Get Aquainted with Old Friends

I'm all about new home and fashion trends, but we all need to stretch a dollar these days. Chances are, if you rummage through your drawers, garage or basement, you may bump into  some old friends. It's time to get reaquainted! Here are some clever ways to repurpose some common houseshold items:

1.  Tote it
What to do with all those free totes you've collected? Hang a few on pegs on a wall in an entry, mudroom or laundry room.  You can use them to store hats and scarves, laundry supplies, gardening, dog walking or beach supplies. Pull out what you need or take the whole tote.

2. Open Drawer Policy
Who said a dresser is only for the bedroom?  Dresser or bureaus have great uses in a family room. Use it instead of a console or end table. Store board games, video games, puzzles and blankets.   

3.  Cubism
Who uses ice cube trays these days?  You can!  Put them in a drawer and organize your jewelry and office supplies, giving each item a compartment.  They are stackable so bonus points for you.

4.  Looking Glass
Need containers for craft, scrapbooking and art supplies?  Use jam, salsa and marinara jars.  They are a perfect size for all those beads, stickers, paintbrushes... the list goes on. They are see through so you will know exactly what is in them and hey look great arranged on a shelf or workbench. But if you need more surface area, superglue lids to the underside of a shelf, then screw the jars into the lids.

5.  Round it Up
Gather all that sports equipment, place it in a mesh laundry bag and hang it from its drawstring in the basement or garage.  Simple and out of the way.

There are so many products out there designed specifically for all your organizational dilemmas.  I bet if you look around your own home, you can find common household items that can do the same job. And you get to save a few dollars while you use your imagination. I would love to hear your inventive strategies at home.