Getting Organized Non-Rubbermaid Style

January is the perfect time to get more organized.

I have extra motivation since I just moved. I got rid of a bunch of clothes before the move, but last night I got rid of Rubbermaid containers. I’ve started to hate them. They seem to be a necessary evil these days, but that doesn’t make them pretty.

I set out in search of a nice wooden trunk or cedar chest to store some stuff in. If it came in bench form, even better. I couldn’t find one anywhere except online for more than I wanted to pay. Everyone must be using Rubbermaids. Fabric-covered ottomans that have a tiny bit of storage are all the rage, but not what I want.

Michael talked me into going for more of an upright piece of furniture, like a cabinet. And this is what I found! It’s a dresser, actually. I added the wooden rooster sitting on antique books. No, it doesn’t match my bedroom furniture, but it’s in an entryway anyway. Plus, it’s the same color as my living room stuff.

Jennifer at Simply Thrifty posted about how January is a great time to buy furniture, and she’s right. I found sales everywhere, but I found this honey-stained six-drawer dresser at my local Pottery Barn outlet — still in the box for 50% off the outlet price. Sometimes at the outlet, you have to settle with an open piece that has a few scratches, but this piece was perfect.

What’s inside — free from closet-stuffed Rubbermaids at last?

My Life magazine collection from the 1950s, newspapers marking historic events, scrapbooks from kindergarten through college, diplomas, wedding guest book and other stuff that needed a home. If you’re going to keep it, why not have access to it easily?

For a few minutes, I loaded up one of the top drawers with my old journals from high school and college. There are about 10 of them. Then I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone being able to open up the drawer and read my private thoughts from years ago. I hid them away in a cardboard filing box along with about 10 notebooks of handwritten poetry from years ago. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the box, but I wasn’t ready to have its contents in the open. Sigh, but I still made progress.

What do you have hiding in Rubbermaid containers?

Image by Peggy Rowland.