25 Storage Dilemmas, Solved

Is your bathroom short on cabinet space? Are your pantry shelves overflowing? Check out these easy solutions to common storage dilemmas around the home.

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September 22, 2020

By: Mina Hochberg

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Photo By: ClosetMaid and @simplify.nc

Photo By: Rachel Rosenthal, Organizing Expert, owner of Rachel and Company

Photo By: Jes Lahay

Photo By: Ever So Organized

Photo By: Tov Furniture

Photo By: NEAT Method

Photo By: The Laundress

Photo By: Umbra Design

Photo By: Horderly

Photo By: Sweeten

Photo By: Tub Cubby

Photo By: KraftMaid Cabinetry

Photo By: Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company

Photo By: MobileVision by CE Supply

Photo By: Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company

Photo By: Stasher

Photo By: Yamazaki Home

Photo By: Great Useful Stuff

Photo By: Ever So Organized

Dilemma: Your Pantry Shelves Are Overflowing

Solution: Free up space inside your pantry by installing shelves on the pantry door. Over-the-door shelves, like these ones from ClosetMaid, are perfect for holding smaller items that might otherwise get lost on crowded shelves. Photo by @simplify.nc.

Buy It: Amazon, $33.99

Dilemma: Gift Wrap Supplies Are in a Messy Heap

Solution: If gift bags and rolls of wrapping paper have overtaken your closet, corral them into a drawer unit. Rachel Rosenthal, organizing expert and owner of Rachel and Company, gathered all of the bags, bows, ribbon and wrapping paper from around her home and put them in this handy gift wrap station, which includes a vertical bin for wrapping paper.

Buy It: The Container Store, $229.99

Dilemma: Sports Gear Taking Over the Garage

Solution: Remove excess clutter in the garage by hanging bikes, bats, rackets and other sporting gear on the wall. Rachel Rosenthal of Rachel and Company used the ELFA system from the Container Store to organize the sporting equipment in this garage.

Dilemma: Your Entryway Is Constantly Cluttered

Solution: If your entryway is a disaster zone of discarded jackets, handbags, dog leashes and other outdoor gear, Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer at Neat Little Nest, recommends tidying it up with designated bins and baskets for each family member. Alternatively, you can designate baskets by content, such as hats, gloves or dog gear.

Dilemma: Baking Pans Clutter Your Cabinets

Solution: Bakeware comes in all shapes and sizes, making it difficult to stack or store efficiently. Amanda Clark at Ever So Organized recommends storing baking sheets and cupcake tins in vertical organizers like this adjustable rack from YouCopia. “Filing” your bakeware allows you to find what you need easily and without having to dig to the bottom of a heap of pans.

Dilemma: Guest Bedroom Lacks Storage Space

Solution: No closets in your guest bedroom? Add a storage bench to stow extra blankets, bed linens and pillows. This bench from Tov Furniture has a small footprint but still provides ample storage for guest room essentials.

Dilemma: Pantry Overloaded With Canned Goods

Solution: Canned goods don’t stack easily, so placing them on risers will make it easier to find what you need and quickly assess what’s in stock when it’s time to go shopping. This acacia riser from NEAT Method expands for increased capacity.

Dilemma: You Don’t Have a Walk-in Closet

Solution: If your clothes are pushing your drawers or closet to the limit, thin your collection by storing off-season clothes elsewhere. Stow the clothes in a sturdy canvas bag, like this one from The Laundress, and place it under a bed or in out-of-the-way locations like the top of an armoire.

Dilemma: Tupperware Lids Are Impossible to Find

Solution: Are your storage containers and lids piled up in a drawer, making it impossible to find the perfect match when you need it? A peg drawer organizer will tidy up your Tupperware mess — and can also organize pots and lids.

Buy It: Amazon, $23.86

Dilemma: Too Many Cups and Dishes

Solution: Double up the space in your kitchen cabinet by adding shelf risers, which allow you to create a second level of storage space. Jamie and Fillip Hord, founders of Horderly and Chief Organizing Officers at MakeSpace, used risers to optimize this cabinet for plates, glasses and bowls.

