Looking for ingenious storage hacks? However big or small your home, your house will always feel cluttered and untidy unless you get items organised. But with some clever thinking, you can find spaces for possessions with items you might never have dreamed of.
Click through and marvel at the sheer brilliance and simplicity of these storage ideas...
IKEA BEKVÄM racks are so cheap yet super versatile as storage for so much more than spices alone. The narrow width and guard rail make perfectly petite storage shelves for food, toiletries, tools, books and more.
A Baby On Board has painted two in dazzling blue to create an easy-to-reach board book library for a child's bedroom.
This linen storage idea is a 'why didn't I think of that?' hack and couldn't be simpler. After laundering duvet sets, use this hack to avoid letting the matching pillowcases go missing.
Fold the bed sheet, duvet cover and one pillowcase neatly and then store them all together inside the remaining clean pillowcase. Reading my Tea Leaves has done just that in her perfectly organised linen closet.
A child's soft toy collection can get out of hand. TIDBITS & Company has come up with a clever way of giving each cuddly creature a home by hanging a fabric shoe organiser to the back of the wardrobe door.
A small teddy has been popped into each compartment to keep them tidy, dust-free and within easy reach.
Keep toilet roll to hand with a funky rope hanger. Tie a knot in one end to keep the tissue in place and then hang next to the toilet for a nautical addition.
Need a novel way to store and know when to re-stock? Hang your rolls onto a length of rope, with a large knot at the bottom. Paint the quarter of the rope that will be covered with toilet roll a bright hue and when the colour becomes visible it's time to go shopping.
Need a place for toiletries when you are in the shower? Try this easy bathroom storage hack and free up floor and wall space with a shower curtain with pockets.
Or, hang a waterproof shoe organiser alongside the curtain for an easy DIY version. Choose a mesh design or cut holes in the pockets to drain the water.
When properly sanded and treated, a wooden pallet can become an eye-catching and rustic desktop shelf for a home office.
Its panels and grooves make handy surfaces for stationery and inspirational objects. Giant crocodile clips will also transform it into a noticeboard if needed.
Double up your kitchen storage space by screwing unobtrusive hooks onto the under-side of wall-mounted shelves.
Then, hang attractive mugs or large utensils. Measure and mark out the exact space between each hook for a consistent and streamlined look.
Compact kitchen? Hanging vegetables in string bags from a wall-mounted rail allows for proper air circulation, preventing moisture build-up which can lead to rot.
Easily accessible too, this is a great storage idea for country-style kitchens.
Kickboards give kitchens a smart finish but they are also hiding huge storage potential underneath the units. Buy ready-made drawers with plinth fronts and runners to match your kitchen style or make your own as a woodworking project.
Or, if that sounds too technical simply add handles to the boards and keep rarely used kitchenware such as Christmas crockery in shallow boxes behind in the redundant gaps.
A large family can accumulate a mountain of shoes, which look unsightly piled on the floor. Pegboards make creative homes for shoes. Mount them low to create another level of unobtrusive storage and pop the shoes on the pegs upside down.
This endearing wellington boot board looks rustic and fun with the words 'mud glorious mud' engraved in the wood.
If you are always losing the TV remote controls this could be the perfect storage hack for you! These ready-made designs are fake but you can make your own using a real vintage book.
Glue pages together and cut out a compartment in the middle. What a stylish hiding place for that ugly tech!
Book boxes available from Rowen.
Bags for life support the fight against plastic waste but the thicker material and bulkier size makes them a real storage pain. However, folded correctly they shrink into tiny bundles that can be managed and stored in baskets and transported to the shops with ease.
It is that simple, check out Modern Parents Messy Kids for a step-by-step photo guide to fold a bulky, reusable bag into an itty-bitty, reusable bundle.
Storage benches are both pretty and practical and useful for storing anything from extra cushions to throws.
If there is no room for a home office, why not create a concealed work station hotspot to store away everything needed for admin? A drawer organiser and smaller storage boxes will keep paperwork and stationery orderly and in its place, then lift the lid and it's ready to work when you are.
Storage bench available from Sofa.com.
Inspire family members to tidiness as soon as they come home by adding individual baskets for outwear in the hallway.
Whether you choose to nominate one crate per person or theme them with labels for hats, gloves, scarves etc, it makes good use of otherwise wasted space and you'll never be searching for that lost glove again.
Mellow Orange paint, available from YesColours.
