5 Multipurpose Items to Help Save Space and Buy Less
"I've been looking to find out what have been the best multipurpose items others have found." —Tess Lee, Minimalist Living community on Facebook member
Good quest, Tess! As simple living enthusiasts, we all should be interested in saving space and cutting back on clutter by identifying items that can serve more than one purpose. I asked the Minimalist Living community on Facebook to recommend dual purpose items they’ve found, and so far only one person has shared an item: a spork. Read my thoughts below, and then scroll down for more multipurpose items.
Spork
My first memory of interacting with a spork is a childhood experience of eating refried beans at Taco Bell with a plastic spork. I’ve never used a metal spork as an adult. I have one main concern: pain. I’m a little worried about forgetting that I’m not using a spoon and poking myself in the tongue. That being said, I’m confident I could try something new.
I found a spork on Amazon that looks like it would be pain-free to use. Will you be trying a spork next time it’s time to purchase new utensils? Who knows, the spork might become your new favorite eating tool.
Here’s an affiliate link for those of you willing to take a walk on the wild side and try this spoon-fork combo.
More Multipurpose items
I’ve been keeping my eyes open for additional things that serve more than one purpose, and I have a few to share. By the way, if you have a suggestion that I could add to this post, put it in the comments on this FB post:
2. This Reversible Skirt
I’ll start with my favorite multipurpose item, and it’s not a household item. It’s actually one of my favorite capsule wardrobe pieces — a reversible maxi skirt. I purchased this exact skirt (affiliate link) and I wear it all the time. I’m probably wearing it right now.
The problem with many other reversible items is that usually the two wearing options have very similar colors and patterns that don’t provide much variety. Not so with this skirt. You can pack one skirt for a trip and wear it both ways for variety, something I did on my last trip (a visit to Lagos, Nigeria).
I don’t know why more fashion brands don’t make more reversible/multi-wear pieces for men and women. In fact, as a hobbyist fashion designer, I’ve been thinking about dress designs that would work well as reversible pieces. I’ve got some sketches and I’m excited about the sewing possibilities. If you can recommend a brand that makes reversible clothing, please let me know.
Here I am wearing the same skirt pictured above, but flipped to the pink side.
3. This “Toddler” Plate
I first learned about this plate (affiliate link) when the brand that makes it sent me a free toddler plate to try. My family thought this rather ingenious plate was well designed. I love that it's made of non-toxic, non-breakable materials. (More on that in a minute.)
What makes it multi-use? The sectioned topper is great if you have picky young kids or little monsters are visiting you. When little ones start to care less about one food touching another food, you can use these plates without the dividers for eaters of all ages.
The plates are on the smaller side, making them ideal for lunch, snacks, or those wanting to control their portion sizes. You can also bring those dividers back to serve snacks to grown ups - I envision putting appetizers in the dividers - olives, grapes, cheese cubes, and serving them with toothpicks. The plates are quite colorful so I think this would work if you have a bright, cheery home decor color scheme. I'm a child at heart who loves bright colors, so I can see using these even when I'm dining without children present.
Finally, my favorite aspect of the plate is the non-toxic material it’s made of. Petroleum-based plastic has major downsides including the possibility of degradation leading to microplastics taking up residence in our brains and other organs. Yikes. Glass is breakable. Metal rusts. What’s a parent to do?
Serve lunch to your kids and yourself on plates made of polylactic acid, a plant-based material derived from corn and sugarcane. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, and when a toddler throws it on the floor, it won’t shatter like glass.
4. A Pot You May Already Own
I was today years old when I learned that if you have a stovetop cooking pot with a lid, it can double as a refrigerator food storage container. This one is pretty simple, but I hadn’t thought of it until recently. Sometimes after cooking, I just want to pop leftovers into the fridge as quickly as possible, without transferring them to a storage container like a Tupperware. The problem? Pot lids are often dome-shaped and have a handle or knob that makes the whole thing too big to fit easily on a refrigerator shelf.
The simple solution? Simply turn the lid over so the whole thing fits on a typical refrigerator shelf. And there you have it — a pot that finds another purpose as a food storage container.
5. The Shard
My husband introduced me to The Shard. We were in our EDC (Every Day Carry) era. It was a simpler time when we thought most problems could be solved by carrying precisely the right minimalist set of items to be prepared for most life situations. Now my bag is fully that of a mom. I carry everything from insect repellent to bandages. Minimalism is a standard I no longer hold myself to when it comes to my bag. However, if you are someone who frequently needs a bottle opener and a screwdriver in one, The Shard is what you want on your keychain as part of your EDC. This little piece of steel has 7 advertised uses, and probably more you’ll think of once it’s in your hand interacting with the world.
What did I forget?
What would you have added to this list of the best multipurpose items? Let me know by sending me an email (see my contact page) or add to the Facebook post linked above.