Organizing & Storage

It's perfect for small spaces.

If you’re looking to overhaul your closet without sending your bank account into a free fall, then IKEA is probably going to be your first stop. The iconic Swedish store is full of affordable wardrobe storage you can use to create a custom closet for way less cash. However, few have reached icon status quite like the PAX wardrobe system.

Self-care is important, of course, but when you’re tired and busy (like I’ve been lately) it’s hard to find the time and energy to actually do it. So it’s nice to make choices in your home that make your daily routine more relaxing — even if it’s something as small as your bathroom decor. And I might have just found the best new drop from IKEA.

I wish I'd done it sooner!

It adds the perfect pop of color.

Toss these items ASAP.

I’m so grateful for all he’s taught me.

I’m sure I’m not the only person who struggles with this, but my purse accumulates so much random stuff. Before I know it I can no longer find what I need, and when I eventually give up on digging through everything and empty it out I’m shocked to discover how much stuff has worked its way into the space. I’ve been looking for a better organizing system for my bags, and now I think I’ve finally found a solution.

Even though it seems like summer just ended, the holidays are closer than ever. If you’re the type of person who loves decking their home out in all sorts of festive adornments, you’re probably thrilled. But if you live in a small space like I do, then you probably can’t go whole-hog on the decorating due to a lack of, well, space. Fear not: IKEA just came out with a practical, minimalist “Christmas tree” that’s festive yet easy to love year-round.

I’ve used this grounding practice in every room of my home.

I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner.

I wish I'd done it sooner.

It works in every room.

I’ve lived in the same small New York City apartment for over six years now, so I’ve definitely tried to make the most of my space and maximize the storage wherever possible. However, there are still some sections of my home that elude me, logistically speaking.

My apartment’s laundry closet is small but mighty. While it fits most laundry essentials (haphazardly), I still found myself wondering how I could maximize its storage space. I bought an IKEA over-the-door hanger to store my tabletop ironing board and a hanging hamper, but because my laundry closet doubles as my linen closet, I didn’t have a proper spot for cleaning rags, bath mats, and other miscellaneous items.

It's so functional!

Bathroom storage is often tricky, as there’s usually a lot of different stuff to store out of sight and out of mind, and not a lot of room to put it. Plus, there’s quite a bit of temperature fluctuation to keep track of, from steamy showers to hot curling irons, which can easily cause burns or scorched surfaces — especially if you’re in a cramped bathroom or short on counter space. Well, have I found the solution for you!

Plus, it’s rust-proof!

My sheets have never looked neater.

I’ve sworn by it for years.

I live in a relatively small apartment with multiple roommates, so I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve the storage situation in my living space — particularly in the kitchen. Shelves, drawers, bins, and boxes can take up a surprising amount of space, so I have a soft spot for multifunctional pieces — especially ones that also look nice on a kitchen countertop.

I cook at home regularly, which means I’m often using my groceries up and buying more just as quickly. As my schedule gets busier, I’ve streamlined my grocery shopping and have more go-to staples I buy frequently. However, some of the groceries I rely on don’t easily fit in my cabinets due to their bulky shape or awkward packaging. That’s why this pantry organizer hack using just a plastic Dollar Tree office organizer caught my eye. Here’s how it works.

These game-changing tricks can help you fake more square footage.

It’s like having a catch-all dish on my wall.

It's so whimsical!

In my teeny New York City apartment, figuring out how to extract every square inch of space sometimes feels like performing a magic trick. I adore cooking and baking, but making space for all of the ingredients and gadgets can be quite the feat. Through trial and error, I’ve found that using vertical space helps enormously, as it clears the counters and takes advantage of otherwise wasted square footage.

As someone who takes vitamins and prescription medications daily, I’m always trying to figure out the best hack for fitting them into my routine. A few weeks ago, I was on a streak — I would place the pill bottles out on my counter at night to take in the morning before heading to the gym. But on some days, I’m so bleary-eyed pre-coffee, I couldn’t remember if I took them or not. I would also forget to leave the bottles out at the end of an especially hectic day.

