If you're tired of always pulling clothes out of your closet only to find that they need to be ironed, don't worry, we have a solution for that. You can help keep them crease-free by simply adding some pipe cleaners to your hangers. Just twist a pipe cleaner onto each side of your hanger, and they should help keep your clothes taut and wrinkle-free for the next time you need them.
They'll also help keep your clothes from falling off the hanger and onto the floor. You can pick up an entire pack of them that can be used on all of the hangers in your closet.
A DIY Project To Display Your Jewelry
Love wearing jewelry but hate all the clutter and chaos it can create? If so, then there's a cute and simple DIY project you can quickly put together to keep your jewelry more organized. Just pick up a couple of saucers or small plates and short candle holders. You can use hot glue to attach the plates to the candle holders, which will leave you with an adorable jewelry holder.
However, just make sure that you get plates that are different sizes so that everything comes out balanced when you're through with it, sort of like a pyramid with smaller plates in the middle and on the top.
Turn A Box Organizer Into A Baby Station
You can pick these little boxes up at most dollar stores, and while they're great for throwing in the closet, they also work really well for organizing baby supplies. You can turn them into little improvised baby stations by just storing wipes, diapers, baby powder, and anything else you need in them. And if you're the creative type, feel free to decorate them with things like ribbons and stickers for a personal touch.
A single box should be enough, but if you just have a bunch of baby supplies lying around, you could hide away more in a drawer or cabinet and toss the boxes and supplies in there.
Create Custom Bookends
Here's another cute hack that we would've never thought of before. You can turn a couple of simple plastic animals into fancy bookends. Just grab a few that you like at the dollar store, attach them to a block of wood, and paint them in gold leaf. They'll come out looking something like the figures in this photo. And, of course, you can use whatever size figures and blocks of wood you need.
Just remember to spray it all down with a sealer or clear coat after you're finished to add some extra sheen and prevent the paint from peeling as quickly.
Use Cupcake Baking Trays To Keep Food Organized On Picnics
If you've ever been on a picnic (and you should because they're awesome), then you know it can be difficult to avoid spilling drinks and food. Luckily, there's a simple solution in the form of cupcakes and muffin trays. They give you a stable platform to store drinks, cups, and food while you're outside enjoying your meal. You can also pick them up for pretty cheap at the store.
However, the best part just might be that they encourage you to take more picnics and bake more cupcakes, which isn't such a bad thing if you ask us.
Store Ironing Supplies In A Basket
Without a doubt, one of the best things about getting organized is that it can actually help encourage you to do the things you would normally put off. And if you're someone who normally puts off ironing, then this one might be for you. Easily organize all of your ironing supplies by storing them in a basket attached to the wall. It might seem simple, but creating your own ironing station will go a long way in making you feel better about ironing clothes.
And even if you already enjoy ironing or doing laundry, it's just nice to have your own little station where you take care of your clothes and make sure they're looking their best.
Make Your Own Terrarium Using Frames
Terrariums look great no matter where you put them, but they can also look intimidating. Luckily, that doesn't have to be the case. All you really need is a couple of long photo frames and some wood glue. Connect the frames using wood glue and then just set the entire thing over your potted plants. If you want to go further, you could also just add some soil to a tray and place it over that.
This is a nice way to brighten up a room and add some greenery to just about any space. However, terrariums look especially good in kitchens and bathrooms. You can even use one to grow herbs.
Use Popsicle Molds To Organize Your Car
You could really probably use any container you find to help better organize your car, but popsicle molds usually fit better, and they offer you plenty of dividers. Best of all, they're extremely cheap, and once they're in your car, they look like any other plastic container. You can place your keys and other items in them or just use them to store and organize spare change since they're divided.
This is a nice hack since your car's center console is usually one of the worse offenders when it to clutter because most of us just toss items in there while we're out.
Keep Bath Toys Organized With A Shower Rod
Most of us have a shower rod and curtain in our bathrooms, but you can also use a shower rod to help keep toys and towels organized if you have children. Just grab a couple of baskets to store toys, place them on your shower rod, and then install it on one side of the tub. It'll keep toys from just hanging out in the tub when the kids aren't taking a bath.
