You know the Chinese New Year is near when I start panicking and doing mega spring cleaning of my house at every opportunity. I feel like the White Rabbit sometimes – no time! no time! Because we have but a couple of weeks more to go before we welcome in the Lunar New Year and I’m not even done yet. Sigh… Last weekend saw me tackling the madness that was my dressing table and I knew without a doubt that I needed some decent storage.
Dom over at Belle Demoiselle had previously picked up one of the now very popular clear acrylic storage boxes once, and when I last picked her brains about it, waxed lyrical about it. I knew however that I couldn’t deal with clear boxes. My mess, ostensibly in the open? Erm, not quite what I had in mind. I wanted my clutter hidden away, but neatly. Did that make sense? haha…
So one day while at Pavilion KL, I wandered into Muji. The popular items people usually get from Muji are the clear acrylic drawers but I wanted something different and towards the back of the store, I came upon what I was looking for. This is the PP A4 3 Drawer Unit (view it at Muji here) which is a fairly large set of 3 stacked drawers made of polypropylene. It was opaque which was just how I wanted it – my organized mess could go in there and my dresser would finally look neat! Here’s a sampling of what I put in my drawers 🙂
The 3 drawers are fairly deep and long but not overly so. It is just A4 sized as the name of the box implies. I really wanted somewhere to store my Meteorites Perles powders because they were sitting out in the open before this and gathering dust. So when I bought the storage drawers, I made sure they could fit the tins.
Yes, they fit! I read that the new Meteorites Perles du Paradis from Spring 2013 have a larger and higher box but I think there is sufficient space for it. Fits the Le Metier de Beauty Kaleidoscopes too, as you can see at back, with lots more space for the collections to grow 😉
I noticed that when I pulled out the drawers, the tins and boxes would slide about a bit, so I cut up a piece of non-slip backing I’d previously bought from Daiso to line the base and voila! No more sliding! Everything stays nicely in place.
In drawer 2 I put concealers, BB Creams and primers that I regularly use. The drawers come without dividers but it didn’t bother me. I had some leftover plastic dividers from Daiso that comes in very handy at times like this. Just get a pack from there and break off where you need and create your own dividers. Perfect!
Again, I placed the non slip backing on the base to stop things from sliding around and making a racket when you slide the drawer in and out.
I do have to make mention of the drawers – the sliding motion is super smooth and it doesn’t catch at all. It almost feels like its on rollers except of course, it isn’t. There is a little bit of plastic at the top so when you pull out the length of your drawer you can rest it against that bit and your drawer will not slip and crash to the floor. I liked the thought that went into it because I hate pulling out a drawer and then suddenly find I’ve pulled it all the way out. It is very sturdy and well made and although this is an expensive bit of plastic, I was very happy with how it felt and performed.
The last drawer houses my powders and powder foundations. As you can see, it is tall enough so powder compacts can stand on their side. Again, I inserted my own dividers and non-slip base and everything is, as they say, hunky dory!
Of course, I am not your regular girl so as you can see, 3 drawers only house my base makeup 😛 You could easily designate one drawer for your base makeup, one for color and another for lipsticks, if you like. I tested and most lipsticks can stand up quite easily in the drawer so you can use one of these divider things to create compartments, or place a simple box in there and stand your lipsticks up, and one on the side to lay your longer lipsticks or glosses.
This 3 drawer box houses lots and doesn’t have a very large footprint measuring W26 x D37 x H32.5cm. What I liked best is that the PP material is easy to clean, doesn’t scratch easily, is opaque and pliable so it isn’t brittle, has a nice tactile feel and shouldn’t break easily if you don’t drop it down a flight of stairs <- and why would you do that?! 😛
Mine sits comfortably on top of an Ikea Helmer (which is a story for another day 😛 ) but you should be able to sit it quite nicely on your dresser and still be able to put more stuff on top of it as I have haha!
So this is my current and latest storage system and I’m really pleased with it. I managed to free up some space on my dresser (finally!) and its actually easier for me to see and pick out everything I need now with just one glance into the drawer. I had a different storage unit before this that had too many compartments and drawers so it got messy. Sometimes, less is more 😀
Do you use Muji storage boxes/drawers too? What would you put in this if you had it?
I picked mine up in store for RM109.90 and apparently, its currently on 10% discount (damn! I shouldn’t have been so hasty!) I’d used to read about people buying their beauty storage from Muji before this but I always thought Muji made only the acrylic boxes (because that’s what everyone used!) so I never bothered to look in there till now. I’m glad they didn’t else I’d still be on the hunt for a good storage option. Very happy with this one! 😀
Paris B
Muji PP A4 3 Drawer Unit Price: RM109.90 Availability: Muji stores (Currently at Pavilion KL and MidValley Megamall)
Dear Paris B,
You have a wonderful makeup collection, if I’m in ur shoes, I don’t want to hide any of it and will be happy looking at my stash all day long, hihi =P can u show us your blusher collection? I bet you have tons of it, I love blushers too, but I only collect benefit box of blushers so far…
Hi Ayna, how sweet of you to say so! 🙂 But can’t afford to sit around all day staring at pretty things hehe… I don’t think I’ll show all the blushes I have (too scary!) but I will be showing more blushes this year because I love them, and yes, I have a lot! Benefit blushes are really lovely, so you’ve got something good going on there! Do you have them all? 😀
Very very neat 🙂 I like the little magical touch that you put into the drawers – dividers and non slip backing. I have a very very small collection, mostly skincare which I keep in the clear plastic drawer divider thingy from IKEA. Makeup stash is piled up on my study desk for now 😛
Ooh did you mean the compartmentalised tray thing from Ikea that costs RM5? I love that! If I have nothing to buy from Ikea, I’ll pick up one of that because I can always find a use for it lol!
