10 Clever Ways to Organize + Decorate With Tension Rods

Think beyond the shower curtain.

By: Debbie and Mark Wolfe and Chelsea Faulkner

Related To:

Tension rods are this year's hottest organizing and decorating accessory. Why? Not only are they budget-friendly, stylish and easy to install, but they won’t leave a permanent mark on your walls, making them ideal for renters or habitual redecorators. Although we normally associate tension rods with holding up our bathroom curtains, there are so many creative uses for these versatile bars in your home. Check out a few of our favorites below.

Quick Cafe Curtains

Kitchen Styled With Basket, Scarf and Mugs

Style your home with items you already have with these ideas from HGTV Magazine. Have an electrician wire a hanging light socket, then slip a basket over it as a shade. For café curtains, cut and hem a colorful scarf, then hang the pieces from clip-on rings and tension rods. Finally, pot fragrant herbs in a set of mugs to keep on the counter.

From: HGTV Magazine

Photo by: Helen Norman (produced by Elizabeth Demos)

Helen Norman (produced by Elizabeth Demos)

Small tension rods + designer cloth napkins = custom cafe curtains you can make in 10 minutes or less! Simply slide a handful of curtain clip rings along the length of a tension rod, hang the rod in the center of your window, then clip up the napkins. Designer tip: Cafe curtains should always hit right at or slightly above your window sill.

Craft Tape Dispenser

Washi Tape Dispenser

Photo by: Debbie Wolfe

Debbie Wolfe

Display your craft tape collection in style! Slip rolls of washi tape on mini tension rods for a quick, no-fuss tape dispenser.

Coffee Station

Streamline your morning routine by setting up a chic bar devoted solely to your favorite hot drink. Keep mugs stylishly within reach by installing pretty copper tension rods with S-hooks inside a wooden box, then securing the box to the wall. Finish with your favorite coffee or tea-making essentials.

DIY Coffee Bar

Need a space-saving solution for your collection of coffee mugs? Save valuable cabinet and countertop space and make this DIY display for about $25 in just one afternoon. Hang it on the wall, add some coffee-making essentials and create a chic self-serve coffee station.

Photo by: Jen Woodhouse

Jen Woodhouse

Cleaning Supplies Bar

Free up valuable real estate under your sink by installing a tension rod across the inside of a cabinet to hang all your spray cleaners.

Cleaning Supplies Hanging From Tension Rod

Hanging Cleaning Supplies

With so many types of cleaning supplies, your kitchen and bathroom cabinet can fill up fast. To keep things more organized, make use of every inch of space by hanging household cleaners from a tension rod, saving space on the shelves for other everyday items.

Photo by: Aimee Lane

Aimee Lane

Room Divider

Give your dorm room, bedroom or open floorplan a touch of chic privacy by hanging a floor-length curtain from a removable tension rod. This is also a great way to create an office or workspace out of one corner of a large room.

Tension Rod and Curtains

Another way to create privacy is by hanging curtains with a tension rod. Depending on your space, this option may work better than a room divider.

Photo by: RoomDividersNow

RoomDividersNow

Gift Wrap Organizer

Did you stock up on discounted wrapping material during last year's after-holiday sales? Keep all that gorgeous gift wrap organized and easy to access by installing a tension rod in a small closest or tall cupboard. Simply slip the rolls of gift wrap upright behind the rod, then use S-hooks to hang lightweight gift bags.

A tension rod holds wrapping paper in place in a closet.

Using a Tension Rod to Organize Your Gift Wrapping Supplies

Utilize space in a closet by installing a tension rod to harness rolls of wrapping paper upright. Hook the lightweight gift bags to the same rod for easy storage.

From: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio, 2016

Disguise Clutter

Cover up unsightly storage in utility spaces with this quick hack. Simply slide a curtain along a tension rod and hang to hide cleaning supplies, extra toiletries, toys and more.

Skirt the Issue

With the washer and dryer elevated in her new laundry room, Jenna Sue of Jenna Sue Design Co. found herself with some welcome extra storage space. She opted to use fabric in place of drawers to add a less expensive, custom touch. âThe curtain is great for hiding detergents and laundry supplies,â she says. âItâs such a simple solution and softens the hard lines while emphasizing farmhouse style.â Even if you donât have under-machine storage, we love this idea for other spaces, too. Stapled or Velcro-ed beneath a shelf or cabinet or in a nook with a tension rod, skirted storage is a simple, pretty storage solution.

Photo by: Jenna Sue, Jenna Sue Design Co.; Gary Johnson of GaryJohnsonPhotography.com

Jenna Sue, Jenna Sue Design Co.; Gary Johnson of GaryJohnsonPhotography.com

Makeshift Playhouse

What kid wouldn't love their very own indoor playhouse? Create this low-cost version in a closet or nook by installing two curtain rods — one on the back wall and one slightly lower toward the entrance — then hanging a sheet or curtain over the rods to create a removable, house-shaped hideout for the kiddos.

It's Curtains for Clutter

If keeping bookcases and shelves organized is just too much of a challenge, simply conceal them with fabric that coordinates with your child's bedding. Tension rods and premade drapery panels will make short work of hiding the mess when company calls. Image courtesy of Ashley Corbett Campbell

Photo by: Ashley Ann

Ashley Ann

Window Herb Garden

Keep fresh herbs within reach and dress up a boring window with this super-easy hanging garden DIY.

Herb garden where you need it

By placing this simple hanging herb garden in a sunny kitchen window, you can ensure that you will have fresh herbs year round for your cooking needs.

Photo by: Photo by Sam Henderson

Photo by Sam Henderson

Make It: DIY Window Herb Garden

Purse Hanger

Keep your purses and bag collection under control with this hack. Install a tension rod in a small section of your closet and hang each bag by its handle with an S-hook. You'll be amazed how much space this will save.

Shower Hook Handbag Display

Shower hooks make for a fun closet display of handbags.

Photo by: Brit Morin

Brit Morin

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