Save yourself some DIY by opting for suction hooks, so there's no need to drill any holes into your walls. Solve the problem with IKEA TISKEN hooks which have strong suction pads.
In this instance, they have been stuck on bathroom tiles but they are great for the kitchen or anywhere else around the home.
Look beyond the 'egg' box and make use of everyday items that would otherwise be thrown into the recycling. The size and shape of egg cartons make them perfect mini organisers for storing bits and bobs that might get lost in drawers.
This endearing little sewing box made by Truly Myrtle started life storing eggs but is now used to holds sewing supplies in ideal compartments. We love how the cotton thread and ribbon have been wound neatly around dinky wooden pegs.
Whether you need to hang out wet laundry, air out your sneakers or simply need a handy shelf outdoors for any reason, this extending design is as easy to hang as it gets.
It's fitted with cleverly designed adjustable arms so should fit almost any rail, plus it folds flat so you can tuck it away when not in use.
It's marvellous owning special cutlery for celebrations but those big heavy boxes can be a storage nightmare. Take inspiration from chef knife rolls by creating a tea towel roll that will keep cutlery clean, protected and that takes up a fraction of the space.
Things For Boys has made one with sewn pockets for each utensil set and labelled with stylish ribbon tape.
For an easy, low-cost storage option in the garage simply buy a heavy-duty metal muffin tin. This useful tip from Tattered Style means you can store and separate fiddly items like bolts and nails or stationery.
DIY and decorating pro, OhMeOhMy, has come up with a great DIY PVC hairdryer and curling iron stand tutorial.
The simple construction allows you to stand multiple hair tools in an easy to reach place, so you can worry less about tripping over them on the floor or clogging up your vanity area.
Look up and you might just unlock a whole new world of storage space. These DIY sliding storage boxes can be attached to the roof, freeing up precious floor space in a garage.
There are a few online tutorials detailing exactly how to put this trick together or speak to someone at your local DIY store about ready-made systems.
Gift-wrapping isn’t just a task for Christmas but also for all the birthdays, anniversaries and other events throughout the year. Make life a little easier for yourself by organising jumbled gift bags on a simple stationery rack.
This idea from Aunt Peaches keeps wrappings together so they take up less space as well as making it easier to find the gift bag you want.
Turn any wardrobe into a multipurpose storage space with these clever DIY shoe hangers as featured in this video by Sugru.
The tennis balls have been attached with Sugru and are perfect because their round shape and fuzzy coating protects the shoe material and doesn't warp the shape.
Awkwardly shaped packets of cotton wool balls, pads and other loose items can take over the bathroom if you're not careful. Instead, get super organised with the storage-solver's item of choice – the humble Mason jar.
Wind wire around the neck of the jar and hang them from the walls to make a display of your washroom essentials.
The queen of tidying up, Marie Kondo says that it's easier to keep things ordered in your home if you store similar things together. She suggests putting smaller bags in one bigger case so you always know where to find them when you're dressing up for an occasion.
We suggest going for a cute vintage suitcase, for an added shot of style.
Never lose your keys again by using a brick keyring and LEGO docking station. Our favourite children's toy has all sorts of uses, and who knew a LEGO man could be so helpful in tidying cables? We adore this clever hack.
This genius idea from Ich Designer allows you to instantly create a wooden storage wall without hours of DIY. Hang bed slats from two coat hooks drilled into the wall and then use S-hooks on the wooden bars to attach pen pots, plants and baskets for trinkets.
Don't let the kids' wet play toys take over the whole bathroom. Instead, get yourself a hanging vegetable storage unit and use the baskets to keep toys tidy like this example from Shelterness.
You can also keep your own items (face masks, sponges etc.) in the top basket to keep them neat and out of the way. Get a basket made from coated metal so it doesn't deteriorate in the damp environment.
Rarely do you use an entire pack of batteries in one go. But what to do with the spares? Instead of letting them roll around a drawer, a fishing tackle box is the perfect storage solution, as this example from Today's Mama shows.
You can even separate your AAs from your AAAs, and store those awkward types that only need changing once every five years, so you're ready for the next time.
There's always room for books, as this idea confirms. You can use a custom-made headboard with spaces built into the design, or just upcycle a pallet for a DIY option.
For books and other bits and pieces, you don't need every day, install some high shelving in the dead space above doorways, in hallways and alcoves like Scribble Street News has done here. They also double as a colourful wall feature.
