This post will teach you everything you need to know about how to organize your colored pencils and other coloring book supplies. If you love to color, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of coloring supplies. It can get tedious to take your colored pencils in and out of the tin or cardboard box they came in every time you need a certain color. What if you had them organized, right there at your fingertips, ready to go whenever you need them?

Now you can, with these colored pencil organizers. From wooden stands to fabric roll up bags to desktop carousels, find the organizer that suits your style, even if you bought the biggest set of Prismacolor pencils!

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This is an extremely comprehensive post about many different kinds of colored pencil organizers. Use the quick links below to jump around the various sections of the post!

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How to Organize Colored Pencils by Color

A quick search of the internet to find an article to recommend to a reader about how to organize colored pencils by color came up with nothing. If you organize your colored pencils, markers, gel pens, or other supplies using one of the organizers below, it’s natural to want to put them in color order.

One simple way to do this is simply to lump together pencils by color family. For example, say you have a caddy with seven spaces. In those spaces you can plunk in whole color families — all your reds in one cubby, all your oranges in another, and so on. Then just grab and go whenever you need a color.

What about if you want to put them in a more exact order? Everybody knows the rainbow, but often it’s not quite as simple as just putting your pencils in order a la Roy G Biv. First of all, where do white, black, brown, and grey go? How do you order warmer tones and cooler tones within a color family? Lighter tones and darker tones?

There’s a reason the color wheel is a wheel and not a line: there is no perfect way to put colors in a linear spectrum unless they are all an equal value. However, you can get pretty close to accomplishing this in two ways.

The first way is using manufacturer’s color charts. Many brands of colored pencils have downloadable charts listing all of their color options, often in a conveniently-organized palette. In other cases, members of the art and coloring community have created their own color charts in an attempt to organize their supplies (and stop wasting pigment swatching every time they reach for a pencil).

Please note: I have not met a research challenge like trying to track down the original source of some of these color charts. Where possible, I have linked back to the place I found them, even if the best place I can find is Pinterest. Please know that if you created one of these charts, I mean you no ill will — please email me and let me know! I’m happy to change the credit to you or remove one if you wish. Found another color chart that you want to share with Cleverpedia readers? Please send it to me, I’ll add it to the post!

Prismacolor Premier 150 Colored Pencil Color Chart

Source: Prismacolor

Faber-Castell Polychromos 120 Colored Pencil Color Chart

Source

Marco Raffine 72 Colored Pencil Color Chart

Source

Derwent Inktense Watercolor Colored Pencil Color Chart

Source: Amazon reviewer

Tombow 96 Dual-Ended Brush Pens Color Chart

Source: Tombow

Copic Markers Hex Color Chart

Source

The second method is more labor-intensive but more foolproof, especially if you are not fond of the manufacturer’s order. I recommend this method because the color of the pencil barrel is often not a good representation of the actual color of the pencil pigment. But it does take time, so it’s not for the faint of heart!

Color and label a swatch for every single pencil. Download and print Cleverpedia’s universal color chart for simple swatching! Cut out the swatches. (Be sure to keep the labels attached!) Arrange the swatches in the order that is most pleasing to your eye. (Tip: Pick a spot on the color wheel to begin, such as red, then continue the whole way around the color wheel.) Use the labels to arrange your pencils in the same order. (Optional) Glue down your swatches for reference in a swatch book or notebook so you can refer back to the order in the future.

Get Cleverpedia’s Free Universal Color Chart!

I’ve put together a free, universal color chart for Cleverpedia subscribers that can be downloaded in the free coloring page library! You can use this chart to organize ANY coloring supplies in color order, whether you are trying to arrange your colored pencils in rainbow order, your markers, your gel pens, or anything else! It’s also helpful for planning an arrangement in unusually-shaped organizers like grids and circular holders.

Wooden Colored Pencil Stands

Check out these beautiful wooden pencil arcs by a seller on Etsy. They come in 4 sizes (24, 36, 48 and 72 colored pencils) and can even be personalized with your name!

These wooden pencil stands can hold your entire colored pencil collection perfectly upright, taking up a tiny amount of space on your desk. You can organize your pencils by color family or randomly — either way, it’ll be easy to find the color you need with them all on display.

The wooden organizer is unfinished. It looks beautiful as-is, or you can finish it yourself — I can picture this being a great surface to paint or decoupage!

Spend less time searching and more time coloring with these organizers.

The 60 pencil holder is the perfect size for the Prismacolor 48 color pack, with some blending pencils.

The 84 pencil holder is the perfect size for the Prismacolor 72 color pack.

The 120 pencil holder is the perfect size for the Caran D’Ache 120 color pack (Prismacolor doesn’t have a pack near this size).

The 168 pencil holder is the perfect size for the Prismacolor 150 color pack.

The handmade wooden holder above is gorgeous and can be found on Etsy. It only holds 50 colored pencils and the holes are all at the same height, making the center row a little trickier to access, but you can’t deny that this is one beautiful colored pencil holder!

Above is another beautiful wooden pencil carousel. It is handmade and rotates on a turntable base. Together its 19 cups hold up to 260 pencils!

