We’re always on the lookout for creative storage ideas, but sometimes, your home already has just what you need. There are plenty of spots that get overlooked, but with the right solutions, they can store more. You don’t have to be an expert organizer or have any special features in your home to utilize most of these storage ideas—you just need a little creativity and a free afternoon to put everything in order. If storage space is always at a premium in your house, use these ideas to take full advantage of the room you have.
1. Underneath Stairs
An open cubby below a staircase is a great place to stack up a few storage bins or even tuck away larger cleaning supplies like a broom or vacuum. This space doesn’t have to be large or even finished to be useful.
One way to get the most out of it is to install a few shelves to help organize boxes or bins, or store smaller household essentials like paper towels and tissue boxes. Especially if your staircase is located next to the kitchen, adding shelves and a small door can transform this unused area into a cozy pantry. Or if it's located near an entryway, add a few hooks and a shoe mat to turn the space into a coat closet for storing shoes, jackets, hats, and more.
2. Behind Doors
Chances are, you already have your closets organized to a tee. But one spot you might be overlooking is the back of your closet door. In a bedroom, utilize this area to hang a shoe organizer and get spare pairs off the floor. In your kitchen, put your pantry door to work with a few wire shelves to hold spices, or a couple of hooks to hang extra pans. The back of a bathroom door is also a prime location to add a hanging organizer for hygiene products. Other ideas for a behind-the-door organizer include wrapping supplies like paper and bows, spare tools, and cleaning supplies.
3. Inside Furniture Like Ottomans and Coffee Tables
Depending on what type of furniture you have, there might be extra storage space hidden out of sight inside your ottoman or coffee table. Rather than piling in clutter, get the most out of functional furniture by using it to hold blankets, stacks of books, or board games. If you have a long ottoman or bench in your bedroom, you can also add dividers to use as spare storage for shoes or extra clothes.
4. Below the Sink
That space below the sink is prime for collecting clutter. One way to keep it more organized is to add wire shelves or small bins to make sure everything has a place. Cupboards under kitchen and bathroom sinks are ideal for storing cleaning supplies, especially spare sponges, disinfectants, bathroom cleaners, and more. Under-the-sink storage is more limited than other areas (it’s not a great spot for absorbent items like towels or toilet paper in case there’s a leak), but small shelves or even a lazy Susan can help keep items organized.
5. The Tops of Cabinets
Small kitchen? No problem! Even if your cabinets are completely full, you might be overlooking prime storage real estate on the tops of cabinets (as long as they aren’t flush with your ceiling). Since this area is probably out of reach, it’s best for storing items that you don't use daily. This could be small kitchen appliances like an air fryer that you only use once a week, or it could be great for keeping extra bulk items from your last Costco run. If you need to maximize the space for smaller items, like canned foods, try adding a few wire shelves; storage bins can also be handy for keeping things organized while hiding everything from view.
6. The Attic
Your attic might be out of sight, out of mind, but it’s the perfect place to turn into storage central. If the attic in your home is a big open space, you don’t necessarily have to add anything to make it a great spot for storage. Use it to keep bins of holiday decorations that you only need to pull out once a year, or to store outdoor gear like bikes during cold weather (especially if your garage is filling up fast). Adding shelves in your attic also creates more flexibility for storage containers or household items you don’t use often, like some appliances or heirlooms.
7. Underneath Furniture
We’re all guilty of sliding something under the couch or bed when we haven’t quite figured out the right place for it. But with a plan in mind, these areas can become an easily accessible storage space.
Consider investing in a long shallow organizer with casters that can slide under your bed or couch to keep clothes, shoes, or even kids’ toys sorted. This space is also perfect for keeping spare rolls of wrapping paper and bags of bows in a zip-up organizer or small storage bin. Even a small rolling shelf can slide into the gap between your furniture and the floor to make anything you store easier to access.
Don’t overthink it when it comes to organizing your home. The best storage solutions are the ones that work for your household and that you can stick with, so keep items close to where you typically use them. And keep an eye out for other areas of your home that can be transformed into a storage space with a little creativity!
Source: Beck, A. (2025, February 9). 7 Spots in Your Home You're Under-Utilizing for Organization. Better Homes & Gardens. https://www.bhg.com/spots-youre-not-using-for-storage-but-should-8781410