I love using clear pencil boxes to organize things. During back to school sales you can often pick these up on sale for less than 25 cents each. Because they are clear you can see what is in them, eliminating the need to label things!
I use these boxes to keep all the cords for various devices separate (one for iPods, one for Blackberries, one for Wii, etc).
I also love to use these in the bathroom and closet. Keep makeup you use everyday in one, extra makeup can each go in a box by type (eyeshadows in one, nail polish in another).
I use one to make an easy first aid kit, filling it with bandaids, neosporin, bactine, etc. I keep a simple sewing kit in one, with threads in the most common colors, needles that I like, scissors, safety pins, and sticky velcro.
The kitchen is a fun place for pencil boxes too. Chopsticks in one, cake decorating tips and supplies in another.
Don’t forget the office or school area! To keep quarrels to a minimum, each kid has a box of “colors” (colored pencils, crayons, paints) and a box of pencils, erasers, and sharpeners. Plus I have boxes for various scrapbook supplies, supplies I use for the kids’ school, and regular office supplies.
Have you used clear pencil boxes to organize your home?
For more ideas to help you simplify and organize one day at a time, visit Organized in 365.
Photo credit: sirexkat
Shannon says
We also use pencil boxes in the garage. All those odd nails, screw, bolts and whatever else need to go somewhere – and NOT in the bottom of the tool box. Simple solution? I bought a set of those plastic drawer sets with caster wheels to organize the garage things and a half dozen pencil boxes. Add the label maker into the mix and poof! Instant organization!
Heather says
We just also added using pencil boxes to organize musical instrument accessories. Because we have some overlap in our house as to what people play, we set up one for violin accessories, one for guitar accessories, and one for drum accessories.
Jennifer H says
Great idea!! I stocked up on these last school year. Now, to get organized!
Christina Gundlach says
I re-use baby wipe boxes. One has all my daughter’s hair ties. I love to have wipes around even though she is 5 so I also find usage for the box. 🙂
Tasha says
I also use the baby wipe containers. I use them for my feminine products like one for all my pads and one for my tampons. They stack very well. I also store our Q-tips in the smaller version of the wipes container.
katie says
I use the pencil boxes to store game pieces in. I usually pick up games from thrift stores so the boxes aren’t in the best of shape. So i’ll pull everything out, all the boards go into a wooden crate with name tags for easy finding, and then all the small pieces and cards go into a clear pencil box on the shelf nearby- of course also with a name tag 🙂
Priscilla says
Thanks for all the great ideas. I store batteries in one and command hooks in another so they at my finger tips.
Beauty says
I keep school supplies in them