I recently revamped my vanity table area to look more organized and found a whole host of cheap and affordable organizers at Ikea. I kid you not! Some of them might take a bit of imagination but hey, they work for me. I’ll be posting up some of the storage tips I have from time to time and I’ll start with my storage for my makeup brushes, mascara and various pencils.
I found this magnetic board from the stationery department in Ikea. It is the Spontan magnetic board (RM39.90) and 2 sets of the Spontan container and hook sets (RM19.00 each). Each set consists of 1 large rectangle container, 1 smaller container and 2 hooks with a strong magnet at the back of it.
All I did was hammer in 2 nails into the wall (Hey! Even I can do that! 
) and hang the board up and voila! Perfect storage for brushes and mascara tubes! Now, all my brushes are segregated by type – powder, eye, cheeks – which makes life so much easier in the mornings. Mascara too has a section all to itself, which makes it easier to store the big tubes like my Guerlain le 2 Mascara which is super long.
I was at a loss as to what to use the hooks for, until I hit upon the idea of lining up the hooks side by side at a little distance and using it to hold my eye brow and eyeliner pencils and shorter brushes that would get lost inside the containers!
I reckon if you are the more artsy or crafty type you could do some decoration on the magnetic board and containers with paint or stick ons, but I’m the minimalist type (read: unimaginative) so I just left mine bare.
The board is really quite big so there’s lots of room to grow, if you want to add other magnetic containers as you go long, or it could even double up as a message board for you to leave messages to yourself about what you need to get the next time you go out. Its a great little tool that is only limited by your imagination
How do you store your brushes, mascara and pencils?
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[ 20 comments… read them below or join the discussion ]
I store mine the traditional way – in containers / brush holders sitting atop my vanity table
I have a pink Stila metal can & a black Anna Sui brush stand wherein most of my daily skincare items / eyeliners / mascara / a few of my makeup brushes reside.
One question: don’t you find that makeup brushes stored out in the open tend to collect dust easily? I mean, it’s super-convenient to have them placed like that (saves time during rushed mornings) but don’t you find them getting dusty in the long run? Just wondering…..
However, I can’t deny that your latest storage idea looks uber-cool!!
YZ: Yes, they will get dusty but that is usually over quite a long period of time. However, my room door is always kept closed and I wash my regularly used brushes every week (Saturday is usually my brush washing day) together with some others on rotation. So, I usually always have a clean brush for eye or cheek or face at any one time.
The rest are usually just for show 
What a wonderful idea~!!!! I want to go to Ikea only for buying this and organize my brushes~ So cute!! \^O^/
You know the ikea storage boxes where you can partition inside? I store my make up stuffs in there. I have like a total of 3 boxes stacked up above each other for accessories and all. So convenient. Haha. At least when I move out, I can just lug my boxes and put it back the way it is =P
Hiraku: Welcome! These make great storage but do remember to clean your brushes!
S-kay: I know the ones you mean. I use them for my eyeshadows. They’ll be featured soon!
Twitter: giddytigress
June 29, 2008 at 12:41 am
so u mean you just hang this board beside the dressing table mirror? Looks really neat!
Hey, that’s neat! I’m not sure if the Ikea here has this particular type of magnetic board. Will check it up the next time.
I use the storage box from Ikea thought. The wooden type you assemble yourself.
PB, you are so creative!!!! I store my brushes traditionally as well, in a cute jar! I don’t have the space to really be “creative” to store my makeup products and tools especially now I have a hubbY
Giddy Tiger: Yes, I have a wall next to my vanity so I just hang it there. Frees up the space on the table.
Sesame: Oh I know the box you mean and I’m sure this board is available at most Ikea stores.
Nikki: But Nikki this is the reason why I’m hanging my brushes on the wall – space!
I don’t have a hubby to contend with but still need the space hehe…
Twitter: fortheloveofme
June 29, 2008 at 4:16 pm
That’s a very chic way of storing your brushes, etc! I’m paranoid about leaving my brushes out in the open as I don’t like to get dust on them, so I keep them in my drawer. I bought 2 plastic IKEA trays for all my makeup, so they’re properly compartmentalised now. Whee! :p
Tine: I am more like you, worrying about dust…
though i find paris’ idea cute and brilliant, i don’t think i’d dare to do that. and i often change my mind about decorations around my room so if there is nails holes on the wall…. eh…. i’d probably patching them up in 2 weeks’ time! lol
Holy Moly PB! I’m so jealous of your brush board! That is SO creative of you! Mannn…I wish I had enough wall space for that board. How big is it exactly? I wonder if I could hang it vertically? Then maybe it could fit next to my mirror–heh… Currently I keep ALL my brushes in that Anna Sui brush holder–yar, I only have some basic brushes so they all fit in that little container;-) And they are exposed to dust too. But heck, if we use our brushes every day, there’s hardly any time for dust to collect on them is there?
Oh one more thing, you know your hooks? You could also hang necklaces and chains on them. But then it would not be solely your “makeup” theme anymore hoh.. hehe.
Ooh I love storage ideas. Great one, Paris!
Uhh my makeup collection is too huge to be believed right now with the beauty blogging job and all. But I got a 3-drawer storage unit and put all my mineral makeup which I use daily into the smoothest running drawer. Another one are cosmetics and skincare products I’m currently testing to review. And another is straight up storage of things I seldom use (the drawer sticks). I also have a drawer-organiser tray I adore that I found in amsterdam – the sections can be taken apart, rearranged and clipped back together. And they’re the perfect depth for lippies, compacts and smaller skincare items. I have a larger basket for big skincare items, and a smaller plastic box for daily use and smaller tubes. Brushes are in a cup, as are mascara and eyecurlers. Uhh.. there’s actually EVEN MORE but I’m scaring myself so I’ll stop.
Tine: I used to store my brushes in a jar in the open so I figured this wasn’t much different
However I do understand the concern with dust and Ikea is wonderful for organization!
Jojoba: I tried putting them in a box but I could never find what I wanted and it was taking up space so I kept them in a jar. I figured this was just a more organized jar
Monstro: Yes, it can be hung vertically or horizontally. That’s why I bought it because I wasn’t sure how big my wall was! Its not that large a brush collection. Some brushes are never used! So long as you have the basics, you don’t need more
And yes, I thought about the necklaces and bracelets but I don’t wear those much. Maybe when my new order comes in!
Kahani: Thanks! I can imagine you’d have a huge collection.
I’m not showing all of mine, but I will be showing how I store my various products and items as I go along. I like how you store yours according to how often you use it (and which drawer is suitable for it!)
Twitter: rinnah
July 2, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Ah, so this was the “thing” from Ikea you blogged about previously to keep your dresser neat! Nice idea, but I can’t hack it cos I have no wall space next to my makeshift vanity shelf. *sigh*
I’m a huge IKEA geek and I never would have thought of this but am now going to try this in my bathroom and everywhere else I can think of.
Great idea!!!
This is absolutely gorgeous~
Great idea, and thanks for sharing^^
<b>rasilla : </b>
Thank you!
Erin : Thanks! You might want to be careful that the board doesn’t rust in the bathroom