Whether you are an art teacher or a mainstream teacher teaching art, clever, efficient, and inventive storage ideas are always helpful to have and save in your back pocket. You never know when you will need a quick solution to organize your art supplies, whether they are markers, watercolor paint, paint brushes, or others.
You can find a list of 42 art supply storage ideas for teachers below if you want to get your art space organized and cleaned up.
1. Art Cart
An art cart is a fantastic way to take your storage space and make it mobile. Take your craft items on the road with this cart that can be filled with anything you might need that day.
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2. Art Shelves or Drawers
This idea is an excellent way to take everyday items and use them for something else. Be sure to label each drawer based on what is stored inside. These drawers are huge!
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3. Stacked Cart
This beautiful and stunning cart is the perfect solution for storing all of your crafting supplies, such as glue sticks and more! The stunning colors really make each level stand out.
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4. Group Cubby Baskets
These group work cubby baskets are perfect for holding kids' art supplies. Setting up the materials before class and having the students simply take a basket to each table will save so much time.
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5. Rotating Caddies
Put a spin on your caddy idea by purchasing a couple of rotating caddies. The organized supplies spin around to students in need with help with sharing materials more effectively and efficiently. Fill them up with their crafts supplies.
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6. Bead Box
Use these bead boxes to store smaller craft items. These are little clever storage spaces that can be stacked and packed. Their own small compartments will help so much for organization and space-saving.
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7. Vinyl Roll Holders
This inexpensive craft storage space works so well because it takes up space vertically and not horizontally. You can hold tubes of different things in the holders and place them on your door or on the wall close by.
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8. Wall Canisters
Putting up old canisters on your wall after painting them is a cheap way to create crafts storage space. White makes the canisters look minimalist or you can go with a pattern or print instead.
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9. Old Antiques
If you have an old dresser or wardrobe that you are not using, bring it into class or turn it in an art supply storage container. The compact shelves and door closing gives it a nice, polished, clean look.
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10. Mobile Book Case
Another version of the rolling cart is this mobile bookcase. It's the perfect craft storage idea for the teacher who is always on the go. This cart will definitely hold up and stay sturdy from one period to the next.
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11. Chip Containers
This is a fabulous and creative storage solution that will keep your art room or classroom nice and tidy. This is the perfect DIY storage idea because you can simply collect these chip containers over time.
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12. Clear Glass Jars
Clear glass jars are a decorative storage idea that will add an aesthetic appeal to any art room or classroom because the colors of the art supplies shine through. You can even use different heights of jars!
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13. Snap Snack Containers
This micro-organization solution is ideal for keeping small parts and materials from rolling around loose. You can set some of these containers in the middle of the craft room table. Stack them up and pass them out.
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14. Binder Pouch
Utilize all of those clear plastic pages by filling them with craft materials and filling them into a binder. You can clearly see each page of supplies as you turn the pages to retrieve a few items each time.
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15. Rotating Stacks
If you have some money to spare, consider adding some rotating stacks next to your central craft table or painting table. The convenience of removing loose containers on the table is worth the money!
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16. Grid Organizers
If you are looking for something with a softer fabric, check out these grid organizers. It is a handy option because you can choose to fill in each of the squares or leave some empty depending on your needs.
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17. Plastic Storage Bins
These bins are so handy and versatile as they can be used to stack art history books or how-to books in your classroom or art room. They are plenty of affordable options online to buy them.
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18. Peg Boards
This excellent option is worth a look as you store coloring pencils, drawing tools, and other essential tools for arts and crafts. Placing multiple containers on the peg board allows for so much storage space!
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19. Rail, Hooks, and Containers
Check out this minimalist storage container. It is simply a rail and hooks with a few containers attached. You can DIY your own and grab some common household items to build your own version instead of buying it.
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20. Art Easel
If you only have an art space or art corner of your room, consider keeping your storage system compact and storing everything on or in your art easel set or a section. Paint and paintbrushes particularly would go well here.