It'll also keep you from stepping on anything the next time you go to take a shower or a bath, in addition to just looking more organized and nicer.
Keep Towels Organized With Wicker Baskets
Wicker baskets are a really cheap and attractive way to keep small towels organized in your bathroom. Since most bathrooms are white, the brown of the wicker really pops. If you normally keep your towels in a drawer or just stacked on the vanity, then this might be a good solution for ensuring that they don't get wet. It also just looks more orderly when they're placed in a basket.
Just make sure to get one that's big enough to place your towels in but not so big that it takes up a lot of space on your bathroom vanity.
Create A Decorative Tray
Trays may not be used as much as they used to, but that doesn't mean you can't pick one up and repurpose it to be strictly decorative. If you already have a couple of nice jars or bowls lying around, even better, but if not, then don't fret because most dollar stores sell some. Fill the tray with all of the little trinkets you already had lying around but hadn't brought together yet.
However, make sure to include some vases just to add some greenery in there. Trays also make for great places to display decanters, and crystal cups and bowls.
Build A Mask Organizer
While we certainly hope that eventually, there won't be any need for masks, that doesn't look like it's going to be the case anytime soon. So, why not build your own mask organizer to keep them off of the table and neatly organized? You can easily glue some clothes pins onto a board and then hang that board from a wall to build your own. This will also keep the bands from getting stretched out.
The board in this photo is painted, but that's completely optional, depending on the color of your interior. A plain wooden board would look fine on a white background.
Craft Your Own Mirror Box
Mirror boxes are really nice for storing random items or for use as plant pots, but they can also sometimes be on the pricey side. Luckily, it doesn't really take much to make your own. All you need are a couple of mirrors or one large mirror. You can cut the pieces yourself, but we advise that you take them to a glass shop, where you can have them cut for a really affordable price.
After that's done, just glue everything together, and you have your own mirror box or pot for your new favorite plant, whichever you prefer. If you do go with a pot, then small stones look great in these.
Hang Scarves From Shower Curtain Rings
If you live in a colder climate and have a lot of scarves sitting around, we might have the solution for you. Instead of folding them and placing them in a drawer, where they're going to get all wrinkled and take up space, try hanging them from shower curtain rings. It'll look neat and organized while also saving you some space in your drawers for other items that you need.
You could place your ring of scarves in your closet or just hang them from a door, depending on if you want to display them or hide them away.
Organize Stationery With Mason Jars
Mason jars are great for a lot of things, but organizing has to be chief among them, whether it's stationery or kitchen supplies. Mason jars just have an attractive design that looks at home wherever. You can use them to store your pens, pencils, and any other stationery you want to get out of your drawer. You can also switch up the colors and sizes if you want to add a bit of variation.
And luckily, you can get them for really low prices at the store, making them a great solution for decluttering your desk, table, or wherever you prefer to work.
Use Hot Glue To Make Non-Slip Hangers
Tired of all you're clothes falling off their hangers and getting wrinkly? You could go out and buy expensive hangers, or you could use this hack. All you need is a hot glue gun and some glue. Just apply the glue to your hangers in the same pattern that's shown in the photo, and it should keep your clothes from falling off and getting dirty or wrinkly on the floor.
This will also save you a ton of money since hangers can get pretty expensive if you go out and buy the ones that are non-slip or have other features.
Turn Plastic Containers Into Drawer Organizers
Kitchen drawers are often some of the most cluttered spots in our homes. And while they might be out of sight, you're often opening and reaching in to try and grab specific items you need. So, try picking up some plastic containers to set in your drawers the next time you head to the store. They'll help you keep everything organized, even if you can't sort every item individually, like in this photo.
If you do have too many items to sort individually, try breaking things up by category. Just remember to take some measurements before you go to ensure the containers will fit.
Utilize Cans To Organize Pencils And Brushes
People have been using cans to organize things forever. But that's just because it makes so much sense. You can use cans to organize pencils, pens, markers, brushes, and even makeup. So, why not give it a try while adding your own personal twist? Just pick up some wrapping paper and use it to wrap finished cans in and create your own personal storage. The best part is that these can be placed anywhere.
Just make sure that you pick up some paper that matches your home's interior colors or decor, and you're good to go. They can be hung from a wall or placed on a table or desk.