The Year of Less Stuff and My Craft Organization Center


Just writing this post makes me breathe a sigh of relief. That’s what happens when I purge and organize – which is a very popular topic this time of year. It’s something that is popular for me all year round since nothing really feels better than getting your home organized and getting rid of that stuff that has accumulated.

I am calling this the year of less stuff. I want to get rid of more stuff; the key for me will be buying less stuff. Yes, I mean you Megan.

Actually, I haven’t been to a store to shop for weeks now and it feels so good.

Every time I get the urge to grab my wallet and head out the door to a store, I stop and look around my house and see what I can do here instead. Maybe try to figure out new ways to put together outfits to curb my clothes shopping appetite (which is quite healthy). Or perhaps organize or style a little corner of the house so it feels new and fresh to stop my twitchy fingers from wanting to snap up home decor items from Target or a thrift store.

Making things I already own seem new to me has really helped me stop me bringing more stuff into the house.

So I have been in the habit of assessing what I have and organizing it to a “T” so I know what I have (so I don’t buy duplicates)! This is most helpful in my crafting world since there are all these little parts and pieces that can get lost in the way so you keep buying them and all of a sudden you have 1.5 million push pins, 25 pads of sticky notes, washi tape for miles, and 50 shades of the same ribbon (but of course they’re not grey).

I decided to tackle my craft corner in the studio. Thankfully my apartment has these wonderful built-in shelves that I knew would be perfect for a beautifully crafted craft organization spot. This is what it was looking like empty and then just moved in with stuff just tossed on the shelves.

I used only what I had in the house and brought together a lot of easy and inexpensive DIY organization projects that I’ve done over the years.

Plus, I FINALLY got some things up on my walls (thanks for washi tape and command hooks) that are apartment friendly (hello no holes to worry about when I move out).

Let’s take a look and stroll through all the little projects that make this a magnificent craft storage area for me.

Who says all artwork needs to be eye level! I taped up a calendar page and a card from my mom on the wall for visitors who stay over and get the oh-so-elegant air mattress treatment that gets them even with this lower level artwork. Plus, two thrifted planters stacked on top of each other leave space for some hidden craft supplies.

Fancy shoeboxes with labels provide great free storage and a dollar store bin lets that pretty yarn shine as its own decoration.

My favorite magazines are beautiful to look at and easy to grab for inspiration. Plus, a brass thrifted container holds business cards of favorite bloggers and vendors.

An open blue plastic basket showcases fabric to remind me what I have and provide pretty eye candy.

My home organization binder cozies up to two magazine holders that actually hold extra colored paper and my favorite recipes torn out of cooking magazines.

DIY Magazines are the base of a cardboard box full of various supplies and my label maker.

A colorful bin holds notebooks, cards, colored pencils, and markers.

All my files are tucked into and precisely organized in this file keeper from Target.

My “Can It” tin made from a holiday popcorn tin holds my paints while dollar store tins hold markers, washi tape, glitter tape, and paint brushes corralled on an upside down acrylic frame used as a tray.

Upcycled metal coffee cans hold ribbon, hole punches, glue, and other craft goodies.

Glitter letters are from the sun room at the house and beautiful 2014 calendar pages are hung with washi tape on the wall beside the shelves.

The organization is not over! As a fun way to keep your organization inspiration fueled (I know you’re feeling it too), hop on through to these other amazing bloggers who are sharing their organization genius with you!


  • Your craft supplies are organized so attractively. I know that you are so happy to have everything in one spot and labeled so you know exactly where everything is. I like how you used washi tape to hang pictures. You can easily switch them out without taking the paint off the walls. (I need to try that tip at school.) Finally, I think you found the perfect spot for your “Be Bold” letters.ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Paula! I LOVE how the Be Bold letters look there. It wasn’t until I had the shelves all organized perfectly that I knew that was the place for them! And washi tape is definitely my new best friend with apartment walls!ReplyCancel

