Origami isn’t just for making swans with flapping wings anymore; as these designs prove, origami can make organization fun.
Many of the projects on this list can be done at home with nothing more than a little imagination and a whole bunch of paper to fold. From wallets and purses, office supplies and instant shelters, these practical paper projects show that origami is truly alive and well.
Some of the projects make organization fun not by being literal folded paper projects, but rather being inspired by classic origami designs and concepts. Still, metal and synthetic materials being folded into angular origamiesque shapes for the purposes of organization is an idea I can certainly get behind.
If nothing else, it goes to show that there’s more of a purpose to origami art than just making a slithering serpent or a handheld fortuneteller!
32 Origami Organization Ideas
From Wallets to Storage, Folded Paper Inspirations Make Organization:
Andrew Sztein — Jan 16, 2013 — Eco
32
Cardboard Origami Shelters
The Tine Hovsepian 'Cardborigami' Unfolds for the Homeless
31
Transforming Snack Packaging
Stafidenios Raisins Boxes Become Toys When the Treats Have Depleated
30
DIY Computer Docks
The Pizza Box Laptop Stand by Ilya Andreev is Fast Food for Technology
29
Sleek Folding Tablet Covers
The Incase iPad Origami Jacket Adopts a Japanese Art as Protection
28
Origami Tablet Protectors
The Svelte Collection iPad Case Folds into Stands of Different Slopes
27
Contemporary Office Supplies
The Pulp Stationery Studio Creates Tools for the Creative Modernist
26
Foldable Docking Stations
The Viva Speakers are Perfect Travel Companions
25
Folding Paper Furniture
The Lightweight Paper Table That Folds Away Like Origami
24
Origami-Inspired Disc Containers
Pago de los Capellanes DVD Packaging is Paper-Folded Ingenuity
23
Origami E-Reader Covers
The Tasume Nook Stand Provides Protection and a Prop with a Few Folds
22
Origami-Inspired Purses
The Fabulous Naoki Kawamoto 'Orishiki Clutch' Folds Flat
21
Origami-Inspired Bags
The Little House FHOLD Collection Adds Ingenuity to the Classic Leather Tote
20
Origami Steeping Satchels
The 'Dovely' Tea Bags are Handcrafted
19
Origami Time Tickers
The Eva Rielland 'Visualize Differently' Project Lets You Feel Time
18
Porcupine Origami Dishes
These Colorful Bowls from Ruti's Roots are Practical for Everyday Items
17
DIY Japanese Folding Purses
The Origa-me Handbag Snaps Together Like Paper Folding
16
Origami Dual-Purpose Furniture
The Papergeometrix Chair Provides Seating and Shelving
15
Tactile Origami Timepieces
The F.O. Clock Channels Furoshiki, the Japanese Art of Folding Cloth
14
Eco Origami Coat Hangers
H + Bag is an Environmentally Friendly Innovation for the Retail Industry
13
Origami Steel Piggy Banks
The Piggy Break by Googa is an Adorable and Long-Lasting Money Holder
12
Billfold Cell Stands
The DIY $100 Origami iPhone Stand is Luxury at its Craftiness
11
Pop-Up Paper Refuges
The Origami Shelter Provides Easy Emergency Protection for the Elements
10
Origami Handbags
Sylka by Karie Sylvester Takes a Papercraft Approach to Purses
9
Foldable Instant Homes
Doowon Suh 'Origami Shelter' Would Put Victims at Ease
8
Papercraft Post-Its
Origami Sticky Notes are a Fun Way to Remind Yourself to Take Out the Trash
7
Deceiving Money Wallets
Hide your Cash in Style With the Half Dollar Mighty Wallet
6
Fashionably Foldable Wallets
The 'Designed Good' Paperwallet is Stylish and Eco Friendly
5
Airborne Origami Jotters
Fly Messages Across the Room with the Paper Airplane Notepad
4
Flying Origami Thumbtacks
The Paper Airplane Pushpins are Whimsical and Playful
3
Origami Hors D'Oeuvres Dishes
The Rosenthal Surface Serving Tray has a Furrowed Form
2
Origami-Inspired School Accessories
The Metaphys Soh Calculator Folds Flat to Save Space
1
Japanese Art Bottle Holders
The Origami Wine Tote is Markedly Creative
Related Ideas
Upcycled Waste Material Furniture
This Cardboard Furniture Design by Lee Lin is Modular
Space-Saving Foldable Desks
Friday Furniture's Clamshell Desk Has an Appealing Design
Collapsible Pocket Coffee Cups
