Ikea Kallax Hack: Art Supply Organizer

Before I moved a bunch of times, I lamented giving up my 2×2 Ikea Kallax, which I’d perfected as an art supply organizer. I’m living in a sublet right now and don’t have room for a new one, but I realized I was really only using half of it for art supplies and I can get away with a 2×1 – and still include all my favorite hacks! I’ve been at my sublet less than two weeks and it’s already set up.

I am still using the Kallax 5-shelf organizer for paper pads on the bottom, and the Kallax wine rack on the top to create pigeonholes which I fill with fridge drawers for organizing small items like pens, brushes, and paints. I’ve upgraded my fridge drawers to iDesign Organizer Bin with Easy Grip Handles, 14.5″ x 4″ x 4″. I used to use the kind with cutout handles, but the sticky-outy handles are better because they don’t create holes for items to fall through, so you can fill the drawers more completely. The handles are also the perfect size for a standard 1″x2.75″ label; I love having my drawers labeled because it makes it a lot easier for me to find things and keep them organized.

Currently, my categories are:

• Markers: I don’t use markers often, but I got some Sarasa colored felt tip pens as a gift. I also keep Sharpies in here.
• Watercolor Brushes: Mostly a mix of Rosemary sable blend, Princeton Velvetouch, and other assorted. See My Most & Least Used Brushes for Watercolor & Gouache.
• Watercolor Paint: All my watercolor paint tubes. Also my white (traditional) gouache, which I use with watercolor.
• Plein Air: Plein air supply items including Art Toolkit pocket palettes, the tiniest Moleskine albums, the Cari travel easel, travel brushes, travel water cups, etc.
• Acrylic Brushes: Inexpensive synthetic brushes, mostly Princeton Real Value. Princeton Velvetouch could go here too, but I mostly use them for watercolor.
• Acrylic Paint: Tubes of acrylic gouache and a pot of white gesso. See Adventures with Acrylic Gouache!
• Pen & Ink: A new category as I begin explorations with fountain pens. Also contains my disposable fineliners and brush pens.
• Pens & Pencils: Generally cute stationery pens and pencils for general use, including ballpoint and rollerball pens, Blackwing pencils and mechanical pencils. Because I got rid of the junky pens and pencils that everyone seems to have before I moved, this is all bangers and one of my favorite drawers to gaze at.
• Misc: Tape, handheld paper cutter, travel ceramic palette, and other small items that defy categorization.

It makes me happy to have all my items neatly organized in a cabinet that’s exactly the right size.

The limit of this cabinet is that it’s not good for items that are large, so if I move to larger-format pads and backboards, I’ll need to find a way to store larger flat items. But for now, this works well for me!