Quick Tricks: Using Candy and Cookie Jars for Organizing

 

 

One of my favorite things for organizing our home is candy/cookie jars.  There are so many different types of candy jars out there- different shapes and styles but they universally work so well because they are clear and you can spot what’s in them instantly.  It helps that they look pretty out in the open and they are inexpensive.

 

One of the things I talk about a lot in my book Organizing Your Life
is how important it is to try and get as much as you can out in the open when it comes to organizing.  If we can organize the stuff we use regularly, out in the open, we stand a greater chance of putting things away because it’s right there for the tossing- versus having to tuck it away back into the bowels of a cabinet, in a box and then put the lid back on!

I have realized that we are a tossing family. I so wish we were neat and danty put away-ers but alas, we are not… Knowing and working with your weakness is half of the organizing battle and open and clear candy jars are the perfect way for tossers (like us) to stay organized!

In today’s post, I thought I would show you creative ways that we use these jars in almost every room of our home and hopefully something here will inspire and help you as you look at ways to organize your own home.

In our craft room/office/family room, we use candy/cookie jars throughout the room and they have been the best way for me to keep my painting supplies out in the open but organized in my little painting corner:

 

 

 

 

For the shelves above, I used two different sizes of the Anchor Hocking penny candy jars with lids from Target (small and medium)

 

 

and then I used four of the large Anchor Hocking Montana cookie jar/canisters from Amazon here.

 

Here is the smaller Anchor Hocking Montana 1-1/2-Gallon Jar, Brushed Metal Lid on Amazon if you want something a little smaller than what I have:

 

I use them for storing my paints, stir sticks, paint brushes, glue sticks, thread, glue, clothes pins, rubber bands, pom pom balls and rubber bands; all the things I use almost daily

 

 

 

In that same space, we have a family room/seating area and bookshelves where I use large cookie jars for storing snacks and little games and cards:

 

 

 

 

Having a place to “toss” small game pieces, cards and little games has been a great way for us to keep up with the little stuff out in the open:

 

 

Those large 2 gallon glass jars above are also from Target here.

In my daughter’s room, we also use the Anchor Hocking Small Candy Jars from Target for organizing my daughter’s lip gloss, jewelry, sunglasses and nail polish.  If you have a tween girl, I’m sure you know how these little things multiply and pile up.  (I spray painted the lids gold for fun):

 

 

 

These little candy jars have been a life saver for helping keep my girl organized.  The jars are pretty enough to keep out in the open and it’s easy for her to slip the little stuff right back where it belongs.

By the way, don’t throw away those barrel size tubs of cheese balls and pretzels, wash them out real good and use them in kid spaces for them to toss all that little stuff (Polly pockets, game pieces, balls, etc..):

I use these empty barrels around our home in our garage, storage closets and also in my daughter’s closet for tossing all that little stuff that you’re afraid to throw out but need. I also keep a barrel under our cabinets in our kitchen for pens, pencils, spare keys, etc.. I buy those cheese balls for my daughter and her friends and when they’re empty, I find a new spot in our home and put the container to great use! If you’re curious, Utz cheese balls are our favorite ones and you can buy two for one on Amazon here (warning, they are addictive!). (don’t put the barrels in the dishwasher, they’ll melt).

Of course the kitchen and the laundry are other great spots in the home to use candy/cookie jars for organizing.  In the kitchen, these jars are perfect for storing coffee, coffee supplies, snacks and other kitchen supplies.  In the laundry room, these jars are great for storing powdered laundry soap, fabric softener sheets and all of the little stain remover sticks.

Here are some great glass and plastic candy/cookie jars that I found on Amazon that would be great for organizing as well:

These stackable 1 Gallon Plastic Hex Jar with Snap Lid would be perfect in cabinets for craft supplies or on a desk:

 

 

I love these plastic Candy Jar Plastic Container with Lid 
bins with lids, which would be another fun (and smart) way to organize kid spaces, crafts or bathroom supplies:

 

This set of Apothecary Jars set of 3 would work anywhere in the home in cabinets or top of the counter:

 

I could go on and on because I use these jars in almost every room in our home but I’ll stop here. Hopefully I have convinced you that these jars can change your life, or at least help you get organized 😉

Thanks for stopping by today friends!  By the way, you can look through some of my other organizing posts here if you’re looking for more ideas and tips.  You can also find my book, Organizing Your Life on Amazon here, if your looking for creative ways to help organize your whole home (and life) 🙂

Cheers!

Cyndy

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