Above is a bamboo colored pencil holder that is hexagonal and rotates on its base. You can hold many colored pencils in its 7 sections.

The simpler tilted wooden colored pencil holder above is also handmade and can hold up to 400 colored pencils!

What this little guy lacks in practicality, he more than makes up for in style. This wooden hedgehog colored pencil holder definitely ranks as one of the cutest ways to display your colored pencils.

Wooden Colored Pencil Drawers

Want a really classy way to organize your colored pencil collection? If you still want to be able to close your pencils into a container, but have an easy way to access them on your desk, this drawer is perfect. Plus you can keep some of your related tools on top (maybe a few coloring books, an eraser and your pencil sharpener), though I would advise against putting too much weight on it or stacking them.

The drawers come with separators and foam padding to keep your pencils protected and in place.

The two drawer wooden pencil box will hold about 90 colored pencils and is perfect for the Prismacolor 72 colored pencil pack, with some blending pencils.

The three drawer wooden pencil box will hold about 135 colored pencils and is perfect for the Prismacolor 132 colored pencil pack, with some blending pencils.

The four drawer wooden pencil box will hold about 180 colored pencils and is big enough to hold even the Prismacolor 150 colored pencil pack, with some blending pencils. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!

Four drawers still not enough for you? How about five? Well, there’s a colored pencil drawer set for you, too. This set of drawers can hold up to 230 colored pencils.

If you love this form factor for organizing your colored pencil collection, but need even more, this is the set of drawers for you. This 10 drawer set can be used together or split apart into two sets of five. The drawers each have dividers to help keep your supplies in place. This set of drawers can hold around 430 colored pencils.

While not exactly a drawer, this handmade wooden cubby storage unit is worth a mention because it is the perfect size for organizing Copic markers!

Plastic Desktop Stands/Carousels

If you want a plastic holder with a slot for every coloring supply, these are the organizers for you. Both can hold both thin supplies like colored pencils and larger coloring supplies like pens and markers.

The colored pencil carousel has 72 holes on three tiers and rotates like a Lazy Susan when spun. The three tiers have 24 openings each of increasingly smaller diameter, making the top level perfect for pencils, the middle level ideal for Sharpie pens or gel pens, and the bottom just the right size for thicker markers or Sharpies. The top has an opening where you can put scissors, and around the outside are sectioned cups for supplies like erasers, your sharpener, and more.

The clear organizer does not rotate, but it has a whopping 120 slots in a very compact space. The four sections in a circle make it easy to organize colors around the color wheel, and it is large enough to be able to hold the entire Caran D’Ache 120 colored pencil set. The holes are half an inch in diameter, and the plastic divider in the center makes it easy to pick up the whole set and move it around.

These plastic holders may not be the prettiest, but they are compact and great for giving you quick and easy access to your entire coloring collection.

It may not hold the most colored pencils, but you can’t argue that the 3D printed DNA helix pencil holder above is a pretty sweet way to display some colored pencils! It holds 16 pencils between two spiraling bands.

Fabric Roll-Up Colored Pencil Case

Fabric colored pencil wraps are very popular, and all essentially work the same way: thread your entire pencil collection through the loops, roll it up, snap or tie it shut, and you are ready to safely stow your entire colored pencil collection and take it along with you. These roll up cases are great for taking to adult coloring clubs because they are much quicker to pack and transport than the tins Prismacolors come in, and less prone to disaster if you drop them.

Their one major downside (besides some potential tedium threading your entire set of colored pencils through all the loops the first time, which can be difficult, but you can make it easier by threading pointed end first) is that unrolled, these cases can take up a lot of space.

If you are shopping for a roll up pencil bag, the major features to look for are secure loops, and a flap for protecting the pointed ends of the pencils. Some also have a pocket or larger loop for a sharpener or eraser. These cases make it fun to organize your colored pencil collection in rainbow order.

The first roll-up pencil case above holds 48 pencils, one per loop, and is available in pink, beige, or olive green. It is made of a light-weight canvas material, has a leather flap for protecting your pencils, and includes a spot for an eraser.

The second canvas pencil wrap above is available in a variety of patterns, from floral, to bohemian, to patterned with images of notebooks, elephants, trees, or UK inspired items. There is also an option that is plain canvas. You can fit up to 72 pencils in this wrap. The pencils fit one per loop, with a spot for an eraser, and the case ties shut. Included are several styles of beads to thread onto the end of the ties if you desire.

The third wrap is similar to the one above but holds 48 pencils instead of 72.

The final wrap is configured a little differently, fitting 72 pencils, but you fold it in half before folding it up. Leather flaps protect the tips of the pencils and the case is trimmed in leather, with a leather strap closure that snaps shut.

It is worth mentioning that any of the above cases would hold similarly sized gel pens or thin markers!

Zipper Colored Pencil Case

This fine leather case holds a whopping 120 pencils and is available in brown or black. Versions are also available to hold sets of 24, 48, 72, or 96. It zips shut on three sides to completely encase your pencils, and the zipper pull snaps to the spine of the case to keep it locked shut while you are on the go, which is a really nice feature.

