Friday, July 8, 2011

frugal storage


I used to really enjoy window shopping in that storage shop. You know the one, with thousands of clever storage solutions, all giving you the impression that if you brought them home, all your clutter problems would be a thing of the past. Usually leaving empty handed though, as the price tags were a little out of budget.

But there are other options. Minus the plastic. Most in my home were invented by necessity and persistent op shopping.



A wire basket is home to books and magazines. I like to pop my library books and latest magazines in here to keep them tidy but easily accessible.


Old flour and potato bags house the potatoes and onions in the pantry.


 Many glass canisters hold all dry pantry foods. All thrifted over time.



Not thrifted, but any decorative bowl or dish is very handy for those little bits and pieces that accumulate near the front door.


Vintage suitcases are often used here for storing out of season blankets and clothes, toys and fabric stashes.


A humble terracotta pot stores my washing up utensils. I've also seen them used to house toothbrushes or rolled up face cloths.


I don't believe you can ever have too many baskets.  Hubby would disagree. Quite easy to pick up at op shops. Use them to store fabric, knitting, toys, fresh produce, towels, firewood and the list goes on.


Tins. In this case I'm using a bread bin as a bread bin. And it kind of stops my chopping boards from falling over. I actually have quite a lot of tins. I like to use them for old cards, photos, haberdashery, stamps and other little bits and pieces that need a home.


A wooden box becomes a shelf.

Please don't think for a moment that my home is a clutter free sanctuary. I do work to keep the clutter down, but a house needs to be lived in and I don't believe in being a slave to keeping things immaculate. Good enough is good enough, don't you think? What are your favourite frugal storage tips?

25 comments:

  1. Yes good enough is definitely good enough in my home, especially with five kids.
    We share much in common Tania, I use the same things for storage in our home..always have...and I prefer it over modern too :)

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  2. This is so funny because I've been thinking of doing a post about all my unorthodox storage solutions... we too have the wire basket for magazines! I Love your exposed pantry with all those jars, it looks incredible! xx

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  3. my fiance totally thinks I have too many baskets but they are just so useful!

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  4. lovely pics and storage Tania. My favourites are the wire basket, camelia bread tin and that gorgeous wooden box ( I love that green!)

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  5. We use baskets and old wooden crates. Just a query regarding your glass storage jars - did you have to replace the rubber seals? Because whenever I find glass jars at the op-shop the rubber seal is either gone or rotted; so I have always left them. Do they function ok without?

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  6. Love a basket...or fifty!!! We use old golden circle boxes (a bit like hen's teeth now!) stacked up for our book shelf and I too am a tin-a-holic. Wishing you a wonderful weekend :) x

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  7. Great storage solutions. I love your open shelves too. You can never have enough baskets :)

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  8. I also have a love of baskets and a husband that raises an eyebrow each time I bring another one home. Thankfully he has the good sense not to ask if we need any more baskest, or I may have to question him on the amount of golf balls he own...

    Nearly all my possessions are packed in boxes in storage at the moment. But the things that I do have while we stay with family are being stored in baskets, old suitcases and Ikea storage boxes.

    I love all your jars too. :)

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  9. All of those jars ... I am so jealous!!

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  10. Well Tania, all those pics look like they are fresh out of a lovely book about storage! I often start new baskets of stuff with good intention (like in kids rooms, library books etc) but they tend to get forgotten or have the wrong things put in them. After seeing your efforts I'm inspired to try again! Jane x

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  11. We all have our own teacup on a table. So whenever I find everyday items in the wrong spot (ie bus tickets, ipods, earphones, USB's etc) I just put them in the teacups and the boys know where to go to find them.

    All those glass jars look fantastic.

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  12. ooo lovely pictures. i'm going to look out for a wire basket for my books and magazines too!

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  13. Wonderful post, wonderful photos and fantastic storage ideas! AND NO plastic in sight! (Yes I have some plastic but I do hate it.) I love your glass jars.Looks like you have wonderful pantry space! I love that you can see all the goods inside.

    We re-use large coffee jars to keep dry goods in but sometimes they are not big enough. I also use baskets for all kinds of things. Suitcases store all manner of goodies. They are great for hiding the kids Christmas presents too! Your bread tin is lovely too. I have a lot of smaller tins I store craft goodies in. Thanks for sharing your ideas, excellent post! :)

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  14. Love your storage bits and that green shelving sigh! I have lots of globite bags full of what my family calls garbage but what I calll collections lol.They think I should sell it all so I I havnt got so much They just dont get it.

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  15. I've got to say I do wish I were a touch more organised storage wise!! You've given me an inadvertent kick up the rear :-)

    Jem xXx

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  16. what pretty storage! You made your home such a welcoming, creative and stylish place to live in. Love it!


    love~mongs
    mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

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  17. I'm with you - I much prefer interesting, useful, good looking and up-cycled storage. Love your collections! Nic

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  18. I love all the bits and bobs around your house. Your blog is my absolute favourite in this respect. And we both share an appreciation for the gorgeous shade of cyan blue. You were the inspiration behind my wool basket and I am so pleased to have something so visually lovely to store my wool in. I think you should be collating your photos and releasing a book on vintage and thrifted interiors as you have a fantastic eye for photography and styling. melx

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  19. hi tania
    love your storage pics.i use also baskets for my wool and glass jars for my pantry foods.
    have a wonderful weekend,
    hugs regina

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  20. I use old bamboo steamers to store all of my sewing bits and bobs and spare buttons! Love your old wire basket. And your mags nestled inside!

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  21. My pantry is stocked with old jars too. I love glass storage for food so much more than plastic.

    I've bought jars from garage sales over the years and usually find that supermarkets, the storage store that you don't mention (!), specialty cooking stores etc have replacement rubber rings....however I have a lovely big jar, very similar to one in your photo with indents down the side that I cannot seem to find a matching ring for - and it breaks my heart!

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  22. great that you have accumulated storage solutions over time that keep working for you. Love that they are not "new"!

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  23. The blue of the wire basket is beautiful. All your storage solutions look great.. glass jars in the pantry are one of my favourites. Zara

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  24. I enjoyed seeing all your photos, it gave some inspiration and I have pulled out a pretty bowl, placed it on the hall stand and there all the keys will now live. Thank you for the idea! Plus I love all your storage canisters, so much nicer than plastic

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  25. Provincial homemaker - I've actually been too lazy to replace any rubber seals yet - it's on my to do list. Most I have bought still had decent rubber seals and the ones that didn't I just use with no seal. I haven't really noticed any ill effects.

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