If you’ve got a drawer full of markers or a shelf piled with colored pencils that you somehow never actually reach for — you are not alone! So many of us have art supplies we genuinely love, but they end up buried or out of the way, and out of sight really does mean out of mind. I recently picked up a new organizer designed to fit a very specific spot on my desk, and it got me thinking about why some supplies get used every day while others just collect dust. In this video, I’m sharing three simple tips to help you set up your supplies in a way that actually works — so the tools you enjoy are the ones you’re reaching for.
Video Description
Do you have art supplies you love but rarely touch because they’re buried or hard to reach? Same. I just picked up a new organizer that fits a specific space on my desk. The goal is simple: stop hiding the tools I actually enjoy using and start reaching for them every day.
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===LINKS===
Acrylic Rotating Pencil Holder
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Stackable Water Bottle Storage Organizer
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===RECOMMENDED VIDEOS===
Watch Our Very First Video Here
https://youtu.be/6Uyycbo3eTo?si=5CJ3s-lYR-kCdPFV
My FAVORITE Travel Art Kit [Perfect for Airplane Travel] https://youtu.be/2O6qFKhX-WU?si=iOtSMrPL7GFkx-QZ
The Best GOLD & SILVER Markers & Pens (for Mixed-Media Art & Coloring)
https://youtu.be/GMh8KxfX4lU?si=X-w3iMSPxrDPEbq7
The ONLY Way To Organize Your ENTIRE Home (by Clutterbug)
https://youtu.be/dW_mGFW0CAo?si=R5rtuU6lqLveXJB6
===CHAPTER MARKERS===
00:00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:00:56 – Tip 1: Consider Your Space
00:04:23 – Tip 2: Consider the Products
00:06:58 – My New Storage Solution
00:15:11 – Tip 3: Consider the Project
00:18:15 – Final Thoughts & Recommendations
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Transcript
3 Quick Tips to Organize Your Art Supplies | Coloring Bliss
Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer Stay. This is Coloring Bliss, and today we’re going to talk about three quick tips to help you organize your art supplies.
We’ve been doing videos here on YouTube for 12 years, and during that time I’ve shared many different videos on organizing ideas — usually when I get a new product or set up a new art studio. There’s a lot of content on our channel about organizing, but today I wanted to narrow it down to just three quick ideas to help you wrap your head around how to get started. Once you have these basics down, go ahead and search Coloring Bliss, because you might find a video here that covers exactly what you need.
Tip #1: Consider Your Space
Some of us have an entire art studio — maybe even multiple rooms. Some of us have a closet, a kitchen table, a desk, a rolling cart, or just a bag or a box. The first thing I want you to think about is your space, because that’s something we can’t always change.
In my situation, I have a room for my art supplies, but it’s recently been cut down to about half a room. We moved our print shop into my art studio, so one end of the room is the print shop and Steve’s office, and the other end is my art studio. I can’t make the walls expand. I can’t make the shelves expand. It is what it is. So when I go to organize something, I really have to work within that space.
One great strategy is to go vertical. Look for opportunities to build upward rather than outward. You can also measure your space before you shop, so you’re sure any storage solution you purchase will actually fit. Buying a shelf that’s too big for the spot you had in mind makes it completely useless.
Another thing to consider is whether your setup is stationary or portable. I have a lot of portable solutions, like this little kit I keep in front of me that holds everything for one project. I’ll link in the video description to the video where I pack it and show you how I use it.
If you’re thinking about getting a rolling cart, consider where it will live in your space before you buy it. Do you have a closet to tuck it into when you’re not using it? Or a spot next to a recliner or sofa where you can roll it out of the way? Think through those details before you commit.
Tip #2: Consider the Products
Now you might be wondering about this box sitting in front of me. It actually ties into all three tips, so let me explain.
I have a stack of art supplies that need better storage — mostly glitter, metallic, and special effect pens. Right now they’re tucked away in containers behind me, and because of that, I never reach for them. I want to change that. So I looked at my space, found a spot where these supplies would be more accessible, and went shopping for a storage solution that would fit.
When thinking about your products, the first question to ask is: Is this a primary, workhorse product I reach for constantly, or is it a secondary, project-based product I use occasionally?
For example, I’m hoping these glitter and metallic tools will become a workhorse category for me, which is why I’m giving them a prime spot at my workstation. On the other hand, my large collection of colored pencils lives in a closet that’s a little harder to get to — because they’re more of an occasional, project-based supply. (I’ll be reorganizing that colored pencil collection in an upcoming video, so make sure you’re subscribed if you want to see how I handle that!)
The next thing to consider is whether your products have specific storage recommendations. Many acrylic markers, for instance, should be stored horizontally so the ink stays distributed properly. Look up the storage guidelines for your supplies and decide how closely you want to follow them.
Finally, think about size and quantity. How many items do you need to store, and how much space do they take up? Knowing this before you shop will help you choose the right solution.