The 'REUSABLE' Foldable Silicone Cup by Kalina Gotseva is Eco-Chic
Multi-Material Home Composters
The Conceptual 'Toggle' Compost Bin Accepts Food Waste and Paper
AI-Generated Paper Architecture Series
Tim Fu Tests Out New AI Model for Architectural Design
Origami-Inspired Mouse Designs
The myAir.0 OriMouse Collapses When Not in Use
Pleated Designer Dog Houses
The Issey Miyappy Tessellations Dog House Can Be Collapsed for Storage
Ergonomic Foldable Knives
CIVIVI's Mini Praxis Knife Has a Comfortable Grippy Design
Minimal Shoe Rack Concepts
Joao Teixera Designs the New Multifunctional Tokyo Shoe Rack Concept
Sustainable Lightweight Cat Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Pet-Friendly Cat Box
Origami Travel Solar Panels
Sego Innovations Offers Tech for Powering Farther Off the Grid
Reclaimed Plastic Pocket Knives
The Allday Goods x Outsiders Store Knife is Japanese-Inspired
Modern Metallic Wallet Designs
The Craighill Summit Card Case Has a Sophisticated Construction
Magnetic D2C Knife Blocks
Misen Modular Knife Storage Can Be Scaled Up or Down
Multipurpose Pre-Cut Fabrics
IKEA Tyg Shares Pre-Cut Textiles to Inspire Creativity & Connection
Digital Detox Phone Concepts
Andrea Mangone Boasts a Minimalist Foldable Phone
Modular Storage-Equipped Pet Sofas
The Conceptual Grid Sofa from Sunriu Design is Multifunctional
Modular Workstation Organizer Accessories
This Hanging Desk Organizer Doesn't Require Installation
Magnetic Smartphone Stand Wallets
The Satechi Magnetic Wallet Stand Supports Handsfree Viewing
Compressed Toilet Paper Boxes
Bambox Changes the Way Tissues are Dispensed by Removing the Roll
Origami-Inspired Sleek Cabins
A.L.P.S. Designs the Infinity Mobile Architecture System
Minimal Stackable Chair Concepts
Deniz Aktay Designs the Omega Chair Concept with a Single Sheet
Accordion-Style Coffee Cups
The Accordion Paper Cup Concept is Easy to Carry
Modular Working Desks
The Tabs Desk by Pelin ÖZbalcı Streamlines Organization & Productivity
Productive Desk Accessory Concepts
The Yazak Concept Helps Manage Productivity At Night
In-Car Work Desks
The FansDreams Pi Foldable Lap Desk Has a Thin, Collapsible Form
Protective Fan-Style Wallets
The Shuffle Wallet Has Anti-RFID Technology, Easy Access and More
Clock-Accented Shelf Designs
The Omega Shelf by Liam de la Bedoyere Features Bent Plywood
Hand-Dyed Desk Organizers
The Grovemade Desk Tray Comes in Three Sizes
Modular Bin Organizer Accessories
The 'BINGANIZER' Comes in Three Different Designs
Notebook-Equipped Smartphone Accessories
The MOFT Snap Flow Keeps Pen, Paper and More on Hand
Blooming Paper Lamps
The Kazuhiro Yamanaka ‘Tsubomi Paper Lamp’ Embraces Imperfect Forms
Origami-Inspired Adventure Packs
The Huckberry x Peak Design X-Pac Collection Has Six Pieces
Minimalist Aluminum Wallet Designs
The Ekster Parliament Wallet Has Space for 12 Cards
Origami-Inspired Solar Panels
The Levante Origami Solar Panel is 50% Lighter Than Alternatives
Ferris Wheel-Shaped Jewelry Organizress
The Umbra FERRIS Jewelry Organizer is Functional & Stylish
Collapsible Folding Carrier Cups
The DiFOLD Origami Cup Works for Hot and Cold Beverages
Modular Flat-Pack Side Tables
SUNRIU Design's Tai Side Table is Sustainability-Conscious
Productivity Enhancing Tools
The MOFT Snap Flow is a Sleek Portable Focus Tool
Minimalist Clutter-Free Desk Designs
The Parallel Work Table by Eldho T Jai Enhances Productivity
Playful Sushi-Inspired Suitcases
These Sushi Suitcases by Yujeong Shin Includes Three Styles
Versatile Sheet Organizers
Suoco's Sheet Organizer is an Effective Bedding Storage Solution
Tri-Folding Smartphone Concepts
The TECNO Phantom Ultimate 2 Imagines the Foldable Phone Future
Minimalist Book Storage Tables
The 'Pocket' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Split Open
Flexible Folding Concept Phone
Samsung's Flex in & Out Flip is a Bending Phone Concept
Folded Mouse Design Concepts
NAK Studio Presents the Portable Folded Mouse Concept
Modular Mobile Professional Pouches
The Orbitkey 2-in-1 Tech Pouch Organizes All Device Essentials
Stunning Origami Portraits
