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Thinking of heading to the store to shop for plastic storage totes? If so, you should hit pause on that for a moment. Do you actually know what you need, or are you simply hoping that “some bins” will magically cover your needs?

It is easy to think of storage units to buy as a catch-all solution for your storage problems. On some level, that is true—you are going to find few more versatile storage solutions than plastic totes. That being said, it is far too easy to fall into the trap of buying too many bins or the wrong kinds of bins, and then you have ended up wasting money and space.

In Part 1 of this series, I delved into three questions you should always ask yourself before purchasing plastic storage containers:

1. How Much Storage Do I Need?
2. What Size and Shape Do I Need?
3. What About Weight?

Now let’s talk about a few more!

4. Do I Need Plastic Storage Bins With Covers?
Sometimes it makes sense to buy plastic bins with lids, while other times you may not have much use for them. I recommend if in doubt, you always select bins with lids. The lids themselves do not take up a lot of space, and if you decide to forego them, you can always store them somewhere else (you may find upcycling uses for them as well).

If you are going to be stacking plastic storage bins, pay close attention to the type of bin you purchase as well as the lid it comes equipped with. Stackable bins typically come with special lids which prevent the bins from slipping when they are placed on atop the other. You will need to know in advance if this is a feature that you want.

5. What Colors (If Any) Do You Need?
Another consideration is the appearance of the bin. Plastic bins come in numerous different colors, and you can also buy clear ones that let you see what is inside. Clear bins are incredibly useful if you want to see at a glance what is inside, but keep in mind they can result in a cluttered appearance. For that reason, many buyers still opt for opaque bins.

Colored bins are handy for organizing different types of supplies; you can color-code and come up with an easy system for quickly finding what you need.

Of course, you may choose to change the appearance of your bins entirely after you bring them home. There are many projects you can use to customize your bins by painting them or covering them in fabric. In that case, it does not matter what your plastic-bin looks like, just whether it will fit your needs in terms of dimensions and weight capacity.

You now should have a much better idea what you are doing when you go to shop for plastic bins. Always start by taking an inventory of your needs. Figure out the answers to these 5 questions and you will be ready to purchase plastic storage totes!