The Storage Solution I Chose
What I ended up choosing is an acrylic spinning carousel. These come in a variety of sizes, and some versions have removable sections — I actually considered one of those, thinking I could pull out just one section and set it on my main workspace. In the end, mostly because of budget, I went with a simpler version, and I love it.
It has a little handle in the center so I can easily pick it up and move it. It spins on ball bearings and is a little squeaky right now, but I think that will improve once it’s loaded up. It’s clear acrylic, which is one of my favorite ways to store supplies because I can see everything at a glance, and that reminds me to actually use it.
That said, open and visible storage isn’t for everyone. I was recently watching a video on the YouTube channel Clutterbug (I’ll link to it in the description) where she talks about different storage personality types. Some people find visible, open storage overwhelming and prefer supplies tucked into opaque bins or closed compartments. It’s worth figuring out which type of person you are before you invest in a storage system.
Loading Up the Carousel
Let me go ahead and load this carousel up before I move on to Tip #3.
First, I’ve got my Lanquo metallic acrylic markers. These are double-ended, so technically they should be stored horizontally — but I’m breaking the rules because I want them in this carousel. There’s set number one loaded in.
Next, I’m adding the Ohuhu outline markers — a really fun set that creates that cool outlined effect popular in 80s and 90s aesthetics. I did a full review video on these, so you can go back and check that out. They fit perfectly in the next section.
Then I have the Let’s Resin glitter markers that I recently reviewed here on the channel. If you remember, I added color names and numbers to each one to make them easier to identify. They slide in nicely into the next section.
The carousel has six sections total, and I still have a few slots open. If you’d like a link to this exact carousel, I’ll put one in the video description. I paid about $20 for it on Amazon here in the US as of late August 2025. It’s not a huge investment, but it’s not nothing either. For me, storage is an investment, and I want pieces I’ll actually use long-term. Every time I’ve bought storage and ended up not using it, I’ve felt like I wasted money that could have gone toward art supplies or something more useful.
The last set I’m loading in is the Grabby 24 glitter markers in a medium tip. I really like the broader tip on these for filling in larger areas. I’ve labeled these too — you can see right there it says “carnation.” Everything fit, and I have one section left that I can fill later. I have a few ideas, including some of the markers from my silver and gold metallic battle video, or the dual metallic brush pens by Pentel that I keep nearby. I’ll think on it and decide later.
Now let’s see if the carousel fits in the spot I planned for it. I’ll move my coloring cards out of the way… and yes! It fits perfectly back there. I can spin it to grab exactly what I need, or I can bring the whole caddy forward if I want access to everything at once. I love it. I’m really excited to start coloring more of my Halloween coloring cards with these supplies.
Tip #3: Consider the Project
Beyond organizing by product type, another effective approach is to organize by project. You pull together everything you need for a specific project and keep it all in one box, bin, or basket — ready to go.
That’s exactly what this portable kit I showed you earlier does. I know everything I need is inside, staged and waiting. If I’m heading out for the day, I can grab it and go without having to hunt anything down.
One of the most important habits that goes along with this tip: when you finish an art session, restock and reorganize your kit right away. Close it up and have it ready for the next time. If your project kit is always prepped and waiting, you’re so much more likely to actually sit down and use it.
You can also use project-based organization for future projects you’re still gathering supplies for. For example, I’m currently pulling everything together to try gel press jelly printing — that technique where you spread paint onto a gel plate and transfer the designs onto paper. I’ve been collecting different types of paper, buying a couple of different gel plates, and picking up paints and other recommended supplies. As I collect everything, it all goes into one box on the shelf behind me. That way, when I’m finally ready to dive in, everything is in one place and I’m not scrambling.
Another great application of this idea is for coloring books. If you’re working on a specific coloring book, you can pull together the pencils, markers, and other supplies you want to use on that project and keep them together in a shallow bin — the kind often made for scrapbooking supplies work wonderfully for this. Tuck in the coloring book, your supply sets, and even a swatch chart, and your whole project is organized and ready whenever you want to sit down and work.
Putting It All Together
Here in my art studio, I use all three of these tips together. I consider my space, I consider my products, and I consider my current and upcoming projects. With those three things in mind, I feel like I keep my studio in a genuinely organized state. I’m always proud when someone asks me where a specific supply is and I can direct them to the exact spot — even if I’m not in the room at the time.
It does take time and effort to build a system like that. And if you have a small space, I’d encourage you to focus on inspiration from people who also work in small spaces. I’ll admit I sometimes feel a little envious watching YouTubers with gorgeous, sprawling organizational setups that fill an entire room. But that’s silly — I’m very blessed with what I have, and my system works for me.
The same goes for you. Focus on the space you actually have, the products you have or plan to get, and the projects you want to do. If you keep those three things in mind, I truly believe you can build an organized system no matter how big or small your space is.
I hope this video was helpful! I’m so excited to start coloring with my new carousel caddy. I need to fill up that back wall with Halloween cards, and with all these glitter and metallic supplies ready to go, that sounds like a great place to start.
Thank you so much for watching. I hope you all have a wonderful, colorful, organized, and blissful day. Bye-bye, everyone!