  • grammygoodwill

    Your room looks great. I love the colorful way your organized your supplies. I also have travel mementoes in my craft room and was fortunate to win a world map decal recently from Erin on http://diyonthecheap.com/.ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much! Your world map decal sounds like an awesome win (and I love Erin’s blog)! I love all things travel and putting them into my décor too.ReplyCancel

  • I love that you didn’t have to pay a fortune for super cute and clever storage containers! Love the “Can it” popcorn tin! XOReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Christy! Yeah, I am just not feeling like spending money on organization these days. I just want to use what I have (in every way)! The Can It is probably my favorite too! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • I love how colorful this is and brightens up the entire space. you are so far ahead of me when it comes to organizing crafts. Mine looks like a true junkers’ haven in our basement. Love the “Be Bold” message, too! Sharing…ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Jeanette! I love adding so much color to my white/beige apartment! The Be Bold is in just the perfect spot too! Just right for such a lively corner I feel. Your craft area sounds like fun though! Junkers heaven!ReplyCancel

  • So cute!! I love how you repurposed what you already have. I need to work on that myself…Also your globe is beautiful!ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Carrie! I can’t get enough of globes. I would have a globe (and map) room if possible!ReplyCancel

  • I wish I could come over so we could hang out. (Maybe we can settle for Haven?) 😉
    Your apartment is so super cute Megan! If your coffee cans or Paris/London art or globe end up missing, it wasn’t me!ReplyCancel

    • Aww I totally agree Jen! Haven will have to do! 🙂 Thank you so much for the kind words. Well at least if my things go missing it will give me the chance to visit you!ReplyCancel

  • Megan, Just love the creative ways you organized and stored your supplies! I’m getting ready to tackle my office and can’t wait to try some of your good ideas:) Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Wendi! I do love to organize! Good luck with your office. I know you will make it beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • It looks great, Megan. I love the colorful containers and that globe stand is awesome. Have a great week!ReplyCancel

    • Thank you Angie! I love globes so much! I need a globe room! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • I love your new craft space. You have totally transformed it and now it looks great!
    TamiReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Tami! It definitely makes me ready to craft!ReplyCancel

  • Beautiful organizing Megan! You are so creative. I LOVE your BE BOLD! That would make me so happy everytime I saw it. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Meegan! You should see how giddy I get walking into that room now that it is so pretty (compared to the mess it was before). It surprises me every time I walk in!ReplyCancel

  • Your craft supply organization turned out wonderful. Love all the pops of color. I am sure you will enjoy your creative time that much more!
    Thanks for the inspiration,
    Suzanne
    Pieced PastimesReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Suzanne! I can’t wait to get creative in this space now! I appreciate your comment and kind words!ReplyCancel

  • Wow, I love all the different items you used to organize your craft room.ReplyCancel

  • Megan your room came out awesome, I love the colors and all that artwork. I bet you love spending time in there now, I need to tackle my office!ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Dria! I LOVE spending time in that room now. I do a happy dance every time I walk in!ReplyCancel

  • Love how you organized this craft space. So bright and fun! I’m hoping to lighten my load as well this year!ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much Christy! Good luck on lightening your load! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Everything in your craft room is not only organized but it’s so stylish! Love it all. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Everything is so nicely arranged! Great organization! I love how everything looks! At my house it is a big mess now and I am looking for some ideas! We have simply too many things and not that much storage! First we plan to unclutter a little and after that make it really organized! Thanks for the post! Greets,Storage Monken Hadley Ltd.ReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much!! The first step really is getting rid of the stuff you aren’t using – and then being careful at what you bring into the house! Then it gets fun being creative on finding storage. I’m sure yours will turn out beautifully! Just remember that almost anything can be turned into a storage container!ReplyCancel

  • It is so easy to let things pile up in the house. The least that we can do is at least get proper storage boxes and things to make all the stuff get organized a bit so it doesn’t look like a tornado has entirely hit the place! I love what you did with the corner here and it’s an excellent example of good storage!ReplyCancel

    • Good tip on getting the right storage boxes! I love plastic ones in case there were ever flooding. Plus they hold up so much better!ReplyCancel