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Things to Repurpose as Organizers

If you're in the midst of spring cleaning and decluttering, you may be searching for ways to organize what remains. Before heading out to the store to buy a new system, look around your house and see what you already have that could be put to use in new ways. For a few ideas, click through the photos above and the links below...

 
 

SHOWN ABOVE
1 Bulldog and binder clips can have a life beyond the office.
2 Entryway catch-alls can be made from kitchen dishes.
3 Baskets are great multi-purpose organizers.
4 Ice cube trays can be repurposed as jewelry organizers.
5 Dishes, pitchers, and glasses make good organizers for office supplies.

OTHER IDEAS
Kitchen and towel rails work well for hanging garden tools.
Clothespins make great hanging organizers.
This post has lots of clever ideas for repurposing from our Midwestern house tours.

First Photo: Sasa Antic via Emma's Design Blogg

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organizing

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Comments (7)

All I can say is, I'm so jealous of the owner of all those boots. With all those boots, it would seem that she could afford better organizers than bulldog binder clips, though, maybe that's how she can afford boots galore--cheap everything else.

posted by SpanishRose on May 11th 2009 at 10:24pm
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wouldn't the bulldog clips mark the leather?

posted by celesteinoz on May 12th 2009 at 12:12am
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love the look... hate the idea of ruining expensive leather boots with bulldog clips.

posted by travelingrory on May 12th 2009 at 12:37am
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I prefer to use pill boxes as jewelery organizers. Much less wasted space.

posted by A Charmer on May 12th 2009 at 1:31am
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Love the bulldog clip idea. I have more boots then regular shoes and I am always running out of ideas on where to put them.

posted by SJwashere on May 12th 2009 at 2:27am
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Thirding the "bulldog clips on boots is a stylist's idea, not an actual GOOD idea" sentiment. ;)

I also wouldn't keep office supplies in glasses -- that's more space than you need for most office supplies, and they'll gather dust. This is how junk drawers/shelves/spaces begin.

(Try Bonne Maman jam jars, though, or Grey Poupon mustard jars -- I've had a miniature Grey Poupon jar filled with beads that used to belong to my mom for about 20 years. I suppose it would be more useful if I actually did something with the beads, but as it stands, I enjoy the jar as a comforting little trinket from late childhood.)

posted by Miranda on May 12th 2009 at 2:58am
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I've got these great hanging boot shapers - I can hang my boots up anywhere!

http://www.organize.com/bocaboshboha.html

posted by Gursk on May 12th 2009 at 11:33am
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