Go for 'floating' shelves that don't require brackets and make sure you check how much weight they can carry, so you can split the load.
Speaking of cables, create yourself a neat charging drawer so you're not always tripping over wires on the floor.
Just run a multi-way plug adapter into the drawer and attach (you may need to drill a hole for the power cable), then when you're charging, you can close the drawer and keep hidden away.
Cables have the potential to take over your whole house, curling into the corners and tangling so badly they're as good as useless. And can you ever find the correct charger when you actually need it?
This super-easy DIY project uses toilet rolls to create space for each cable. You just have to remember to put them back when you're finished with them.
Foil, cling film and other miscellaneous rolls are oddly shaped and hard to store, but this homemade caddy is perfect (and you'll always know where to find wrapping paper and scissors).
You can buy these from most home stores or just repurpose a plastic desk file and nail it to the back of a cupboard door so it's out of the way.
If you're short of wardrobe space, use your clothes as decorations in their own right. Purchase a few attractive hangers (large, wooden types suit most decor), and hang from a shelf or attractive hook. Not only will they be a visual in the room, they're also easily accessible.
This works well in children's rooms and is especially handy when it's time to get dressed in the morning.
If you're a dab hand at crafting, get out your pliers and rewire your wardrobe like this idea from Epbot. It's not as tricky as it sounds!
You'll just need to cut into some wire clothes hangers and curl in the ends until they're smooth, creating stable hanging storage for footwear, from flip flops to boots. It's particularly useful for clearing out of season shoes out of the bottom of your cupboards.
Storing all your washing up items inside the sink when they're not in use is a neat way to keep everything tidy and organised. It also means you won't get any drips damaging your kitchen surfaces, or leaked washing up liquid getting everywhere.
Plus, your worktops will be lovely and minimalist. Perfect!
Always buying new spices because you can't find the one you need? We all have 10 jars of garam masala, don't worry. But these magnetic jars are a neat storage solution. Arrange them on the fridge for a decorative way to make sure you can always find the spices you need.
Just don't forget to label them – cinnamon and chilli look mighty similar but are very different on a cappuccino.
Magnetic knife strips are a brilliant space saver in the kitchen. But if you don't want young children to pull them off the wall, keep them well out of the way (and nice and tidy) stuck to the ceiling of the cupboard like this Instagrammer.
Easy-to-access and taking up no essential shelf space.
It's important to keep your medicines safe, dry and out of the way of children and pets. But also, it's important to keep everything organised and accessible so when you really need something, it's easy to find.
This simple plastic drawer system from the blog A Healthy Slice of Life is ideal. Just arrange by ailment or body part and thank your former self next time you're in need of a cure.
If you're lacking in the kitchen storage department then this is the next best thing. A small, neat shelf that stands above the taps is the ideal place to keep all the cleaning products and items you need, as well as plants, garlic, chillies and any other little food items you use on a regular basis.
Pegboards are perfect for storing small items that could easily get lost, as the home bloggers 4 Men 1 Lady know only too well. Keeping jewellery on them also means it doesn't tangle up and you can always find what you want to wear.
However hard we try to reduce our use of plastic bags, there are always some knocking around. Keep small ones out of sight and available when you need them by pressing them into a baby wipe bottle.
It's amazing how many will fit, as this example from the blog Nae Chic demonstrates.
Magnetic knife holders can be used for a whole host of (metal-based) storage. One of our favourite ideas is this toy car storage solution from Abby Organizes, that keeps the feet-biting critters off the carpet, and allows instant play, as well as being a colourful addition to the walls.
To turn one hanger into a multi hanger, all you need are some spare shower rings strung along the lower bar of the hanger. Each one can be used for an individual scarf, tank top or other small items like bras or leggings.
Ideal for tiny wardrobes and people with a lot of scarves, as this example from The Frugal Female shows.
Too many plastic containers are the bane of any kitchen, and it's all because of the pesky lids. Closed, the boxes take up too much space, but separate the boxes from their lids at your peril.
However, this clever idea from Essomeorganizing uses a rack (for dishes, CDs, whatever fits your shelves) to make sure the lids all stay in one place, making it easy to find the one that fits.
The fridge can get packed up pretty quickly and become more like a Jenga puzzle when you are trying to find the ingredient you need. These simple slide on storage shelves allow you to maximise every bit of fridge space and store loose items easily together.
Fridge storage from Joseph Joseph.