João Charrua's Creations are Intricate and Eye-Catching
Multifunctional Magnetic Folding Tables
The 'FoldPlay' Folding Table Works Anywhere in the House
Minimal Desk Accessories Concepts
The DESKRISK Series Organizes the Working Space
Origami-Inspired Lit Table Concepts
Sonakshi Gupta Designs the Dynamic LightUP Concept
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Collaborative Art Museum Stationary
The New Papier x the Met Collaboration is One of a Kind
Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Paper-Inspired Artful Museums
Bjarke Ingels Group Designed the Museum for Papirkunst
Modular Flatpack Furniture Designs
The 'OPO=O' Multifunctional Furniture Piece Works in Many Ways
Eco-Friendly Hardwood Accessories
Grovemade Creates a New Series of Affordable Desk Organizers
Realistic Messy Romantic Gifts
The Messy Paper Anniversary Gift Boxes Embraces Imperfections
Quirky Structural Clothes Hangers
The HANG / WE Hanger Emphasizes a Sense of Individuality
Foldable Gaming Consoles
This Game Boy Flip Concept Pushes the Boundaries of Handheld Gadgets
Imitation Book Accessories
Novel Bookwallets Mimics Novels and Film Books for Small Leather Goods
Rustic EDC Tool Wallets
The Galen Leather Co. EDC Wallet Holds Knives, Flashlights and More
Folder Icon-Inspired Wallets
Nik Bentel's PC Folder Wallet is Made from Vegan Leather
Modular Camping Furniture
'Owomo' Created a Line of Build-Your-Own Camping Panels
Origami-Inspired Steel Art Sculptures
Jyhling Lee Created the Stainless Steel Reflector Sculpture
Retro-Inspired 3D-Printed Storage
Scott Yu-Juan Designs the Organized Macintosh Studio
Single-Piece Wooden Chair Concepts
Deniz Atkay Designs the Slide Table Concept with a Single Sheet
Minimalist Industrial Wallet Designs
The REAF Wallet Holds Up to Seven Cards and Banknotes
Reusable Paper Lunch Bags
Out of the Woods Reinterprets a Nostalgic Lunch Classic
Traditional Food Preservation Containers
The 'Twist' Food Storage Container Has a Hidden Chamber
Origami-Inspired Lunch Boxes
The FoldiBox 2 Box has a Flatpack and Technical Design
Japanese Bento-Inspired Stationery
NOOE's Bento Jot Offers an Efficient Storage Solution
Meticulous Paper-Stacked Chairs
Brian Thoreen Creates the Paragraphic in Four Stacks Chairs
Sensibly Sharp Elevated Knives
Grovemade Presents a New Task Knife with Improvements
Paper Mable-Made Tables
Bentley Home Creates a Table with Paper Factor and Frederico Peri
Minimal Storage Tray Concepts
Ping-Lun Chung Designs the Spiral Tray Concept for Organizing
Retro 3D-Printed Bags
Coperni's CD-PLAYER Swipe Bag Resembles a Portable Music Player
Origami-Style Smartphone Stands
The Moft Snap Phone Tripod Stand Sets Up in Seconds
Suspended Origami-Like Lighting
The Sora Light by Fung + Bedford for Frandsen is Artistic
Paper-Inspired Half-Folded Lamps
Jihoon Shim Designs the Half Lamp Inspired by Origami
Productive Mood Lighting Designs
Teixeira Design Studio Presents Moody Lighting for Gantri
Origami-Inspired Suspended Lights
Fung + Bedford Creates the Sora Pendant Light for Frandsen
Festive Bamboo Tissues Papers
The Stack-A-Tree is an Eco-friendly Twist on Holiday Decorations
Rolled-Up Wooden Tables
The Sofan Table by Qi An Has a Clever Rollable Design for Portability
Simplistic Folding Clamshell Smartphones
Andrea Mangone Designs the Minimal 0/1 Phone
Origami-Inspired Magsafe Grips
Marcy Arimoto Designs the New iPhone Case Inspired by Paper Folding
Industrial Folding Mouse Designs
The Conceptual Emergency Foldable Mouse is Angular
Summer-Ready Reusable Kitchen Towels
Cloud Paper's Swish Cloths are Adorable and Functional
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
3D-Printed Sustainable Home Designs
HONOKA LAB Presents the TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT
Minimalistic Desk Solutions
The 'Wool Felt Studio Pad' from Grovemade Simplifies Desk Organizing
Origami-Inspired Solar Panels
Sego Innovations Develops a New Foldable and Portable Solar Panel
Bat-Inspired Kitchen Scissors
OTOTO Presents the New Elizabat Scissors for the Kitchen
Chic Magnetic Tissue Holders
The 'Tent Acme' is a Versatile Tissue Holder with a Durable Design
