I order all my thread and it comes in boxes four spools to a box. I write the color on the outside of the box and store the boxes in plastic bins.My embroidery thread I order by the box and when it arrives I put the skeins in the embroidery boxes from C&C which has little trays in it. Each tray holds a box of embroidery thread.I put little labels on the outside of the trays to show me which color is in each tray.I also use DMC embroidery thread and they are stored in envelopes with the color number written on the right hand side and stored in a three drawer plastic container that is stored under my cutting table. All threads are stored where the sun or light does not get to it.