Under the stairs doesn't have to mean a dark cupboard full of everything you don't want to deal with. Instead, make it into a storage feature of its own, with visible book shelves and neat drawers. You could even create a little reading nook if you take out a shelf or two.
Nowhere to keep your yoga mat? Why not turn it and your gym equipment into something of a wall feature, using a peg board.
Alternatively, hang your mat to the wall. This works especially well if you have a funky patterned one, but even if it's just a block colour it'll still brighten up a white wall and exposing it to the light and air will even keep your mat cleaner.
Kitchen sundries such as bin bags take up a ton of space and can be fiddly when you need to reline the bin. To keep them neat, accessible and out of the way, attach them to the inside of your sink cupboard like this hack from Simply Organized.
Ideally, attach rollers so you can pull a new bag off easily when you need it.
Make the most of unused corners of your home to their full potential. For example, if you have a blocked-off fireplace, what are you doing with the space?
This is the perfect place to keep books, DVDs and other multimedia, or alternatively, trinkets, photo frames and ornaments you might not otherwise be able to display.
If your bed is low to the ground, you're wasting loads of precious space underneath it. But clever designers have fixed that problem by creating bed 'risers', which you can put on each foot of your bed to give yourself extra space beneath.
Now, slim storage boxes on wheels are easy to slip underneath the bed to store items you don't use every day.
This is a great recycling idea for storing lots of colouring pens and pencils together. Carefully cut a plastic drinks bottle in half and decorate. Perfect for storing crayons and similar useful items, the easy-to-access plastic pots mean you can see the contents easily.
The summer holidays are over and you've got a lot of seasonal clothing that you won't need until next year, so free up some wardrobe space by keeping them in your suitcase.
By vacuum-packing them first you can squeeze more garments in and easily take them out when you need to use the bag.
Get the most from a small kitchen space by turning cupboard storage on its head. Perfect for stacking platters, chopping boards and even frying pans, you can fit so much more into a secret storage space with this trick.
Forever looking for the other earring? Try using polystyrene to keep them both together, great for brooches and pins too. If you're feeling crafty you can always upcycle an offcut of fabric to make it look a little more polished.
Ziplock bags are the ultimate storage hack tool; they are cheap and so very practical. You can use them for almost anything small that needs to be kept together like spare buttons, screws or, as in this case, colouring pencils.
If you have a fitted bath, have a look inside it to see if there's any unused space you can make the most of. These sliding panels might be a job for an expert, but it will make a huge difference to the appearance of your bathroom, and will put all that unused space to good purpose.
By hanging pans from hooks or a specially designed pulley system, you can slot a set of pans into a small space. This streamlined solution means you won’t have to worry about rooting around in a cupboard when it’s time to get the dinner on.
There’s nothing worse than when you’re in a rush and you can only find one of your matching earrings. This ingenious idea from PureWow allows you to keep your jewellery together.
Threading your earrings through button holes also makes a decorative feature out of a clever storage solution.
A mounted rack isn’t just useful for the kitchen. Attach a bottle stand to the bathroom wall and slot in your rolled-up towels. This stylish method saves you space and your guests will feel like they’re staying with you in a boutique hotel.
Make the most of your under-sink space by adding an adjustable tension pole. This inexpensive addition offers an extra layer of storage for sprays and bottles which can be accessed in a flash.
If your garage or DIY shed is getting out of hand, try screwing the lid of a plastic storage jar to the underneath of a shelf like this example by Benita Larsson. Now any screws, nails or smaller bits and pieces can be gathered together while keeping your workspace clear.
Food presenter Alton Brown was fed up of frantically shaking bottles to try and get the sauce to come out. His idea is to cut the lid off an egg box and place it on a shelf in your fridge door.
Now you can store your condiments upside down so they’re ready to go when you need a squeeze.
When setting aside a cupboard for your all pans, you can often find that the lids take up a whole other cabinet on their own. We suggest attaching stick-on hooks to the inside of kitchen cupboard doors.
If you slot the pan lids between these hooks they will stay put without costing precious shelf space.
If you use ribbons for craft-making or gift wrapping, try decorating guru Heather’s great idea from her website, Heathered Nest.
Stack the reels in a plastic bag holder and thread the end of each ribbon through a hole. Each piece can be easily accessed while keeping them stacked nice and tidily.
Lamberts Lately blogger, Leslie, came up with a simple and inexpensive idea for organising the children’s playroom. Buy stick-on hooks for the wall and hang storage baskets from them for unruly playthings. This keeps the floorspace free for more important things, like playing!