Confetti-Filled Wrapping Papers
'FettiWrap™' Confetti Wrapping Paper Elevates Amusement
Sustainable Modular Desk Trays
A Team of Designers Join on a Minimal Tray Collection
Seasonal Interactive Fashion Installations
Yoshihisa Tanaka Highlights Washi Paper for SS24
Bespoke Packaging Solutions
The Kite Packaging Corrugated Fan Fold is Ready for Large-Scale Use
Paper-Made Compostable Cutlery
EcoEdge Paper Cutlery is Made with FSC-Certified Material
Wireless Charger Desk Organizers
The Orbitkey Nest v2 Declutters Desks in a Demure Way
Sleek Minimal Contemporary Wallets
FOCX Designs the PIONEER Wallet with Minimal Features
Miniature Handheld Graters
Gensuke Kishi Designs the Colorful Irogami Grater for Tsuboe
Foldable Gaming Controller Concepts
The Swift Game Controller Concept Makes it Easily Portable
Paper-Based Earbud Envelopes
Oman Air Transitions to Using Recyclable Paper Envelopes for Earbuds
Origami-Inspired Playful Magnetic Blocks
Artur Tikhonenko Designs the Trido Building Blocks
Bifold Functional Storage Mirrors
Inga Sempé Designs the Dynamic Cabine Mirror for Ariake
Magnetic Tool Organizers
The ToolBox Widget is Your Gateway to a Clutter-Free Workspace
Hand-Crafted Wooden Stationary Boxes
chengshe.design Designs the ONEBOX with Fidgeting Elements
Sticky Notes Holder Concepts
This Post-it Note Holder Concept has a Tall Structure
Pneumatic Robotics Kits
The MiuraKit Pneumatic Robot Design Kit is Origami-Inspired
Non-Alcoholic Sake Products
Origami Sake Has Introduced ZERO, a First for the US Market
Organic Plastic Furniture Series
Kasper Kyster Creates the Crafting Plastic Collection
Mid-Century-Inspired Paper House Ornaments
West Elm Presents a Series of Paper Christmas Ornaments
Organic Abstract Furniture Series
Superlife Presents the Flow Family Series to its Roster
Cardboard-Inspired Ceramic Household Art
Jacques Monneraud Designs the Cardboard Collection
Folding Travel Toothbrush Concepts
Uladzislau Patapchyk Designs the IO Travel Toothbrush Concept
Curved Stacked Wooden Boxes
Studio Entrandan Designs the Box Set with Wooden Details
Personality-Enhancing Side Tables
The ORDO Book Side Table Features Organized Nooks
Illuminated Stainless Steel Clipboards
Studio SHFT Designs the FOLD B with a Minimal Aesthetic
Japanese-Inspired Simplistic Offices
Okamura Presents its Lives Post + Beam Workspace Design
Collapsible Outdoor Furniture Pieces
The Oru Camp Origami Outdoor Furniture is Efficient
Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture
Max Lamb Presents the Box Exhibition at Gallery Fumi
Repurposed Furniture Design Exhibitions
Honoka Presents the Tatami Refab Project Exhibition
Structural Washi Paper Lamps
Isamu Noguchi Designs the Stylish Akari Lamps Using Paper
Pottery-Inspired Artful Notebooks
Sutta Design Creates the Dynamic Kintsugi Art Notebook
Portable Foldable Lap Desks
FansDreams Presents the Pi Lap Desk Inspired by Origami
Collapsible Gamer Controller Designs
The 'Swift' Foldable Controller Concept is Compact
Miniature Elastic Paper-Turning Aids
Plus Designs the Mecreicco Catch to Flip Papers Over
Briefcase-Compact Office Set-Ups
Worky Designs the Compact and Portable Home Office
Eco-Friendly Desk Stands
The 'HOMBI' is a Customizable Stand for Phones, Cards, and More
Written-to-Digital To-Do Lists
Papper Let's Users Scan and Digitize Handwritten Notes and Lists
Table Paper Saddlebag Organizers
Tilla Goldberg Designs the SALTO Saddlebag for Richard Lampert
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Recycled Paper-Made Desktop Organizers
RAE is an Organizer Series Made from Campus Notebooks
Home Organization Tracking
WhereThings Helps You Organize and Locate Your Belongings Effortlessly
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Organizational Digital Folders
Mynders Helps Individuals Track Thoughts, To-Dos, Lists & More
Whimsically Bright Napkin Holders
PELEG DESIGN Creates the Memorable Balloonapkins
Organized Listed Article Platforms
The Pocket Service Unveils a Plethora of New Features
Centralized Life Management Systems
Organizi Consolidates Daily Living into One Central Hub