These off-the-shelf products can really make a difference in your home.

It looks incredible.

It's so smart.

I always find it very satisfying when I’m able to give things like a sauce jar or a butter dish a second life in my home — especially if it’s something I was considering getting rid of, or something I never really had a good use for. But my interest in organizing hacks isn’t just about reusing items that already exist: I also like seeing how regular organizers can be used in unusual ways.

It completely changed how my living room looks and feels.

It transformed a dead space.

They're small but effective.

I live in a small New York City apartment with roommates. I also love to meal prep and freeze leftovers for later, so those two facts mean that my freezer is often overcrowded and disorganized. On top of that, I also don’t have great freezer storage options. My freezer-safe food containers are awkwardly shaped, and small ice cube trays without a lid have made freezing things like soups and stocks a challenge.

It’s so simple!

I don’t know about you, but bread boxes aren’t exactly a part of my life. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever lived somewhere that had one — even when I was a young kid. The concept of a box just for bread never struck me as necessary, but I’ve since learned that there’s so much more you can do with a bread box, which makes this rustic-yet-elegant new find from IKEA all the more exciting — because it’s secretly a storage superhero.

When I lived in a studio apartment, anything I brought into my home had to have a really good reason to be there — whether it was a shoe rack that doubled as an entryway table, a storage bed that allowed me to store luggage underneath it or extra bedding in the two drawers it had, or even something as simple as vacuum bags that allowed me to minimize the amount of space off-season items took so I could free up more room for other things.

It doubles as a colorful work of art.

It instantly elevated the space.

I wish I'd done it sooner.

I’ve lived in my apartment for six years, have had my fair share of roommates, and cook at home often, so trust that I’ve accumulated a lot of spices. I use what I can and toss anything that’s truly old, but I still have quite a collection that needs organizing in my kitchen cabinets.Even my two wall-mounted spice racks can’t contain it all!

I just love this!

So much extra storage!

Good bathroom storage is a must — especially if you live in a small apartment like I do. When your priority is practicality, it sometimes feels like you have to compromise on aesthetics, which is exactly why I get so excited when I find home decor that delivers on storage and style while still being affordable. IKEA is definitely a reliable place to find such gems, and there’s a new towel rack in town that will give your bathroom an easy glow-up.

Its design is so functional.

Even if you declutter your kitchen thoroughly, it’s important to implement systems to keep it organized, and that includes having designated spaces — and containers — for items to go in. Below, we gathered the very best storage solutions (as featured in Apartment Therapy’s 2026 Organization Awards!) for every spot of your kitchen — from the fridge to the cabinets to the pantry — so your tidy kitchen stays neat and organized.

I use paper towels every day. They come in handy so often, I try to keep a roll practically in every room. However, I don’t always have a good place to keep them, which means paper towels tend to occupy more counter space in my house than they should. It doesn’t have to be this way. It turns out that I just need the power of vertical storage and $9 to keep my paper towels off the counters and free up the space for good.

My fridge has never looked so clean.

It’s so pretty.

I stole this hack from my hairdresser.

I can’t imagine what it’s like to keep a dedicated chest freezer organized. Given that it takes a lot of bending over and digging through them to find exactly what you need, it can be easy to end up with lots of forgotten food.If you are looking to better organize your chest freezer, then you’re in luck — because these stackable wire baskets could be your frosty saving grace.

This storage item proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for function.

It’s perfect for small spaces and multi-use rooms.

There’s something very satisfying to me about repurposing an older or unwanted object into something useful for your home. For example, I sometimes buy yogurt that comes in little glass containers, but instead of just recycling the glass when I’m done with them I realized I could use them around my house to store things like paintbrushes, bathroom toiletries, or even travel-sized hand creams.

I’ll never look at extra dresser drawers the same again.

As someone with ADHD, I have a tough time keeping track of everything in my apartment. That’s not because everything’s a mess, but rather because I can easily forget about something if I don’t see it. That means when something is placed inside a drawer, container, closet, or even on top of a crowded countertop, it very well may become invisible to me. Labels and lists can help, but, ultimately for me, visible storage is best.