It’s so hard to fathom your own space beautifully organized like on TV when you are on a budget. But here’s the secret to those TV shows – like every other “reality” show out there, you cannot take it as reality. Those experts have an entire crew that they are working with, the clients usually have an unlimited budget, and they usually take weeks or months to complete large jobs to make them look like that, not the 40 minutes that the episode entails.
But do not despair! Just because you do not have an unlimited budget, that does not mean that your space cannot also be beautiful and organized. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. First, you need to go through your things and declutter before you begin organizing. You will always find stuff that you no longer want or need, and you will also have a better idea of what you have. Categorize things that you want to store in the same area (eg. keep all hair products in one area and see how large a basket you’ll need for them). You don’t want to purchase a large basket to hold a bunch of stuff when you only use a couple items, because baskets are priced based on size! The smaller the better!
2. Be really critical of what you own if you don’t want your clutter to take over. Do you really need 6 shampoos when you really only like one? See if you can donate them to your local shelter so that they will be used and not wasted. Depending on what you are donating, you may be eligible for a charitable tax receipt, which can help you out around tax time! If you own unwanted things that have some value, try to sell them online using Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji – if that is something you are comfortable doing. Even if you sell a few things together for $5, that is still $5 more than you had previously and you can use that money towards organizing supplies or anything else you deem important! You can also try and consign clothes that are high-quality and newer, though I find that consignment shops can be very picky about what they take.
3. If you are the crafty type and aren’t as concerned with aesthetics, opt for DIY organizers! You can make some very functional drawer organizers and small baskets with cardboard boxes (either decorated with paper/fabric or kept plain). Just be sure not to store items in cardboard that might be wet (eg. cutlery, winter hats), and do not store cardboard in damp places like a cold room or garage. You do not want mould! Other items that can make great organizers for small things are takeout containers, plastic fruit/veg trays, gift boxes, old jam jars, food storage containers with missing lids, etc. You can often “shop” for the best organizing supplies in your own home!
4. When you are at the point where you are looking for supplies to organize your space, don’t hit the stores just yet! See if you can find what you are looking for on a Buy Nothing page, whether for free or for a trade. I find that a lot of people are willing to trade all sorts of things for house plant clippings! And a person just down the road may have the exact basket you are looking for – it doesn’t hurt to ask and post a pic of what you are looking for! Other apps to use if you don’t have a Buy Nothing page near you on Facebook are TrashNothing, Olio, and Bunz.
5. If you don’t have any luck finding something for free, check second hand markets, either online or in-person. Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are both very popular so they may have exactly what you are looking for – just be sure to narrow your search margins so you aren’t looking at items from a different city because you don’t want to spend extra in gas to retrieve it. Your local thrift store is a fantastic place to search as well. Be sure to check when they have sale days to get the best deal! When you find something you think would be perfect, make sure to examine it all over in case there are stains, rips or any type of damage.
6. If none of those options work out, check your local dollar store. Baskets and office supplies are great to purchase at dollar stores because the quality is very similar to what you’d find at a department store. Brand names do not account for much when it comes to plastic bins.
7. Department stores may have the perfect thing for you, so be sure to check flyers to see if they ever go on sale and wait until you can save a few dollars.
8. When finding baskets and shelves to store your items in/on, find things that are neutral colours – grey, black, white, beige etc. This will be easier to match with your other décor and won’t have you scrambling to change everything up when it’s time to redecorate. Having a brightly coloured basket in plain sight in the living room may cause buyers’ remorse and cause you to have to go through the entire process all over again.
9. Opt for cheaper versions of the really expensive things. For example, acrylic food canisters are very beautiful but they also cost about $20 per canister, which is not affordable for most people to do their entire pantry. Instead, use large mason jars which you can get for $2 or less each. Just be sure to get a wide mouth funnel as well, so you don’t spill too much when filling!
10. Get creative and think outside the box! You can find so many different ways to use things other than what they were designed for. Some examples are shower caddies, desktop file racks, magazine folders, and pencil cases/pouches, which can be used for all sorts of things! So if you find things being offered for free, think of the possibilities that they could bring, and have fun!
