Despite your best efforts, pantries can quickly become cluttered and messy. Open bags and boxes of food become mixed with various spices and soon you can’t find anything, or even worse — have everything topple when you reach for something.
Old and unused desk organizers can actually solve this problem. You can use them to organize some of the smaller items inside your pantry. If you have the room and a little technical skill, you can even attach them to your wall, freeing up more shelf space to accommodate larger items.
Shower Curtain Pockets
Need a place for all your bathroom utensils and toiletries when you are in the shower? Try this easy bathroom storage hack that will free up surfaces with a pocket-feature shower curtain.
If you can't get one you can also make your own version by hanging a water-proof shoe organizer alongside the curtain. If you can, get a mesh design or cut small holes in the pockets to drain any water.
Upcycled Desk Storage
If you happen to have a wooden pallet, you can sand and treat it to become an eye-catching and rustic desktop shelf for a home office. Its many nooks and crannies make handy surfaces for stationary and inspirational objects.
You can also use bobby pins and clips to transform your new storage space into a notice board if needed.
Hooks Under Shelving
You could effortlessly double your kitchen storage by screwing in hooks underneath your wall-mounted shelves.
This way, you could hang your pots, pans, and mugs where you can easily reach them. Simply measure out and mark the exact spaces so you get a streamlined and harmonious look.
Grow Veggies in a Colander
You can repurpose your old colander into a planter to add a quirky feel to your kitchen theme. Simply hang it in a sunny spot close to a windowsill.
This adds a charming eco-friendly feel to your kitchen while not taking up too much space. Plus you'll save on your grocery bill.
Secret Space
If you are always losing the TV remote controls, this could be the perfect storage hack for you! These ready-made book-safe designs are fake and made of wood but you can make your own using a real vintage book.
Glue all the pages together and slice open a compartment in the middle. This makes for a nifty secret hiding place for your unsightly remote controls!
Keep the Hallway Neat
As soon as guests arrived they're greeted by your hallway and however messy it is, so why not make the entrance to your home a little more organized?
Not only will a functional ladder keep your hallway from looking messy, but it will also make your space look more creative.
Swap Your Bulky Hangers
Plastic hangers are pretty cheap, but they can quickly bulk up your closet while letting your clothes slip right off. We recommend you make the switch to clip hangers that have extra grip.
The tight clips will keep even your most delicate silks from falling off the hanger and into a pile on the floor.
A Home for Plastic Bags
We usually stuff our plastic bags in an unseen corner, like under the sink but why not save them in a dispensing bag that you can hang from your pantry?
These dispensing bags come with a hole that makes retrieving plastic bags easy. Another option is to use a fishnet bag with large holes. You can also make your own crochet version or in just a few minutes with a sewing machine, there are many tutorials on YouTube.
Make Your Own Closet
If you don't have a walk-in closet, make one! An empty corner or unoccupied wall can effortlessly be transformed into your very own dream closet.
The best part about DIY is that you get to choose exactly how you want it to look, you can use a tension rod, curtains, or even sliding doors.
Multi-Purpose Furniture
This applies to most furniture you own. See if you can double down on their functionality by installing storage space under your coffee table or your sofa.
If you're looking to change things up, you could also ditch an old sofa in favor of a cabinet that can be spread with cushions.
Medicine Cabinets
You're lucky if you happen to have some room in your medicine cabinets, but the chances are good that you don't and whenever you open them, everything comes falling out.
If this is the case, you could replace your useless cabinet with a slightly bigger and more functional unit.
Double Your Hangers
There's another easy way to double your closet capacity without spending loads of cash to revamp your closet or buy special hangers.
All you need to do is attach a soda can top to your hanger's hook and layer more hangers through.
Hang Your Chip Bags
Who said your pants hanger is exclusively meant for your closet? Why not use it in the kitchen and hang up snack bags that have been opened but unfinished?
Now you don't have to worry about any spillage from these bags that might also be taking up unnecessary space in your pantry.
Hang Your Storage Bins
Another easy way to carve out more storage space would be to utilize the back of your doors.
Simply hang your storage bins to the insides of your bathroom, pantry, or closet doors and stock them with items you often use like towels, hair products, and accessories.
