STOP Buying These For Your Craft Room || IKEA Organization
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2022
- IKEA is such a fantastic place to find all kinds of organization solutions for your craft room. But, there is one very popular storage unit that I just can't get behind. In this video, I want to let you know why I think you should avoid purchasing the Kallax unit and what I would recommend instead!
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I love my Kallax. I bought clear storage containers for refrigerators that have handles and lids that can be stacked and pulled out like a drawer this way I use the whole cube area with no wasted space. I also have clear containers for taller items that fit perfectly. I also have the billy bookcase. What I don’t care for it is that it’s not as deep as the kallax. But I do want to say that I took extra time and searched a lot for containers that would work with the kallax and for my craft needs. I opted for the cheaper unit but spent the money I saved on the individual containers to maximize horizontal and vertical space. I also drew diagrams of all the furniture with measurements and thought out where everything was going to go before purchasing the furniture for my craft room. I did buy some of the white plastic inserts for theKallax for things like tools that I didn’t want displayed. Which makes it great to just pull out and set on the floor next to my work station. I watched over 50 craft room videos before I dove into this project. I think the thing to do before buying anything is to think about the crafts you do and making stations in your room. Then think about the best way to organize each station. It took me a long time to do it this way but it was worth it. Everything has a home and my craft room looks organized. At least it does when I’m not crafting. 😂 But you do give good reasons why the Kallax may not work for others. It just happens to work great for me only because I figured out what each cube would hold before I ever bought it. And what containers would work in each cube.
Sounds like you found some great options to really maximize your space!!
Could you link those containers or tell me where you got them? I’ve been looking for some like that for my Kallax
Yes! Can you tell us some containers you brought? I currently have three shelves m I’m searching for.
Kathie Lightfoot, thank you for such a detailed, and clear comment.
I analyze as you do, drawing up my space, measuring and envisioning what I needed.
If you could share a photo of your Kallax unit, it would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Can you show us what your system looks like and share where you got your Bing's from pretty please?
I have been a big fan of the Kallax for 12+ years now…it was called the Expedit way back when! I have a 4x4, a 2x4, a 1x4 & (2 ) 2x2 (one is in the closet) in my craft room. I’ve added 8 sets of drawers to the 4x4 Kallax…these drawers are great! I personally have never had an issue with these units not being functional and easy to organize.
THat's awesome! I am so glad they are working well for you.
I have one of a kind pieces in my craft room. My Dad made my 8’ desk and 4 matching 8’ shelves for my walls. They are heavy duty - loaded with supplies that are sorted into smaller totes and drawers which can be changed to any configuration I need. Mostly functional - I don’t “decorate” my craft room because it is a tiny room and I need the space for supplies. Besides…supplies can be inspiring when I am in the mood to create. And I can honestly say no one has a room like mine… 🤷♀️
Love that you have those custom pieces. Definitely makes your room special!
I work for IKEA and love your ideas in this video. I personally have the HEJNE shelving solution x3 in my craftroom and love how open it is - when something is hidden in a drawer I don't use it. Another design series that would be excellent for crafters that you haven't mentioned is the PAX wardrobes. They come as just the basic doorless box of a wardrobe and you can add products from the KOMPLEMENT series to...compliment (!) and customise it to suit your needs. They come in 2 depths as well as 2 heights so you can really maximise your space.
Oh, the PAX series is great! Those are so customizable!
Thx for the info. I’ve added them to my list of “Ck.it.Out” ‘s. Many thanks.
I never thought to use PAX. That is brilliant-thank you!
I totally agree ... there are so many ways to organize your craft supplies ... I converted my formal dining room into my craft room/office and I did not want to get rid of my mother's hutch so I purchased clear bins and trays from target and they work beautiful in it ... I think we as crafters can be creative with our organization ... thanks for sharing.
Love that you are repurposing a special piece of furniture. And I agree, setting up and organizing our spaces is just another opportunity to use our creativity!
I adore my Kallax units. I have 3 in my scrap space. We made a paper island by putting 2 back to back and adding a desk top. And for the 3rd unit I love the drawers that you can add because that is how I save all of the ephemera from year to year until I am ready to scrap that particular year (IE: Family 2020 - Family 2022 ect). I really thought about how I wanted my room to function before we built it out and I think that is the key to a successful room.
Sounds like you have it set up perfectly for your needs!
The Kallax unit seems great for 12x12 paper storage. But when I had to chose a storage unit for my tiny craft space, I went for chrome shelving on casters. As much as I thought I wanted the Kallax unit, I realized it would not give me the functional use of space that I needed. Thanks for sharing as always 🌸
Love that you went with what works the best for you! Every craft space (and crafter!) is so unique.
Depends on what you do. I sew, crochet, knit as well as paper crafts. So, for me the Kallax are perfect. I store fabric, yarn, patterns, ribbon and trim plus more in mine.
That makes total sense! I think as a papercrafter the use is limited for me, but I can see how yarn would work great in the kallax cubes.
I have several kallax in my studio. Very strong shelves, especially to hold 12 × 12 albums. Also very versatile for standing or laying on sides. I am really pleased with the inserts they are making for them, as I am finding this to be a better solution for small storage. I agree with wasted space too, but am adapting new ideas all the time to accommodate.
I am glad yours are working well for you! And yes, I agree the inserts have come a long way.
When I was designing my craft space in our new house, I looked at lots of IKEA options. In the end I went for lots of Alex drawers supporting table tops to create 4 main work zones. When we moved into the house I discovered I also had two book shelves that didn't have a place anywhere else and have adjustable shelves. I agree with you that Kallax shelves can be quite restrictive and the tubs are large, I tend to use such shelves elsewhere in my house like for the kids' toys and school supplies, but I would find them frustrating in my craft space. Some of the shelves you showed are new to me and I liked the versatility of them. I will come back here when the old bookshelves in my craft space need replacing. The other storage I find frustrating is shelves and cupboards near the ground. Items get lost towards the back and with ankle, knee and back problems I can't get down there. So shallow shelves and drawers are the thing to consider long term as we age 👵
The Kallax can work really well for things like kids toys totally agree!! And yes, accessibility of your supplies is important to consider.