Dilemma: Kids’ Toys Are Taking Over the House

Solution: To minimize toy clutter inside the house, store a selection of toys in the garage and periodically rotate the toys. Jamie and Fillip Hord of Horderly labeled these toy bins for easy identification.

Dilemma: Not Enough Counter Space for Drying Racks

Solution: If you constantly need a drying rack on the counter but lack counter space, build a drying rack above the sink. The water drips directly into the sink and your counter is freed up for meal prep. Design from Sweeten.

Dilemma: Utensils Dominate Kitchen Counters

Solution: In this kitchen design from Sweeten, utensils hang from a clever pegboard panel to free up precious counter space. This design keeps utensils out of the way while still allowing easy access to frequently used items.

Dilemma: You Have No Space for a Bar

Solution: If your spirits take up space in random corners of the kitchen, like the top of your fridge, mount a floating shelf to display your cocktail goodies. It’s a perfect space-conscious alternative to a bar cart or sideboard. Design from Sweeten.

Dilemma: Toys Pile Up in the Bathtub

Solution: At a loss for where to put bath toys after tub time? Rather than let them sit in the bottom of the tub, collecting mildew, toss them in this toy caddy. The ample pockets allow you to store toys, shampoo and other bath time essentials.

Buy It: Amazon, $10.98

Dilemma: Step Stool Is Always in the Way

Solution: Step stools are very handy in the kitchen but tricky to store without creating obstacles or tripping hazards. Stow your stool in a pull-out kitchen cabinet for easy accessibility.

Dilemma: Your Toolbox Is Overstuffed

Solution: Rather than stuff all of your tools into a toolbox, hang them on a pegboard in the garage. “Pegboards allow you to keep all of your tools in sight and within reach,” says Kevin Busch, vice president of operations at Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company.

Dilemma: Too Many Devices on the Counter

Solution: If devices are taking over all the spare surfaces in your home, corral them with a charging station or organization rack. The MobileVision Bamboo 10-Slot Charging Station offered by CE Supply has multiple racks to hold phones, tablets and laptops for all family members, while keeping the footprint small.

Dilemma: Christmas Lights Are Always Tangled

Solution: Wrap Christmas lights around a spool to prevent them from getting tangled up in storage. A reel with a spin handle makes spooling and unspooling lights even easier. Photo by Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company.

Dilemma: Leftovers Use Up All the Fridge Space

Solution: Minimize the footprint of leftover food by storing it in sturdy silicone bags instead of space-hogging containers. The flat silhouette of these reusable Stasher bags frees up space in the fridge, especially when stacked upright.

Dilemma: Bathroom Lacks Storage

Solution: For bathrooms without cabinets or under-sink storage, a rolling cart is a perfect solution for basic storage needs. This slender cart from Yamazaki Home has ample room for toilet paper, cleaning supplies and more, while taking up little space.

Dilemma: No Good Spot for Cutting Boards

Solution: If you’re looking for a way to store cutting boards on the counter without them constantly falling over, use a cutting board stand such as this one from Yamazaki Home. If you’re in the mood for hacks, you can also try a simple magazine rack.

Dilemma: Cords Always Get Tangled

Solution: Storing cords and earbuds loosely in a drawer inevitably leads to tangled messes. Wrangle each of your cords with a simple cord snap from Great Useful Stuff to prevent them from intertwining.

Dilemma: Batteries Are Always Hard to Find

Solution: If your batteries are constantly rolling to the back of junk drawers or getting lost in the recesses of a utility closet, keep them all in a designated storage box with compartments to hold each size. Amanda Clark at Ever So Organized recommends using a transparent storage box to assess your battery supply quickly.

Dilemma: Toys Are Too Bulky

Solution: When toy bins are bursting at the seams, decant some of the toys into smaller and slimmer containers. Professional organizer Amanda Clark, owner of Ever So Organized, removes games and puzzles from their original, space-hogging packaging and stores them in document cases from a dollar store.