Learn how to organize your pastels efficiently with this beginner’s guide. Discover storage tips, sorting methods, and easy ways to keep your pastel collection tidy and accessible

When you’re working with pastels, having them organised can make a big difference to your workflow, helping you find colours quickly and keeping your supplies protected. Here are some simple and effective ways to organise your pastels. 

This essential guide will cover:

Sort by colour family 

Use a pastel storage box or tray 

Repurpose drawer organisers or utensil trays

Store in foam-lined boxes 

Use small jars or cups for broken pieces

Sort by colour family 

Pastel artist Lisa Ober's storage (lisaober.com)

Arrange your pastels into colour groups like reds, blues, greens, yellows, neutrals, etc. Place each group in a separate container  or in different sections of a  pastel box.
Best for: Quick colour selection
Tips: If you have a large collection, consider further subdividing by light, medium, and dark shades within each colour family. This helps you grab the right shade instantly without much thought.

Use a pastel storage box or tray 

Valerie McKeehan's pastel box (valeriemckeehan.com)

Many art stores sell pastel-specific boxes with foam padding to protect each stick. You can find ones with individual slots or compartments to keep each colour secure.
Best for: Keeping pastels safe and portable
Tips: Look for boxes that are stackable if you need to store a large collection. Some boxes are even designed to hold open trays, so you can easily see all your colours at once while working.

Repurpose drawer organisers or utensil trays 

Repurposed storage by Dogford Studios (dogfordstudios.com)

Drawer organisers, especially those with multiple compartments, can be perfect for keeping pastels sorted by colour or type. Utensil trays can also work well for larger pastel sticks.
Best for: Simple, low-cost storage
Tips: Place a layer of soft cloth or foam at the bottom to protect your pastels from breaking. This setup can be a convenient, affordable solution for beginners.

If you're new to pastels, don't stop here! Explore our other beginner-friendly guides to learn all you need to progress and develop your pastel skills.

Store in foam-lined boxes 

Pat Hammerstein's pastel storage

Line a box with foam or soft cloth and arrange your pastels inside with a small amount of space between each stick. This helps prevent pastels from rolling around and reduces the chance of dust buildup.
Best for: Minimising breakage and dust
Tips: If you’re using softer pastels, consider a foam-lined box with a lid to avoid dust spreading and to protect colours.

Use small jars or cups for broken pieces

Pastel artist Robert Dutton's storage (rdcreative.co.uk)

When pastels break, don’t toss them! Use small jars or cups to store broken pieces and sort them by colour. This helps keep your main set tidy and makes smaller pieces easy to access for blending and detailing.
Best for: Organising smaller pastel pieces
Tips: Consider transparent containers so you can easily see the colours. Small cups or jars also work well if you have limited space.

Organising your pastels doesn’t have to be complicated! Find a system that works best for your style and space, and don’t hesitate to get creative  with repurposed containers. 

A well-organised pastel setup  can streamline your process, reduce the risk of breakage, and make it much easier to experiment with colours.

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