It turns out I’m a Monica Geller at heart when it comes to organizing. I get asked this a lot:
- Q: “How do you organize your craft supplies? Mine end up scattered all over the house!” – Chris
- Q: “Can you show where you store your craft stuff? I’m hoping you have a secret Monica Geller closet.” – Katie
My usual, embarrassed answers used to sound something like this:
- “Our craft closet is a huge mess. It lives in the guest room, everything is piled into a few baskets, and there are even paper grocery bags in there — so yes, it was time to deal with it. I’d love to organize it and share the details!”
After months of letting the pile-up linger, I finally reached my breaking point and tackled the closet. Below I’ll walk through how I transformed what I now call “the craft closet” from chaos into an organized, usable space.
The guest room became the craft room by default because it has the best light in the house — gorgeous afternoon sun that makes painting and sewing an absolute joy. I also envisioned adding a desk or dresser for my sewing machine so the room could really multitask: a welcoming guest space and a spot for creativity.
Before the overhaul, the closet looked like a small hurricane had passed through. Supplies were stacked on the floor, a little alcove was stuffed with more junk, and the dining table often collected additional craft chaos. It was an awful 3D mess that needed a plan and some decisive action.
Step one of any organizing job is motivation. For me that meant chocolate and a clear game plan. I dumped the old moving-box bag of supplies and started sorting.
One of my two best purchases for this closet was a Raskog-style rolling cart. I passed on a bunch of small, cheap plastic bins and instead opted for two larger, sturdier storage pieces that would be both more attractive and more durable long-term. Cheap systems tend to get jammed and broken, and that’s a fast path back to clutter — so I chose quality over quantity.
For the alcove, I brought in a folding shelf we’ve owned for years and set it vertically so I could free up floor space. Vertical storage immediately made the area feel more usable.
The second major purchase was a white five-drawer cabinet. It had smooth drawers in varying heights, perfect for grouping supplies like paints, brushes, sprays, and paint pens. Because it was already assembled and solid, it felt like a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix. The cart and the cabinet are cute enough to leave out of the closet someday if I add a sewing desk in the room.
Other items already in the closet found new roles: a hanging fabric cubby system for gift wrap supplies and a tall ceramic planter to hold wrapping paper rolls. I reorganized everything so similar items live together, which makes projects faster and less frustrating.
The rolling cart contents are logically grouped:
- Top shelf: art notebooks, sketch pads, a few small canvases, and a rolled placemat I plan to use as a stencil.
- Middle shelf: wood pieces such as dowels, small plaques, and wood slices for future projects.
- Bottom shelf: heavier tools like a staple gun, glue gun and their accessories — staples, glue sticks, and similar hardware.
The hanging cubbies are dedicated to gift-wrapping essentials: ribbons, tissue paper, gift bags, gift tags and tape, keeping everything ready for quick present assembly.
The wooden shelving in the alcove now stores my fabric in labeled bins. I have a lot of fabric thanks to ongoing sewing projects for my daughter, and having it accessible here means I’m more likely to actually use it. There’s space in front of the shelves to set the sewing machine on the floor for now, and I’m considering moving it into the room later to encourage more regular sewing sessions.
The white cabinet’s drawers work perfectly for smaller supplies:
- Top drawer: acrylic paints, small containers of varnish and ceramic paint.
- Second drawer: brushes, stamping tools, paint pens and colored markers.
- Third drawer: test pots of paint and a few spray sealers I use often for quick projects.
- Fourth drawer: art-store supplies like oils, watercolors, watercolor pencils and charcoals.
- Fifth drawer: stampers, ink pads, stickers, washi tape, twine and other paper-craft items.
The top shelf holds fabric pouches that are great for sorting small toys or loose craft items, and the familiar little sewing box with thread, needles, extra bobbins and scissors stays handy on a higher shelf.
I plan to add a few hooks on the inside of the closet door for guests to hang things since the main rail is usually full. Little touches like that make a big difference in functionality without sacrificing aesthetics.
Right now the closet is orderly and easy to navigate. It’s satisfying to open the door and see everything in its place rather than an intimidating heap. If you’re dealing with a similar situation — craft supplies, gift-wrapping paraphernalia, or a mountain of fabric — here are a few practical tips that helped me:
- Choose sturdy, visually pleasing storage you’ll want to keep in sight; it encourages maintenance.
- Group like items together and label or use consistent containers so things have a home.
- Use vertical space to maximize storage without spreading mess across the floor.
- Keep frequently used tools easily accessible and store specialty items on higher shelves.
Who else is channeling Monica Geller with a closet full of creative chaos? I’d love to hear your strategies for keeping craft supplies, wrapping gear, and fabric under control.