Cord Organisation with Washi Tape

I’m teaming up with some bloggy friends today to share some creative uses for washi tape.

Chances are you have some kicking around your home already. I for one find it hard to walk past a pretty washi tape display or bargain bin without snagging an extra couple of rolls for my stash. So when the girls suggested a post all about washi tape, I was in. And I knew exactly the place in my house that needed some washi tape lovin’…

Ooooooh boy. It was not pretty. This, my friends, until a few short days ago, was the state of the bottom drawer of my desk. I could use all sorts of excuses – we just moved house! (ahem – a year ago.) The other drawers were better! (ahem – they weren’t.)

At least it looked pretty on the outside!

Study reveal

Gold paint pen wall

Well that one at least was true. Still, every time I opened that drawer in my lovely little study area, the mess and tangle of cords rankled at me. Such a serene space, with such an ugly little secret hiding behind closed drawers. Time to do something about it!

First step: I grabbed some baskets I had lying around the house and cut some dividers out of stiff packing cardboard. I made sure they were a tight fit, so they wouldn’t fall over once inserted.

Next, I covered them with plain white tape (white contact paper would be even better for a completely seamless look, but I didn’t have any handy.) Then I added a decorative trim to the top edge in some pretty polka-dot washi tape.

… before filling up the compartments with some of the bulkier electronics. There’s a section for adaptor plugs, a camera battery charger, and car phone chargers.

Next, to tackle all those tangled cords. I started by culling everything that hadn’t been used in the last year and didn’t match with any known electronics in our house. Um, that turned out to be quite a few of them. Why had I been storing all that useless clutter again? Good grief. Out they go!

I then took some toilet rolls and cut them in half.

I made flags for the remaining cords from a piece of washi tape doubled around the cord and snipped at the end.

The toilet rolls received a band of plain white tape, and a trim of the same washi tape top and bottom.

I then wrote the name of the cord on the little flag…

And used my label maker to type a matching label for the toilet roll. Once wound, the looped cords stash neatly inside the roll.

I repeated this using a different pattern for each type of cord. Now I’ll always know where to put them back once I’ve finished using them.

Here they are all snug and sorted inside their basket. Now that’s a darn sight better than the tangled mess I had before!

Now instead of cringing with disgust every time I open the drawer, I open it just to admire those neat little bundles and dividers and pretty patterns. And next time I need a particular cord, I’ll have the correct one right at my fingertips! Win!

So easy – I only wish I’d done it sooner.

I hope you’ll take a moment to stop past my friends’ blogs and take a look at the incredibly creative ways they’ve chosen to use the humble washi tape! I’m truly blown away at how versatile this one simple supply can be. Just click on any image in the collage below to be taken to the site.

Let’s chat: Do you collect washi tape? What’s a creative way you’ve used this craft supply?

Linked up at these parties this week!