A few days into 2019 I noticed a new show “Tidying Up” popped up in my Netflix recommendations. It’s been about seven and a half years since Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” was originally published and it was in my newsfeed for atleast six months after it came out- my friends loved it and cleaned everything. So I decided to watch. Ten minutes in I felt like I needed to purge my entire house but I kept watching thinking perhaps a more logical conclusion would be demonstrated.
And it was. I won’t get into all the steps because you should watch it yourself but one of the things I like about her method is that she doesn’t have a ton of products. You don’t need to spend big money on organizers or things to tidy up. But you do seem to need boxes. Lots of boxes. Marie has the homeowners put boxes in their drawers, in their garage space, in their bathroom etc. It may seem counter-intuitive to add more things to an already cluttered space, but when things have their own places, we tend to actually put them back. I know in my life this is true.
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And she seems to have some sort of black market box supplier where she just shows up at the house with tons of perfectly sized, beautiful boxes.
To help people find the perfect boxes she put them on sale on her website- $89 for three empty boxes. Beautiful boxes- don’t get me wrong but WAY out of the price point for anyone I know.
How To Save on Boxes for Tidying Up
Fortunately you don’t have to spend a mint to get good boxes to use in your house. You just need to find boxes that are sturdy and, if you want to stick to Marie Kondo’s method, they need to “spark joy” when you see them. In other words they need to make you happy.
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- Tissue Boxes– Just cut the tops off and use the sturdy walls and bottom for things in your drawers. See my tip below for making ugly boxes pretty.
- Shoe Boxes– I feel like this one is kind of a no brainer because you can use both the tops and the bottoms. And boxes for boots will be even better!
- Milk Cartons– You can cut the top off of these as well after you clean them well and use them in your drawers for smaller items. See my tip below for making ugly boxes pretty.
- Lipper International Bamboo Wood Adjustable Drawer Organizer with 6 Removable Dividers (watch for it to be around $15)- While this is certainly more than using tissue boxes the ability to customize this makes it really attractive to me. And if this isn’t the exact one you want Amazon will send you down the rabbit hole to other products like this.
- Cereal Boxes– Cut a cereal box long ways (basically just cut the cover off the box) and you will have a good size box with decent sides. This should be good for storing quite a few things (think socks, underwear and bras). See my tip below for making ugly boxes pretty.
- Michael’s– Obviously most of the boxes above I have mentioned aren’t particularly attractive. And Marie Kondo is right- a pretty box does have an affect. So in places where you can clearly see the box it might be worth spending a few dollars more and Michael’s has a nice selection. And with michael’s coupons I am sure you can get some good deals if you want. And you can also use the lids in addition to the boxes.
- Storage Tubs and Totes– When you watch the show the magic seems to be in the little boxes in drawers but you can’t miss the giant plastic bins that people use in their garages and play rooms. You need to be sure to get clear ones so you can see what is inside them. My favorite three sources for those are Target (who often has coupons for “home” items which include these), Lowes and Home Depot.
- TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Other Discount Stores– I will often see decorative boxes in the back of stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. If you aren’t incredibly picky about the look of them you might be able to find some great deals by digging through shelves.
- The Dollar Store– You would be surprised what you can find in your local Dollar Store. If you walk around with the right goal in mind you should be able to find quite a few items you can use!
- Shipping Boxes– I know I still have a ton of boxes from the holidays when things were shipped to me. Some of them are the perfect size. So if you took those boxes and threw them somewhere safe now look around for ones that will fit your needs!
Extra Tip To Make Your Ugly Boxes Pretty
If you have ugly boxes and want to make them pretty consider using Washi Tape! It is inexpensive and easy to use. You can use it to line the inside or outside of any of these boxes!
What Did I Miss?
Leave a comment below and let me know what boxes I missed!
Katherine says
Great post!
Effie says
You can use cardstock/scrapbook paper to cover cardboard boxes.