Blogger KC from Real Creative Real Organized had this great idea for organising washcloths. Store them rolled up in magazine files to keep them streamlined, separated and easily accessible for all the family members.
Vertical storage is a particularly good trick if you’re short on shelf space.
These wire baskets are perfect for storing vegetables that don’t need to go in the fridge. Heidi from All That Brings Joy bought these baskets to utilise wasted space behind her kitchen door. She attached them with two simple hooks, meaning the crates can be lifted on and off whenever she needs them.
Painting the strip of wall with chalkboard paint is a fun way to label the boxes or write to-do lists.
If you struggle to keep the toys in check, try creating storage baskets with fun picture labels on the front of them. Abby Organizes used heat transfer material to add the shapes to fabric baskets.
Putting toys away becomes almost like a fun puzzle, as children match their truck, train track or jigsaw piece with the correct storage box.
One way to make sure you can always find tape when you need it is to make a feature out of storing it. Jen from Something Turquoise attached felt pads to the bottom of these pipes for a stylish, no-scratch solution.
If you have a craft area like Jen does, the pipes are particularly good for making a real feature out of decorative washi tapes.
There are lots of crafty bloggers utilising behind-the-door space with nifty tricks and this simple idea by Jenna Burger is perfect for tiny bathrooms. Attach towel rails to the back of the door to free up wall space and keep your washcloths off the floor.
The width of the door should allow enough space for the towel to sit flat so it's nice and dry for when you hop out of the shower.
Formulate a corner of the garage to keep hoses and watering equipment tidy and tangle-free, during colder months when they are not needed so often. Claire Douglas says on her Instagram feed: "These cheap wall-mounted hose hangers from Amazon are such an easy way to store hosepipes and prevent hose-a-geddon!"
Or, why not try this trick by Life in a Little Red Farmhouse. Place an extra-large planting bucket beneath your outdoor tap and wind the hose inside. Start from the tap end first so that the nozzle stays on the top and it can be neatly deployed around the garden without getting in a knot.
For makeup hoarders and beauty queens Liz Marie’s magnetic board is an inventive and decorative way to make the most of your room. This DIY hack involves stretching fabric over a sheet of metal and simply gluing magnets to the back of each product.
This way the make-up stays out of the way while still looking cute on a pretty board in your dressing area.
This nifty hack offers an inventive and inexpensive way to sort wires across your office desk. These simple stationery clips allow you to easily hold the wires and chargers you need within instant, organised reach, for an organised desk and home.
To free up a bit of room in the kitchen cupboards, decant your spices from their mismatch of jars, boxes and packets into empty tic-tac boxes. Seattle Sundries’ idea is great because the neat rectangular shape allows the tiny boxes to slot together and take up minimum space. They are also super portable for camping trips or weekends away.
We love this hack that uses bungee cords and a plywood box to create a practical storage solution for a very tricky item that most of us have in our garages and cupboards at home.
The beauty of this system is that stretchy cords mean that it's really easy to get to the ball when you're ready to play a game and putting them away again is no hardship. Genius!
This ingenious space-saver keeps your precious pieces securely hidden and within easy reach for when you’re getting ready.
This clever mirror hides a slimline storage cupboard that's perfect for stashing jewellery and accessories.
LED armoire storage mirror available from VonHaus.
Children's arts and crafts can take over their whole bedroom (and potentially your house too), so get them into the habit of putting everything away in a trolley that can be wheeled out of the way when it's not in use like Suburble did.
Accept that the trolley itself won't be tidy, but that's OK – organised mess is a totally different thing.
A fold-down desk is useful if you're not much of a paperwork person. This way, you have access to one when you need it, but it can also double as a handy bureau for all your notes and stationery bits. And you get the top to use as a shelf. It's a marvellous multifunctional home furnishing.
How's this trendy for an outdoor storage trick using just the head of an old garden rake? The bent spokes become ordered hooks to hang your garden shears, spades and scissors while adding a touch of vintage style to your outdoor area.
If you find yourself rummaging around for the right tools when you need to do a DIY job, try attaching things like spanners and wrenches together with a carabiner clip.
This idea from Hooniverse is great because you can slot different tools on in size order so they’re quick to navigate and you can pick up carabiners cheaply in lots of outdoor and bargain stores.
Love this? Click here for more amazing home hacks and tips.