Sustainable Storage Hacks for a Greener, Clutter-Free Home

Most people wish there were more storage space in their homes. You can purchase storage solutions, but they either take up additional floor space or are made of plastic, harming the environment. Fortunately, with innovative storage solutions and better materials, you can find stylish, sustainable, smart storage solutions for any home space.

One of the best ways to reduce carbon footprint and resource waste is to make your own storage. You can use wood to create shelves, storage containers, or baskets. You can also take any natural material, from glass to cloth, to make many stylish storage options. Shelving takes advantage of vertical space, which is excellent for homes that don’t have a lot of square footage. Baskets and bins can be stored anywhere or hung from the wall, making them versatile for many storage needs.

Woven baskets make great storage options. They can be hung from the wall or placed on or under furniture. You can make your own baskets or buy them from eco-friendly sources and materials. They’re versatile for storing many goods, like random knick-knacks, pantry items, or clothing.

Cloth drawers made from natural fabrics like wool or cotton are trendy storage options. While cloth drawers are usually used for storing clothes, particularly in dressers, you can use them however you’d like. You may want to avoid storing wet items in these, as they may grow musty or gather mold.

Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly renewable materials, as it grows very quickly and doesn’t require heavy water or any fertilizer. It’s also stylish and can be made into any product imaginable, from food plates to trash cans. Bamboo storage can come in the form of light shelves, standalone furniture, bins, baskets, bags, receptacles, and more. You can even grow bamboo yourself to maximize sustainability—be careful, as it spreads fast.

A storage shed can provide adequate space for your home’s lawn equipment, garden tools, seasonal decorations, and other outdoor-friendly items. You can ditch the plastic sheds that will take hundreds of years to break down and consider more natural materials, like wood. Wood comes from trees, and you can use repurposed wood to reduce resource waste. Metal is also a hardy natural resource that can be reused for many purposes when you no longer need the shed. You can build a shed yourself to reduce your carbon footprint or find handmade, sustainable sheds for sale of natural or repurposed materials.

Reducing plastic and other harmful materials to the environment is necessary for eco-friendly lifestyles. Unfortunately, many store-bought containers are made of plastic to cut costs. Instead of throwing away the plastic, you can repurpose it into many storage options. Plastic milk containers can become water storage containers for your garden, and plastic juice containers can become storage containers for utensils or small tools. You can decorate them to spruce up their appearance if desired.

Owning reusable grocery bags for your grocery trips is the best way to practice sustainability. However, if you become the owner of some plastic grocery bags (sometimes, you forget the reusables at home), you can reuse them for lots of storage. They can make suitable trash or wet bag storage, which can be emptied and reused. They can also store pet waste, composting, or recycling (just don’t throw plastic bags in with your recyclables).  Reuse them until you can’t anymore, and then deposit them in your local grocery’s plastic bag recycling bins.

Many grocery items can be bought in glass jars or containers. Glass is recyclable, so you can dispose of it sustainably. However, many glass jars and containers are stylish and provide excellent storage space for smaller items like writing utensils, silverware, cooking tools, pet treats, leftover foods, and more. The more glass containers you save, the more storage options you have.

Finding a sustainable storage solution for potted plants can be tricky. Instead of buying pots, you can repurpose many household items into planters or pots. Old tires, bins, food and beverage containers, old shoes, and more can become perfect places to store your plants. Make sure they have adequate drainage; if they have none, you can likely poke holes to encourage water drainage.

Leftover food storage relies primarily on plastic, especially if you go storebought. While you can purchase sustainable materials for food storage, such as glass or bamboo, you can also make your own using repurposed grocery items like glass jars. Before using plastic containers for food, ensure they are food-safe for long periods.

There are plenty of ways to create sustainable storage for your home. Shelves, sheds, bins, and baskets are all solid storage options that can be made with renewable, natural, or repurposed materials. When you go grocery shopping, plastic bags or food containers can be repurposed to store various household items. You can even create garden planters out of used shoes! You can make storage items by growing bamboo, building your own shed, or weaving cloth or wood bins. 

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