This Might Be the Smartest Paper Towel Storage Hack I’ve Ever Tried

I have a busy family of six, which means organizing often falls to the bottom of my to-do list. Hidden spaces like my pantry are especially easy to ignore. On top of that, my kids are very messy so I buy paper towels in bulk. I keep a few extra rolls in the pantry and store the rest in our basement, but it’s far from a perfect system. My kids go through paper towels at an alarming rate and never want to run downstairs to restock. 

I officially hit my breaking point when I caught my son wiping his hands on his clean jeans because, according to him, we were “out” of paper towels (even though we had at least a dozen rolls in the basement). Expanding our pantry wasn’t an option, so I started looking for a solution I could implement quickly and cheaply. That’s when I came across an Apartment Therapy article featuring a simple, no-drill storage trick that took just minutes to set up. I had to try it.

In an Instagram Reel, creator @downtownaly uses two tension rods to create a DIY paper towel dispenser in her pantry. The method is refreshingly simple. By installing tension rods vertically inside a pantry shelf, you can store paper towel rolls in place and instantly create more usable pantry storage (no tools or drilling required).

Once my tension rods arrived, I got to work. My first attempt involved installing two rods across the front of the shelf to act as a barrier. This worked surprisingly well: The rolls stayed put, and I could fit six rolls neatly in place. However, I quickly realized that sliding the rolls out wasn’t as easy as I wanted — especially for my kids.

To fix that, I turned the rolls so the cardboard tubes faced outward and repositioned the tension rod to the side instead of the front. This setup worked much better. With just one rod holding everything in place, the rolls slid out easily, and I was even able to create two rows of paper towels on the same shelf.

This tension rod system solved several problems at once. I can store more paper towels in my pantry without them falling onto the floor, and it’s instantly obvious when we’re running low. Adjusting the rods takes seconds, so I can accommodate different roll sizes as needed.

Another bonus? Tension rods come in tons of finishes, which makes it easy to match them to your pantry’s look. I started with basic white rods, but I’m already considering swapping them for a metal version for a more elevated feel. They worked so well, in fact, that I bought a smaller black set to organize toilet paper rolls in our guest bathroom.