I love storage ottomans. It’s the ultimate hidden storage solution. When we first got ours, we decided to store DVDs in it. However, DVDs get lost or aren’t put back in the proper case so what we ended up with was a storage ottoman filled with mostly empty cases. (Yes, that is a 3.5 inch floppy disk storage case filled with unfilled coin wrappers in there!)
This storage ottoman was a mess.
Actually the whole living room was a mess.
It look liked an art supply store exploded on the round glass top coffee table and shrapnel was flung everywhere.
I encourage the kids to draw and color. I want them to express themselves creatively. During Back to School season, I stocked up on crayons, markers, colored pencils, and glue sticks. Most of those were scattered all through the living room.
Each night while I prepared dinner, the kids would draw me pictures. I have had pictures of monsters, princesses, castles, Mickey Mouse, aliens, you name it drawn just for me.
So I had the bright idea of turning our storage ottoman into our art supply storage. I emptied it. (Spoiler alert) I tossed most of the cases and put aside the DVDs to be organized into binders.
I bought pencil boxes for $0.87 each and pulled out my label maker. Crayons are sorted into three color groups: pinks/reds/oranges, greens/yellows/browns, and blues/ purples/ blacks. The blue bin is holding the DS, wii remotes, and a notepad. I even found a paper box from Target for about $6.00 and I already had the colorful bins in a closet…holding nothing. Remember clutter control tip#3? These were bins I bought for a different organizing venture. However, I made the mistake of buying bins before I knew what I was going to put in them so they ended up contributing to the clutter. Yeah…so I am not all that good at organizing. I’m working on it though. Check it out!
A week later….
It’s looking pretty good. I still have to remind the kids to put up their art supplies. But they no longer whine that they don’t know where it goes.
Do you have a hidden storage solution for your kid’s art supplies? If so, share your storage ideas with me in the comments. I really am trying to learn how to be more organized!
Heather @GeminiRed Creations says
Any time I can find a place to hide stuff – like craft supplies – I’m thrilled! Why does the fun stuff take up so much room? Love the storage ottoman!
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Brenda Young says
Great hidden storage! We use the ikea aqua rolling cart for the kids supplies, top shelf holds pens,pencils, markers, paint brushes, gluesticks, scissors in ball jars for easy access and quick clean up crayons in caddy, the second shelf for paper, third shelf for paints. Everything is super easy to keep organized , just roll up to the kitchen table for creativity, then roll in the corner when time to clean up. Quick wipe of the table and voila Mess is contained to the kitchen, no worry for marker or paint mess on the livingroom furniture and looks super cute too, I love it!
Rabia @TheLiebers says
I just bought one of those cube storage cabinets today and put it together . I bought all different colored cubes and put all the cap in them. It’s not organized, but it’s all off the floor and out of the way. When Frances wanted to play with something earlier, I told her she had to empty out a cube and put away everything that had a better home. We’ll get it all organized at some point, I’m just happy to see the floor in my dining room again.
Herchel says
Lol I felt that way when the crayons were put away. I have been shoving the toys into their room but need a better system.
Gracielle says
This is a great solution! If it’s out of plain sight and hidden, then they are less tempted to just dump everything out. At the same time, if they really need their supplies they know where to go and put away. My kids are so unruly that even if I did put it there, they would open it and mess it up as if it were a treasure chest. So I have to hide their art supplies way up in a closet where they cannot reach.
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Michelle says
Brilliant! I think I just saw a post on how to organize craft supplies…I was going to go back to it, because I have plenty of that. It was in my bloglovin. But this is the perfect “hiding” spot for that kind of stuff!
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Jhanis says
I need to do this! Our DVD collection have gone crazy! I have boxes upon boxes of DVD’s including those we got for our son when was a few months old and he is turning 9 this year! It also includes cases of DVD’s that were long gone. I have tried decluttering so many times but things just keep on accumulating! I really need to work on being minimalist. 🙁
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Herchel says
Me too. I save everything. I was brought up not to be wasteful but we have so much stuff!
Leslie says
I love our storage ottoman…though it’s primarily used for video game controllers (that the husband doesn’t get to use anymore) and kid’s games (that we never get to play because they’re hazardous for the baby). One of the best things I did was use little dollar bin buckets to hold crayons. It’s easy for the kids to use and to put the crayons away. Though seeing everything organized in the pencil cases really makes me drool….maybe someday when the kids can read!
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Herchel says
The problem I had with just the bins was that they would put Legos and any other small toys in it too! I admit that last year this wouldn’t have worked. They are just now old enough to appreciate being able to find certain colors easier.
Karen @TheMissingNiche says
I have always wanted a storage ottoman but never got one. Now that the kids have completely trashed the ones I have, maybe the next one will be for storage! They have so much crap in the living room!
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Herchel says
We got this one as part of a couch before we had the kids . The couch did not survive but I refused to get rid of the ottoman.
AwesomelyOZ says
Very create, functional and cute! Nice work I’ll keep that one under my hat hehe have a great one Herchel and happy hump day! -Iva
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Seana Turner says
I love the open bins in the drawer. Kids have a much easier time putting stuff away if they don’t have to remove a lid. Well, I guess I could say EVERYONE is more likely to put stuff away if they don’t have to remove a lid. Great job – just knowing where to put things is the most important step. (stopping in from SITS)
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Herchel says
Thank you Seana! Getting there slowly. I am going to check out your blog for more tips 🙂
Kim Miller says
You passed the real test- how it looks a week later. Its pretty close to your first picture, so I would say that is a BIG win! I like the idea of a storage ottoman, and if you kids are old enough to be responsible with the art supplies, then that is a perfect spot.
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Herchel says
I did cheat a little and took the picture after I reminded them to put their stuff away. They do not touch the paint without permission. My daughter is going through a “cop” phase. She makes sure the rules are enforced. I just have to say “this is a rule!”