Cheap Storage and Organization Hacks To Keep Your Home Tidy

Items Needed: Pants hangers
Est. Cost: $0, usually*

For many of us, the pantry is one of the top culprits in our house for clutter. Food just seems to pile up over time, turning this kitchen staple into a seemingly-impossible den of disorganization. Chip and other bags are often the most awkward to store…until you incorporate this hack, that is.

Use Pants Hangers For Chips @apttherapy/Pinterest

If you have extra pants hangers from Kohls, Target, or other retailers, you can repurpose them into bag closers and hangers. The snaps will keep the bags sealed shut, and you can easily hang them from your pantry shelves to store.

Items Needed: Egg carton(s)
Est. Cost: $3.44 for a dozen eggs as of March 2023*

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year (for most of us, anyway), but cleaning up decorations after all is said and done can be time-consuming. When storing baubles and ornaments, use an egg carton.

Store Christmas Baubles In Egg Cartons @apttherapy/Pinterest

The carton’s depressions are roughly the same size as the average ornament, and they’ll help keep them neatly organized and break-free. Though putting away holiday decorations isn’t exactly a trip to Disney World, this hack will make things quicker and easier.

Items Needed: Wire rack (optional)
Est. Cost: $5-$15*

When you open the cabinet that stores your baking sheets and tins, is there a loud crash? This cabinet tends to get disorganized quickly, but this hack might help make things easier. Rather than store baking sheets horizontally, store them vertically.

Stack Baking Sheets Vertically @apttherapy/Pinterest

You might even be able to pick up a wire rack from Walmart or IKEA (the BOAXEL Wire Shelf) to help you better store these baking sheets. Opening this cabinet or drawer won’t make you cringe when you incorporate this organizational hack.

Items Needed: Suction caddies
Est. Cost: $5-$10*

Condiments, plastic baggies, and other small containers can be easy to lose in your refrigerator, but keeping them stored securely is easy and cheap. All you need is a suction holder, like the kind you’d put in your shower.

Use Suction Caddies In The Fridge @apttherapy/Pinterest

You can find these at Target for $5 to $10 apiece. Just be sure to clean off your fridge’s wall before mounting the caddy, so as to ensure that it stays put and doesn’t send packages of Heinz spilling everywhere.

Items Needed: Baking sheets
Est. Cost: $1-$5*

This clever hack will help you make extra space in your refrigerator by adding more “shelves” into the mix. If you have condiments that have nowhere to go, place them onto a baking sheet and store them atop leftovers and other containers.

Make Extra Space In The Fridge Using Baking Sheets @apttherapy/Pinterest

You can find cheap baking sheets for $1-$5 at Dollar Tree and other discount stores. When you need to access the container below the sheet, just slide it out and replace it when you’re done.

Items Needed: Plastic bottles, sharp scissors, decorating materials (optional)
Est. Cost: $1-$3 per bottle*

Plastic bottles aren’t exactly known for being eco-friendly, and those of us trying to shrink our carbon footprint often wonder how we can recycle the ones we do use. This storage hack has a dual purpose—it recycles plastic bottles and provides you with extra storage space.

Use Bottles For Stationary Storage (And Dispensing) @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

Rather than go to Target and buy pen- and pencil-holders, hollow out plastic bottles and use those, instead. You can even decorate and label the bottles, too, to give them a more “upcycled” feel. 

Items Needed: Wooden wall rack
Est. Cost: $10-$30*

This hack is especially useful if you want to keep people from tracking muddy shoes and boots into your house. All you need is a wooden coat rack and some mounting hardware. Attach this rack to a wall by the entryway of your home.

Turn A Coat Rack Into A Shoe Rack @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

When people come in with muddy boots on, they can just flip them over and store them upside down, as seen in this photo. That will let the mud dry faster and keep you from having to Swiffer your floors 24/7. 

Items Needed: Legos, Command strips
Est. Cost: $7-$9*

If your kids can spare some Legos, these little toys can make for a clever way to hang keys, lanyards, and cords. All you need are a few Legos, including one that can serve as the “home base” for your keys.

Make Key Hangers With Lego @buzzfeed/Pinterest

Run your key ring through the slot of a Lego, and, when you get home, attach it back onto its base. Use Command strips to fasten the base Lego, as it should be light enough that the strips will be able to hold it. 

Items Needed: Wire cutters
Est. Cost: $16-$38 for a pair of wire cutters*

 Wire hangers are a dime a dozen, and, if you’re like a lot of people, you have too many to know what to do with. With a sturdy pair of wire cutters, you can turn these excess hangers into DIY shoe racks.

Make Shoe Hangers Out Of Normal Hangers @buzzfeed/Pinterest

If you don’t have a pair of these wire cutters, don’t worry, as they’re easy to grab from Home Depot or Lowes. Just snip the hanger’s sides off, and use the cutters to twist the ends into a hook shape, from which you can hang and store pairs of shoes.

Items Needed: Magnetic knife strip/holder
Est. Cost: $20-$60*

Magnetic knife strips are a great storage solution, particularly for those whose kitchens do not have a lot of drawer space. But, what if you don’t have a lot of wall space, either? You can easily attach these knife strips to the inside door of a cabinet.

Store Knives Inside Cupboards @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

These knife holders, which you can find on Amazon and at stores like Walmart, should be able to fit inside most cabinets. Just be sure to attach it sturdily and choose a magnet strong enough that the knives won’t slip. 

Items Needed: Shoe organizer/rack
Est. Cost: $10-$20*

Those of us who are adults likely use our shoe racks, if we have them, for all our pairs of slides, tennis shoes, heels, and more. But, when you’re a kid, your wardrobe likely isn’t quite as expansive.

Use A Shoe Organizer For Stuffed Animals @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

That said, you can use a shoe rack anyway to tidy up your children’s rooms. If you’re tired of stuffed animals being thrown around everywhere, use a shoe rack to organize them—one stuffed animal per slot. Now, the trick is just getting your kids to remember to put their toys back when they’re done.

Items Needed: Fridge slide shelves
Est. Cost: $15-$30 per unit*

When you think of organization, your mind might jump to your desk, closet, or shelves. But, there is another place in the house that needs a little TLC—your fridge. Refrigerators can get messy easily, from spills to clutter.

Invest In Fridge Slide Shelves @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

Invest in some fridge slide shelves, which you can find on Amazon and at Walmart for $15 to $30 (the more advanced the shelf, the higher-priced it is). This gives you an extra layer of storage for your fridge, making food on the inside easier to find and grab without hassle.  

Items Needed: Wall shelves
Est. Cost: $20-$50 per unit*

When it comes to storing your books, don’t be afraid to get a little bit creative with it. While standard bookshelves are always a nice choice, you might be able to get more shelf space when you look up.

Get Creative With Book Storage @lovepropertyuk/Pinterest

Wall shelves cost $20 to $50 per unit, and you can find them online and in stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and more. They’re not only good for storage and organization; they’re also stylish statement pieces to add to your home. 

Items Needed: Magazine holders
Est. Cost: $5-$10*

Even if you’re not a big magazine reader, don’t worry, as you can still get quite a lot of use out of magazine holders. These holders can be used to keep games, books, toys, and anything else you don’t want lying around, cluttering up your space.

Keep Cutting Boards In Magazine Holders @vanessacrafting/Pinterest

They can also be used in the kitchen, too. These holders, which cost around $5 to $10 apiece, can store cutting boards. Say goodbye to the clutter in your cabinets when you use this clever, convenient storage hack.