Creating organized storage in a small space can seem like an impossible task. Limited square footage means every inch counts when figuring out where to put all your stuff. However, with some clever DIY solutions, you can maximize every nook and cranny to keep your belongings tidy and your small space neat.
From utilizing underbed storage to hanging pots and pans, these 20 DIY storage ideas provide inexpensive ways to organize a small space for less. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can craft customized storage perfect for your tiny home, apartment, bedroom, or office. Get ready to reclaim order in an itty bitty living area with these crafty storage hacks.
Use Wall-Mounted Shelves for Extra Storage
Wall-mounted shelves open up a world of storage possibilities without taking up valuable floor space. You can find basic floating shelves at budget-friendly stores to stash books, plants, photos, and collectibles. For a custom look, build your own shelves out of boards and brackets.
Paint or stain the shelves to match your room’s color scheme. Add hooks for hanging mugs, keys, or jewelry. Install shelves near the entryway for an instant mudroom to corral hats, bags, and shoes. Or mount shelves over the desk for office supplies or above the bathroom sink for toiletries. Floating shelves are an easy DIY way to gain storage along the walls.
Craft a Headboard Bookcase
If you’re short on space for a bookshelf, look no further than above your bed. Build a bookcase headboard to store books, decor, and more while amplifying your bedroom style. Start with a wooden crate, pallet, or frame and affix shelves inside. Paint or stain it to coordinate with your room’s aesthetic.
Add brackets to mount the bookcase securely to the wall. Then fill it with books, framed photos, potted plants, and favorite mementos. The headboard bookcase makes the perfect nightstand alternative when floor space is limited. Access items right from bed or enjoy the decorative display.
Add Hidden Storage with Book Boxes
Hardcover books also present a sneaky storage solution for small spaces. Simply hollow out books by cutting the pages out from the spine. Glue the edges to conceal the storage space inside. Use fake book boxes to discreetly tuck away small items like jewelry, office supplies, grooming products, and more.
Stack the book boxes on shelves alongside real reads. Label the covers with fun titles related to what’s inside. Hollowed out books provide hidden storage perfect for stashing private possessions or keeping clutter out of sight. Display them with the spines out so guests won’t suspect secret treasure inside.
Utilize Wall Space with Floating Rails
Another way to utilize vertical real estate is wall-mounted rails. Hang a sleek metal rail on the wall and use S-hooks to suspend items. In the kitchen, use rails to hang utensils, pots, and pans above the stove or counter. Add spice racks or towel bars too.
In the bathroom, drape towels from hooks on the rail for a space-saving solution. In the bedroom, mount a rail inside the closet to hang clothes, bags, and accessories. Floating rails maximize open wall space while keeping essentials at the ready for easy access.
Build a Storage Ottoman
An ottoman with storage inside serves double duty as a footrest and hidden storage space. Make your own by covering a wooden storage crate with padding and fabric. Add tufting and skirting for extra style. Use the hollow interior to tuck away blankets, toys, games, or media accessories.
Place an upholstered storage ottoman at the foot of the bed to hold extra linens or as a coffee table for remotes, books, and more. The lift-off top provides quick access to the contents inside. Style the ottoman to match your living room or bedroom decor for a fashionable and functional accent piece.
Add Under-Bed Pull-Out Drawers
While the space under the bed often gets neglected, it offers an out-of-sight spot to organize clothes, shoes, linens, and more. Add roll-out drawers that mount to the bed frame rails to capitalize on this wasted real estate. Mounted on smooth rolling casters, the drawers conveniently pull out for access then tuck away out of sight.
Label the drawers to neatly categorized contents like socks, pants, accessories, extra blankets, and more. The under-bed drawers maximize the storage potential of the unused cavity, making it easy to keep belongings organized and accessible. Install battery-operated lights inside the drawers so you can easily see contents in the dark.
Craft Custom Closet Organizers
Maximize every inch of closet space with DIY organizers tailored to your storage needs. Buy inexpensive boards, baskets, and modular parts to construct custom shelving, drawers, racks, and cubbies. Build organizers to fit odd closet shapes and dimensions.
Add shelves above the rod for shoes, folded clothes, accessories, or storage bins. Mount a tie/belt rack or jewelry organizer on the wall. Stack baskets to hold sweaters, intimates, or laundry. Whenever possible, install shelves at eye level so contents are visible and within reach. Add closet rods at varying heights to double hanging space. With DIY closet organizers, you can customize your storage any way you need.
Use Space Under the Stairs
Take advantage of the often overlooked cavity under a staircase by turning it into a storage space. Measure the dimensions of the empty area and build boxes, shelving, cabinets, or cubbies to fill it. Paint or stencil the interior walls to dress up the space.
Use under-stair storage to organize home office supplies, linens, sports gear, seasonal items, or household tools. Add doors or curtains to conceal the contents. Install lighting inside so you can easily see everything. The unfinished space under stairs provides a perfect spot for DIY storage solutions.
Hang Pots and Pans on the Wall
Free up precious cabinet space by hanging pots, pans, and kitchen tools on the wall. Use metal rails, pegboards, macrame holders, or dish racks attached securely to wall studs. Arrange cookware by size, type, or usage frequency.
