Spring Clean — 7 Ways To Use Thrifted Items For Organization

Recently I took a class from Denise Lynn, who is a certified clutter coach. Did you know that there was such a thing as a clutter coach? I didn’t either — until I started learning from her!

The class was all about cleaning and reorganizing the home to create a place where you can thrive, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I learned that it’s never too late to do some spring cleaning! Here are seven awesome ways that you can clean, reorganize, and de-clutter your living space using thrifted items and DIY methods.

1. Under-The-Bed Storage

Check out the furniture section of your thrift shop. Dressers and desks with missing or broken drawers are ideal pieces to use for salvaging spare drawers. Attach wheels to each drawer, and you have rolling under-the-bed storage. This is a great way to free up closet space and keep spare items out of the way. If you have a guest bedroom, consider putting towels and linens for the room under the guest bed. You could also use these in a child’s room for toys.

2. Pallet Book Holders

I love this idea for a kids bedroom, because they will easily be able to find the book that they want without pulling all of the books off of the shelf. Pallets would also make great magazine racks, or even thin, out-of-the-way storage shelves for a behind-the-door area of a room.

3. Mason Jar Desk Top Organizer

Mason jars make great desk organizers! This is an easy DIY project to whip together — all you need is a few jars of varying sizes and some paint. Create a distressed look by softly brushing the layers of paint with a sponge or paper towel while it is still wet. Or, keep the jars clear and stage them in a wooden holder made with scrap wood.

4. Rustic Wooden Computer Stand

If you ever work on a laptop, you know that your neck and shoulders can become hunched and sore after hours of work. While you are spring cleaning your desk area, think about setting up a rustic computer stand to lift your laptop up six inches.  Use thrifted pieces of wood, or even a wooden crate.

5. Sofa Organizer

 

Second-hand stores are excellent sources of fabric. Browse through napkins, sheets, dresses, and tops to find swaths of fabric that you can cut up and transform. With a sofa organizer like this one, you won’t have to search the couch cushions for the remote every time you want to turn on the tube! Plus, these cozy little organizers add a soft, feminine touch to the room.

6. Fabric Covered Cork Boards

I used to hang everything up on the walls directly, without using a cork board. Then I realized how much damage I was doing to my walls! This DIY project, by Beth over at homestoriesatoz.com was my favorite because the corkboards become artwork. For mine, I used fabric from a bright linen table cloth from the seventies, and it turned out great!

7. Bread Box Corner Shelf

Bread boxes are a rare thrift shop find, so you might have to search a little bit before doing this project. Your home will look more organized every time you create a specialized space for items so that they are not left out on the counter tops, table top, or open shelves. Wouldn’t a breadbox shelf be the perfect hide-away for coffee filters, coffee, and tea?

Denise Lynn teaches that clutter goes deeper than the things. She says that clutter is really “about your life: your time, your relationships, and your future:.  I found that after I “spring cleaned” my space I felt lighter and happier. If you want to feel energized, take advantage of the transformative powers of the spring season. Try out a few of these projects to give your home an organized look.