Home New Uses for Old Things at Home Organizing New Uses for Old Things Clear the clutter with these repurposed everyday items. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 27, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino Everyday products that help conquer clutter. 01 of 100 Colander as Toy Scoop Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino One of the most popular kitchen tools also happens to double as a clean-up aid. Before draining the tub, use a colander to make scooping up small toys fun and easy. 02 of 100 Candlestick as Bracelet Holder Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran Bangles bulging out of your jewelry box? Slip them over a candlestick and let them accessorize your dresser. 03 of 100 Glass Jar as Arts and Crafts Organizer Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Kids can see inside the glass jars to find what they’re looking for, from crayons to pompoms. Leave off the lids for extra long supplies, like pipe cleaners or colored pencils. 04 of 100 Wristband as Wine Protector Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Toting more than one bottle to a party? Slip a wristband over one to prevent banging or breaking. 05 of 100 Hair Elastic as Tights Bundler Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran Roll up pairs of stockings or leggings and wrap hair ties around them to keep the rolls from unraveling. It will be easier to find a specific pair on mornings when you're, well, tight on time. 06 of 100 Colander as Knitting Assistant Jamie Chung To prevent balls of yarn from tangling, string the end of each through a colander hole. 07 of 100 Glasses Case as Makeup Organizer Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino With the cameras flashing and all eyes on you, there’s a lot of pressure to look your very best. Stash extra makeup—think lip gloss and concealer—in an empty glasses case and tuck in your purse for quick touch up’s throughout the day. 08 of 100 Cereal Box as Photo Saver Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran. Photo in box: Renee Keith/Getty Images Sending Grandpa a shot of the all-star soccer team but don't want the postal journey to bend it (like Beckham)? Sandwich the picture between the large panels of a flattened box. 09 of 100 Party Hat as Candy Dish Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Use extra paper party hats to corral candy on a display table—or fill them with popcorn to hand out to kids. 10 of 100 Tic Tac Box as Spice Holder Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino Pack small amounts of your favorite spice (red pepper flakes, anyone?) in old Tic Tac boxes, to season food on-the-go. 11 of 100 Glass Vase as Belt Corraller Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran It's a cinch to keep belts organized and visible: Coil them into spirals and stack them on top of one another in a large clear vase. (Put favorite belts at the top for easy access.) 12 of 100 Gift Tags as File Label Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Use leftover, adhesive gift tags to label file folders. Holly leaves = medical records, Santa = bills (obviously—you owe him for the bike, the LEGOS, the dollhouse…). 13 of 100 Hanger as Ribbon Organizer Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Turn a tangle of ribbons into a neat presentation. Hang coordinating colors over the prongs of a tie hanger. 14 of 100 Ribbon as Utensil Holder Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino When utensils are wrapped together, guests can grab what they need in one go—great for a buffet table. 15 of 100 Gift Box as Sugar Holder Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino More lovely to look at than the branded box from the store, but it still slides easily into the pantry for storage. 16 of 100 Binder Clip as Ribbon Organizer Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Clip one end of the spool to keep the ribbon from unfurling in your giftwrap drawer. 17 of 100 Newspaper as Packing Material Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Pack delicate items. Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, and then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box. 18 of 100 Holiday Lights as Night Light Levi Brown Fill a large Mason jar with a strand or two of battery-powered lights to add whimsy to a walkway or a nightstand. 