Seriously? I have 4 Kallax units and I Love them! My space is much more organized Because of them. They are so versatile- I particularly love how nicely the Kallax drawers work so you don't have too much stuff in the bottomless pit of the bins that fill the entire space of each cube. Larger items store nicely in the bins, smaller items are held neatly in the drawers. It's a well thought out system that can be used in many imaginative ways.
Glad you like them! I think they CAN be organized well, but they also have a tendency to lose space at times. I am glad they are working so well for you!
Last month I purchased 5 pieces from the Alex line. I got a desk top with an Alex cabinet on each side, two tall drawer units and the wide drawers on casters. I love them. I normally like to have everything out so I can see my stuff, but it gets crazy out of control fast. Until I get used to where everything is located I have post it notes as labels. For me, Alex was the storage boyfriend - a real keeper!
Love this!!!
I started scrapbooking in 1999. When we bought a home in 2001 and I was so fortunate to have my own scrapbooking room, my husband had units made for me. They didn't really have units for crafting at that point, so he asked me about measurements and such & before I knew it, we were moving these 6 and half foot tall units into my space. I did go to Ikea for containers and a table that worked for me. I still have the units to this day as well as the metal file box containers and table and LOVE them. Each one has a two-sided cabinet with doors, which are 4 feet wide in total and shelves that I can adjust or remove, if need be, 4 drawers that fit 12X12 paper, and 9 drawers for various things such as punches, embellishments, stickers, etc. I have 4 of these. On the top, I use the space for ribbon, flowers, and other loose embellishments that I store in glass canning jars. We have moved since then and had quite the time unloading them for packing, but it was so easy to do with it all organized in labeled containers. From time to time I have to re-organize and purge things I am not using but having a room that I keep neat and organized has been such a wonderful thing. It keeps me crafting and enjoying what I do.
I guess what I am trying to say in a long drawn out way is that everyone has a vision and you need to enjoy the space you created. Thank you so much for posting this and giving an honest opinion on what you think.
Sounds like you have such a wonderful, functional space for you. I agree, we all have to follow the vision we have for our spaces!
In my craft room I have a 5x5 and 3x4 kallax with some cupboards, some drawers and some clear storage bins. However I also have 2 narrow and 2 wide billy bookshelves with the adjustable shelves to perfectly store individual items. My desk is supported by Alex drawers. I feel using a mixture of items helped to organise every thing.
Yes, a mixture can really work well for fitting all the different kinds of things that we craft with.
I’m so glad this opinion is on the internet. I do5 love the Kallax either. I’ve seen them misused so often. I love open, long, flat, shallow shelves where I can put baskets and bins and see everything at hands reach.
Same here!
I’m so thankful you made this video because I am planning my craft room right now! We are moving next month
Yay for a new craft room! Kallax units are so tempting, but I just really don't think they are the best solution in the end. You are much better off with deeper bookcases where you can adjust the shelves.
Great ideas and very helpful. I am struggling with how to organize my small craft room and am not sold on the Kallax yet, but from all my research so far this is has looked like the best option. I appreciate your suggestions as I do like the idea adjustable shelves. Thanks for making this.
Glad it was helpful!
I have Kallax units in my craft room and I love it. The way I made it work was with shelve inserts and bins that fit with those inserts (2 per cube). For the space I have available it has served me well.
That's awesome!
I have a mixture of storage pieces in my craft room, including Callax-like units. I feel like these cube units are great if used for the right storage needs. I use my other storage pieces for the supplies that don’t work well in the cube units. I am very visual; if I can’t see it, I forget to use it. Mixing it up for what meets my need for storage and beauty suits me best.
Yes, I am the same way...I love to see my supplies! And, I will definitely agree that there are some supplies that work okay in the Kallax unit.
I loved this unpopular opinion, I was on that Kallax trend for quite some time and mostly because it was affordable. I recently was able use a bonus check to refresh my craft space and I decided on the Hauga line. I loved the fact that it had adjustable shelves, deep drawers, cabinets with doors, etc. I am so pleased with my choice and would never go back to a Kallax unit for the majority of organization! However, for the price, you can certainly make it work with organizations bins. Work with what you have but if you have a choice, go with adjustable!
I totally agree! You have to work with what you have and can afford, but if you have the option, adjustable is the way to go.
If you use them correctly and label them clearly they are fabulous! I am a visual person who needs to see what I have but I was given these three large units for my craft area and you are right about how they can become a black hole in space!😱 I am in the process of clearly labeling all 24 bins and am enjoying them greatly. I also love that you can get half sized bins at Walmart to go in them so you get a glimpse of what’s inside. They also make acrylic ones at many stores so you can clearly see, if you don’t mind the busy look it creates. If used correctly they are priceless no matter where you buy them. (Mine came from Target) Having a Cricut makes labeling fun but Dollar Tree has some awesome chalkboard style large tags and you get six for $1.25! I am using them with my Cricut and white vinyl. The 13” square of the bins is fabulous and I even have bottom bins that hold my scrapbook papers standing up neat and organized. They work great with other bins too, like decorated boxes that hold smaller items much better. Like I said, I was gifted all three units and even though they don’t let me ‘clearly’ see what’s in them I have fixed the issue!
So glad that you have found a way to make the units work for you, especially since you were gifted three!
This video was so helpful. I am looking for better storage for my craft room and I was leaning toward the Kallax because it seems so popular. But your right about flexibility to move shelves around. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Glad it was helpful! Flexibility is absolutely the first priority for me!
This was really helpful I retired and set up our middle bedroom as a sewing/craft room I utilised furniture/storage I had or have been given/purchased secondhand. With lots of stackable large boxes. Basically I have done very little in this room as there’s too much unusable furniture in there which offers very little good storage and I can’t find anything . So I’ve asked for money from husband and help to redesign my sewing room so it’s usable for me. I have been thinking Kalamazoo because sewers rave about them . However my space needs to be functional for me to do what I like to do so you have given me greater ideas that fit into what I want . Thank you for your honest review I’m going to ikea but to look first then home to measure plan and make sure then back to ikea with hubby to check out it will all fit as my ideas are great but not the measuring 😂.
