45 Storage Ideas You Can Use Anywhere in Your Home

Reviewed by Katherine Picott

Organization can feel like a moving target, especially if you're limited on space or have accumulated too much stuff over time. Fortunately, there are a range of versatile storage ideas for clothes, small closets, or tiny spaces that are inexpensive and effective.

Below, you'll find creative solutions that can help you declutter every room in your home. Simple choices like purchasing storage bins based on what you're storing, choosing containers of varying sizes instead of identical bins, and locating a storage space before boxing everything up can help you organize strategically and efficiently.

Read on for some of our favorite storage ideas you can use throughout your home.

Use Chalkboard Labels for Changing Storage Needs

Labels are a professional home organizer's best friend, which might explain why there are so many types of labels and label makers to buy. Chalkboard labels are a great choice not only because of the stylish look, but also because they can be updated easily. If you expect the contents of your storage bin to fluctuate, such as back-to-school supplies to summer craft projects, consider chalkboard labels.

Hang Hats on the Wall

Whether you like ball caps or berets, it can be challenging to store a hat collection without damaging their shape. Hats are the perfect item to occupy some wall space in your closet. Not only will you protect them from getting flattened in a box, but you'll be surprised with how stylish they look on display.

Save Counter Space With a Dish Drying Cabinet

This trick is currently all the rage in northern Europe, where modern design always seems to be at the forefront of everyone's minds (think: IKEA). Install a dish drying rack in a cabinet above your sink to save space on the countertop.

Nest Your Tupperware Together

Tupperware and food storage containers aren't that easy to store, but sorting them by size can help considerably. Nest your storage containers together to keep them streamlined and organized.

If your collection of food storage containers is a little chaotic, take some time to sort through the pairs and discard the ones you don't use regularly. Limit your collection to three or four different sizes so that you can nest them together more efficiently.

Purchase Handbag Hangers for Purses

Those with a love for handbags may baulk at the thought of stuffing their bags into a plastic bin under the bed. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to store purses, including specially designed handbag hangers that will help you keep your bags in perfect shape. If you also need help storing the contents of your bag, check out our favorite purse organizers too.

Create Pretend Pull-Out Drawers

If you can't install pull-out storage, or don't want to deal with the hassle, bins are the perfect alternative. This solution allows you to see what's in the back of your cabinet without removing all of the items in the front. Simply slide out the bin, grab what you need, and slid it back.

Discover a Smarter Way to Organize Your Pans

Use wire racks in your cabinet to you store anything long and thin, like baking dishes, cutting boards, or even sauté pans. This is a much more effective storage solution than stacking, since you won't have to lift an entire set of goods out of the cupboard to access the one item you need.

Make a DIY Plastic Bag Dispenser

The idea of repurposing an item rather than throwing it away is not a new concept, but when a good idea comes along, especially one so simple, it feels like a spark of genius. Save your empty tissue box to keep plastic bags organized and within easy reach.

Paint Pen Kitchen Organization

Relocate the grains and spices you use often into clear storage containers. Label them using paint pens for an attractive display, then arrange the containers in alphabetical order to make items like flour, rice, or oats even easier to locate. This tip also helps you keep track of how much you have of an ingredient, so you'll never accidentally run out.

Make Above-Cabinet Storage Visible

The key to making storage on top of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets work is visibility. If you can't see the items you've stored up high, you'll forget what's there until they've long expired. Swap your woven baskets for wire to fix the issue. Wire is also more durable and easier to clean, which is essential for exposed storage.

Recycle Boxes to Organize Your Freezer

If you like to stock up and store things in your freezer, you know how quickly a mess can develop if you fail to institute some organization. A simple way to help you keep the freezer tidy is to cut the tops off of used cardboard boxes, label them, and fill them with frozen items for easy retrieval. This tip works especially well for pre-made freezer meals.

Build a DIY Trash Bag Roll

This clever hack will save you​ the frustration of wrestling a bag out of the box every time you take out your trash. Each bag holder is made with two curtain rod hangers and a short length of wood dowel, which you can find at any hardware store or home center.

Hang Your Measuring Spoons

No one enjoys digging through a kitchen drawer for the elusive quarter teaspoon, and this easy tip saves you the trouble. Pick up a few tiny adhesive hooks from your local hardware store, attach them to the inside of a kitchen cabinet door (such as the cabinet with your baking supplies), and hang your measuring spoons.

Separate Garbage, Compost, and Recycling

Even your garbage deserves a little organization. To keep your trash and recycling separate and tidy, purchase a set of matching bins to store side-by-side. Designate a pull-out cabinet or drawer, if possible, to keep the sight (and smells) hidden. If you have plenty of space to work with, purchase an additional smaller bin for compost.

