35 Genius Back-to-School Dollar Store Hacks

With the first day of school right around the corner, now is a great time to get ahead of the curve and start brainstorming ways to keep chaos at bay. A little bit of pre-planning will go a long way toward keeping things together when the year kicks off. We've put together a list of 35 economical tips and tricks for helping kids (and parents) stay organized amidst the flurry of back-to-school supply runs, morning routines and after-school events.

First up: This chic DIY desk organizer made out of PVC pipe and spray paint helps corral small office supplies without sacrificing an ounce of style.

It can be tricky to keep track of tiny essentials like push pins and binder clips. Fortunately, a few sheets of vibrant construction paper and some glue are all it takes to craft these funky trays. Fun and kid-friendly, the “fruits” of this DIY project are an excellent option for containing all those minuscule supplies.

An over-the-door shoe organizer offers an economic solution for clearing up school supply chaos. From pencil pouches to glue sticks, the abundant pockets act as a clutter catchall. Easy to install, the translucent slots let kids see where everything goes, which can help develop their organizational skills.

Juggling classwork from multiple subjects can become an organizational nightmare for students and parents alike. Avoid the “out of sight, out of mind” dilemma by rescuing papers from the backpack and placing them on display. Clipboards posted above a desk are a no-fuss way to keep current projects in view and help kids stay up-to-date on their work. Tip: Create a homework tracking system by labeling clipboards “to-do,” “in-progress” and “completed.”

Transform a five-gallon bucket into a mobile "creation station." Simply place a tool organizer around the middle to keep art supplies neat and tidy. We also love that it makes it that much easier for kids to clean up after themselves.

Between calendars and syllabuses, the paperwork piles up fast at the beginning of the school year. Get ahead of the deluge with a dedicated box for important schoolwork. Our tutorial below offers a decorative, low-cost alternative to utilitarian, plastic storage containers. All you need is some funky fabric, glue and a cardboard box to create a covert caddy ready to wrangle all the back-to-school documents.

Organize your go-to documents in a repurposed dish drain. Outfit the middle with pretty folders and color-coordinated notebooks to keep it chic. And don't forget to stock the utensil cup with plenty of pens and pencils.

If a rolling cart feels like a major imposition on workspace availability, try taking it tiny with a plastic shower caddy. Adored by teachers for their organizational prowess, these make for a superb space-saving tool that will keep supplies organized and ready to go. Their lightweight design makes transport a breeze for small hands and the plastic is a cinch to keep clean with disinfectant spray during flu season.

To keep lunches cool, wet a sponge and freeze it. Place the frozen sponge inside a snack bag wrapped in colorful duct tape. The tape helps decorate and insulate the baggy. As the sponge melts, all the moisture will stay inside the bag.

If your family has trouble organizing homework and other important papers, then this easy project may be just what you need. Spruce up an old shelf and a few wooden magazine folders with a fresh coat of paint. Lay the magazine holders on their backs, equally spaced, then secure the shelf on top using screws or a heavy-duty adhesive. Try color-coding files for each member of the family to keep things super organized.

The start of the school year is usually packed with important dates and events that can get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Beyond that, keeping track of assignment due dates is often an ongoing battle for kids. This cute DIY wall calendar combines washi tape and sticky notes for an interchangeable, wall-sized planner that will help students visualize and prepare for upcoming projects. For the full how-to, follow the link below.

Use adhesive hooks to hang a cooling rack to the back of a door for an inexpensive and space-saving memo center. Here you can clip up reminders and mementos and even attach a file holder to keep paper clutter up off your work surface.

Colorful duct tape and a few snips along the bottom transform a used freezer bag into a stylish pencil pouch. Once fully taped, punch holes along the bottom of the bag for use in three-ring binders.

Another great way to contain clutter and save on desk space is to double up on functionality. This DIY mirror features cork backing for a reversible bulletin board, an ideal choice for any small, multi-purpose workspace. Kids can use it to prep for class in the mornings and store reminders and notes after school. Get the step-by-step project at the link below.

Backpacks commandeer a ton of floor space when left to their own devices. Get them off the floor and out of the way by installing storage hooks dedicated to after-school satchel duty. Aside from curtailing walkway obstacles, this provides an additional visual reminder for students to retrieve important documents from the day. Get more clutter-clearing ideas at the link below.

You are definitely going to want to add this simple idea to your back-to-school shopping list. Simply cut a dowel rod to whatever length you need and attach it to the wall by resting it in the crook of two adhesive hooks. Hang S hooks and mini buckets from the dowel, then fill the buckets with essentials like earbuds and charging cords for older kids and flashcards, scissors and pencils for younger ones. Kids can grab their individual supply buckets and put them back at the end of the day.

Choosing an outfit each morning can be a huge time-waster. On Sunday night, plan the week’s outfits to avoid any AM drama. Include socks and undies so getting dressed, even for little ones, is super simple. The easiest way to do this? Grab a hanging closet organizer from the home goods section of the dollar store. Then, write the days of the week on pieces of cardstock or computer paper and tape or glue them to the back of each cube. And there you have it, instant outfit cubbies that take the stress out of getting dressed.