Have fun designing your new space!!!
I think it’s great that you have an opinion on this and love to hear it. I know others may love these units but I do like hearing other choices. I prefer bookcases (I bought a great one at Ikea). I was able to move the shelves the way I wanted to and I cannot have my things in closed doors or bins I can’t see in because I totally forget what I have even if I label it. Thanks for the other ideas and all you do on your channel.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! I agree, always nice to hear other organization ideas...some people definitely love the Kallax, they just aren't for me.
I love the whole Hauga collection. I have a small area in my master bedroom for scrapbooking. I bought the tall Hauga bookshelf, Hauga drawer unit and the Hauga sideboard unit. I can hold my stamps and so much more.
That's great!
I just redid my room and I love mine. I have 2 large ones with 5 squares by 5 squares each. I have them with drawers and cupboards along with a Kitty bed. The drawers hold my stamps perfectly. I also have 3 large billy bookcases I use for additional storage. I also have a desk and several Alex drawers. I love my room. I do however keep moving things around. I hope that will stop soon, LOL!!
I find that we never stop moving things around...that's your creative streak coming through!
I have a wall of 30 Simply Tidy Modular Cubes from Michaels. Each cube is 16 x 16 and comes with one shelf. The shelf can be placed in one of 3 positions and you csn purchase extra shelves, drawers and doors. The cubes can be attached to each other to be more stable. At $25 a cube it was expensive but I bought 2-4
at a time over several months time. I love it! It holds scrapbooking boxes, bins or baskets, mDesign clear plastic storage, Brightroom (from Target) bins and many other things. They are sturdy and you can also buy casters for them.
Love it! Plus, you know that they were specifically designed for crafting, so the versatility is kind of built in.
I just finished my craft room! I went with four of the short wide Alex drawers, two of the tall slim Alex drawers, two Billy bookshelves, and ONE Kallax unit. I do agree with you about the functionality of the Kallax unit. However, it can work for certain larger things. For example, I put my bigger bolts of fabric in the bins. I also put my wood blanks in one of the bins, since the Alex drawers were too shallow. I also keep my dies and stamps in the Kallax because I use the double fridge bins and they fit perfectly into the cubes.
Totally agree, the Alex units do work nicely for some supplies. Sounds like you have a fantastic mix of pieces in your space to keep it nice and functional.
I agree that we should be able to use craft room furniture in multiple ways. I am always reorganizing and adjusting my supplies...these are also ever changing so the storage needs to be also. I think you're right in that the bins that go with the Kallax units are black holes. I need easy to find, easy to put away. Different sized labeled boxes on the kallax might work better
I agree that labeling would make a huge difference, as well as having some smaller containers within those larger bins.
I love my kallax unit I have a 4x4 unit and i also have 2 - 2x2 ones. I am lucky i have a very handy husband that modified all of them to my exact desire of shelves or divisions within the cubes. I have varying depths of shelves or divided spaces it has been perfect for me. I do understand that having the kallax unit as is is not handy with out some modification, but I am fortunate for my hubby to have made my units fit my specific needs with the ability to change them if need be too. Thanks so much for some great tips!
Yay for your husband being able to help you out. That is awesome!
Thankfully I love mine. A lot. I don't disagree about it taking some planning to make them really useful though. I am happy with the organization I have been able to find (at IKEA and elsewhere) so for me..they work great. Good luck to everyone planning a new craft space- its super fun!
Yes, the planning is key! I am so glad that yours are working well for you!
I had kallax units for a long time but never really loved them...they are perfect for 12" paper... that's it. I plan a room make over and decided to choose kitchen cabinets - because the drawers come out totally - at the moment I have Alexes and it always makes me nervous that I can't reach the supplies which are in the back. Ikea also have many great items for getting the most out of your space in kitchen furniture. So many things which are also helpful for craft supplies.
Greetings from Germany...
I am hoping to do kitchen cabinets in my future craft space as well. I love that the drawers would be able to pull out fully!
I'm so jealous of anyone that lives close to an IKEA store and since I've never had the opportunity to be inside one - Thanks for the virtual tour! I agree that the bins are bottomless pits - I tried that route previously with similar furniture and it didn't work well for me at all. I invested in the ArtBin Cubes that can hold their other containers and I LOVE them! I can arrange them into any configuration and they have closed-in backs so nothing can fall through or see be seen through them. However, I'm afraid they're going to be discontinuing them soon because they are getting harder to find if I want to get more of them... that's usually what happens when I find a system I like! Now I just need to talk my husband into a letting me use a bigger room LOL! :)
ArtBin has such fabulous storage solutions! It would be a shame if they started discontinuing the ones that are working so well for you.
I absolutely agree that the big boxes don't provide all that you need. I'm doing a remodel of sorts and I like the ideas with shelves on top and cabinets on the bottom for awkward sizes or bulky stuff. I also have a shoulder problem now and ergonomics are super important to me. Part of this remodel adventure is to allow my heavier items to be on my left to control reaching for heavy items. A big bin/basket which is likely to be heavy or have unbalanced weight in it is out of the question for some of us. Same with the heavy awkward drawers in the manufactured wood furniture. And since four months have passed, the prices are up by anywhere from $10-$40 on these pieces...sigh... Thanks for some great info on this video.
Glad you enjoyed it. I love that you are carefully planning out your space so that you can continue to enjoy your hobbies!
I agree with you...I tried to make it work on paper and in my mind for my tiny bump out space. I couldn't fit it in my space and it wouldn't have looked good in my tiny space. So I opted for the units at Michaels which hold my papers and colored pencil stash very nicely.
Glad you found a solution that works for you!