Store Medicines and Prescriptions in a Deep Drawer

Tossing Band-Aids and cough syrup into a deep drawer make seem convenient, but that's hardly the case when your little one falls or catches a cold. Instead, use drawer dividers to sort your items into categories so they're easier to find, then arrange them upright to make the most of the drawer's depth.

Repurpose Your Mint Container

Small items like bobby pins and Q-tips may be easy to store because of their size, but they're tough to keep organized. This mint dispenser idea is a brilliant way to corral a bunch of small items together to make them easy to find when needed.

Create a Discreet Charging Station

If you don't care for the sight of cell phones and iPads crowding your counters, turn an old book into a hidden charging station. This is a helpful tip for those who like to keep their devices close, but also out of sight, especially from children and guests.

Sort Earrings With an Upcycled Organizer

Skip the hassle of digging around for a matching set of earrings. This idea allows you to repurpose a cardboard box and organize and display your earrings in a cute and functional way. Punch a series of holes in the bottom of each box using a push pin. Hook the earrings through holes to hang them and use the matching half of the box to create a stand.

Repurpose a Coke Crate to Store Your Ties

If you like the vintage aesthetic, you'll be thrilled to know there are many ways to give antique items a new purpose. An old soda crate, for instance, is the perfect storage compartment for ties and scarves. Simply roll up the fabric and place it in one of the slots.

Store Underwear in PVC Pipes

Keep your undies organized with a cubby-hole arrangement of PVC pipe sections. Cut the three-inch-diameter pipe into pieces that fit the height of your drawer, then sand the cut edges to make them smooth. Paint the pipes, if desired, and glue them together. This also works well for small accessories like scrunchies.

Label Toy Drawers With Pictures

This idea is perfect for children who need a little extra help finding and putting away their toys. By labeling the drawers with pictures instead of words, even little ones who can't yet read will know exactly which toys go in which drawers.

Use a Shoe Organizer for Storing Stuffed Animals

Over-the-door shoe organizers can certainly help you keep sandals and boots sorted, but this tool is far more versatile. For instance, this simple organizer can be repurposed to store your children's small toys and stuffed animals. Never again will your child's favorite fluffy friend go missing.

Create a Gallery Wall for Kids' Artwork

Kids' artwork can pile up quickly. Hanging it rather than keeping it in a pile means less clutter. Regularly rotate new projects and artwork every few months (or weeks, depending on how artsy your kids are).

Use Large Paper Clips to Hold Cables

Organizing electrical cords for all your devices and small appliances can be difficult, especially if you regularly unplug and plug in items. Threading cords through large paper clips that are fastened to the edge of your desk can make it easier to access the cable you need when you need it.

Sort Cords in a Recycled Shoebox

Tech clutter happens to the best of us. Storing chargers and other electronic accessories can be a real pain, but this straightforward DIY tip can help you keep everyday tech accessories organized. All you need is some cardboard, wrapping paper, and (of course) labels.

Convert a Closet Into an Office Supply

Office spaces can be among the more difficult areas to organize in a home. If you find your desk often cluttered with miscellaneous files and pens and post-its, you might benefit from this organization tip. Claim a nearby closet for excess office supplies, especially those you don't use daily.

Make a DIY Twine Keeper

Balls of string, twine, and ribbon can become a jumbled mess when stored in a drawer. Instead, try storing them in a sugar dispenser. The jar protects your string and such from becoming tangled, and the nifty pour spout makes accessing the material simple.

Install a Pegboard for Tools and Craft Supplies

A pegboard can store and organize various household products, such as garage tools and craft supplies like scissors and tape. The trick to hanging pegboard is to mount it over wood strips or blocks to create a small space between the pegboard and the wall. The space is necessary for adding hooks, brackets, and other hanging hardwood onto the pegboard.

Mount a Magazine File on the Kitchen Cabinet Door

Just like shoe organizers, magazine files can help you sort much more than paper. For instance, a clever way to store foil, plastic wrap, parchment, and wax paper is to hang a magazine file on a kitchen cabinet door. This will free up drawer space for your utensils, flatware, and other items.

Repurpose Deep Kitchen Drawers for Bread and Root Vegetables

Bread and root vegetables are best kept in a cool, dry area of the kitchen. Store these items in a deep drawer to free up some counter space. Be sure to choose a drawer away from the oven, since the heat could make your food go bad quicker. Additionally, since root vegetables need air to stave off rot, consider replacing the drawer bottoms or sides with mesh.

Add Hooks Inside Bathroom Cabinet Doors

If you're lucky enough to have a bathroom drawer, it is usually the first spot to get crowded. To add some extra storage space, hang some hooks inside your bathroom cabinet doors. This tip works well for items premade with loops or holes for hanging, such as scrub brushes, scissors, shavers, scrunchie sponges, hair ties, and more.

Install a Magnetic Strip Hair and Nail Tools

Accessories or tools made of iron, nickel, or cobalt are magnetic. Most hair and nail items are stainless steel, which contains iron. You can easily hang bobby pins, hair clips, barrettes, nail files, tweezers, and nail clippers on a magnetic strip inside a bathroom drawer to alleviate your bathroom storage woes.

