5 DIY storage ideas you didn't know you could create yourself – they're just as good as bespoke for a fraction of the cost

There is no such thing as too much storage in a home. Unfortunately, however, bespoke fittings can be pricey and disruptive to install. Luckily, there are some great DIY storage ideas you can create yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Whether you have a huge home with loads of existing storage or are struggling to make everything fit in a small space, there's a solution for every situation.

These expert tips and tricks will offer you plenty of inspiration for your home storage ideas, ready to perfect your organizing system.

1. Utilize a pegboard

Whether you are looking to organize DIY tools, fix messy pan storage, or find extra space for clothes, a pegboard is the perfect solution. They are one of the many storage products professional organziers can't live without for a reason.

Alecia Taylor, designer at CabinetNow, shares, 'One of my absolute favorite easy DIY storage hacks is pegboards – not just in the garage or craft room, but also in the closets and cabinets. You can hang baskets, utensils, and even jewelry. It's totally bespoke and tool-free.'

They can be as inventive as you like and can be small or run the width and height of one wall to make use of vertical storage to save space. Handy clip-on hooks and containers can hold a range of tools – for example, Target's pegboard wide cup accessory is good for work desk items and small tools.

2. Fill space with tension rods

Tension rods are not just for curtains! Not only do they make excellent spots for hanging items such as rolls of craft supplies and organizing cleaning supplies, but they can be used to quickly divide up large storage spaces, too.

Brooke Janousek, CMO at GarageExperts explains, 'A customer once showed us how they “re-customized” one of our custom cabinets to make more storage, and we’ve held on to that idea ever since! Inside a tall cabinet, install a small tension rod or curtain rod. Then, you can take all your spray cleaning bottles and hang them from the rod using the spray triggers.'

Alecia seconds this idea, 'I also repurposed deep drawers by adding tension rods to divide vertically, perfect for storing pans, cutting boards, or bags and scarves.'

Walmart has various-sized tension rods – for small projects, we like the pack of two 15.7-28 inch white tension rods as they are adjustable, with no drilling required.

3. Create closed storage with curtains

Many of us are stressed by the visual clutter of open storage, and it's one of the many things that make a room look messy, even when we have tried to keep it organized. So, why not hide all that mess by using curtains instead of cabinet doors?

Cabinet doors can be costly, and need a degree of skill to measure and install yourself. Curtains, on the other hand, can often be cut to size in fabric stores and installed easily using tension ropes and hooks.

Solved content editor Chiana Dickson has used this hack in her home office, explaining, 'The only real storage I have for my craft supplies is the lower two shelves of my office bookshelf, and it always made the room look messy and overstimulating.

'So, using some net curtain wire and small screw in hooks, available as a set from Walmart for under $10, I set up some curtains that screwed into the bookshelf to hide the lower portion. The curtain wire is easy to cut to size with some wire cutters [also available at Walmart], and I'm fairly familiar with a sewing machine, so I quickly whipped up some basic fabric panels myself. It has instantly upgraded the space!'

4. Adapt a bar cart

Bar carts are pretty single-purpose, so why not reuse them for home storage? They are a great (and often more stylish) alternative to rolling carts for versatile home storage. Be it adding to your kitchen storage to make space for organizing kitchen appliances or creating a book cart for an overflowing bookshelf, they are perfect for almost every room of the home.

Head of Solved Punteha van Terheyden recently tripled her hair styling storage space with a rolling trolley system, hailing it as 'customizable brilliance'.

Alecia adds, 'It just so happens to be great for towels, skincare, and hair accessories,' making it a great addition for organizing a bathroom, especially when you don't have under-sink cabinets or a large vanity.

Before picking up this DIY storage idea, Punteha adds, 'Measure up your space and key items to ensure they’ll fit in the bar cart you choose. You can configure your trolley with add-ons, such as small organizing bins from The Container Store, that work perfectly for your needs and won't take up too much floor space.'

5. Hang up your tools

Avid gardeners and crafters will know the struggle of running out of space for their supplies and trying to organize DIY tools.

Brooke shares, 'When you’ve got various projects going on at the same time, tools can become quite the distraction. We recommend installing magnetic knife strips (the kind found in kitchens) under your upper cabinets or inside cabinet doors to hold your wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, paint can keys, utility blades, etc.'

This best-selling magnetic knife strip from Amazon has over 30,000 five-star reviews, comes in six size options, and has all the mounting hardware you need to install it yourself.

Meet the experts

Chiana Dickson

Chiana is a content editor at Homes & Gardens and is our resident 'queen' of non-toxic living. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips – many of which she tests and reviews herself. As a result, she was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.

Alecia Taylor

Residing in Austin, Texas, Alecia blends southern charm with vintage aesthetics. With over 15 years in kitchen design, she merges expertise with creativity to craft functional and beautiful spaces. Her passion for transforming kitchens to reflect your style ensures exceptional results.

Paul Dashevsky

Paul has several decades of experience in the construction and renovation business. Having personally built and renovated over 350 homes, he encountered the frustrations that arise when contractors fail to meet expectations.

Brooke Janousek

Brooke Janousek, is the CMO of GarageExperts and has over two years experience in the marketing industry. An expert at understanding challenges she's great at solving issues by creating innovative solutions.

There are several other DIY projects that will elevate your home beyond your home storage, too, with many taking less than a weekend to complete. Just remember to read up on our tips on how to finish your home DIY projects so nothing is left collecting dust for months instead.