Modular storage systems?
I'm currently working on decluttering, and coming up with processes to stop clutter from building up in the future.
Even after getting rid of a bunch of junk, I'll be left with a ton of stuff that historically has just "floated around" my living space (cables, adapters, small tools, stationary, batteries, etc...).
I'd ideally want a bunch of appropriately sized containers that I can organize stuff into. I'd love for each box to be some tesselation of a standard volume, so that I can arrange and stack those containers neatly in a drawer or on a desk.
If you happen to work with 3D printing, this may sound a lot like Gridfinity, a modular open-source grid storage system. And I agree! Gridfinity's goals completely meet and shoot past what I'm looking for. But I currently have no interest in investing the money or time into buying a 3D printer and making prints. And there doesn't appear to be an obvious commercial version outside of "random" folks on Etsy.
I also considered getting a Drawer Grid like you'd see in a Maker Space. I might end up getting this if I can't find a better option, though I'd prefer a storage solution I can stuff in a drawer.
I was curious if:
- Anyone had any product recommendations that might fit the bill
- Anyone had any thoughts on the organizational endeavor itself, and if there are any ways I could be going about this better.
If you don't mind dropping some cash, a walk through the container store might reveal system that you like. However, I had a similar need for something to exactly fit some shelves in a kitchen island, and I didn't really find anything satisfactory. I have a 3D printer and am still shy of the gridfinity because the containers I need are pretty large.
Embarassingly, I spent the better part of the day trying to figure our which container store I needed to check out. Until I Google it...
The walkthrough The Container Store was unexpectedly fruitful! It put a better name to what I was really looking for: drawer organizers
I even found a brand called Like-It that seems to offer almost exactly what I described in the post:
Thank you so much for pointing me the right way!
That's funny. We have a brick and mortar near where we live, so I am used to driving by it, and it never occurred to me how generic the name is. Add in my capitalization fail and it is not at all obvious.
I'm glad you found something that worked. Happy decluttering!
Haha, I'm glad you added the section calling out Gridfinity, because my immediate thought after reading the title was "Is this someone asking about Gridfinity?".
I'm going to agree that if you don't have a 3d printer, and an interest already in fiddling around with one, then don't get one just for this sort of need. 3d printers can be finnicky in the same way as their 2d counterparts, regardless of how "easy to print with" or "ready to go out-of-the-box" people like to describe their favorite printer.
How big is the stuff you are trying to organize?
IKEA Kallax storage shelves are really useful because they have different things that can be stuffed into them to customize it for the stuff you want to put into them.They have an insert that is supposed to be for wine bottles but is perfect for smaller things if you put a paper tray into them.
But the total volume could probably fit into 2-3 Kallax cubes. I'll definitely keep this in mind, thanks for the recommendation.
I'm going to be following this post closely, because I've been trying to find a quality drawer grid for ages. My Dad had a giant steel and clear plastic one when I was growing up, and it was constructed in such a way that made it feel indestructible. Every similar modern product I have found is constructed from super cheap materials or the quality otherwise leaves a lot to be desired.
At this point the drawers are kind of a white whale for me, and I've mostly fallen back to casually checking thrift and second hand stores in the hopes that someday I'll find some well preserved drawers of the past to satisfy. 🤷♂️
Aren't there services that can 3D print things for you?
From my light reading on the Gridfinity system, the license if free so long as you don't profit from it, so not sure how that would be. Think it's why you can't just buy them on etsey like so many other prints for the non printers out there.
A lot of the time you'll be able to find local folks offering print-on-demand, rather than having to ship stuff from etsy. Maybe see if there's anything on whatever local marketplaces you have around. Can work with one of them to get your stuff printed and if it's near enough you can avoid postal charges.
A few thoughts. You can get cheap plastic bins, similar to gridfinity on AliExpress for super cheap. I like the gridfinity system, but I don't have a big enough printer to make it worth while when I can get plastic bins on AliExpress for a couple bucks. If you have a 3D printer and want to print all the special holders, then Gridfinity is probably great. If you just want plastic bins to organize small parts in a drawer, then AliExpress is great, this for example.
For cables, I use Gallon Freezer Ziplock bags with a label at the top stored in plastic file totes. It works great and is cheap (IMHO). I can open a tote and quickly find the bag with the cables I need. They stay coiled up and don't get tangled.