Clever Ikea-inspired ideas that solve everyday storage problems with simple, practical fixes.
We have lived in plenty of unusual houses over the years, and each one came with its own storage puzzles.
More than one of our homes had no closet in the bedroom at all. (Can you believe it?)
I have also learned more than once that small bathroom organization takes real creativity in older homes!
For years I have pored over Ikea’s catalog and studied their showrooms closely in search of smart organizing ideas.
My home isn’t filled with Ikea furniture or products, yet I have picked up a lot from the clever people who design there.
Here are 10 smart home organization ideas from Ikea that I am using right now.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to make your shopping easier.
An Ikea closet organizer can inspire a wallet-friendly DIY hack
Recently we made another trip to Ikea. As I wheeled my cart past the closet organizers I had long wished for, I told my husband, “I’m so happy with our closet now that I don’t think I want one of those anymore!”
Studying Ikea’s closet systems showed us how to double our clothing storage. We managed it for $35 plus supplies we already had. Click here for some ridiculously simple small closet organization tricks.
Our six months in a rental house also taught us some simple ways to organize a small master bedroom.
The Billy bookcase system works wonderfully as a wall organizer from Ikea!
I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for Ikea’s affordable Billy bookcase system. It was the ideal storage fix for our small living room, and it could be adjusted to fit our exact space.
We added pieces as our budget allowed until an entire wall of Billy bookcases was finished in our living room. (See what the room looked like before, here. The difference is hard to believe!)
We attached custom molding so it looks built in around the TV, added shiplap for a farmhouse feel, and I enjoy styling the Billy bookcase shelves differently with every season.
At the moment, our Billy bookcase discreetly stores off-season decor, Norwex cleaning supplies, books, and our tax receipts.
Ikea storage ideas can keep a home office tucked out of sight
When we first moved into our small townhouse, my office was set up in the living room. I did not want the printer and file folders on display there, so Ikea came to the rescue once more!
The Billy bookcase doors concealed all the office supplies I preferred not to have on view every day.
Don’t overlook the walls when planning kitchen organization
It was a challenge to organize the cupboards in our small kitchen. Ikea’s handy hanging rail, with buckets for utensils and kitchen tools, frees up drawer space for other necessities.
Sliding drawers in a cupboard make a great pantry organizer
Ikea’s closet systems with sliding drawers are brilliant. They inspired us to build a similar feature into a kitchen cupboard so it could serve as a pantry organizer, since we don’t have a real pantry. Items at the back of the shelf, which would normally be hard to reach, are now easy to grab.
Baskets can conceal a lot of clutter while still looking lovely
Ikea’s baskets are wonderful! They come in covered, wicker, see-through, and fold-up styles, and I own a few of each! ;) The best part is that baskets can be packed full, set on a shelf or in a closet, labeled, and still look tidy and attractive.
Baskets are among my favorite organizing tools for entryway closets, linen closets, and small bathrooms.
A home office can have attractive storage that suits your taste
What I enjoy most about wandering through Ikea’s showroom is seeing how they design spaces that work well without needing much floor area.
We borrowed some of their ideas when we set up my husband’s rustic home office with floating shelves, and my office and craft room with turnbuckle shelves.
Drawer organizers keep office supplies and makeup in order
Ikea offers plenty of drawer organizing options, but a practical tip came from Marie Kondo’s organizing book: use Apple device boxes (or watch boxes) as drawer dividers. They work beautifully!
I used this idea for our office supplies, such as pens and paper clips, and for my makeup drawer.
(Another idea for makeup organization works well if your bathroom is very small! If farmhouse style is your favorite, see these farmhouse-inspired bathroom organization ideas.)
Add hooks for towels and coats
Towel racks and entryway closets with hangers work perfectly well, but at our house we prefer a quick, easy hook system for both towels and coats. We put hooks in our small entryway closet and on the backs of our bathroom doors for towels.
Labels keep everything in its place!
Baskets and bins can become a hassle when they are unlabeled. Who wants to pull down 10 baskets just to find the one they need? Labeling is one of my favorite parts of getting organized. It adds a layer of style to a room and is also very practical!
I designed a set of printable office organization labels to help keep the office tidy, though they would work just as well anywhere in the house.
Where should I begin with home organization?
Sometimes the toughest part of getting organized is figuring out where and how to begin! Here are my top tips on how to get started with home organization.
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