Hahaha yes, bingo – compartmentalised tray thing from Ikea that costs RM5 🙂 Thanks for the apt description. It’s cheap and good!
Haha actually I looked it up and it’s the Antonius basket insert 😀 I have one sitting on top of the Muji box and another on another side of the table to hold skincare!
I wanted some time ago to get many Muji boxes but I finally got Ikea ones. I got the wooden tray for cutlery with separators- amazing, skincare separated then blushes then foundations etc. I also got so many little and medium carton boxes and labeled them. It helps a lot. The only thing I didnt find satisfying solution for is brush storage 😛
I have a wooden Ikea cutlery tray in my blush drawer to hold my blushes and I love it! So nice to keep everything set up neatly. You must have such a neat dresser! I use a magnet board for brushes still. Perfect space saving exercise since it hangs on the wall and doesn’t take up dresser space! 😉
I love going to Muji and spending ages thinking about which drawers I’d like to buy…but I never actually decide and end up buying more pens 😀
Love your solution Paris!
Hahahaa I’ve heard their stationery is really nice, as well as their cotton pads! Maybe I’ll try that the next time I go. I love browsing in Muji but I find them a bit pricey here so I mostly just browse and day dream 😀
I have trolleys from Ikea, I love these, the have wheels and 7 drawers. I have every piece of make-up in there and space for camera stuff and one drawer full of packages, which I just can’t throw out yet.
Ooh I love the sound of your trolleys! Have you blogged about them, Wojis? 😀
I was going to use the Australia DAy long weekend to declutter my makeup. But it was more fun lazing and napping on the couch 😛 I’ll get to it, perhaps, Australia DAy next year 😛 What I love most about your post is that I finally get to have a peek at your stash 😀
Teehee glad you enjoyed the peek! I actually find myself using more and different items than before because I can now see them, as opposed to being out of sight and out of mind!
Hi5!! I bought the 6 drawers (3 tier, 2 drawers per tier) to organize my makeup too! Tho I don’t have as many as you, what I love is it comes with adjustable divider. Of cause only setback is I can’t fit some of my big palette & I’m not sure can u fit your meteorites but I’m ok since my palettes are covered anyway.
I even bought their acrylic 3 section storage for my brushes & mascaras & eye liners!
For those who are looking for cheaper alternatives my friend saw something similar in Robinson. Bout 1/4 of Muji price… 🙂
Oh yay, high 5! 😀 I saw the ones that came with dividers too which would be useful for someone who is into compartmentalizing stuff. But from experience, I’d learnt that those that come pre-divided tend not to be very practical so I prefer to get something that is open and then divide it up myself 😀
Oh no. Mine the divider is adjustable! That’s e reason I got it
Perhaps that slipped my vision then 🙂 The one I saw was long and narrow with adjustable dividers but I’ve had similar ones that didn’t work mostly due to the size restriction. That said, it would work a treat for storing lipsticks! 😀
*sigh* I love taking a snoop into other people’s makeup/makeup storage! 😀 You’ve got a gorgeous collection, Paris! I REALLY need to get my sh*t organized already! 😛 I have a large IKEA wardrobe that I emptied out to turn into a “beauty closet” but I still need to get organizers and more shelves. Until then, it’s just a crazy mess hidden in a closet 😛
Becca! A whole beauty closet – what a dream set up! 😀 Can’t wait till you’re done, and you have to promise to blog it ok? 😀
I love your red Helmer! I always forget Muji makes non-acrylic storage too hahaha. I bought one of their acrylic 5 drawer boxes for college, I actually really like it because it forces me to keep everything nice and neat inside. Love the system you’ve got going on here though! 🙂
Thanks MM! The Helmer is surprisingly useful especially for lipsticks! They all stand up so nicely in there and is just the right height for most of them, except for the longer or bulkier ones. Oh and eyeshadow palettes too! I think anyone who has an acrylic box has the patience of a saint to use their products neatly LOL 😀
Wow! so organised. well done! I must do something too. thanks for sharing.
Quick! Chinese New Year is only a week away! 😉 Glad you liked it 🙂
Hi Paris, nice to know the depth of these Muji drawers, so I can probably set my eyes and heart at getting them. Will take my bulkiest makeup item and see if it fits into the drawer lol. I dont prefer the see through acrylic ones cos they are dont have as much depth as these. Also, I prefer non see through containers cos I dont want to remind myself how much makeup I actually have! 😉 and yet look organised as well 😛
Smart move, Sharon! 😉 these drawers are quite deep although they can’t fit foundations standing up, you should have no trouble with most tins or palette 😉 I feel the exact same way you do about clear containers! Don’t need to remind ourselves just how much we have eh? 😉
i have two red helmers! 🙂 I think these drawers look so roomy and useful! 🙂
Would be fun to know what went into your Helmers, Joyce 🙂 I noticed them when people were raving about them for polish, but since I don’t use a lot of polish I didn’t bother to check them out till I realized that they fit lipsticks very well too. That clinched the deal!
Gah, I LOVE Muji. Everything they do is so elegant, practical and streamlined, its just gorgeous. Its a good thing I don’t live somewhere where I can easily access a Muji store…. I’ve been terribly jealous of Xiao’s lip product drawers since seeing her organisation post and I don’t think I could resist buying copies of them among other things!
I used to resist Muji a lot mainly because of the whole acrylic drawer thing but now I’m hooked! Grr… 😛