10 IKEA Storage Hacks for When You Need an Extra Closet

When space is tight and money’s even tighter, IKEA is our happy place. Browsing the $30 wheeled carts and the $10 towel racks (both spotted above), it suddenly seems possible that we can actually afford a stylish, organized home. Even the fact that we have a teeny-tiny closet (or no closet at all…eep!) seems easily fixable. And it is—just follow the lead of the inspiring, IKEA-filled rooms ahead.

Leave it to the ingenious stylists at Livet Hemma to hack the $7 IVAR ladder into a multi-step organizer for storing clothing and accessories. Lean one against the back wall of your closet to add a couple extra shelves, or simply place one in your bedroom if you’re looking to add storage to a closet-less apartment.

Turning glass-front IKEA BILLY bookcases into a shoe showcase is a smart way to add stylish storage. Styled by Katie Hodges and featured on My Domaine, the wall unit uses open shelving to show off pretty hats and textiles, while less attractive jeans and gym clothes can hide below.

We all know that the BILLY bookcase is intended to store, well, books, but we won’t judge you for using one as much-needed shoe storage. If you have the room, place one inside your closet to make the square footage go further. The best part is that the adjustable shelves let you select the right height for everything from boots to ballet slippers.

The IKEA blog captured the GRUNDTAL rail serving as under-shelf storage in this tiny student apartment in the Netherlands. I’m definitely adding this space to my list of adorable bedrooms that are barely big enough to fit a bed.

Bed slats may seem like an unlikely addition to your closet, but this hanging organizer styled by Kristina of Ich Designer shows how much they can hold, while taking up a minimal amount of space.

The tiny 12-inch LACK shelf wasn’t intended to hold our sneaker collection, but now that we see Mi Llave Allen‘s angular arrangement, above, we’re tempted to buy them in bulk.

We’ve featured this inspiring, IKEA-filled closet from Refinery29 before, but this time around, we’re focusing in on the EKBY shelf-turned primping station, and the GRUNDTAL purse organizer. By keeping accessories and last-minute touches in one spot, you’ll shave at least five minutes off your morning prep time.

We thought we’d seen it all when it comes to organizing with IKEA’s versatile BEKVAM spice rack, but Cupcait just proved us wrong with this jewelry and accessories holder. By securing tiny screw hooks to the front of the shelf, necklaces are kept tangle-free.

The combination of a KALLAX and a tension rod creates a mini closet in spaces lacking storage. In the home above, spotted on Zimmershau, the unit organizes an entryway, but this could also work in a bedroom or walk-in closet for those lucky enough to have one.

When you live with roommates who don’t appreciate you putting your makeup on in the shared bathroom every morning, use it as an excuse to craft your own cosmetics counter. Real Simple used an IKEA laptop workstation to set up the one above.