See-through Storage
Filling the top or bottom of your closet with a box of items you don't wear as frequently will help free up some space.
But it will also cause you to constantly search through those bins trying to remember what the hell you put in there, so it's best to try clear containers so you can easily see through.
Utilize Wasted Space
Most furniture like beds and sofas have a lot of space underneath them. You can easily put these spaces to good use and stash away those items you don't use too often.
Make the most of your space with drawers or storage containers made specifically for under your bed or couch.
Hang a Silverware Drawer
If you happen to have an old silverware drawer lying around, you can always hang it up and use it for other organizational purposes.
To use in the kitchen, simply add a few mug hooks on the inside of the compartments and mount the drawer on the wall. You can also hang it in other rooms, using it to stash your toiletries, jewelry, or even stationery.
Store Plastic Bags in Wet Wipes Container
Accumulative plastic bags can really get in the way. You can bunch it up and stuff it in a drawer, but that is never very pleasing to the eyes. What can one do with all these excess bags? For starters, you can start recycling, or you can also stop taking store bags back with you. But if you already have them, there is a better solution.
If you have a bunch of bags that you don't know where to put, you can take an old container of disinfecting wipes and place them in there. The pull and grab system is super convenient and you can store it wherever you like.
An Egg Carton Is the Perfect Holder for Near-Empty Condiments
There are few things more annoying in life than trying to squeeze the last few squirts of ketchup or mustard from the bottom of the bottle. You know there is plenty left in there and you don’t want to be wasteful and simply throw it out.
We have all tried to balance the nearly empty bottles upside down just to have them fall over time and time again. An egg carton will help you keep the condiments with the lid down and hold them steady so that you can squeeze out every last drop.
Desk Organizers Can Be Used in Other Parts of Your Home
Despite your best efforts, pantries can quickly become cluttered and messy. Open bags and boxes of food become mixed with various spices and soon you can’t find anything, or even worse — have everything topple when you reach for something.
Old and unused desk organizers can actually solve this problem. You can use them to organize some of the smaller items inside your pantry. If you have the room and a little technical skill, you can even attach them to your wall, freeing up more shelf space to accommodate larger items.
Use a Tension Rod for More Storage
Household cleaning supplies are usually stored separately under the sink in the kitchen or bathroom. But all the different kinds of products, plus the oddly shaped spray bottles, can take up a lot of space and cause cabinet clutter.
A tension rod can really help with this problem. You can find them at any hardware store, and they don’t cost much. Hang one high at the front of the cabinet and you can line up your spray bottles on it, making them more accessible and creating more space underneath.
Innovative Ribbon Organizer
If you need an organizer for ribbons, a paper towel holder is just the trick for you. Some people use lots of ribbons for crafts or what have you, so keeping it in a bag or a box can cause the ribbon to unravel, get tangled, and become damaged.
Plus, it is hard to see and use which ribbon you are looking for when they're on a freeroll. This clever storage hack for ribbons is perfect. Be sure to use a paper towel holder that has a wide enough rod to fit the ribbon spindle.
Reuse Your Old Jars
Reusing old jars and bottles is a great and super sustainable way to store liquids and solids. For example, old coffee jars can be used for storing cocoa, chia seeds, and even nuts.
You can line them on the shelf with the correct labeling so you won't end up mixing the wrong ingredients together.
Shoe Organizers Aren’t Just for Shoes
Everybody knows those plastic shoe organizers that hang on the back of closet doors with pockets for all your pairs of flat shoes. Here’s a groundbreaking thought, you can use them for storing things that are not shoes!
A shoe organizer can help you get your cleaning supplies in order. You can use it to store the smaller items and to see everything you have in a single glance. They can also be a great place to store all the different cords and plugs that can be found everywhere around the house.
DIY Cutting Board Holder
Is there any homemade meal that doesn't require a cutting board? It's a kitchen necessary that everybody will end up using at least once or twice a day, but where do you put them when you aren't using them? Plenty of people keep them on the counter at all times, but there's another way.
Build a quick and easy cutting board holder under your upper cabinet or in another place in your kitchen with just a few hooks and some hardware. The most complicated item you'll have to use is probably a power drill. You can handle that, right?