A tiered cake stand gets a new lease on life as an easy-to-access, oversized school supply station. Fill each tier with a variety of plastic cups then use them to organize everything from pencils to crayons to paperclips. For added stability, attach poster tack or glue dots to the bottom of the cups to keep them from falling over.

Keep important papers at arm's length with a reimagined cereal box. Neatly trim the top flaps off the box, then wrap the box in a fun, patterned paper or duct tape. They're perfect for stacking as letter trays, too!

Store supplies in style without breaking the bank on overpriced desk organizers. This super cute desk accessory set is constructed from recycled containers, spray paint, glue and fun embellishments. It can easily be tailored to suit any students’ style and the varying cup sizes are perfect for meeting the spatial needs of any and all back-to-school essentials.

Keep crayons, knickknacks and snacks corralled in colorful travel soap holders. Kids will love outfitting them with their favorite stickers and taking them along in the car.

Don’t you hate when your charging cords are constantly falling on the floor or you can’t find them? Not anymore. Just attach binder clips to the side of your work surface and thread the chargers through — voila! Problem solved. If you want to be extra (and we always want you to be extra), wrap the binder clips in decorative tape for added style.

Print and frame fun versions of a chore list, and be sure to hang them where the kids can easily see so they’ll stay focused on the task at hand. Simply find free chore cards online or make your own in Canva, then print and place them inside black, dollar store picture frames. You could even paint the frames a fun color for added visibility.

For desks and homework nooks that are short on space, a mobile workstation and storage area can come in handy. A three-tiered rolling cart from the household section gives kids an opportunity to stash school supplies and complete studies in any area of the home. Tip: Go for a metallic cart that will pave the way for add-ons like magnetic containers and device-friendly charging ports. For more ideas on how to maximize your school supply station, follow the link below.

The whole family will appreciate a repurposed rotating spice rack. Everyone can easily find small items that are usually stuffed into junk drawers like thumbtacks, paperclips, rubber bands and batteries.

Keep kids content during long carpool rides with this backseat organizer that holds all the basics, plus a whole lot more. A roll of fabric, dollar store pencil pouches and the tutorial below are all you need to craft this cute, car-friendly organizer.

Another space-saving trick for getting clutter off of kids’ desks is the fanny pack hack. Buckle a funky, inexpensive satchel around a desk chair, and voila! Instant storage. Pens, note pads and other small supplies that make for a disheveled desk are kept on hand but out of sight. See the link below for more storage tips and tricks.

Lockers need love, too. Add a DIY drawer to wrangle smaller school supplies by placing a plastic utensil organizer inside a photo storage box.

At a communal desk, it can be tricky to keep supplies accessible and tidy at the same time. Enter the Lazy Susan: This discreet disk is perfect for corralling crayons while keeping them within arm’s reach. Tip: Store slim utensils like pens and pencils in a container at the center and bulkier items like sharpeners and glue bottles around the edge. One quick twirl and students will have anything they need.

Make the most of your car's vertical space and clear floor clutter by using climbing carabiners as bag hooks. They're great for holding backpacks, your purse, gym bag, groceries and much more.

Make this easy DIY tablet stand using recycled household items. Start by wrapping two cardboard paper towel rolls and a rectangular piece of cardboard in decorative tape. Fill plastic sandwich bags with rice and insert them inside the rolls for weight and stability. Spray paint four baby-food jar lids. Glue the rolls side-by-side with a 1/4-inch gap in between, then glue on top of the piece of cardboard. Glue the lids onto the ends of the rolls. We used e6000 glue as it dries with some flex to it, which is helpful for this project. Wrap rubber bands around each end of the stand to hold everything together while the glue dries. Insert spacers (we used drink coasters) so you know you'll have enough room for the tablet to stand up properly.

Keep kids on track with a chic, personalized message center. This DIY display is the ideal place to jot down a quick note of encouragement, keep track of the countless start-of-the-year events or post reminders and due dates. Made from a handful of supplies readily available in most craft sections, this quick and easy project keeps important info front and center for kids and parents alike.

Feeling guilty about using up all those plastic baggies? Try out these handmade reusable sandwich wraps. You'll need beeswax pellets, patterned cotton fabric, parchment paper, pinking shears and an iron. First, trim your fabric to the desired size, then lay an old towel on the ironing board. Place the fabric square on the towel, then sprinkle it with beeswax pellets. Next, place a large piece of parchment paper on top of the fabric square and pellets. Carefully use a hot, dry iron to melt the pellets evenly into the fabric. Once dry, fold to your liking around snacks and sandwiches and tie off with cotton twine. (Note: You'll need to re-treat with wax every 15 uses or so.)

Repurpose empty cereal boxes and get environmentally friendly with your school supply storage. This stylish organizer is easy on the eyes and on the wallet. Made with cardboard, spray paint and hot glue, the simple design means you can create as many as needed to tackle the desk detritus.