She Hung a $7 IKEA Plate Holder in Her Bedroom, and Book Storage Has Never Looked Better

When speech-language pathologist Katie Nielsen began renting a 430-square-foot apartment in Toronto, she was making the small space work for just one person. But a few years later, when her fiancé Liam Grubb moved in, the 400-square-foot space became home to two. The couple had to get creative with their storage.

“We’ve had to make use of every inch, including awkward spaces like the narrow gap beside the fridge or the space underneath the couch, as well as vertical space,” Katie said during the House Tour. Using vertical space proved key to making the home work for the couple, especially when it came to the unexpected — yet popular — way they stored their expansive book collection. Spoiler: It’s an IKEA plate holder.

While using the IKEA OSTBIT plate holder as vertical book storage is a clever idea, it’s not the first time I’ve seen it in someone’s real home. Three years ago, design expert Medina Grillo made a TikTok video about how she utilized this kitchen staple as her library. It was also featured as book storage in Apartment Therapy’s 2023 Small/Cool event in a bedroom experience.

Unsurprisingly, Katie said it’s one of the items guests ask her about most often. For less than $7, it’s a chic way to make your books look like they’re somehow attached to the wall. The plate holder is made of bamboo, a durable, sturdy material, and IKEA notes that it can hold more than dishware, like “letters and children’s puzzles.”

Katie’s lived in a small space for a while now, so it’s no wonder she’s found unique ways to make items intended for another purpose work for her life. For example, she used an IKEA spice rack to store products in her tiny bathroom — this makes it easy for her to grab items without rifling through the medicine cabinet.

Daily, I’m reminded to think outside the box when looking at products. With a little creativity, you can give anything a purpose beyond what it was designed for. I’m constantly impressed by real homeowners who make their lives easier by going against the grain. To see more of Katie’s apartment, visit the full House Tour.