Hang Up Heavy Utensils Too
Once you've started using hooks, you will find that you will have endless space. You can hang up bigger utensils like spatulas, strainers, larger spoons, and ladles even larger hanging knives like cleavers and chef knives.
This can really take away the frustration of a messy kitchen. It's also much easier to find. Just make sure you don't hang anything sharp in places children can reach.
Dish Towel Rack
Dish towels are basically just Petri dishes in the making. Somehow, they are never dry enough, which lets any kind of bacteria that lands on them have a sweet party with all of its friends. The way to take care of your dish towels and keep them nice and dry is to install a rack.
Mount a rod on the wall over the sink, hang your dish towels on it, and tell the bacteria it can look for somewhere else to party.
Use a Pringles Can to Store Spaghetti
Spaghetti noodles usually come in plastic bags that are almost impossible to reclose once you have opened them. If you only cook some of the noodles, the noodles that are left in the bag become a bit stale and also have a tendency to start falling out into your pantry.
Next time you are snacking on some Pringles, keep the empty can, clean it out, and transform it into the perfect container for noodles. It is just the right size, has a lid, and will save you the trouble and expense of getting a special container.
Use Binder Clips in a Whole New Way
A pyramid is usually a pretty stable shape. (Just look at how long these monumental structures survived!) However, if you try to stack your beers into a pyramid in your fridge, you'll find that this shape is a lot less stable than advertised.
Well, a binder clip or two can solve the problem. Just use the clips as an easy stop as instructed in the above picture and stack away!
Keep Gift Wrap Neatly Rolled
Organize rolls of gift wrap by using this empty toilet paper roll trick. Just one slice and it’s done. Keeping wrapping paper neat and tidy is sometimes better said than done. When rolls unravel, the wrapping paper can get damaged by wrinkling or tearing, so simply roll them back on an empty roll of toilet paper and secure them with an elastic band.
With this toilet paper roll trick, you won't have to worry about wasting the festive paper. This is a really easy and practical fix, any gift wrapper would agree.
Tip-out Tray Under the Sink
Many older apartments and houses have fake drawer panels in front of the kitchen or bathroom sink. While there isn’t exactly a lot of room for a whole drawer because of the sink bowl, you can often fit a tip-out tray.
This spot is perfect for storing your sponges and cleaning supplies that might otherwise clutter up your countertop.
Vertical Storage for Your Pans
Storing baking pans and sheets vertically versus stacking them will make a massive difference in your kitchen.
Not only does this free up some space, but it's also so much easier to access when they are stored vertically, so if you have a lot of pans, we highly recommend this hack.
Go Up!
There is so much wasted space on walls and even ceilings that you can easily utilize to store and organize your clutter. All you'll need to do is attach some hooks and pegs to unoccupied space and voilà!
Now you can hang up umbrellas, coats, shopping bags, basically anything that needs a home.
Use Egg Cartons
Accessories like Christmas ornaments, buttons, and cords can all quickly snag up a lot of space, but storing them in egg cartons can keep them safe from breaking, getting tangled, or getting lost as well as keep them organized.
What's more, you can stack cartons on top of each other! This will make storing your Christmas ornaments super organized and tidy.
Use a Corkboard to Store Jewelry
Yes, you can totally use a corkboard to store your jewelry! Most people use cork-boards for reminders, to-do lists, and calendars, but here's another way to store your valuable accessories.
Not only is this easy to use, but it's also a great multi-tasker. Now you can easily reach your earrings and that necklace without getting your jewelry tangled up.
Repurpose Cereal Boxes
Instead of throwing away your old cereal boxes, you can easily repurpose them into storage boxes for papers or documents. You could also make your own organizers and place them in your drawers.
Simply cut them out and place them as you like to create dividers in any drawer. For bonus points, you can also wrap them in washi tape to reinforce and decorate them as you like.
Spice Up Your Shelves
Spice racks are pretty cheap but that doesn't mean they can't be used for items other than spices. Like your cookbooks for example!
Spice racks have a guard rail that can store items like food, tools, stationery, and books. Place your spice racks in different locations for different needs, be it your pantry or your kitchen. You can even install one in your bathroom for the magazines you flip through there.