I’m with ya hun 100%. I had a huge craft space it was my dream room. I had the biggest Kalix cabinet 5 x. 5 squares and I honestly thought I was so organised. Due to health issues I had to down size from 3 bed house where my craft room was the front room / I’m now in a 2 bed flat and no longer make cards, so as I was getting rid of 80% of my stash that I collected over 15 years. When I started clearing out, I found so much stash I’d totally forgot about, as it was outa sight, n I’d do much it was so sad / and I thought I knew everything I had. Yet everything on my Billy bookcase was used so much as I could see it all. If I’d had still been in that craft space I’d now add a MDF or cheap shelf in each Kalix space leaving some full size for files with stamps and stencils etc. I’m needing some draws for under my desk as my craft space is in corner of my living room, the size of 1 desk and a cheaper smaller shelf similar to the Kalix unit 4 x 1 high. I’m doing adult colouring but WOW the stash soon builds up. I’m going to look at the draws you shared in this video. My 1 bit advise to everyone who adore their Kalix Units, go through ya draws on a regular search, maybe every couple months as outa sight is really outa mind, I collected so much over 15 years and never used probably 40% of my stash. Id use it once when 1st bought it. But then I’d put it in a box where I kept similar stuff, but I’d always use stuff I could see and wouldn’t have bought so much stuff over the years - organisation is fantastic if you can see it - plus if u do add a shelf in middle of ya Kalix box ya have so much more space to buy new stash ha ha Ness xx
Yes, I totally agree that going through the Kallax (or any storage) on a regular basis is key to making sure you keep track of what you have.
I'm a huge fan of the IVAR system. I painted mine in a white wash which makes it look a lot better than the standard natural wood. Also if you use a furniture varnish (I used a clear mat varnish) you will get a very durable surface that will hold, and clean, very well.
Nice! Great tips!
I use Billy with glass Doors and I LOVE them.
Love the glass doors!
I absolutely agree with you about the Kallax unit. I have been figuring out how I organize and thinking about what suits me best before I buy the furniture for my new craft room.
Yes, always such a good idea to think through everything before rushing out to buy.
I agree! I am redoing my craft room and I am getting rid of those types of storage pieces! I love the Alex drawers!! So much space!
Yes, the Alex drawers are fantastic!! Glad you are finding some storage pieces that work for you.
I like you're ideas better for my craft space of yarn mostly and some paper products / projects and supplies. I need the space to be flexible so your suggestions would work better for my needs.
Sounds great!
Well, I own exactly zip, zero, zilch, nada pieces of anything from IKEA. Not for lack of want…I’ve heard that shipping is insane and the “closest” store is 2.5-3 hrs away. I’ve never been in an IKEA store, haven’t even laid eyes on one. So I only have an idea of what I may or may not be missing thanks to videos like yours. Thank you! 👍🏼😊
It can definitely be worth it to do the research and then take a day trip at some point if you have a list of items you want to pick up!
I would happily drive 3 hours. I won't drive 8+ hours thought. So have to look at other options.
Ours is 1.5 hrs each way, so I don’t usually let thought of their wares creep into my daydreams. HOWEVER. - IF I were ever in the mood for a sojourn - I’d visit, but the FIRST SECTION I’d go to is the Scratch / Dent / Discontinued area down in proximity to the checkout stalls. THEN maybe back up through “the MAZE”!! (And it IS a MAZE!!)
I live 3 hours from the closest IKEA. I get my stuff shipped to the fedex store in my town for about $10.
Same here but even if it was close I probably wouldn't buy these units. I prefer a more antique or vintage look. Every thing I have works fine for me and people should do the same. Right now I am trying to get away from plastic containers and all the random cardboard boxes I save for storage.
It's just a personal preference I guess. I"m not that big of a scrapbooker so 🤷♀
I totally agree with you about the Kallax units & craft storage. I purchased them for my craft room (and wish I hadn't) because the width of the unit fit my craft space perfectly. I have only a few bins, because they are indeed black holes for smaller craft supplies. I ended up purchasing smaller plastic bins & shoe boxes that I stack in the cubbies, but I lose storage space on the sides of the cubbies. Purchased storage bins are too wide or too narrow for the space. And I hate the drawers which have such shallow sides but take up half the cubby space.
Yup, they are very deceiving....they look beautiful, but not always the best solution.
I had one of the Kallax units in my craft room. Over time I figured out it didn't work for me. I eventually got one of the Pax units and customized it to work for me. I also got a Havsta cabinet and some Alex drawers with the table top for my desk and they work great for my craft room.
I think the word “customize” is key. It’s so awesome to take an existing piece and rework it to meet your needs!
Thank you for this video. I’m in agreement about the Kallax - the only one in our home is in our living room & it would definitely not work for my craft space. I have. Billy which is great but I found your video today as I am looking for ideas to help me find a viable solution for a problem area & how the current dresser I’m using with some “MacGyvered” storage on top is not working for me. Thanks for sharing!
Hope this video helped you rethink your storage situation!
I love my Kallax because they are sturdy enough to hold my 12 x 12 dring albums. There aren't many shelves that can do that successfully.
My struggle is exactly as you stated. I’ve had two of these units for many years. Bins are a bottomless pit. Also, the storage space is awkward for me. I had one in a walk-in hall closet for years. I used it mostly for extra bedding, pillows, towels, and extra toiletries. I had to fold things in awkward ways to maximize the space. We have since moved and both units are now in my craft room. I don’t love them. As we work to finish this room, time will tell if these units remain.
I think they *can* be useful, but I find them very challenging as well! Using them for big items like linens sounds like a good idea.
I debated a long time whether or not to purchase the Kallax unit for my small 9’ x 10’ room. I already owned a 6-bin paper holder purchased a long time ago from Costco as well as a recycled washstand with two drawers and a bottom cupboard. So space was limited as I still needed a table. I chose the low, wide Alex drawers in blue and the Raskog cart in Black. Being able to pull my essentials close by while working is the real game changer for me. Like so many others have said, our craft areas fluctuate so one should choose what makes sense to them!