19 of 100 Dental Floss as Picture Hanger Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Hang a lightweight painting. Wrap one end of a strand of floss several times around one of a pair of screws or hooks attached to either side of the back of the frame. Wrap the other end around the remaining screw or hook, leaving some slack. Knot the ends and hang from a nail. 20 of 100 Clothespin as Refrigerator Magnet Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Turn your fridge or stove hood into a memo board. Glue a magnet to the back of a pin and use it to hold reminders, invitations, and photos. 21 of 100 Cereal Box as Drawer Organizer Levi Brown If you're the flaky type, cereal boxes (including the single-serving minis) can corral desk-drawer chaos. Slice off the tops and the bottoms and fill them with loose odds and ends. 22 of 100 Clothespin as Cord Holder Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Keep a retractable cord from rewinding too soon. Just clip the cord near the opening to prevent the cord from being sucked back in too quickly. 23 of 100 Soda Bottle as Pasta Measurer James Wojcik Said good-bye to soda? Fill the mouth of a dry 20-ounce bottle with uncooked spaghetti; the opening holds enough for a hearty single serving. 24 of 100 Silverware Holder as Bathroom Drawer Organizer John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Use a utensil tray in your bathroom drawer to keep small items like tweezers, nail clippers, and makeup brushes organized. Submitted by: Margaret2580 25 of 100 Hanging Wash Bag as Cord Storage John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Store chargers, power cords, and extra headphones in the clear pouches of a hanging jewelry organizer. You'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for and packing your tech is that much easier. Submitted by: jloper 26 of 100 Magazine Files as Kitchen Storage John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Corral boxes of waxed paper, aluminum foil and plastic wrap in a magazine file. Submitted by chels926 27 of 100 Metal Magazine Rack as Towel Holder John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Roll pool towels and store them vertically, so your kids can grab one before taking a swim. 28 of 100 Luggage Tag as Decorating Aid John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Avoid decorating mistakes. Tuck fabric, wallpaper, and paint swatches inside so you can ensure a perfect match. 29 of 100 Paper Clips as Wrapping Paper Holder John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Use paper clips to keep wrapping paper from unraveling. 30 of 100 Cake Stand as Counter Organizer John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Curb countertop clutter. Drop keys and bills on the stand instead. 31 of 100 Tie Rack as Mail Organizer John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Prioritize bills and mail in a rack positioned flat on a desk or countertop. 32 of 100 Cake Stand as Display Stand John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Show off. Display small photos and mementos, which look more important on a platform. 33 of 100 Shoe Box as Holiday Light Storage James Baigrie Trim off the edges of a shoe box lid and wrap string lights around the flat cardboard. Then slide the whole thing inside the box. This will keep lights untangled and tidy during the off-season. 34 of 100 Accordion Folder as a Glove Compartment Organizer Aya Brackett Store your car insurance, registration, manuals, and maps in a neatly bound holder to avoid an avalanche of papers every time you reach in for your sunglasses. It's the first step to getting your car chaos under control. 35 of 100 Clipboard as Place-Mat Holder James Wojcik Hang a clipboard on the wall (or inside a cabinet) to clamp down on place mats—and that old “I can’t find them!” excuse from the person setting the table. 36 of 100 Apple Container as Ornament Storage John Lawton Store delicate tree decor where the fruit once went to protect items from bumps and bruises. (You can also use wine boxes or egg cartons.) 37 of 100 Baking Sheet as a Memo Board Monica Buck Set the baking sheet inside a 16-inch plate hanger mounted to the wall. Make sure the sheet is magnetic—so good ideas will stick. 