Build a Dog Bed Trundle

If the floor space in your bedroom feels cramped, consider building a dog bed trundle. You can make your own dog bed with an old crib mattress, or pick up a thin bed at your neighborhood department store, and construct a roll-out platform with a few simple products at your local hardware store.

Move Garage Storage to the Walls and Ceiling

Garages can feel like oversized junk drawers if you're not intentional about organizing. Instead of stacking boxes and bins on the floor, install some storage racks on the wall and ceiling. The wall mount rack is perfect for yard tools, scooters and bikes, and more. Store seasonal supplies and other items used less often overhead.

Transform Your Paper Towel Holder

A paper towel holder is another versatile organizer. Use one in the office for all your tapes—masking, packing, and duct tape. This giant spool also works well for storing rolls of ribbon or yarn for knitting, sewing, or crafting. Belts also have a way of multiplying, but coil them around this hand caddy for an easy grab when needed.

Use a Muffin Tin Storing Small Items

Tool sheds, garages, and offices are riddled with miniature items like nails, screws, nuts, bolts, paper clips, push pins, and safety pins. Repurpose an old muffin tin or fishing tackle box that you don't use anymore for these tiny supplies.

Reuse Shoe Pocket Caddies for Pantry Goods

Shoe pocket caddies can be the perfect organizer for a wide range of goods. In the pantry, use them for kitchen utensils, garbage can liners, rubber bands, pencils, and scissors. Other uses include cleaning supplies like spray bottles and cans, sponges, and scrub brushes. Families with young children can also use these nifty organizers as a snack food caddy for granola bars, cookies, chips, and candy.

Kitchen Lid Rack for Purse Clutches

Purse clutches are slim and stylish, making them perfect for a night on the town. Unfortunately, they don't often come with loops or hooks for hanging. Instead of taking up a drawer, find some extra shelf space and vertically file your clutches in a pot and pan lid rack. This trick offers easy access when it's time for your next soiree.

Install for Shelves Near Garage or Mudroom Door

There are multiple supplies you might need access to on your way in and out of the garage or mudroom, and this organization tip is the perfect solution. Install some strong metal shelves to store heavy-duty trash bags, gloves and boots, dog leashes, and more. If you want to give the rack some aesthetic appeal, choose woven baskets over wire or plastic bins.

Hang Baskets Sideways for Towel Storage

If you have a pair of sturdy rectangular baskets being underutilized, turn them on their side and screw them into the wall along their bottoms for bathroom storage. Fill them with towels, washcloths, or toilet paper rolls for a cute, but clever, storage solution.

Reuse Empty Glass Jars

Empty Mason jars make great storage for nails, clothespins, paperclips, pushpins, bobby pins, cotton swabs, and more. The clear glass makes it easy to find what you need quickly. Screw-top jars can be used for storage throughout the home, the garage, pantry, office, and bathroom.

Build a Bungee Cord Ball Caddy

You can breathe new life into a crate or plywood box by turning it into a caddy for basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, and more. Turn it on its side, string some bungee cords along the front, and grab a ball when needed. Pop it back in when you're done.

Use a Lazy Susan in the Fridge

Lazy Susans make for great storage solutions in closets and cabinets, as well as the refrigerator. Particularly if you have a deep fridge, it can be a hassle to shuffle through foodstuffs in the front to reach supplies in the back. A rotating tray, however, makes it easy to grab what you need when you need it.

Use Carabiners for Hair Ties and Rubber Bands

A carabiner is commonly used for rock climbing and linking together ropes and harnesses, but this handy metal clip is also fantastic for keeping together hair ties and holding onto keys, belts, and handbags. Attach the carabiner to your toiletries bag during travel and hang it on a Command hook inside your bathroom cabinet door at home.

Repurpose a Letter Organizer for Flip Flops

Flip flops and sandals are awkward to hang on shoe racks, since they often slip out. Grab your slippers and file them away in a letter organizer vertically. Place them on a shelf in a closet or near a back door or garage door for easy access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I store more in a small space?

There are lots of ways to make the most of small storage spaces, such as utilizing wall and ceiling space, installing pull-out drawers in your cabinets, and sorting goods into categories to streamline your storage solutions.

What is the most efficient way to store things?

The best storage solution depends on the space available and the items being stored. For instance, small goods like Q-tips and nails are best stored in containers like Mason jars or even Tic Tac containers. Large, bulky items like yard tools, however, are better stored on a sturdy wall mount in the garage.

However, there are popular organizers like over-the-door shoe organizers and magazine racks that can be used for storing a wide variety of items from tin foil to stuffed animals.

Read Next: 36 Best Closet Storage Ideas for Getting Organized

Read the original article on The Spruce.