When it comes to home organization, the more storage options, the better. However, custom installations can be both costly and a hassle. Thankfully, there are numerous DIY storage solutions you can craft on your own for much less.
Whether you have a sprawling home with ample storage or you're trying to fit essentials into a compact area, these ideas cater to every need.
Get inspired with these expert suggestions to enhance your storage setup and improve your organization skills.
1. Create a Pegboard Organizer
This kitchen pegboard keeps pans accessible and minimizes stacking, extending the life of your cookware.
If you're aiming to tidy up DIY tools, manage cookware, or find storage for clothing, a pegboard is an excellent choice. It's a favorite among storage enthusiasts for a reason.
Alecia Taylor, a designer from CabinetNow, shares, 'Pegboards are among my top DIY storage hacks — not just for garages or craft rooms, but also in closets and cabinets. You can hang baskets, utensils, and even jewelry with ease. It's customizable and requires no tools.'
Feel free to get creative; pegboards can be small or cover an entire wall, allowing you to maximize vertical space. You can use handy clips and containers to hold various tools. For instance, Target's pegboard wide cup accessory is perfect for desk items and small tools.
This pegboard combination kit is available in three sizes, making it a great option for clearing up your desk. It can hold up to 20 lbs, perfect for tools, and can be affixed to the wall using adhesive stickers or nails. The modular design allows you to customize your layout, and you can add more panels and accessories as needed.
2. Maximize Space with Tension Rods
Tension rods are ideal for organizing craft and cleaning supplies, optimizing vertical space.
Tension rods aren't just for curtains! They are perfect for hanging items like rolls of craft materials and organizing cleaning supplies, plus they can quickly help you segment larger storage areas.
Brooke Janousek, CMO at GarageExperts, shares a clever use: 'A customer once showed us how to modify one of our cabinets for more storage by installing a tension rod. Hang your spray bottles from the rod using their triggers.'
Alecia supports this method, stating, 'I repurposed deep drawers by adding tension rods to divide vertically, which is great for pans, cutting boards, or storing bags and scarves.'
Walmart offers a variety of tension rods; for smaller projects, we recommend the pack of two adjustable tension rods that require no drilling.
3. Conceal Storage with Curtains
Hiding clutter with curtains can greatly reduce visual stress in your home.
Visual clutter from open storage can be overwhelming, making a room appear messy even with organization efforts. Consider using curtains instead of cabinet doors to disguise the clutter.
Cabinet doors can be expensive and require skill to install. Curtains, however, can often be trimmed to size at fabric stores and installed easily with tension rods and hooks.
Chiana Dickson, a content editor, shares her experience: 'My craft supplies were always a source of chaos on my office bookshelf. By using net curtain wire and hooks from Walmart for under $10, I created curtains that hide my supplies. The wire is easy to cut, and I sewed some simple fabric panels to complete the look. It instantly enhanced the space!'
4. Repurpose a Bar Cart
This small mobile cart serves as a nightstand and can be used as a side table for guests.
Bar carts often serve a single purpose, so why not repurpose them for storage? They offer a stylish and versatile alternative to standard rolling carts for various home uses. Whether it's for enhancing your kitchen storage or creating a mobile book cart, they fit seamlessly into any room.
Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved, has effectively expanded her hair product storage with a trolley system, calling it 'customizable brilliance.'
Alecia adds, 'They can be excellent for storing towels, skincare products, and hair tools too,' making them perfect for bathroom organization, especially in spaces lacking under-sink cabinets or large vanities.
Before you opt for this DIY storage idea, Punteha advises, 'Measure your space and key items to ensure they fit your chosen bar cart. You can also add small organizing bins from The Container Store that work perfectly for your needs and won't take up too much floor space.'
Mixed materials
This three-tier bar cart, rated five stars, is ideal for large bathrooms, additional kitchen storage, or even as a console table. Available in gold and black, it blends well with most color schemes.
Locking wheels
This two-tier bar cart offers ample storage space and features hooks under the first shelf. Its swivel wheels allow for easy movement, and two locking casters keep it stable.
Doubles as a side table
This compact bar cart can easily function as a side table, providing three levels of storage for living areas and bedrooms, moving as needed.
5. Hang Your Tools for Easy Access
Coat racks and magnetic strips are perfect for crafters and gardeners alike.
If you're a gardener or crafter, you know how quickly supplies can pile up. Organizing your tools can be a challenge.
Brooke recommends, 'To avoid distractions when juggling multiple projects, try installing magnetic strips (like those used in kitchens) under upper cabinets or inside cabinet doors to hold your wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, paint can keys, utility blades, and more.'
This popular magnetic knife strip from Amazon has received over 30,000 five-star ratings and includes all necessary mounting hardware for easy installation.
Meet the Experts
Chiana is a content editor dedicated to promoting non-toxic living. She spends much of her time crafting content that helps readers optimize their homes through effective decluttering and organizing strategies, many of which she personally tests.
Alecia, based in Austin, Texas, combines southern charm with vintage design. With over 15 years in kitchen design, she merges expertise with creativity to craft functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
With decades of experience in construction and renovation, Paul has personally built and renovated over 350 homes, gaining insight into the common frustrations that can arise during the process.
Brooke Janousek is the CMO of GarageExperts, bringing over two years of experience in the marketing industry. She excels at identifying challenges and creating innovative solutions to address them.
Explore more DIY projects that can enhance your home, many of which can be completed in under a weekend. Just remember to check out our tips on how to finish your DIY projects to avoid leaving them unfinished.