38 of 100 Rubber Band as Canister Measure James Wojcik Stretch a rubber band around an opaque container. Each time you scoop out the flour or coffee, move the band down to mark the supply level. No need to lift the lid while making your grocery list—you can see how much is left in a snap. 39 of 100 Zippered Bed-Linen Bag as Art Supply Carrier Aya Brackett Stash supplies for scrapbooking, knitting, or sewing in one of these sturdy, transparent pouches so all of your materials and tools are in one place. 40 of 100 Binder Clip as Linens Organizer Monica Buck Store sets of napkins clipped together and they’ll always be ready to set the scene at dinnertime. You'll restore order to your linen closet and save minutes searching for elusive matching colors. 41 of 100 Business Card Organizer as Gift Card Holder Mark Lund Reduce handbag clutter by catalogging the family’s club cards and gift cards according to store name. Your back will thank you for toting a lighter wallet around. 42 of 100 Cassette Case as Cord Organizer Mark Lund Neatly coil the cords of your small, tangle-prone cables and earbuds and tuck them into the empty plastic holder. If you have several, label each case with a sticker for clear identification. It'll be the end of crossed wires. 43 of 100 Cast-Iron Pan as Recipe Board John Lawton Hang a skillet on a kitchen wall and you’ll have a convenient magnetic spot to display recipes, important reminders, and anything else your brain is too, well, fried to remember. 44 of 100 Chip Clips as Clothes Hangers Aimee Herring Hold small coats in place on adult-size hangers. Use clips with rubberized grips to help items stay put. Not only will you have an organized coat closet, but you'll save money by not having to buy special kids' hangers. 45 of 100 Clothespin as Hanger Antonis Achilleos Use clips to prevent silky sleeveless shirts and dresses from slipping off the hanger. And you can say goodbye to wrinkled sundresses on the closet floor. 46 of 100 Coaster as Drip Catcher Monica Buck Catch the sticky stuff from bottles and jars in cupboards. No more shelves that require a full wipe-down after every spoonful of honey, slather of jam, or glug of olive oil. 47 of 100 Coat Rack as Jewelry Holder Frances Janisch Store your best-loved (and most frequently worn) necklaces and bracelets within easy reach on a wall-mounted coat rack. Bonus: they'll stay tangle-free when not decorating your neck. 48 of 100 Contact Lens Case as Pill Storage Frances Janisch Easily transport non-prescription pills without all the bottles. Pop it into your handbag and you'll have a headache remedy handy when the man in seat 7A drones on about his herniated disk. Plus you'll keep pills out of contact with everything else in your purse 49 of 100 Wine Corks as Cabinet Silencers Gemma Comas and James Merrell Silence cabinet doors that slam by slicing a cork into thin disks and sticking them onto the inside corners of cabinets to muzzle the closing noise. 50 of 100 Cupcake Carrier as Knickknack Organizer James Wojcik For the 359 days of the year when you’re not hauling cupcakes, use the cups to store jewelry or craft supplies. 51 of 100 Desk Organizer as Cupboard Divider Andrew McCaul Sort cookie sheets, cutting boards, and jelly-roll pans in the kitchen for easy access (and no more cymbal-crashing sounds) in an overstuffed cabinet. 52 of 100 Dustpan as Toy Herder France Ruffenach Scoop up small toys―Lego blocks, jacks, Barbie shoes, plastic soldiers—with your dustpan and brush, so you can reclaim your living room for grown-ups. 53 of 100 Earrings as Pushpins John Lawton Face it: That long-lost earring is probably gallivanting with a wayward sock in Ye Olde Land of Misplaced Items. (What a stud!) Let its lonely, abandoned mate rebound as a pretty thumbtack on a bulletin board.Courtesy of reader Bailey Mulholland of Appleton, Wisconsin 54 of 100 Eyeglasses Case as Manicure Kit Kirsten Strecker An unused glasses case makes a convenient storage spot for nail files, clippers and other manicure essentials while on the go. 55 of 100 Picture Frame as Key Holder Sang An Framed hooks will keep keys organized―and looking decorative. Eliminate the glass and paint the backing or cover it with fabric or paper. Then