The Joyful Sort Top 5: Affordable Products From The Container Store

Y’know that concept of a Happy Place? Somewhere that brings you joy, where you can find clarity and feel centered? The Container Store is one of mine (along with Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos and any quiet, wooded mountain trail, just so you don’t think I’m a total weirdo). When I was working up the courage to leave the safety net of my full-time HR job (which also happened to make me totally miserable), I would occasionally escape to The Container Store for an hour, just to wander around with my headphones in and decompress.

Not everyone feels the same. One of my best friends once called me in a quasi-panic because she’d tried to go grab some new baskets for her closet only to realize that she’d forgotten to take measurements and wasn’t planning on multiple aisles of options (she now refers to The Container Store as a “terrifying den of indecision”). There also seems to be a general perception that The Container Store = beaucoup bucks. I hear a lot of comments such as, “I love the Container Store, I just don’t love their prices.” and “I’m not on a ‘Container Store budget’”. While I do agree that TCS can get spendy in certain categories (lookin’ at you, $30 rattan baskets), there are also some great go-to basics that are affordable, versatile, and high quality.

Product can be a tricky thing in the organizing world, so I feel like I should throw out a quick caveat before continuing on with this post: The Container Store (or Target or Ikea or a full cart of bins and baskets and turntables ready for next-day Amazon delivery) will not make you organized. 98% of the time, the root of disorganization is too. much. stuff. and that has to be dealt with and worked through before any actual organizing can take place. Where products from The Container Store, Target, Ikea, Amazon, etc. do come in handy is maximizing the functionality of a space, easily corralling like categories together, and keeping items visible - things that make the maintenance step of organizing (the hardest part, IMO) that much easier.

With that being said, check out my picks below for the best bang-for-your-buck Container Store options!

1. Plastic bins with handles

I keep a small inventory of go-to products in my garage, things that I know will get the job done in a variety of spaces, and these are always on the list. I love using these to corral categories together in a pantry, bathroom, or office, making it easy to pull a particular category out all at once from spots like deep or tall cabinets. They range in price from $2.99 - $5.99 depending on size (extra-small to large) and, while I’m partial to the white, they also come in a translucent version as well as some fun colors like pink and blue. Fun fact: IKEA actually makes a similar product that’s a bit thicker plastic, but slightly more expensive!

2. Multi-purpose bins

The name says it all! These truly are a multi-purpose product, great for everywhere from under the sink to cleaning/utility closets to craft cabinets. I even use these to organize the work bag that I haul along to sessions, thanks to a helpful tip from another professional organizer on Instagram. My favorite feature of these bins is that they offer both depth (to maximize tricky deep cabinet spaces) and height (great for taller items such as wraps/foil, coloring/activity books, and cleaning sprays). The multi-purpose bins range in price from $3.99 - $6.99 depending on size (small to extra-large, with my personal favorites being the medium and large).

3. Smart Store adhesive label pouches.

These might be the most budget-friendly pick of all, at just $4.99 ($3.99 on sale!) for a pack of 12 label pouches and inserts. My favorite uses for these are storage areas such as garages and basements as well as for easily swap-able picture labels for ever-changing kids’ spaces. I’m almost hesitant to post about these for fear that my local Container Store’s supply will be depleted the next time I need to stock up - that’s how much I swear by them.

4. Water hyacinth bins (baskets)

Baskets are definitely one area where my beloved TCS tends to get a bit pricey, but their classic water hyacinth bins are a great mid-level option at $7.99 - $17.99 depending on size. Could you find something similar for slightly less somewhere like HomeGoods or TJ Maxx? Probably. But, at least for me, the few extra dollars saved isn’t worth the additional time spent trying to hunt down multiples of the same size (if there are even any multiples available to begin with). One huge benefit of The Container Store is their consistency, which is precisely why I turn to these when I need a reliable, great-looking basket option in more than just a one-off quantity. I love using these in any spot that may be a bit more visible and in need of a little aesthetic oomph, such as a family room or entry, and especially in pantries.

5. Elfa door units

Disclaimer: depending on the combination, these may not fall into everyone’s category of affordable, but they are definitely worth every single penny and are still more reasonably priced than working through multiple iterations of other budget options that don’t quite fit the bill. There’s an online design center where you can completely customize the combination of various sized baskets, utility boards, and other accessories to meet your needs and the finished product takes just a few minutes to install. Definitely an amazing option for taking advantage of overlooked vertical space, and they’re on serious sale (30% off!) through the end of February!

Do you have any Container Store favorites that I may have missed? Have you used and loved any of the above picks in your own home? Let me know in the comments! Or just cruise the Columbus Container Store location at Easton…chances are I’ll be there! ;)