Use a Tissue Box as a Holder for Plastic Bags
It seems like every household has its own secret stash of never-ending plastic bags. They are good for picking up after your dog, lining garbage cans, and a million other things, but are usually an unsightly mess in and of themselves.
You can up-cycle an empty tissue box by putting plastic bags inside and turning it into a bag holder. You put the bags in with the loops sticking up and fold the end of each new bag into the loops. That way, each time you take out a bag, another one will already be waiting for you!
Drawer Space Divider
It's time we have the talk. The talk about empty takeout containers. It's nice you're trying to go green and reuse those plastic containers, but letting them pile up in the kitchen drawer you never open does not constitute reusing.
The chaotic mess in that drawer can be contained (get it? contained? containers? ugh, never mind) using a nice tension rod and a little effort. Separate the containers by color/size/material/political opinion, or however else you see fit.
Use Your Ceiling Space
Did you know you can unlock a whole new level of storage in your garage by using your ceiling? All you need to do is install shelving from the ceiling.
Many hardware stores will have ready-made systems. Otherwise, you can look for tutorials online if you're up for a challenge.
Drying Rack
Your toiletry products tend to get wet pretty easily, with their convenient-yet-unfortunate placement in your bathroom. But all this wetness can cause bacteria buildup on the bottles or products. Fortunately, there is a simple solution for that!
You can always repurpose your bottle drying rack into a bathroom multi-tasker. This works well to dry hand soaps, so they don't stay wet, and you can also set your toothbrushes in them.
Mason Jars
If you have awkward clusters of cotton wool balls, ear cotton swabs, or other loose items stretched out over your bathroom, then you might want to store them in mason jars.
Mason jars are great for storing little items. Not only are they made of glass, which means they're clean and easy to see through, but they're also easy to shelf on your walls.
Hold Onto Your LEGO
Who would have thought that our childhood toys could one day be repurposed into a key organizer?
There are so many ways your can turn these little blocks into something more, from holding your cords, to storing your keys and stationery. The options are endless!
Style With Bed Slats
There's nothing more satisfying than being able to repurpose old furniture and make it into something else, all by yourself! In this DIY idea, you can reuse your bed slats and hang them from two coat hooks.
Once they're up and ready you can hang whatever you need, flower pots, keys, chopping boards. You can easily attach them to S-hooks you can find at any hardware store and customize it to your needs.
Secretly Store Bedsheets
Bed Sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers can take up loads of space in your closet. So it's best to not store them in the closet, to begin with!
If you find yourself looking for a clever way to store your extra linen, then you can fold them as flat as you can and store them under your mattress. For maximum results, you can even try vacuum packing the textile before storing it.
Hang Bathroom Items
Don't let your bathtub get overloaded with all your items like sponges, soaps, shampoos, and whatever else you bathe with. Instead, you could place all your supplies in a hanging vegetable storage unit.
This way, they're still easy to reach and won't constantly be causing a mess whenever you take a bath.
How to Store Your Batteries
It's rare that we would use all our batteries in one go, which means that we often lose a few in forgotten places, like the back of a cluttered drawer.
But what you could do to keep them safe is store them in a fishing tackle box. This way, you can find them easily the next time you need them.
A Functional Headboard
You should never feel like you're out of space for books. This idea can help transform your headboard into a functional space that not only adds to your bedroom's design but also stores your reading material.
There are a few ways you can go about this, either you can add to your headboard by building shelves into the sides or you can DIY by upcycling a wooden pallet.
Avoid a Cluttered Kitchen Cabinet by Hanging up Pots and Pans
No space for an overhead rack in your kitchen space? No problem. The best way to make space in small places is to stop stacking and start hanging. Simply place some corkboard on the inside of the cabinet and stick adhesive hooks on it. You can hang all your pots and pans and have tons of space.
No need to drill holes or knock-in nails. Sticking on wood is just as good and is completely hassle-free.
Unlikely Storage Spaces
With limited floor space, storage options need a creative edge and this is where things become interesting.
Many DIY pages suggest looking up by installing high shelving above the empty space above doorways. These spaces are often wasted but they can serve as very nifty nooks while doubling as an attractive feature.