attach the key hooks using an extra-strong glue. 56 of 100 Picture Frame as Refrigerator Art Sang An Your icebox images will pop once they’re no longer buried under lists and bills. Give them an edge by gluing magnet strips to the backs of small frames, elevating snapshots and postcards to art. 57 of 100 Picture Frame as an Earring Organizer Sang An Showcase your gold hoops, pearl drops, and chandeliers with this clever caddy. Here's how to make it: Step 1: Gather a wooden frame (without the backing and the glass), piano wire, small eyelet hooks (two for each wire), pliers, and a ruler.Step 2: Mark where you want each wire to hang. Screw in the eyelet hooks. Using the pliers, pull the wire taut and twist it around the hooks. Step 3: Hang your earrings from the wires. Either mount the display on a wall or place it on a dresser. 58 of 100 Garden Hose Holder as Holiday Light Organizer Beatriz da Costa Coil strings of holiday lights round and round for knot-free hall decking. Your reward: You won’t blow a fuse trying to hang next year’s light show. 59 of 100 Berry Basket as Bathroom Storage Antonis Achilleos Corral bathroom essentials in an eco-friendly (but still pretty) caddy. 60 of 100 Binder Clip as Cord Holder Jim Franco Keep a windowblind cord out of reach of little hands (or paws). Just gather the cord up at a safe level and clasp. 61 of 100 Dish Rack as Art Supply Organizer Antonis Achilleos Organize coloring books in the main basket and corral crayons, pencils, and markers in the silverware holder. 62 of 100 File Folder Labels as Cord Identification Antonis Achilleos Attach adhesive file-folder labels with the names of the cords' owners (for example, phone, computer, fax, and lamp; or TV, DVD, VCR, and phone) near the plugs. This way, you can quickly ID which cord belongs to which machine—and you won't unplug the wrong one. 63 of 100 Film Canister as Stamp Dispenser Mark Lund Unspool stamps by cutting a slit in the side of a film canister and threading the end of the roll throught it. 64 of 100 High Chair as Mail Holder William Abranowicz Free up some counter space by using a clip-on high chair as mail catchall. Great solution for rounding up keys and stashing mail and permission slips. 65 of 100 Jar as Knicknack Organizer James Baigrie Superglue the lid to the underside of a cabinet and gather bits and pieces—thumbtacks, say, or nails—into the jar itself. Then screw the jar into the lid to whisk clutter up, up, and away. 66 of 100 Jewelry Box as Game Piece Storage Kathryn Barnard Store game pieces, play money, or other priceless rainy-afternoon distractions. 67 of 100 Jewelry Box as Drawer Organizer Antonis Achilleos Those little boxes are so sturdy and tidy that you hate to throw them out, so don't. Instead, clip them together to create a neat divided storage area for pens and pencils, lipsticks, plastic flatware—whatever it is that clutters your drawer. 68 of 100 Nonskid Rug Pad as Trunk Mat Kevin Kochey Prevent produce from bruising on the way home from the store. Give grocery bags traction in the trunk of a car by lining the compartment with a pad. 69 of 100 Nonskid Rug Pad as Drawer Liner Burcu Avsar Stop pens and paper clips from rolling to the back of a desk drawer with a layer of liner. 70 of 100 Nonskid Rug Pad as Breakfast Tray Liner Kevin Kochey Make glassware stay put on a serving tray, so breakfast in bed doesn't lead to mopping up orange juice in your pajamas. 71 of 100 Paper Clip as Phone Book Marker James Baigrie Find the number for your favorite restaurant faster by clipping its page in the phone book. 72 of 100 Paper Clip Dispenser as Bobby Pin Holder Aya Brackett Corral bobby pins and hair clips in a paper clip holder. The magnetic ring makes them easy to dispense. 73 of 100 Paper Plates as China Protectors James Wojick Prevent good china from chipping by layering paper plates between each piece of your formal dinnerware. 74 of 100 Paper Towel Tube as Cord Organizer James Wojick Corral unruly comptuer cables by running them through a spare tube. 75 of 100 Pasta Maker as Paper Shredder Andrew McCaul Run junk mail and private documents through the device and turn the crank. 76 of 100 Pencil Eraser as Wall Protector Monica Buck Anchor artwork against the wall. Cut erasers from a pair of pencils and glue them to the bottom corners of a frame for added stability. 