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21. Art Studio Drawer Cabinet
You can buy or build a massive wooden fixture like this one. You will not need any more space than this piece gives you. Labeling each draw would be ideal to help students find what they need quickly.
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22. Old Soap Containers
This is an amazing idea! Save on table space by using these hand soap dispensers instead of having all paint bottles on each table at all times. Start saving these containers!
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23. Mason Jar Storage
Students can save on desk space by the class having communal supplies instead of each child having a pencil case. You can also add these clear mason jars to any crafting workspace to keep it tidy.
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24. Dollar Tree Treasures
Make any space into an instant workspace by picking up random containers with complementary colors at a dollar store. You might be able to find some valuable containers there.
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25. Pencil Cases
Classic and traditional pencil cases are always handy. Your students or kids can even have their own "art case" instead for their own personal use and the supplies will stay compact this way.
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26. Chair Pockets
Over-the-seat chair pockets and organizers are a great way for everyone to have their own supplies but keep them out of the way. You can design your own with the extra fabric you have in your house.
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27. Flat Trays
Flat trays can be pivotal, as they are brightly colored and easy to clean. The narrow size and shape of these make stacking and sharing an absolute breeze for your group work lessons.
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28. Multi-Size Plastic Parts Organizer
This organizer is ideal for your art station. A free-standing piece such as this one is excellent because it has many different size compartments to suit all of your storage needs.
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29. Ziplock Tupperware
Sometimes the storage solution you are looking for is as simple as pulling out some old Tupperware. Store your small beautiful materials in Tupperware containers of various sizes.
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30. Vases and Planters
Keep your art materials neat and tidy in these adorable vintage vases and planters. You can store paintbrushes by size or a random size bouquet of brushes.
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31. Crafting Cup
Crafting cups are very versatile! They can be attached to pegboard panels or be used for painting projects at the painting station. You can store paper clips, paper scraps, colored pencils and so much more!
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32. Wicker Baskets
With these wicker baskets, you will look and feel like a professional organizer. Craft supply storage will be easy, simple, and convenient as the wicker baskets are cheap and easy to find.
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33. Upcycled Cereal Boxes
Storage for crafts does not get any easier than this! Check out how you can turn cereal boxes into craft storage bins in no time at all. These are very helpful to have around for your students' next art projects.
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34. Ceramic Mugs
Repurpose your old mugs or purchase some cheap used mugs. You can get some cute and fun patterns and designs that will add to the aesthetic appeal of your art room. It is a creative art supply storage idea.
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35. Muffin Tin
Look no further than your house and use some everyday kitchen items for art supply storage. Paint cups fit perfectly in these muffin tins you no longer have use for. These can hold all different types of craft items.
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36. Roll
There are plenty of options you can use this fabric roll for. Storing markers, pencil crayons, pastels, and more. All different types of craft tools can be kept and tucked away nicely in a roll like this.
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37. Tiered Trays
Tiered trays like these are cheap to buy or create yourself if you have extra materials. You can even make it a rotating craft caddy if you would like to make it extra special for your students.
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38. Wooden Boxes
Decorate these wooden boxes however you like to match your classroom or art room color scheme. You can even ask the students to decorate them to participate as well!
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39. Storage Tower
Storage towers like this are excellent because you can really take advantage of the vertical storage a unit like this allows for. You can store papers, thread, canvases, and more in a space like this.
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40. Soda Bottle
You may have a ton of soda bottle containers left over after a class party. Put them to good use as student pencil cases where they can store their own personal art supplies! They are inexpensive to make.
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41. Soup Cans
Check out this DIY tutorial for decorative soup cans that can be used to store all different kinds of art supplies. You can have the students customize their own cans to make it that much more fun for them.
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42. Cheese Grater
Sometimes the most unlikely item can offer a fantastic solution to a problem. If you have any extra cheese graters laying around, put them to good use as a funky art supply holder!
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