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A Simple, DIY System for Getting Organized

Because it's time to follow through on those New Year's resolutions...

By Dave Hakkens - January 6, 2016

in Storyhopper | Video | Organization

Last time, I showed you how I got rid of all my useless stuff. But it doesn't help much to be clutter-free if you don't have a good way of keeping everything organized. As a designer, you can imagine that I gather a whole lot of things for my job: material samples, working models, various tools, etc. So I'm always looking for new ways to organize these things. I've been using several okay strategies for a while, but it wasn't until I discovered this streamlined system that I got really excited.

I started with basic, plastic crates that you can find pretty much everywhere—I always see them used for storing produce in the supermarket, for example. Aside from the fact that they are very strong, what really excites me about them is that they are built according to a modular, industry standard. This makes it really easy to create a customized framework around their measurements—and then upgrade or change the system over time as your needs change. So, I set out to build a framework for my work/life and it became an ideal storage solution. If you are interested in trying this out for yourself, let me know and I can share with you the blueprints I created.

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As always, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you adapt any found objects for your storage needs?

This story originally appeared on Story Hopper, a collection of design stories worth sharing squeezed into short videos.

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Christopher Broughton

9 years ago

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I highly recommend using banana boxes from grocery stores. I've used them for moving because they come with handles, are super sturdy, almost universally sized, and usually free to a good home. When done moving I've built quick shelving from 2x4s to house them as storage and even to support a plywood tabletop as a make-shift stand up workstation. The gap in the top and bottom can be covered with the thick paper included or a thin piece of plywood.

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Roberto Arano

9 years ago

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the critical factor is not the system, but finding similar sized containers at a good price (including shipping)...how about suggesting some container sources..(without stealing)?

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david collett

9 years ago

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I like this. in the UK I have not seen these crates around much. anyone know what they are called or where to find them? are they expensive if you have to buy them? I have been intending to do something similar with the shallow cardboard crates you get in supermarkets here, but the modular system with different sizes is a big advantage. I would have to build shelves to do this, the cardboard wouldn't slide out nicely like that on rails.

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David Stovell

9 years ago

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Great project and nice video. It always amazes me how much useful stuff is discarded from markets and the like.

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Robyn Fraser

9 years ago

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I'm a graphic and fibre artist so my tools are either small; hooks, needles, pens or bulky; yarn, fabric, paper, etc.

I have had great success creating storage out of both reused containers, i.e. I bought myself some bubble bath and it came in a tin, the tin now holds crochet hooks and charity shop finds. Each of my active fibre projects lives in a repurposed bowl. Some are actually bowls, but most are charity shop finds of plant pots.

It makes my work space organized *and* pretty. :D

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