Keep essential cooking tools within arm’s reach. Mount additional racks or hooks for utensils, cutting boards, towels, and spices. Hanging cookware helps maximize vertical storage real estate while also displaying items in an artistic or decorative way. Keep your most-used pots and tools handy by creatively organizing them on the kitchen wall.
Craft a Desk Hutch for Office Supplies
Harness vertical space above a desk for extra office storage. Build a hutch or shelving piece to mount to the wall above a workstation. Include cubbies for office supplies, shelves for books and decor, and space to hang file folders or important papers.
Make the hutch wide enough so it doesn’t block light from a window. Include a light inside so contents are illuminated. Add doors or a backing to conceal messy cords. Customize the hutch to fit your workspace needs. The wall-mounted desktop hutch keeps supplies organized and at arm’s reach.
Use Tension Rods for Instant Shelves
Tension rods offer an easy way to create impromptu shelves in small spaces. Designed to wedge snugly into a doorway or recess, the adjustable metal rods stay in place with tension and pressure. Slip groceries bags, baskets, or storage bins over the rod to create instant shelving.
Tension rod shelves can add storage in a bathroom, laundry room, closet, or pantry for very little cost. Baskets allow for organizing toiletries, cleaning products, or food. The rod shelves quickly mount in any narrow space and hold lightweight items out of the way. Reclaim wasted space with this clever and budget-friendly storage trick.
Store Items Under Furniture
Look beneath furniture for unused areas perfect for storage. Coffee tables, benches, beds, and desks often have empty space underneath to stash baskets, bins, or boxes. Place fabric boxes or cube organizers under accent tables or benches near entryways to corral hats, gloves, umbrellas, bags, and shoes.
Under-bed storage keeps extra linens, clothes, or toys organized but out of sight. Slide narrow rolling carts and small plastic bins under desks or beds for office supplies, craft materials, hair tools, or hobby items. Utilize the empty space under furnishings to create storage you can quickly access as needed.
Add Wall Hooks for Hanging Storage
A simple yet effective way to free up space is hanging storage from hooks. Adhere hooks in entryways, mudrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, or bathrooms for bags, necklaces, towels, pots, tools, and more. Look for sturdy hooks that can securely hold heavier items like coats and cookware.
Double up hooks in frequently used spaces for multiple users. Add hooks near doors, windows, or along empty walls to make use of in-between areas. Install an over-the-door hook rack on bedroom or closet doors. The taller racks add hanging space for robes, scarves, and purses. Simple hooks allow you to hang just about anything to instantly gain storage space.
Build Floor-to-Ceiling Shelves
For maximum storage, install floor-to-ceiling shelving units that reach all the way to the ceiling. This allows you to capitalize on all available vertical space. Built with boards and brackets, the tall units offer plenty of storage for books, office files, craft supplies, linens, or clothing. Make shelves adjustable to accommodate larger items.
Incorporate closet rods or pull-out baskets as needed. Use extra tall bookcases, cubbies, or media units beside desks, beds, and other furnishings. Floor-to-ceiling shelves minimize wasted headspace while providing ample storage. Just be sure to securely anchor taller units to studs in the wall.
Craft a Headboard Shelving Unit
A headboard with built-in shelves or cubbies provides form and function beside the bed. Construct one from wooden crates, boards, pipes, or ladders. Affix shelving inside for books, lights, photos, plants, or charging devices. Include closed cabinets or open cubbies to store extra blankets, linens, clothing, or accessories.
Build the headboard tall enough to utilize the space above. Paint or stain it to coordinate with your bedroom style. Install securely to the wall studs. A headboard with storage provides precious bedside space for items you use every day without cluttering the floor.
Add Cabinet Doors to Open Shelving
Turn open bookcases or wall-mounted shelves into closed storage with the addition of cabinet doors. Look for ready-made doors, available in standard sizes, that attach right to the shelves. Or have doors custom cut to fit your shelving dimensions.
Doors allow you to conceal clutter when needed while still accessing contents easily. Choose cabinet doors that reflect your home’s style, like farmhouse shutter doors, contemporary fold-up doors, or traditional framed doors. Cabinet doors enable closed storage while retaining full use of existing shelving.
Optimize Closet Rod Space
Standard closet rods waste a lot of vertical hanging space. Optimize the rod area by installing two rods at different heights or a double hang rod that stacks two levels. Hanging clothes right on top of each other doubles the closet’s hanging capacity.
Also, try cascade hangers that hang clothes off each other in tiers. Use space-saving hangers like pants clip hangers, multiple shirt hangers, and belt/accessory hangers. To maximize closet rod space, hang as much clothing in the same footprint as possible. This allows you to hang more items using less linear space.
Add Wall-Mounted Drop-Leaf Tables
Drop-leaf tables anchor to the wall, folding up when not in use. Mounted on hinges, the tabletop can be lowered to provide additional surface area, then folded back against the wall to conserve space. Install a drop-leaf table in a kitchen, entryway, or other high-traffic area.
