5 must-have storage items professional organizers say you should always thrift for home organizing projects

It is no secret that organizing a home can be an expensive endeavor, with the cost of storage often proving a roadblock to a well-organized, aesthetically pleasing space.

Shopping for storage items at thrift stores is a great way to save money while reducing your waste and over-consumption habits. Our experts advice heading to your local thrift store with a plan to avoid buying more than you need.

Here, our pros reveal the five things you should always thrift to nail your home organizing for less and reduce waste.

5 things pro organizers say you should always thrift

1. Binders and file folders

Getting rid of paper clutter and organizing essential documents is key when working your way through the 'doom piles' around your home, so a good storage system that will keep it all contained is a thrift-store winner.

That’s why Brenda Scott, professional home organizer and decluttering expert, owner of Tidy My Space suggests picking up binders or folders at the thrift store. She says, ‘Binders are great for clippings you want to save so you don't have to find space for entire magazines or newspapers. File folder holders are also a handy organizing tool for magazines, water bottles, loose papers, and clutch purses.'

Don't worry if the ones you find in the thrift store are not to your taste. Brenda adds, 'You can customize them to suit your decor style with a little peel-and-stick wallpaper or decals,’ she suggests.

Amazon stocks an array of peel and stick wallpaper, but you can also utilize pretty leftover wrapping paper. The thicker the better to avoid tearing.

2. Shelving

Storage furniture is expensive, there are no two ways about it. That’s why Meaghan Kessman, professional home organizer at Meaghan Kessman Home Organization recommends picking up shelving while thrifting to reduce waste and save your budget.

‘Small shelves or bookcases maximize vertical storage to save space,’ she says. ‘You can also use them in entryways, living rooms, or bathrooms to store and organize an array of essentials from books, to baskets with toiletries, to dried food goods. Consider customizing with paint to match your home's aesthetic.'

Learn how to paint wood furniture in our step-by-step guide.

3. Any small bins and baskets

‘Storage baskets and small bins are handy in drawers to keep random small objects contained. Think 'junk drawer' optimization,’ says Brenda Scott, professional home organizer. ‘Always have dimensions and pictures of drawers/closet shelves, a small tape measure, and paint colors of all rooms in your home in your purse or tote bag. This sounds extreme but it cuts down on purchasing items that might not fit the space, the color is wrong, or won't match with other items.’

4. Glass jars and containers

Similarly to small bins and baskets, glass jars are a must from the thrift store. There are always plenty of transparent containers ideal for smaller-scale organizing and pantry storage ideas, points out Meaghan Kessman, professional home organizer. Not to mention that it is far more eco-friendly than buying from new.

‘Perfect for organizing pantry items, craft supplies, or bathroom essentials, glass jars are a must from the thrift store. Transparency allows easy visibility while opting for a range of mismatched unique shapes to help to add character to a home.'

The beauty of glass is it's easy to clean so you won't get the ick when storage your items in them.

5. Anything that can be repurposed

When shopping for storage and organizers at the thrift store, think out of the box, reminds Amélie Saint-Jaques, professional organizer and certified KonMari consultant at Amélie Organizes.

‘Maybe that wooden purse rack would actually be great to store your baking pans? Or could you use that wire shelf riser as a mail sorter by propping up the envelopes in it vertically?’

There is so much opportunity at the thrift store that shopping in conventional outlets doesn’t always allow for.

Thrifting your home storage is a great way to make your home feel more unique while saving money. By embracing the differences in the storage pieces and picking pieces that complement one another and your home, even thrifted pieces can be one of the most aesthetic organizing tricks.