Love all of this!
At first I wanted a Kallax, as Ikea and others make such a variety of storage to fit the cubbies. Due to budget I bought the various storage options but no Kallax! E.g. I have 8 purpose-built die storage units each designed to fully and snugly fit a Kallax cubby but I just stack them two high on a sideboard.
Mainly I have tables = storage space at a comfy height, or extra worktop space if needed.
Thanks for a thoughtful and well-explained video.
I am glad you found a solution that works with your creative flow and your budget!
Love mine. I had two Expedit from back in the day. When I got mine you could get half bins and I wish they still had those.
Glad yours are working so well for you!
Wonderful information about storage
All storage needs to be adjustable to fit are ever changing lives
I couldn't agree more!
I have the 3x3 Kallax on one wall of my craft room. I have a 1/2 room to use for my crafting, so I'm very limited. Although I do use bins, and I also use the paper organizer unit in 2 of the cubes, I find that I do exactly what you said... dump stuff in the bins and there is an unorganized mess inside that takes me too long to sort through when I want something from that bin. I do have them labeled at least. But now I have outgrown my space and need to use a more vertical approach and the Billy bookcase is at the top of my list for sheer holding capacity. Since I am in a converted back porch with low ceiling, I will have to try to make it fit, but i may have to use a shorter bookcase. I need to have 5 shelves, and it be at least 24" interior width to fit 3 of my clear bins on each shelf. A very simple use, but that will bring me back into my 1/2 of the room because I have spread out to the whole room! Yikes.
I do hope you find a bookcase that fits your needs. It is a great idea to go vertical!
I use my bins for seasonal 12x12 papers....makes me really happy!
Nice! Glad it is working so well for you!
I purchased a small kallax from marketplace. Didn't like it because it wasn't adjustable. I have a couple billy bookcases. But most of my room has some Brimnes drawers (I needed some drawers to be deep) and several Alex drawers along the bottom with Ikea's old Algot system along the tops going around my whole room. I can adjust the shelves as much as I want. There were so many cute accessories with that system that the newer Boaxel system does not have. I loved it so much that I also put it in my sewing room.
That sounds so beautiful and functional!
I think it really depends what you need to store. The Kallux would be perfect to store all my yarn. But I agree that I usually prefer something that is adjustable. And if you have a small craft room, I think it’s better to have storage in height, like the Billy bookcase.
I agree - yarn is a perfect thing to store in the Kallax units!
I must say that I agree with you! You gave me some ideas for my space
Glad to help!
I love flexibility and full extension drawers in both craft room and kitchen. One of the things I don’t like about some of the non-kitchen drawer units is that they can’t open fully enough.
Yes, I agree with that completely. I am hoping to have fully extended drawers in my future craft room.
kallax - I love the look, but I think it is best suited to Marie Kondo style fabric storage (folding it vertical and “filing it” so you can see what you’ve got in each bin). It makes a great room divider as well. But if you don’t like visual clutter, it needs to be handled with care.
I think it’s a good idea to decide what kind of organizer you are, and the Clutterbug system can be really helpful. it helped me understand that I am a “cricket.“ I feel best when everything is organized in discrete and well labeled categories, but stored behind doors. Then pick your storage and organizing containers in a way that works for you.
From IKEA I have some Galant pieces with tambour rolling doors. Inside, well labeled plastic drawers that fit perfectly in the slot. Anything that doesn’t look perfectly tidy is going to still look great Behind closed doors. I am not as happy with Billy, but for now they are holding certain things. Not attractively. Same with some Elfa shelving from the Container Store. I really need to figure out how to repurpose that stuff in closets somewhere, somehow. It was a mistake to get the solid shelves because you cannot interchange them as you like… The solid shelves are either going to be “center,“ “Left,“ or “right.“ The wire shelves are less attractive but much more flexible. And there are no doors.
Just goes to show how there are all different styles of storage and how people like to have there supplies organized!
I belong to this craft room organization group on Facebook and I have seen some people turn those cube units into a desk by getting two of them adding a wide table top. Instead of fabric cubes they take plastic ones from like any store you can find or even leave some open for standing storage items like books, magazine organizer etc. So I thought that was cool.
Definitely a cool idea for larger items!
A few of us (like me) can only afford 1 unit...i thought I wanted the largest they had until I realized I really didn't need it, so I opted for 4x4. 16 spaces...i am an organized person, my craft space is in an extra bedroom. I agree with you saying things can get lost or you can forget you have them. I just used Microsoft one note to categorize everything I have, there are no purchase repeats however, I did come across things I forgot about so I will agree with you on that. Do I love it..no, I like it a lot, do I hate it, no...it serves the purpose for me and my needs.
Yes, if you really put thought into it, it can function for you - sounds like you did just that!
⚾️ adjustable units are extremely helpful. I do multiple crafts embroidery/crosstitch, diamond painting, scrapbook ing, coloring and painting cards, etc. Because of that I need a variety of storage....and lol I am stuck using old furniture and plastic see through drawer units. It works but isn't pretty....lol
Hey, as long as it works, that's the important part. I think most of us are left with the "leftover" furniture from other parts of the house for most of our crafting life.
I agree with you entirely!!!! we have just moved home and my Kallax is now in my bedroom!!!
I replaced it in my sewing room with a Billy bookcase, much better
Yes, I just think the bookcases are much more versatile.
So I'm primarily a knitter and crocheter. I use my Kallax system to store my yarn. I organize my yarn by weight, and each bin is labeled with the weight of yarn stored. I have 2 4x2 and 2x2 and they are primarily filled with yarn and unfinished projects and each bin is labeled. One cube has the cat bed cube.
I think yarn is one of the best possible uses of those shelves!
I love my Kallax i ended up with the 16 cube one. I was able to put glass shelfs in them so one of my cubs has 2 glass shelfs so makes it have 3 shelfs in the one cube i did it on 2 of the cubs then 4 other cubs i only put one glass shelf making them 2 shelfs. Then in 2 cubs i was lucky a shop here in Australia sell the 12x12 paper holder that slides into one cube. i also added 2 sets of the draws to 2 of the cubs and 2 of the cubs i added the one with the door on it. the other 4 cubs i added random stuff like 2 od the bottom ones added baskets to them and then one of them i put the maggazine holders in themt o fit my A4 stuff. the other one i did one of those X inserts to hold my vinel. I am a crafter but i am not a big crafter so for me it works well. My table is also an office work station so under it i have roll out storage as well.
Sounds like you found some great storage solutions and inserts to really maximize the functionality of your Kallax!
I am so agreeing with you over Kallax! Actually I have the older version Expedid and am beyond furoius with Ikea for "upgrading" them to Kallax... the 1 cm makes huge difference and many hacks made earlier with Expedid just don't look as good in Kallax - depending of the configuration you might want to make ,there will be small diferrences with Kallax and for optical people like me, it's just a big no to keep.... I am in the middle of rearranging my sewing room. I went first with Pax, but they aren't strong enough for me- the shelves bent with time. I decided to go with Sektion kitchen cabinets and am very happy so fare :) Mix of wall cabinets and deep pantry cabinets with strong shelves holding the heavy machines and fabrics and drawers! A dream :) I opted for the white inside and the cheapest doors that unfortunatelly got discontinued as well.... but being cheap doors can be replaced with newer nicer in time. The most expensive part are the drawers...
The kitchen cabinets are certainly a dream! Sounds like you have a wonderful setup that can evolve with you now.
I agree with you. I don’t have the Kalix unit and just looking at it I find I wouldn’t like it. I use pieces of furniture for my scrapbooking unit. I have a three piece shelving unit for my books and photos. I has worked great and it is sturdy. Thanks for the info. 🥰💜👍
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video. I'm currently in the market for craft room furniture. My plan is Alex drawers with the desk and was thinking Kallax cubes also, but you bring up some good points. I will look at other options before committing.
A mix can be really effective. I just wouldn't rely completely on Kallax until you know for sure what you plan to store in them. They work very well for scrapbooks, yarn, and fabric.
@@ScrappyWife I'm buying my furniture in stages. My crafts are junk journals, mixed media and sewing. I bought the Norden Gateleg table to act as my sewing table. I need a wardrobe type piece for storing bulky items so I'm looking into the Pax wardrobe. Also Alex drawers with the desktop. The last piece will be either Kallax or some other bookshelf
I could not agree more with you. When I built my craft room I went crazy buying kallax units and have regretted it from day one. I say buy versatile furniture that is pretty and inspiring. ❤
Exactly! Versatility is always going to be key.
I agree! We have two of these units I thought would be great, but have never loved them.
I ended up buying 2pax units 25” deep by 96” tall. I have two pullout shelves and 2 wire basket shelves plus regular shelves. I organize by supplies in these. I was blessed with some new bottom kitchen cabinets 12’ long) which is my work space and larger supplies kept inside the cabinets. Love the versatility and that I can close the drawers/doors. I keep my every day supplies like paints, brushes, pens, 🎉tapes etc. On my kitchen cabinet work surface. I’ve gotten many of my ideas from your videos. Ty
I currently use the 2 Kallax’s for the base of my bed; though I agree that the storage boxes can be a bottomless pit for misplacing items I do like the ability of seeing my items out as in a bookshelf. I don’t have a big room, much less a craft room; since space is limited I really like mine, though organizing my smaller items is my to do at the moment.
That's awesome that they are working for you. The smaller items are tricky for sure!
Genius! What size matress do you use? Is it just 2 units and the matress on top? I might do this!
@@deanmar9002 I currently use a Queen size mattress, but the length of the Kallax is big enough for a California King. I do have them in about 15 inches in from the head & bottom of the edges, as I use that space at the head to hold an Alex shelving unit to hold my paper items. It also allows me use the under side to hold larger items or to get to less obvious items in one Kallax.
@@teresaalbarran883 Is the one you use a 4 shelf Kallax? 2 are not big enough for the full queen mattress to sit on. I'm having a hard time imagining it. Also, you don't feel like it will crush with the weight of sleeping on it?
@@deanmar9002 no I use the 8 shelf Kallax, on its side. I found pictures on Pinterest, that's why I went the Kallax & not the Billy per se. Plus I have 2 pieces of plywood to hold up the mattress.
I agree with you regarding Kalex units. I have 2-25 cube units and they take up valuable wall space. If I had it to do over, I would like the adjustable bookshelves and lower drawer/cupboard storage so I had flat workspaces. My husband would kill me if I were to change up everything! So for now I’m stuck with what I have. I also have 2-8 cube units I would like to get rid of! Lol!
Haha, I totally get being stuck with what you have. I hope you find a way to make them function for you - maybe different inserts?
Yes creativity is always evolving and our furniture should have that potential to change with us.
Totally agree!
I think price point to most people is way more important than you realize as most everything you show is a lot more expensive and there are so many options besides the bins to make best use of the space. I myself think you are right about that adjustability but people compromise that for the price. Also I would prefer not to see everything but I feel like most craftrooms I see on here the people want to see their things and have open storage. And as a paper crafter and seamstress I do not want anything that is not at least 12inches deep. Good points overall but I think the price is the driving factor for these.
I can totally see that.
I have to agree. When I put together my craft room I got the Kallax because I'd seen it in so many craft room photos. But after 3 years I'm finding it is not functional for what I do. Being contained to 13 inches is very hard for me, especially since I have sketch pads that are 24 inches. They do not fit on that book shelf. I'm about to redo my entire room and get rid of the Kallax and install open shelving. I think I'll have more control and can finally have a home for my Cricut!
Yes, flexibility is so important for those larger craft supplies!
I love Ikea ❤
I like Kallax for 12x12 albums and paper in plastic envelopes, stores vertically.
I love Besta because is deeper and some sizes fit my scraproom better.
I have a medium-sized Billy with doors for all my mixed media stash: stamps, mediums, paints, pigments, etc
I also have two Alex units, one of each, the tall and the short one.
And a few more pieces of furniture 😅
That is awesome!
I think it's great you gave really good options for functionality.
Thanks! It isn't that the Kallax can't ever work, I just think there are some options that offer more functionality.
I have two sets of Kallax shelves -- one is 12 cubbies and the other is 8. I have a long table attached to one and a shorter tables attached to the 8 cube unit. Currently the tables have 2 legs each. As I have the money I will replace those legs with an Alex set of drawers -- need more space for sewing stuff! I am very happy with the Kallax units. I also have a wheeled cart -- I can't think of its name right now. It has 3 shelf/bin sort of units -- what I did was make myself an ironing centre using the cart -- I got one of IKEA's ironing boards and affixed to the top shelf of the cart with zip ties. It is very secure! In the two lower trays I keep all the stuff I need for ironing as well as my fabric weights. I love the system, It takes up one complete wall in my living room -- which is my craft room. I live alone so I can have a craft room in the living room if I want :D It meets my needs. Once I get the Alex drawers I will be set. The other cabinets I have are three bookcases that I picked up from Harbour Freight or something like that. I like them because there is one set shelf in the centre that is reinforced with a nosing on the front of the shelf. The two shelves above that and the two shelves below are flexible as there are holes every inch to put the little metal plugs into that hold the shelves. I have two of the shelves set up quite high and just keep precast on those shelves. One is taken up by another hobby -- playing music -- so I have 3 shelves of music stored in that bookcase. I still have the top two shelves for fabric and other sewing stuff. My computer is across the room from my sewing area and my TV is beside the computer -- I'm visually impaired and if it wasn't that close I wouldn't be able to watch TV, I often just listen, but even with the voice description feature on there are times that I actually want to see what is on the screen! My printer sits on a countertop height filing cabinet beside my computer. All that equipment just about fill up my living room -- I do have two comfy chairs, a floor lamp and a end table sitting between the two chairs. There isn't room for kids to run in my space, but then that isn't needed anyway as my granddaughter is 10 years old and she is the only child that actually comes to visit me. I have my wool and knitting/crocheting drawers in my bedroom. Oh, and my embroidery stuff is also in the bedroom in those plastic drawer units. I have 3 that I use for knitting/crocheting/embroidery and one that has my cardmaking stuff in it. Because they are all on wheels I can roll them into the living room if I need to have them handy. Otherwise I just take what I need in a project bag to the living room. So that's how my craft room is set up!
The bins for the Kallax -- I store mostly quilt fabric, quilt batting and apparel fabric in my Kallax units. I put the bins on their side, fold my fabric using a 6 X 24 in. ruler and have two rows of fabric in each one. I store only plain fabric in one bin, and one bin is full of only white cotton fabric. Most of the bins are only partially filled -- they are all designated for one "colour family" -- ie. red prints in one, blue prints in another and so on. My crumbs and lonely strips, orphan blocks etc. are contained in a large plastic bin that has a cover. It slides under my sewing table -- although I have shelf grippy plastic under my foot pedal, it still wants to wander away. So I put the bing under the table, just far enough back that my foot pedal can't travel -- it does double the work for me :D Holds my sewing machine foot pedal AND stores all my scrappy fabric in shoe boxes inside it for use when I just want to sew and not be following a pattern.
Sounds like a setup that is working really well for you!
I have the Alex drawer unit and a tall unit with 3 large cubbies across and 4 high. There are 3 nice sized drawers that are quite deep and 12 x 12” square at the bottom. ♥️♥️✌️these units. TFS
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I love Kallax and have 3. I lay them horizonal because the ceiling in the attic is lower on that wall. There are many options available for the cubes.... including Pape sorters, shelves, etc....at least here in Germany
Nice! Glad they are working well for yoU!
Thanks for showing the other options! I love my local IKEA!
Me too!
It’s an interesting video, bit I have three size Kallax units and they are superb for my organizational needs. If I had room, I’d have several more. I have only three bins but they are utilized perfectly: one has all my letters organized by color; one holds my oversized tools and one has bins with clear envelopes organized. I do not have any of the small drawers. I love using magazine holders to organize paper and refrigerator bins for stamps, also a few of them hold books. I’ve been hooked since I bought my first one 9 years ago. One of the best parts is the fact that it’s they are so sturdy and you are working with a smaller square place rather than a long shelf. To each their own.
Yes, so glad that they are really working well for you!
Kallax is great for some stuff, but I agree that some items would get lost in them. I have a combo of smaller cube units (11"x11" cubes bought at Canadian Tire, I think WalMart has some too), Kallax, adjustable bookcases and passed down furniture. Everything is white so it's somewhat cohesive and it serves all my needs
Thanks for sharing!
I agree. I only have a few large papers. I need my furniture to be shallower. Very few of my books are 12” deep.
Things definitely get lost in there!
I like the Kalax units but they weren't available whn I was creating my craftroom. I opted for a similar unit from Target and am very happy. I do like the shallow shelves with the caninet on the bottom for my dining room. But that's a whole 'nother project. LOL
Glad they are working for you! I think the ones from Target are slightly smaller bins, so perhaps more manageable? I know there are some craft supplies that work really nicely in them.
@ScrappyWife I decided only to use 3 bins and found that I could organize each cubby with baskets. I did realize that I heed a hanging basket holder dor each cubby with a basket. I TOTALLY agree with yoy about the bins if one is not dedicating each bin to something specific and that can be hard because they are broad and deep. Its important to be organized as to what is in each bin or they don't work.
Thank you that's all people organize with and I find them pricey I'm on a budget and need to find this so thank you
I find that shopping thrift stores is a great way to find good deals on furniture for my craft room.
I have 4 Billy bookcases which are ideal for my small room. I made all my boxes from beer cartons and wine boxes that are perfect fit for the shelves
Sounds great!!!
I wanted to go with Kallax units for books and binders. I agree it’s probably not best unit for small things but for paper items I think it would be fabulous. I show a unit with glass doors and mention items are protected. That’s not true totally. If sunlight hits those glass doors the items will be damaged. Glass will magnify the light
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Thank you! I agree... i have the kallax (was called expedit) and have never quite loved it.
It always seems good in theory, but hard to maximize.
@ScrappyWife
Yes! It always seems so untidy too... that bugs me the most. Thanks for the video!
IKEA wasn’t available when I was putting together my craft room. I wanted adjustable shelving as well as closed storage so I opted for laundry room cabinets - 36” in height from Home Depot. I have a couple of different units to mix and match and have been able to change the configuration of my room several times. Price per unit is in line with ikea.
Love that! I am hoping to do kitchen cabinets when I redo my craft room.
I think there is room to use a variety of pieces: Kalex cubes storage for big items you may not want seen, like fabric, yarn [stands on end nicely in the canvas totes), but I do like the flexibility of bookcases too. So, there is room for both types of storage spaces. I like your opunions though.
Agreed...variety gives you options depending on what you like to craft.
I have 2 Kallax units, a 2x2 and 2x4. I like them for my 12x12 albums and 12x12 paper storage. I tried the drawers and didn't like them. It is hard to store some things and there is wasted space. I use Alex drawers as the base of my desk. The drawers help me stay organized. I think there are so many photos and vidieos of "dream craft rooms" using Kallax units that they seem to be a must have for craft rooms. I think the key is figuring out what you need to store.
Completely agree! They can be great for storing things like albums and paper (like you have done!) But if you buy them before you have a plan, they can become a black hole. And yes, I LOVE the Alex drawers as well!
Thanks for sharing this opinion; I agree the bins create a black holes.
They definitely have that potential!
I use Kallax units and Billy bookshelves, and floating shelves all from Ikea. I don't use the solid bins for the Kallax, only clear ones most of which I get from the Dollar Tree. I also use clear makeup trays (the tiered ones also from Dollar Tree) stacked up to maximize space. Most of my supplies are visible so they are used. My space is not huge and my supplies are too abundant 😂😮 so I do have to make use of all available space.
Sounds like you are doing a great job taking advantage of the space you have!
You are right with what you are saying about Kallax. But with Billy there is an issue too: it is not deep enough. Most of the boxes do only fit if you turn them to the side and then you lose a lot of space. I have many Ikea-products in my house and I love Billy for books. But in my craftroom I got a Pax wardrobe. It is totally adjustable with drawers etc. and you get it in two depth-formats and two different height-formats. It is the ultimate craftsupply storage. Especially if you have a lot of things. I hope my experience can help someone. Lovely regards from Vienna/Austria. P.S. I saw that there are different Ikea furniture depending on the country. We have not the other Billys as you showed us. But I guess everyone get the important things you wanted to communicate to us. Thanks!
My Billy bookcase works perfectly in my craft space. I have 3 separate ones with tons of supplies stored in boxes on them :). Glad the PAX system is working well for you!
I use gift boxes and stack them 2 per cube and it works great :)
Good! Glad it is working for you!
I love my kallax, will be buying a second one. Some of the insert give division for kallax at ikea. Also love the billy bookcase. The one i have controversy about is the larger alex drawers. I hate that they dont open fully and some containers or systeme dividers are hard to put or to take out.
Oh, I definitely hear you on the Alex drawers. I super wish that they would pull out all the way!
I have the same beef as you with the Kallax units, Elisa. Unless you buy an insert (like those from Stamp-n-Storage) that efficiently subdivides each cube, you're either wasting space or ending up with a bin filled with a jumble of stuff. Plus, there is no back to it, & I'm not sure if it can be put securely against a wall if you have baseboard, as most houses do. I once actually looked at Kallax units for my craft room. I had a corner in my craft room that was just kind of a dumping zone, because I had a table & sewing desk in the way & couldn't easily access that corner. But the space under the table was also pretty much wasted. So I decided to shove the table down into the corner, move the desk over slightly, & get a unit to put underneath the table to use that space. Unfortunately, nothing I looked at would fit the space without wasting any - especially the Kallax. I even thought briefly of getting rid of the table & putting in cabinets & a counter top, until I figured out that would still not fill the space efficiently & cost mega-$$$! Plus, I had built that table, so I was rather attached to it! :) So I finally ended up building my own "Kallax" knock-off from 3/4" plywood I picked up at Home Depot. While it's not absolutely perfect in construction - maybe a hair too wide (and yes, I measured multiple times before cutting & as I built!) & one cube ended up being a bit small for what I wanted to put in it - it still works. I was able to fit it under the table, and just had to move a leg brace on the table from one side to the other to fit the cube unit between the legs. I have lots of space, the unit does have a back on it, and I sized the cubes to hold three 3-drawer plastic Iris units for large scraps, & plastic boxes that hold 12x12" paper for the rest. I can stack or stand 3 such boxes in each cube. Not so many that I have trouble accessing, but they fill the space nicely. I also have a few miscellaneous boxes in a couple of the cubes. I was able to buy the wider Alex drawers to put at the end of that table as well, once I shoved it down the wall into that corner. I probably spent less on supplies to build the cube unit (this was before the price of lumber skyrocketed) than on a larger Kallax unit. I know not everyone can build their own furniture, but I'm glad to have that ability. Also, something to note - the narrow Alex drawers do not fit 12x12" paper. Apparently, they're just a bit too narrow from left to right. Just thought I'd put that out there. Thank you for sharing your opinions, Elisa, & letting me know I'm not alone. Take care, & have an awesome day! :)
You are definitely not alone - haha, I always thought I was! Glad to see that other crafters see eye to eye with me.
I user dressers from ikea. Love them.
Nice! Great storage solution!
Thank you for this candid review.
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Good points; I love the Billy units
Yes, they work really well for me!
I love my Expedit-the old Kallax style
The bins are perfect for storing fabric,yarn,crochet bits ,tissue paper.
I don’t like billy as much because the shelves are too shallow
So glad your system is working so well for you! I think yarn is the perfect thing for those cubes.