Trolley Tables
Most end and bedside tables are inefficient when it comes to storage and space.
Rather than wasting valuable space, you can replace your small tables with a mobile trolley that offers multiple levels of space and can fit into almost any corner or cranny.
Cable Holders
Insulated wires like cords and cables have a tendency to clutter your space while getting tangled. If only they'd keep their cool, you probably wouldn't need to research storage hacks like you're doing right this moment.
This is why we recommend you use paper towels rolls or toilet paper rolls (or any kind of roll for that matter) and store all your cables in a shoebox.
Floppy Disk Container
Who said floppy disks no longer serve a purpose? Well, not us anymore. Now you can collect all your old floppy disks and repurpose them into a storage box for your desk. How neat!
Grab five of these, set them in a box shape, and hot glue the sides and corners together. This floppy disk organizer works great as a makeshift caddy that's not only portable but also easy to make.
A New Take on Wall Decor
Functional decorations are certainly not a new thing, but here's an innovative take on adorning your walls if you're short on wardrobe space.
Buy some striking wooden hangers as they suit most decor types and layer your clothes onto the wall. Not only will they be easily accessible but also add a little flair to an empty wall.
Hangers to Dry Make up Brushes
If you've got brushes to dry and you're keen to hang them up, you can always use a hanger and fasten them with your hair ties. This hack doesn't only have to work for make-up brushes, it can work for all kinds of small tools and utensils.
This trick is especially useful if you need to clear some space from your closet and need a makeshift drying rack.
Ceiling Hooks
If you're running out of room on surfaces like tables and shelves, there are loads of items you can move and hang from the ceiling!
The ornamental plants in the picture are a great example, but you can use that space for pretty much anything. All you need to do is attach hooks to your ceiling and attach a hanging tray, freeing up floor space.
Organize Your Sink
Want to surprise your guests with how organized your kitchen counters are? We recommend storing all your dishwashing items inside the sink with a sink holder.
This way the counter space around your sink will look nice and organized and you get to store all your cleaning equipment over the ledge of the sink.
Magnetic Jars for Your Fridge
A surface many people wouldn't think to use is the fridge door, which has a lot of unused surface area.
You can easily glue magnetic sheets on your jars of spices and herbs and stick them on your fridge to keep your kitchen organized as well as easy to access. Just make sure the jars aren't too be of heavy and that the lids are screwed-shut at all times.
Bucket Storage Rack
Those bright red buckets look great perched up on the shelf here. Why not attempt your own bucket storage shelf? It can work well for craft supplies or gardening tools.
If you have kids, you could even use them in a playroom to keep their toys in one place.
Stack Baking Shelves
Before hosting a Sunday barbecue, you just know you'll run out of space when it comes to storing food in your fridge and the last thing you want is for something to go bad.
This is why you should place a baking sheet (like the one the lady in the picture is holding) on top of other dishes, preferably on flat surfaces for an instant extra shelf.
Roll Your Towels
We all know what it's like when you don't have the cupboard space to store all your clean towels. So why not roll them? Instead of folding your hand towels, roll them and place them on an open shelf rather than in a cupboard.
This clever idea will make it super easy to store and the open space will do well to air out all your towels.
Shower Ring Scarves
You can easily hang all your scarves or ties on one hanger, without letting them all get tangled. All you'll need is some spare shower curtain rings for each scarf, strung along the lower bar of the hanger.
This great idea is ideal for smaller wardrobes and people with a lot of scarfs, ties, and necklaces.
A Fold-Down Desk
These bad boys are useful for those who don't have too much paperwork. They're versatile, so if they get in your way, you can fold them away and they can also double as a notice board for your notes, photos, or calendar.
The top shelf can be used as an extra shelf for everything else you may need while working, like your phone, stationery, or even a pair of speakers.
Egg Containers for Earrings
You throw out so many egg containers, you might as well save one for storage, right? This hack is super easy and will help you save money on an expensive jewelry organizer.
Now you probably won't wonder where that one pair of earrings are, or struggle to get them untangled all the time.
Suitcase Space
Another tucked-away item you can use to store extra stuff is in your suitcases! Some families have a fair few at home, that range in all different sizes, so you might as well use them while you're not traveling.