It is worth noting that the straps of this case are pretty wide — expect to put three colored pencils per loop, as shown in the second photo above. Since there is a middle section to the case, it can stand upright while being used.

Reviewers note the durability of this case, with its soft leather and fine stitching.

Colored Pencil Carry Bag

If you are constantly carrying your colored pencil collection with you, why not stow it safely away in a shoulder bag perfectly suited to your lifestyle.

This case unzips all the way open, allowing you to lay it flat. Inside the front of the case is a mesh pocket to hide coloring accessories in. Again, the pencils fit at least two to a loop.

This carry bag is an elegant solution to taking a lot of coloring supplies on the go, holding up to 132 pencils and all the accessories you might need.

DIY Solutions

Crafty? Got a talent for woodwork? Here are some DIY solutions to organizing your colored pencil collection!

Create Your Own Wooden Pencil Organizer

I love this rustic homemade colored pencil holder, created by Andrea at Strawberry Chic. The one pictured doesn’t hold too many pencils, but you could easily adapt this technique to larger blocks of wood or board in order to make a holder very similar to the ones on Amazon. The sky’s the limit!

I could really imagine this being a great gift too, maybe even for a writer or a stylish coworker. This thing would look gorgeous on a desk.

DIY Pencil Wrap

These instructions are for a homemade crayon wrap, not a colored pencil wrap, but you can still follow the same set of instructions and come out with a really great looking wrap after some magic on the sewing machine.

Colored Pencil Wall Holder

Tonya Staab created this picture-perfect solution to organizing the colored pencils in her craft room: pieces of wood with shallow slots drilled to perfectly display her set of Faber-Castell Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils on the wall, freeing up her desk space for other things. You need a lot of wall space to pull something like this off, but the end result is pretty and artistic!

3D Printed Colored Pencil Ring

Got a 3D printer? Then you too can make this awesome colored pencil holder ring. With spaces for 50 pencils, this organizer is part practical organizer and part art. Just make sure you don’t trip near it, or you could poke an eye out.

DIY Pop-Up Colored Pencil Organizer

I’m not sure how practical this pencil caddy would be, but BuzzFeed sure makes it look easy to make. Watch the video below to learn how:

Paper Tube Colored Pencil Holder

Believe it or not, this colored pencil holder is made entirely out of paper and glue, which you probably already have lying around! The video below shows you how to make paper tubes for your pencils to sit in, and then the paper holder that wraps around them, which gives you a place to color to show which pencil sits there. Every color will finally have its place.

Lazy Susan Wooden Pencil Holder

Diane at In My Own Style explains how to create this wooden lazy Susan colored pencil caddy. She discovered the original directions for it in an old and well-loved colored pencil techniques book.

She has also attached drawing paper to the “arms” of the caddy to show which colors go in which spot, similar to the previous DIY solution.

DIY Colored Pencil Caddy

The YouTube video below will show you how to make this beautiful three-level tiered colored pencil carousel. It’s on a lazy Susan, so it spins, and it’s entirely made out of PVC couplers, so it’s sturdy, too!

Don’t want to make this yourself? There is a beautiful handmade wooden version available on Etsy!

DIY Vertical Colored Pencil Organizer

I love this innovative vertical colored pencil organizer built out of PVC tubes stacked and glued together! This project was dreamed up and the how to instructions were shared by WetCanvas user JustToBeMe2 here, and this particular example was built and shared by another member, Grumpster2. The best thing about this method of organization? Not only is it sturdy and cheap (under $20), but you can make it as large or as small as needed!

DIY Chicken Wire Dividers for Colored Pencils

Isn’t this a cool idea?! Attach a piece of chicken wire to the top of a wooden box, and suddenly you have a cheap, homemade divided box to store your pencils in! I love the grid this creates. (Note: I was unable to find a source for this image! If you created it please let me know so I can credit you!)

DIY Single Row Colored Pencil Holder

Wow! I love this simple but elegant colored pencil holder created by Intentional Hospitality. The blogger created her unique colored pencil stand by hot gluing a row of large straws between two boards. The setup is beautiful and functional, allowing her to see the name of each color.

Homemade Colored Pencil Cabinet

Are you a true DIY organization master? Prove it, by building this homemade pencil cabinet.

You’ve probably seen those beautiful sets of drawers some really large sets of colored pencils come in. If your colored pencil collection is too large to fit in this three-drawer pencil box, you can follow Ester Roi’s step by step instructions to build your own media organizer box. I love the plexiglass windows at the front of the trays, so you can see all your pencils lined up inside the shallow shelves.

The same artist also shared a smaller shelf system she built using double-sided tape to create a tacky surface on the shelves that her pencils stick to, staying perfectly in their place:

All of the organizers above will serve to house, organize, and control your colored pencil collection, big or small. Some are perfect for making your colored pencils portable, while others will minimize the footprint of keeping your colored pencils right there on your desk. They make great gifts for the colorists in your life, or are a great coloring tool to get for yourself!

I hope you enjoyed this list! If you have any other great colored pencil organization tips or tools, please share them in the comments! Subscribe below to see more stuff like this, or pin the image below to save this list for later!

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