Find a Dresser

If you don’t have an old dresser at home that you can repurpose for storage, there are plenty of outlets for finding one. Check classified listings in the newspaper and online or visit garage sales for great deals. You may also find inexpensive dressers at second-hand stores or flea markets. Don’t worry about how it looks because you’re going to give it a great new appearance.

Give your old dresser a new look by adding a fresh coat of paint. Then make sure it’s functioning correctly with new or tightened drawer pulls. Just because the dresser will be in your garage or basement doesn’t mean it can’t look great! You can paint it in one neutral color or get creative with bright colors, stripes or designs. Here are some tips for painting wood furniture and fixing up drawer pulls.

Once your dresser is updated and ready to use, you’ll need to decide what to organize and how to do it. Try to designate each drawer for only one category of supplies or items and use some of these tips as guidance.

What to Organize

	•	Seasonal Décor: Use each drawer to safely store your seasonal decorations so they’re easy to find each year. Use a different drawer for each season or holiday.
	•	Outdoor Items: If there are large drawers, use the dresser in the garage to store outdoor toys and sporting equipment such as bats, balls, gloves, helmets and safety pads. Organize the drawers by family member so each person knows where to look for his or her toys and equipment.
• Household Supplies: Try using the drawers to organize common household needs such as cords, light bulbs, batteries, and craft supplies. To keep your cords from turning into a tangled mess, roll them up and secure with rubber bands or twist-ties. Separate different types of cords by creating dividers with cardboard.
• Tools and Hardware: Sort out tools, loose or miscellaneous hardware and home repair or gardening materials. Store your most used tools in the top drawer and items you don’t need frequently in the bottom drawer. Use some of the tips below for organizing loose items.

How to Organize

Utilize desk drawer or silverware organizers to create several organized compartments. For larger pieces use shoeboxes or plastic tubs to create bins for storing. If you want to collect small hardware items like screws, nails and hooks try this unique tennis ball storage idea.

             1.  Using a utility knife, cut a small slit in one side of a                   tennis ball, squeeze the ball to expand the split and drop                   your screws or nails inside.

             2.  These portable storage solutions can be organized easily                   inside the dresser. Drill screws into the bottom of a                   drawer, and then drill small holes in the tennis balls to                   fit onto the screws in the drawer.

After you’ve decided how to organize, add labels to the drawers so items can be found easily. Get creative, by attaching custom labels or painting on the drawers.

You’ll love how well your dresser storage solution keeps these tough areas organized. Just make a commitment to keep the drawers clutter-free and your dresser will be a great organization tool for years to come.