We'd suggest packing away seasonal clothing or your smaller bags that you won't be needing. If you can use vacuum bags, that will save you even more space.
Polystyrene Storage
Just like socks, earrings can easily wander away from their original match. Do you have a lot of earrings and constantly feel like you're looking for a pair? This one's for you.
When getting your next online shipment, cut a slab of polystyrene before disposing of the rest of the packaging material. Pin your earrings in the slab for safekeeping! You can also place all your pins and brooches, without feeling anxious about a mess as they'll all be secured in place.
Create a Peg Holder
This DIY idea is simply one of the most genius hacks out there that also looks charming. All you need to do is glue pegs to a narrow wooden plank, paint the whole thing, and hang it up on a wall.
This way you can hang all kinds of items, from hats to scarves and belts, the list is endless.
Hang Your Lids up Rope
If you happen to be looking for storage for your lids, then you can always hang them up with rope. This will save space for your kitchen drawers and cupboards.
This streamlined solution means you won’t have to worry about searching around for the right sized lid when you're busy cooking.
Keep Your Tools Tidy
If you find your tool shed or garage is getting a little out of control, you can create more of your own storage by screwing in the lids of jars underneath a shelf.
This is best done with transparent glass or plastic jars, making it easier to see where you can store all your bits and pieces, like nails, screws, bolts, etc.
Clip Your Tools
Keeping your larger tools together is easier said than done, and looking for the right one often involves a lot of rummaging around.
That's why we recommend you use a carabiner clip, which is cheap and easy to use. Pick some up at your local hardware store and your toolbox will get a whole lot easier to navigate.
Use Your Garden Rack
This outdoor storage trick involves just using the head of an old garden rake. The spokes turn into ordered hooks to hang your garden shears, spades and scissors from whilst adding a touch of vintage style to your outdoor area.
Not only will this look rustic, perfect for your garden area but it will save you money as you won't have to buy new hooks.
Store Your Veggies on the Wall
Wire baskets and wicker containers are perfect for storing vegetables like apples and bananas as they are light and allow for air contact.
These baskets are great for wasted space behind the kitchen door. You can attach them with two simple hooks, meaning they can be lifted on and off whenever you need them.
Hooks for Your Lids
Storing multiple pots and pans can be a problem when you have limited cupboard space. We suggest attaching stick-on hooks to the inside of your cupboard doors and kitchen cabinets.
If you slide the lids between these hooks they will stay in place without using valuable shelf space.
Behind the Bath Panel Storage
If you happen to have a fitted bath, you can always check underneath it for any unused space that you can make use of.
These sliding panels are definitely one of the more challenging DIY projects, but they will make a huge difference to your bathroom, especially when it comes to storing all your supplies.
Slide-in Shelves
As we all know all too well, the inside of a fridge can get packed up pretty quickly and look more like a scene from Jumanji than an actual kitchen appliance.
If you need extra shelving spaces then you can use slide-in shelves to store loose items so that they don't get lost and keep your fridge organized and orderly.
Sink Storage
If the space around your sink is a little small, then this is the next best thing for you. With some technical skills, install a drying rack over the sink.
But just because it's called a drying rack doesn't mean it's only meant for drying purposes. You can simply keep it as a neat shelf that stands above the tap. It is, after all, the ideal place to keep all the cleaning products and any other items you may need. Just look how neat and tidy this sink looks with the elevated drying rack.
Trolley Storage
Toys, stationery, and arts and crafts can take over your whole room, so get yourself into the habit of putting everything away in a trolley that can be wheeled in and out of the way whenever you need.
This makes for much easier storage space for items that can be moved to other rooms as needed.
Make More Drawer Space
Kickboards might have a neat finish but they are also hogging loads of storage space underneath the units. To remedy this unused space, you can buy ready-made drawers to match your kitchen decor or make your own as a woodworking project.
Or, if that sounds like too much work simply add handles to the boards and keep rarely used kitchenware in shallow boxes behind in the gaps.
Reuse Plastic Bottles
If you need storage space for your shoes then you can always use old plastic bottles. Simply cut off the end with a utility knife and stick them together with glue.
This way, they won't fall all over the place and will keep your shoes all in one place in a neat setup.