The start of a new year is the perfect time to press refresh and get organised by giving all your things a tidy place of their own. And by that, we don’t mean go out and buy expensive, purpose-built and totally unoriginal storage units.

All we ask is you keep an open mind and try to look at everyday objects in a different way, as some will inevitably have a multitude of uses. Take a look at our top five storage solutions from a selection of everyday objects that have been reimagined. We’re positive these clever little upcycles will help to make your home a super organised haven to get you ready for the year ahead.

Credit (L-R): Better Homes & Gardens & Good House Keeping

1. Kitchen Storage

Who would have thought the humble magazine holder could help out in the kitchen. Use as a cupboard tidy to put your drinks bottles in order or attach to the inside of a door to house cling film and foil. For smaller kitchens and cupboards especially, this will give you some much needed extra space to organise.

Available in many styles from wooden to wire they are easily customisable and perfect for coordinating with various kitchen colour schemes.

MAKE IT YOURS: Choose your magazine holder and give it a modern high gloss look with Rust-Oleum Mode spray paint. Whether it’s a soft neutral you’re after or a bright colour pop, there’s an option for every kitchen.

Credit (L-R): Tori Jayne & Studio DIY

2. Gift Wrap Storage

Whenever you buy rolls of wrapping paper there’s always the problem of where to store what’s leftover. We think you should avoid shoving them behind a cupboard or under a sofa and consider the more decorative option (of course!).

Metal wire bins are super trendy and have multiple uses besides a functioning bin, like using them to hold and display your wonderful wrapping paper. Spray paint in a bright colour and even add a set of casters to the base to go mobile.

MAKE IT YOURS: Make a statement and opt for Rust-Oleum Neon Yellow to give your bin a bright colour pop – the perfect accent to multi-patterned paper.

Credit (L-R): Liz Marie Blog & Home Talk

3. Under Bed Storage

Hard to reach places like under the bed can very quickly become a cluttered void for forgotten items to gather dust. We found storage solutions for these areas are just bland and unimaginative, as let’s be honest, nobody likes the ugly plastic boxes.

With a little upcycling and repurposing however, transforming a set of drawers into trendy storage makes much more style sense and the thought of looking under the bed, a lot less stressful.

MAKE IT YOURS: Paint a set of drawers with Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint in Chalk White, distress and finish with a protective coat of Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax. Add casters to the base and your bespoke under-the-bed storage is complete.

Credit (L-R): The Boo and the Boy & Attempting Aloha

4. Children’s Bedroom Storage

Children’s bedrooms are always problematic spaces to create storage that not only looks good but functions well. Our creative solution is to repurpose your metal hanging baskets and wall planters from the garden and use them as grab storage for close-to-hand items like cuddly toys and books.

This clever repurposing is the perfect statement feature for any child’s room and placed at their level, is ergonomically ideal.

MAKE IT YOURS: Customise metal baskets and wall planters with a splash of colour from the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Craft Enamel range. It’s certified toy safe so it’s non-harmful and safe for use on children’s toys and furniture.

5. Shoe Storage

Shoes are possibly the biggest problem in hallways, apart from hiding them away in a cupboard, it’s difficult to make lots of shoes look neat and tidy. Whether they’re lined up in pairs or placed on a shelving unit, they just never seem to look right and always get in the way.

A simple and stylish solution to this is repurposed coat hooks; lowering them to the bottom of a wall and using them as shoe hooks instead. This frees up floor space, which is especially great for smaller hallways, and is an ingenious alternative for coat hooks to make a feature out of your footwear.

MAKE IT YOURS: We customised our ‘shoe hooks’ by spray-painting the back piece with Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch White Satin and the hooks in Rust-Oleum Metallic Bright Gold, to create a sophisticated look and a metallic contrast against the white brick wall. Once dry, you’re all ready to get organising that cool shoe collection of yours.

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