So it turns out I’m a little bit Monica Geller when it comes to organizing. I get questions about craft storage all the time:
- Q: “I was hoping you could tell us how you organize your crafty supplies…mine seem to be spread all over the house!” – Chris
- Q: “Can you give us a peek at how/where you store your craft stuff? Is it obvious that I’m kind of hoping you have a secret Monica Geller closet?” – Katie
My usual answers used to be embarrassed and messy sounding:
- “Our craft closet is a GIANT mess (and it’s in the guest room so people can peek in there and scream). Everything is piled into a few baskets, and there are even some paper grocery bags going on, so I should probably get on that. I’d love to organize it and share the details with you!”
Well, I finally got annoyed enough to do something about it. Below is how I tackled the chaos that used to be “the craft closet.” First, the shameful but accurate before photo of the guest room closet. I did not stage this — it really looked like this for months.
And here’s the proud “after” photo. I promise I’m excited about it — cue the celebratory hand waving.
Why keep craft supplies in the guest room closet? That room has the best view and lovely afternoon light, so I enjoy slipping in to sew or paint on Sundays. Someday I’d like to add a dresser or small desk for a sewing machine so the room can be both a guest room and a creative nook. For now, the closet does double duty.
Here’s a closer look at the pre-organization mess — think of it as a band of rock stars leaving a colorful trail of chaos, but with more Hello Kitty.
This is the view when you step into the closet and look right — there’s a little alcove that had become a floor-level junk zone.
We also had supplies spread out downstairs across the dining table, which made the whole house feel messier. The dining table before looked even worse in three-dimensional reality.
Step one of any organizing project for me: chocolate. A few dark Hershey’s Kisses and then I got to work. I started by emptying a paper bag that had been holding craft supplies since our move. It was time.
Clara helped me assemble one of my two secret weapons for this closet: an Ikea Raskog cart. I considered lots of small plastic bins, but decided two larger, sturdier, and cuter items would be easier to maintain long-term. Cheap plastic systems tend to get overfilled, jammed, and broken in our house, so I chose pieces that would last.
I paused the project for a few days while painting the nursery, then returned with a folding shelf we’ve had for years to fill that alcove. Going vertical instead of spreading everything across the floor made a big difference.
The other new purchase was a white five-drawer cabinet from Ikea, which I found discounted in the as-is section. I grabbed it immediately — the drawers are sturdy and come in several heights, perfect for paints, brushes, sprays, and pens. It was already assembled, which was a nice bonus. The cabinet and cart are attractive enough that I might keep them out in the room if I add a sewing desk later.
Existing items like a hanging fabric cubby and a ceramic planter for wrapping paper stayed in the closet. Here’s how I organized the Raskog cart:
- Top bin: art notebooks, pads, a few canvases, and a rolled placemat that can serve as a stencil.
- Second bin: wood pieces — dowels, plaques, scrap wood, and wood slices for future projects.
- Third bin: heavier tools and supplies such as a staple gun, glue gun (and accessories like staples and glue sticks), and nailheads.
The hanging cubbies are dedicated to gift wrapping essentials — paper, tissue, bows, and similar items.
The wooden shelf in the corner now holds fabric stored in old Ikea bins. I have a lot of fabric thanks to various projects over the years, and moving it from the storage room to this closet made it much more accessible. There’s floor space for the sewing machine if I want to set it up in front of the shelf, and I’m tempted to keep it out in the guest room to encourage regular use.
Now for my favorite part: the drawers of the white cabinet. Each drawer has a specific role to keep things tidy and easy to find:
- Top drawer: acrylic paints, small varnish and sealant containers, and ceramic paints.
- Second drawer: brushes, stamping tools, paint pens, and colored Sharpies.
- Third drawer: various test pots of paint I use for small projects and a few cans of spray sealers.
- Fourth drawer: art store supplies like oil paints, watercolors, watercolor pencils, charcoals, and a few miscellaneous items.
- Fifth drawer: stampers, ink pads, stickers, decals, washi tape, twine, and string.
The top shelf holds a wire bin full of fabric pouches I use to contain small toys or to quickly “wrap” gifts. My blue sewing box with thread, needles, bobbins, scissors, and a seam ripper lives up there too.
I plan to add a few hooks to the inside of the closet door so guests can hang items there when the bar is full. For now, the closet is shockingly organized and calm. That said, organized systems can drift over time, so I’ll check back in a few months to see how it’s holding up.
Do you have tips for organizing craft supplies, wrapping materials, or a large fabric stash? Who else is channeling Monica Geller with a closet full of creative chaos? I’d love to hear your ideas and commiserate.