We've done our fair share of snooping around other people's spaces and have noticed that we're not alone in our pack-rat tendencies. Yay! And we've seen how different folks have attempted to organize the chaos, often to enviable, beautiful results— Lauren Santo Domingo’s shagreen jewelry box full of lipsticks [2], Vanessa Traina’s mirrored tray for oils and scents [3], Carolyn Murphy's silver platter for brushes and compacts [4], Jen Brill’s hollowed-out Diptyque candles filled with liners and brushes [5], Gucci Westman’s lacquered tray for her toothbrush, face serums, and moisturizers [6].The common thread? A good number of you guys write in (via email or the comments) to ask where they got their storage and how to DIY. So, we adopted a touch of common sense and tidiness (though not a ton; some, like us, still prefer to have things laying out in eyesight, lest we forget they’re there) and aimed to answer your queries. Here, some solutions and favored options for shelving, storing, and showing off your tools of the trade—as for your tricks, well, show those off any way you like.

For your fluffy things:

For cotton balls, swabs, sponges, other soft and fluffy accoutrements: we like brass- or glass-topped pharmacy jars (either from Restoration Hardware, Target, or your local flea market). It’s a pretty way to hold and sort things you use all the time, and makes something rather boring display-worthy.

For pencil-like things:

For crayons, liners (lip or eye): Oddly shaped jewelry boxes (long and narrow, for example) are perfect for this. Also, those tapped-out but gorgeously designed candles (Diptyque, Cire Trudon, etc.) will come in handy here. Pop them in a freezer to harden the wax residue, then simply knock/pry out the contents with a butter knife. (Run candle under hot water if it's not happening easily.)

For lipsticks:

For all those lipsticks, tints, tubes: simple acrylic Muji (here, too) or Container Store drawers and dividers help provide some method to your madness; or (again!) larger jewelry boxes. Divide by shade or situation (dark to light, nudes to reds, daytime to nighttime, etc.) for easy search and rescue.

For brushes and/or long tubular objects:

For makeup brushes, mascaras, objects of a similar height: those hollowed-out candles (obviously, store brushes fluffy side up); or open-top acrylic organizers stacked on top of drawers, à la Bibi Cornejo Borthwick [7] or Tory Burch [8]. Alternately, we also love the idea of a cool-looking tin. It's less prissy-feeling, and sort of painterly.

For your skincare tubs and tubes:

We're mildly obsessed with antique (or antique-looking) silver trays, or a pretty lacquered version like Gucci's John Derian number. No antiques? No problem! Pottery Barn has decorative trays (these can be monogrammed, if you're into that type of thing) and no matter where you get one, they make displaying pretty bottles and objets a breeze.

The very high option:

If you want everything in one place and rather #swag: a vintage train case, if you can swing it, would be pretty swell (and what a way to travel! Though we’d sort of like an attendant to carry it, too, as long as we're dreaming); or a Valextra option like Lisa Marie Fernandez' [9]. For the makeup professional, or amateur with a helluva-lot to tote, a faux-croc embossed fold-out case (remember Caboodles?) shows you mean business. Here at the Gloffice, we're lusting after a one-of-a-kind station like Leigh Lezark’s globe bar [10], gifted to her by Sophia Lamar. So, ahem, Sophia (or any of our kind, generous, gorgeous friends/family/Santa), the Holidays are coming...! We’ve been very good.

NOTE : All this organizing means nothing if your eyes fall plumb out of your head and roll down the street because you don't take good care of your things: don't forget to clean brushes regularly, dust/clean your trays, and be sure to throw out your mascaras after four months (or sooner)!

Photo 1 by Elizabeth Brockway. Photos 2-10 by Emily Weiss (from the Top Shelves of Lauren Santo Domingo, Vanessa Traina, Carolyn Murphy, Jen Brill, Gucci Westman, Bibi Cornejo Borthwick, Lisa Marie Fernandez, and Leigh Lezark).