77 of 100 Peppermint Tin as Tissue Holder Frances Janisch Fold a packet inside the tin to keep tissues dry and intact in your purse or beach bag. 78 of 100 Photo Album as Business Card File Monica Buck File frequently used business cards in a brag book (two will fit in each slot) for a purse-ready Rolodex. 79 of 100 Photo Album as Renovation Helper Aya Brackett Stash fabric swatches and paint chips in the album so you can make sure that lamp matches perfectly before you get it home. 80 of 100 Photo Box as Jewelry Organizer David Prince Organize delicate jewelry by placing necklace chains, charms, and small earrings in individual vellum envelopes inside the box. 81 of 100 Photo Tree as Recipe Holder Andrew Mccaul Orchestrate a multicourse meal by displaying all the recipes you need on a single stand so you never miss a beat (or an ingredient). 82 of 100 Plastic Trays as Boot Holders Mark Lund Contain rain-boot runoff by placing a tray near the entryway when wet weather descends. 83 of 100 Plastic Wrap as Box Handle Antonis Achilleos Carry unwieldy packages by twisting several feet of wrap into a sturdy rope, tying it around a box, and knotting the rest into a handle. 84 of 100 Rocks as Coat Rack Anna Williams Construct an outdoorsy coat rack. Use a polyuerthane-based glue (try Gorilla Glue) to attach rocks to old drawer knobs, then screw the knobs into a plank of wood and mount it on a wall at eye-level in an entryway. 85 of 100 Rocks as Bookends Solutions Book Keep books straight on a shelf. Add an earthy vibe to your reading collection by subbing in large smooth rocks for bookends. 86 of 100 Shoe Box as File Storage Antonis Achilleos Give unattractive filing cabinets the boot and store all bills and documents inside shoe boxes covered in decorative paper. 87 of 100 Shoe Organizer as Gift Wrap Storage James Baigrie Arrange gift wrapping supplies so you can easily locate bows, ribbons, scissors, and tape. 88 of 100 Shoe Organizer as Spice Rack Formula Z/S Organize the spice cabinet by transferring canisters to the pockets and mounting the holder inside the pantry. 89 of 100 Shower Curtain Rings as Scarf Storage Kirsten Strecker Sort and hang scarves by threading them through rings hung on a closet rod. 90 of 100 Spice Containers as Office Supply Storage David Prince Use these squat, clear-topped jars (sold at kitchen supply stores) to keep all those loose bits cluttering your desk drawer—stamps and Post-It notes, thumbtacks and rubber bands, safety pins and stickers—under control. 91 of 100 Spring as Desktop Organizer Anita Calero Neatly file bills, mail, and invitations between the coils on your desk. 92 of 100 Step Stool as Shoe Organizer Annie Schlechter Rest your soles. Store shoes on the tiers of a stool in the closet. 93 of 100 Suitcase as Linen Storage Beatriz Da Costa Keep off season linens and other decorations in a suitcase when you're not traveling. 94 of 100 Twist Tie as Wire Gatherer Antonis Achilleos Streamline tangled cords. Shorten a too-long one by looping the center and wrapping with a tie, or secure several cords together. 95 of 100 Velcro as Pet Bowl Securer Aya Brackett Keep Fido’s bowl from migrating away from its designated spot with a few pieces of Velcro on its bottom side. 96 of 100 Velcro as Toy Storage Antonis Achilleos Inspire housekeeping habits that will stick. Affix the rough sides of a few strips to the wall, and the soft sides to the backs of stuffed animals. The act of putting away toys will gain all-ages appeal. 97 of 100 Velcro as Remote Controller Antonis Achilleos Help the remote from getting swallowed up in the couch cushions by adding Velcro to the device and on the side of the TV. 98 of 100 Velcro as Cushion Keeper James Baigrie Stop a seat cushion from tumbling off a chair by adhering strips of Velcro to the bottom of the cushion and the top of the seat. 99 of 100 Velcro as Pen Minder James Baigrie Place a small piece of Velcro next to a desk calendar and on a pen so you’ll never have to search for one again. 100 of 100 Window Box as Towel Storage Monica Buck Roll several cloths and stack in the box in a guest bathroom so no one has to poke around in your cabinets hunting for them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit