The Wrath of Meta-Stuff

photo credit: Athenamama

Storage stores seduce you with promises of simplicity, order, and decluttering bliss. The truth? It’s just more stuff. Even worse, it’s more expensive than the stuff you put in it half the time. That Container Store catalog? Consider it organization porn.

What Is Meta Stuff?

So what is Meta Stuff? Meta Stuff is the item(s) you buy to… hold your stuff. That’s all it does. It doesn’t clean the house for you, it doesn’t cook dinner, it doesn’t make you smarter. It just takes all the stuff you already have and…. holds it.

From plastic Rubbermaid containers to individual snack bar carriers, Meta Stuff is everywhere. You can buy a container specifically for your Christmas ornaments. You can also find items to hold soda cans, a single baking soda box (seriously), and toilet paper. You name it, there’s a way to store it. So, if I love to be organized, what’s the problem?

The Problem with Meta Stuff

My problem with Meta Stuff is that it’s still stuff. It doesn’t transform your stored items into something useful. In fact, it adds an unnecessary layer between you and the items you use.

Plus, Meta Stuff is expensive. Am I seriously supposed to pay $15.99 for a toothbrush holder that’s going to get spit all over it? Most people would be better off putting their money into higher quality items or–better yet–saving the extra dough instead of spending it on stuff to hold stuff.

Meta Stuff is, in most cases, just another layer of clutter. It’s another item to move, to clean, and to insure.

Meta Stuff encourages people to buy more to fill up the containers. Like Why We Buy discussed, the size of a container affects our perception of how much we have. If your game rack has 50 slots and you only have 20 games, it’s easy to feel like you need more.

Are All Storage Containers Bad?

No, I don’t hate all storage containers. Some are truly great and provide a benefit that makes them worth the space and money they require. (Toilet brush holders immediately come to mind.) The problem is that many people don’t get creative. While a plastic Christmas ornament container can cost up to $30, you can use an empty case of bottled beer for free; it’s got ornament-sized cardboard separators and everything.

Storage containers are good when they add utility to items that didn’t have it before. Storage containers are good when they free up space or keep your stuff out of sight. But they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg or be fingernail chipping factories to be effective.

Alternatives to Expensive Storage Containers

If you’re ready to get creative, you can source all kinds of cool storage containers in your own house. Best of all, they’re free. Try:

• Milk jugs–cut off the tops and they’ll hold lots of stuff
• Mailing and packing boxes–the ultimate in sophisticated simplicity
• Baskets
• Rubber bands–yes, they still work!
• Cereal boxes–perfect magazine/paperwork holders
• Coffee cans or jugs–awesome for storing nuts, bolts, & garage stuff
• Tackle boxes–if you no longer have tackle, they’re awesome for jewelry
• Fancy shopping bags and brown bags
• Beer boxes–they actually look pretty cool stacked together with filing or games
• Prescription pill bottles–more common than film cannisters these days anyway
• Old dressers–my favorite for everything from sewing supplies to DVD storage
• Cappuccino tins

There are tons more ideas, so please add on any you think of or currently use! Next time you’re tempted by that salacious Container Store mailing, avert your eyes and be thankful you’ve surrounded by better storage options.

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• 20 Hidden Ways Your Stuff Screws You Over