When folded up, the table becomes a narrow console that can hold decor, plants, lamps, or bins. Lower the leaf to create useful space for serving food, sorting mail, or folding laundry. Add stool seating for extra dining space. Wall-mounted drop-leafs allow you to add or remove tabletop space as needed.
Use Tiered Displays
Showcase books, collectibles, or decor in a tiered wall display. Build staggered floating shelves or mount repeated organization systems like wall-mounted cubes. Tiered displays allow you to stack items while also putting them on display.
Add height and visual interest while maximizing space usage. Use sturdy brackets, balanced supports, and properly mounted hardware to prevent toppling. Place frequently used items on bottom rows for convenience. Make the display as tall as the space allows, using vertical real estate to gain storage.
Install Shelving Inside Cabinet Doors
An easy way to add storage inside kitchen cabinets or built-in closets is installing shelving inside the doors. Mount the shelves to line up with existing shelving inside the cabinet. Then you can see and access contents from the door shelving too.
Try using door-mounted spice racks, towel bars, racks for pans and trays, or sliding racks for canned goods. Use tension rods or corner shelves for vertical door storage. Turn the back of cabinet doors into extra storage space with the addition of mounted shelves or racks.
Use Pegs for Towel and Pot Holders
Towels and pot holders take up drawer and shelf space. Save that storage for other kitchen, bathroom, and garage items by hanging towels and mitts from pegs or dowels. Mount pegs along a wall or inside cabinet doors for quick access.
Loop towels through a dowel rod inside a cabinet to keep them handy but out of sight. Add pegs near the oven, fridge, sink, or washing machine to always have a towel within reach. The pegs hold items securely while keeping them in plain view for daily use.
Hang Bikes, Tools, Sports Gear Vertically
Vertical storage helps maximize floor space. Install hooks, bars, or racks to hang bikes, larger tools, sporting goods, and hardware vertically. Floor-mounted racks keep bikes upright and out of the way. Use sturdy hooks to hang ladders, hoses, rakes, or shovels vertically on garage or shed walls.
Hang baseball bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, and other sports gear from the wall instead of propping in a corner. Utilize vertical storage to keep bulky items up and off the floor. This opens up valuable floor space while also protecting gear from damage.
Conclusion
Small spaces can still stay neat and tidy with some savvy storage solutions. Optimize every square inch by utilizing walls, under furniture, closet rods, doors, and other often overlooked areas. DIY projects like ottomans, headboards, hang rails, and floating shelves add customized storage without taking up floor space.
Creative use of baskets, tiers, hooks, and boxes can corral clutter in chic ways. Make the most of vertical storage with floor-to-ceiling shelving units and mounted racks. A place for everything allows a small space to feel organized rather than cramped. With a little ingenuity, even the tiniest home can be storage perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Small Space Storage Solutions
What are some tips for adding storage in small spaces?
Some great tips for maximizing storage in small spaces include:
- Use vertical space on walls with floating shelves, mounted rails, pegboards, and hooks
- Look under and over furniture and beds for unused areas to add storage bins, baskets or shelving
- Hang items like pots, pans, towels, and bikes to save floor space
- Build customized spaces like headboard shelving, under-bed drawers, and storage ottomans
- Optimize closet rods with double hangers, cascade hangers, and multiple garment hangers
- Add extra shelving inside existing cabinetry and closets
What are some inexpensive DIY storage projects for small spaces?
Some budget-friendly DIY storage projects include:
- Book boxes made from hollowed out hardcovers
- Tension rod shelves
- Wall-mounted spice racks or wooden crate shelves
- Fabric cube organizers or under-furniture bins
- Hanging pots or utensils from command hooks
- Under-bed pull-out drawers made from roller crates
- DIY wall hooks or floating shelves from brackets and boards
How can you add more kitchen storage in a small space?
Smart ways to add kitchen storage in a little space include:
- Hanging pots, pans, and utensils from ceiling mounts, racks or rails
- Storing food containers, mixer attachments, foil, etc. in cabinet door racks
- Using lazy susans, turntables, and tiered shelving to optimize cabinet space
- Stashing lesser used items like roasting pans in large drawer organizers
- Adding extra shelves inside existing cabinets for more space to stack items
- Using wall space for mounted knife blocks, cutting boards, cookbooks, or spice racks
What are some tips for keeping a small bathroom organized?
Helpful tips for an organized small bathroom include:
- Hanging towels from hooks on walls or doors
- Adding shelves inside cabinets and a tension rod shelf inside the shower
- Using over-the-toilet shelving and hanging shower caddies
- Storing toiletries in wall-mounted cabinetry, under-sink organizers or bins
- Maximizing cabinet space with lazy susans, pull-out drawers, or turntables
- Displaying decor in tiered shelving or wall-mounted display ledges
How can you create more bedroom storage in a small space?
Smart small bedroom storage solutions include:
- Under-bed drawers or roll-out containers
- Hanging clothes storage like over-the-door racks or hooks along the wall
- Wall-mounted bookcases, cubbies, or shelves instead of floor units
- Headboard shelving built from crates, ladders, or floating box shelves
- Using closet organizers like double rods, hanging shelves, and stacking baskets
- Stashing out-of-season clothing under the bed or in under-bed containers