If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes hunting for the right shade of green before you can start coloring, you already know how to store coloring supplies matters as much as which supplies you own. After watching dozens of colorers (adults and kids both) build storage systems that worked — and a lot that didn’t — here are the 5 best organization systems for how to store coloring supplies cleanly, plus the right match for your use case.
What “good” storage actually does
The right system does three things at once:
- Reduces session start friction. Pulling out the kit should take 30 seconds, not 5 minutes.
- Protects supplies from damage. Pencil cores break when rolling around loose. Marker tips dry out faster when stored caps-up.
- Makes color selection visible. Most colorers waste more time finding a color than using it. Organization solves this directly.
This is why how to store coloring supplies is one of the highest-leverage decisions in adult coloring after picking the right tools. Bad storage = abandoned hobby. Good storage = you actually use what you buy.
The 5 best systems for how to store coloring supplies
1. Tackle box / craft organizer (best for kids and beginners)
The classic hard-plastic tackle box with adjustable dividers. $15-$25 at any craft or fishing-supply store. Holds 24-72 colored pencils, an eraser, sharpener, and blending stumps — all in one portable case.
Why it works: kid-friendly, durable, drops without spilling. The hard shell protects pencil tips. Lid keeps things from drying out.
Best for: kids ages 6-12, beginners who haven’t expanded their supply collection yet, anyone who wants ONE thing to grab. Pair with our beginner supplies guide if you’re still assembling the kit.
2. Roll-up canvas case (best for portability)
Fabric pouch with individual pencil slots that rolls up tight. 48-120 pencil slots. ~$20-40. Lays flat when open, rolls into a compact bundle when not.
Why it works: each pencil has a slot — no jostling, no broken tips. Visible when laid open. Compact when stored.
Best for: traveling colorers, café/library users, anyone with limited shelf space. The downside: no room for accessories — sharpeners and erasers need a separate small bag.
3. Drawer divider system (best for home-based colorers)
Repurpose a shallow drawer with bamboo or plastic dividers. $10-20 for the dividers. Categorize: warm colors / cool colors / accessories / blending tools. Pencils stored caps-up in rows.
Why it works: instantly visible at a glance. Easy to grab one pencil and put it back. Scales as you add supplies.
Best for: dedicated home colorers with a craft desk. Not portable but most efficient daily. Pair with our adult coloring worth-it analysis for whether a dedicated setup is right for you.
4. Pegboard wall system (best for serious hobbyists)
Wall-mounted pegboard with small hooks, jars, and bins. $30-80 to set up. Pencils in clear jars sorted by color family. Markers stored horizontal in slim shelves. Blending tools on dedicated hooks.
Why it works: every supply is visible, accessible, and put-away in seconds. Adds wall décor. Encourages frequent use because friction is essentially zero.
Best for: people with 100+ pencils, multiple media (pencils + markers + watercolor), dedicated craft room. Overkill if you’re a casual colorer with one 24-set.
5. Stackable shelf bin system (best for multi-medium households)
Plastic stacking bins (Sterilite, Iris) with labels. One bin per medium: pencils, markers, gel pens, paper, finished pages. Stack on a shelf or in a closet.
Why it works: separates incompatible mediums (alcohol markers shouldn’t touch watercolor paper, for example). Scales infinitely. Easy to grab one bin for the session.
Best for: households with multiple colorers (kids + adult, or multiple kids with different supplies). The downside: not as quick-access as drawer or pegboard systems.
How to store coloring supplies that need extra protection
Three categories that need their own storage even within a larger system:
- Markers (cap-down or horizontal). Storing markers tip-up dries out the tips. Cap-down or horizontal positions keep ink at the tip. Critical for alcohol markers.
- Paper and printables (flat, not vertical). Standing pages bend over time. Lay flat in a drawer or use a flat portfolio case. See our paper guide for the right paper weight per medium.
- Finished pages (separate from blanks). Keep completed work in a dedicated folder or portfolio. Mixing finished and unfinished invites accidental damage to the finished ones.
For finished coloring books and pages, our DIY book binding guide covers archival options if you want to compile your work.
How to store coloring supplies by frequency of use
Pareto’s principle applies to coloring supplies — most colorers use 20% of their pencils 80% of the time. Organize accordingly:
| Use frequency | Storage placement |
|---|---|
| Daily-use favorites | Top of caddy / front of drawer / first row of pegboard |
| Weekly-use colors | Second tier — visible but not first reach |
| Special-purpose or rarely-used | Bottom of bin / back of drawer / storage closet |
| Backup / unopened | Sealed in original packaging, in storage |
This sounds obvious but most people store all pencils equally regardless of how often they use them. The “front of drawer = favorites” rule alone cuts session start time in half.
Common mistakes when figuring out how to store coloring supplies
- Buying decorative containers before deciding on a system. The cute mason jar looks nice and then doesn’t hold all your pencils. Plan first, buy containers second.
- Storing markers tip-up. Dries out the ink. Always tip-down or horizontal.
- Mixing different brands in one slot. Some brands have different barrel diameters and don’t sit well together. Group by brand within the system.
- Letting “miscellaneous” become a junk drawer. If something doesn’t have a defined home, it gets lost. Define a place for everything.
- Storing in direct sunlight or heat. Wax-based pencils soften and bleed. Markers dry out faster. Keep supplies in a temperate, shaded spot.
How to store coloring supplies for traveling
Three rules for travel storage:
- Hard case for flights. Soft pouches get crushed in carry-ons. Plastic hard cases (pencil box style) protect tips.
- Limit to one medium per trip. One 24-pencil set + one book is enough. Don’t try to bring your whole studio.
- Pre-sharpen everything before packing. Most planes ban sharpeners with razor blades. Pre-sharpened pencils stay usable for the whole trip.
The Wikipedia overview of colored pencils covers the construction differences that matter for storage — wax-based vs oil-based pencils have different temperature sensitivity.
Storage upgrades as your collection grows
A realistic upgrade path:
- Month 0 (starter kit): Tackle box, 24 pencils, sharpener, eraser. Total under $40.
- Month 3 (expanded): Roll-up case + drawer dividers if you’ve added a 48 or 72-pencil set.
- Month 6+ (committed hobby): Pegboard system or stackable shelf bins. Now you have multiple media and need separation.
Don’t over-invest in storage early. Many beginners buy a $100 organization system and quit coloring in two months. Start with the $15 tackle box; upgrade only when you’ve outgrown it.
FAQ
Can I store pencils with the points exposed? Yes — that’s the standard. Pencil tips don’t dry out the way markers do.
How long do colored pencils last in storage? Indefinitely if kept dry and temperate. Wax-based pencils (Crayola, Prismacolor) can last 20+ years. Storage failures are heat, sun, and moisture.
Should I dust my supplies? Yes — light dust on pencil tips affects color lay-down slightly. Wipe with a dry cloth weekly if you have an open shelf system.
What about scented markers? Store in a sealed bin separately. They will scent everything they touch over time.
Bottom line
How to store coloring supplies depends on collection size and use case. Tackle box for kids and beginners, roll-up for portability, drawer dividers for home use, pegboard for serious hobbyists, stackable bins for multi-medium households. Store markers tip-down, paper flat, and finished pages separate from blanks. Match storage to use frequency. The right answer to how to store coloring supplies makes the difference between a hobby you keep and one you abandon within months.
