Ditch Bins: The Smarter Way To Organize A Storage Cart Using Empty Egg Cartons

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Looking for ways to unscramble that collection of office supplies, craft embellishments, and other odds and ends without spending a fortune? The answer could be in your refrigerator right now: egg cartons. These cartons are surprisingly versatile — you can reuse old egg cartons to DIY whimsical hanging decor, for example. But they're also ideal for simple storage without spending money on expensive dividers. And you can use an empty egg cartons as-is simply by placing it open on one of the shelves in a rolling cart. 

One of the best parts of this DIY organization idea versus buying bins is the cost: If you're already buying eggs, you don't have to spend any extra money. If you don't use many eggs, ask friends and family to save their cartons. You can also buy new egg cartons online in different sizes and configurations — like these YSJFNVUI Clear Plastic Egg Cartons with three rows of four cups. But molded pulp egg cartons are typically the most protective and eco-friendly material option, so you may want to choose those cardboard-style cartons for an organizer that lasts the longest.

There are so many clever ways to use the IKEA Raskog cart and similar rolling storage solutions, but the deep shelves can be difficult to organize, especially if you're using it for small items. Egg cartons offer an inexpensive way to do that. The cups act as natural compartments for tiny items, including paint and craft supplies, small office supplies, beads, and jewelry. It can be difficult to find bins that are small enough for this use. The lid creates a larger tray-style storage compartment, and the little dividers between the cups can hold rubber bands, bracelets, and similar items.

For the fastest option, open the egg carton and place it on one of the tray-style shelves of your rolling organizer. Then, fill the different spaces with your items. The flexibility of how you use the cartons also gives them an advantage over rigid bins. You can use multiple cartons to fill the shelf completely, or leave the rest of the shelf open. To fit a smaller space, cut the cartons down to size to fit snugly on the shelf — something you can't do with bins. Adding some glue dots or nonslip shelf liner to the bottom of the carton keeps it from sliding around. 

When considering ways to use empty egg cartons around your home, organization options like this are practical. But they can also be stylish with some updates. For the egg carton organizer, consider painting the cardboard to dress it up a little. You can even make it a color-coding system with specific cup colors for different item types. That makes it easier to put things away in the right spot and find what you need in the organizer. Or, add ribbon, beads, cord, or other craft materials to dress up the top edges of the carton. 

Another option is decoupaging the egg carton with decorative napkins to create a patterned organizer. A layer of decoupage glue on top also helps protect the molded fiber material. Or opt for an extra durable option with this Flexzion Ceramic Egg Holder. Of course, this option adds to the overall cost, but you get the cute egg carton look without worrying about the carton getting damaged.