IKEA storage school

Lesson 3

Let's get organised!

An open cupboard in a bathroom reveals towels, boxes and bottles. In the corner is a ladder and towels hanging from hooks.

When piles of clothing and clutter start mounting around the home, there's nothing more satisfying than a good sort out. Although the thought of transforming a nightmare cupboard or a messy hallway into a neatly ordered dream can feel daunting, with the right storage solutions, it's easier than you think. Ready to tame those bursting drawers and unruly storage spaces? Then let's get started!

All clear in the hallway

Shoes, coats and accessories can get scattered around the home. Some are stuffed in wardrobes, while others hang around the hallway. It's hard to keep track. Shoe racks, shelves or storage boxes keep stray shoes and sneakers happily paired and ready when you are. As for coats and accessories, a couple of hooks and hangers offer quick easy access for you and for guests.

Put an empty wall to work with family-size storage. A wardrobe with a hanging rail for coats, shelves for shoes and boxes for accessories, hidden behind closed doors, keeps outerwear neat and out of sight.

 

 

 

 

 

A green hallway with a yellow and terracotta PERJOHAN stool and clothes hanging on a coat rail above.

PERJOHAN stools not only offer a place to perch while taking off shoes, but also a place to stash them.

A hallway with grey storage cupboards. Below the window are white storage units for shoes.

A wall of closets offers plenty of storage for all, for all seasons.

White storage units stand nestled under the staircase in a light green hallway.

Make use of that empty nook under the staircase with wardrobes and drawers.

A hallway with white STÄLL units under the window, two chairs and a grey cupboard.

A length of STÄLL shoe cabinets below the window keep extra shoes out of sight, with plenty of space for plants on top. Decorative details, such as mirrors make hallways feel bigger.

Working from home style

A tidy desk allows you to spend less time searching and more time working. Keeping cables tangle-free and out of sight and wrangling loose papers into organised boxes and folders makes a big difference to how you feel when you sit down to work. Colour coordinated boxes and baskets neatly lined up on shelves are a budget-friendly way to organise what's important and eliminate piles. They also pack a visual punch. Who said filing isn't (at least a little bit) fun?

A green panelled office area with shelves above a trestle desk.

The cream and green palette of this home workspace helps to create a calm work environment. 

A collection of HÖNSNÄTT desk tidy accessories on a light wood surface.

The HÖNSNÄTT collection of desk organisers and accessories.

A wood panelled room with a white storage unit filled with files and books.

White storage units and files paired with wood boxes creates a strong Scandinavian look.

Bathroom stowaways

Cluttered vanity units can feel messy as shampoos, shower gels and toiletries cluster around basins and bathtubs. Bathroom boxes and containers are a great way to hide the bottles away. Waterproof plastic containers work best for showers. For shelves and windowsills, wood and rattan boxes can add natural touch. Arrange them by duty – haircare in this one, beauty products in that one – or individual boxes for everyone who uses the room.

 

 

A bathroom with a bath. In the window is a plant. Below are towels.

Benches are great for stacking towels. Used towels go in the FLÅDIS seagrass basket, making it easy to tell which are clean and which are dirty.

A green UPPDATERA storage container sits on a bathroom vanity unit. It is filled with soaps, shampoos and face cloths.

Create your own personal spa kit by packing your favourite toiletries in a container, such as the UPPDATERA box. 

Create your own cooking flow

An orderly kitchen can make cooking a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. Searching for last minute ingredients while juggling hot pans can be stressful to say the least. Spice racks allow you to spot the missing flavour at a glance.

A good waste sorting solution is also an important part of the keeping a kitchen clean and under control. Sorting bins under the kitchen sink are a space-saving way to recycle scraps. For cans and bottles, create your own recycling station in an empty corner or cupboard.

A drawer filled with spice jars. Small jars on top, large ones below.

Spice jars laid out in a drawer give a quick overview, making it easy to grab spices while cooking. Add labels for even easier identification.

Three recycling bins in different shades of green are stacked against a wood kitchen island in a white kitchen.

Three R's: Reuse, recycle, return! Stack space-saving DAMMÄNG bins to create a good-looking waste sorting station. Emptying is easy, thanks to their sturdy carry handles.

A drawer filled with herbs in jars and some gardening twine.

Drying herbs and storing them in jars is a great to preserve them when they are in season. 

A drawer filled with different types of storage containers.

Drawer dividers and stackable food containers make the most of limited space.

An open cupboard revealing plates, glasses and containers in a kitchen.

Clip-on shelves and inserts help shelves work harder.

Open drawers in the bottom of a kitchen island unit reveal a system of waste recycling bins.

Food waste to the left, recyclables to the right: space-saving HÅLLBAR bins make it easier to separate waste.

Secrets of the living room

In the living room, bookshelves do most of the heavy show-it-off storage lifting, but sometimes you need somewhere to stash things out of sight. Even the most paired back living room can be a secret storage haven, thanks to multi-functional furniture. These multi-taskers consume the things that create clutter, without taking up extra space. Win win!

In a living room, a JÄTTEBO modular sofa is lifted, revealing its contents. In the background is a window with a verdant view.

With plenty of space for spare bedlinen inside, this JÄTTEBO modular sofa with chaise longue is always ready for surprise guests.

A row of low level storage units in beige flank the window of the living room. Cushions and throws allow it to double as a window seat.

A row of low-level storage transforms a small area into a lavish spot for day dreaming and even more hide-it-away cupboard space.

The corner of a pale living room. A light blue lampshade hangs over a KVISTBRO storage table, next to a grey sofa.

Who needs legs when you can have a storage basket? The KVISTBRO storage table. 

Wardrobes with wow factor

Wardrobes can be the star of the bedroom or blend discreetly into the background, but it's what's inside that counts. With a bit of customisation you can make the space inside go far while looking almost as stylish as what's on the hangers. Hanging storage compartments and accessory rails are a budget-friendly way of organising clothes (not to mention fully utilising every bit of space) while matching hangers bring it all together nicely.

A wooden wardrobe in a bedroom. The doors are open, revealing hanging wardrobe organisers.

Out of season, out of sight

Secondary storage areas lke garages, basements and attics may be not be on full view to all, but because the items stored away often only see daylight once in a while, it’s even more crucial that things are easy to find. Clear plastic boxes make it quick and easy to identify contents (and even easier if they’re marked), while open shelves keep boxes, neat and easy to access.

Black BROR shelves stand in an open garage. The shelves are stacked with storage boxes in clear and grey.

Not only is the BROR shelving system strong and sturdy, but with a wide range of parts and combinations it's also very versatile.

Be a space saver – smart storage and a bit of organising can make all the difference!


You can tick lesson three of our storage school off your to-do list! Ready to put it to practice in your own home? Visit your local or online IKEA store where you'll find plenty of great storage solutions.