Every Door Is Storage Space You Aren’t Using Yet
I’ve mentioned quite a few times at this point that over the door organizers with pockets are one of my favorite storage options, not least because they make use of a surface that isn’t normally used for storage. Between cabinet, closet, and pantry doors, you’ve got plenty of open space, so why not make the most of it?
Related: 13 Surprising Ways To Use My Favorite Cheap Organizing Tool
But pocket organizers aren’t the only way to add storage to doors — there’s a whole world of options that can turn any door into a more useful space! Use these ideas as inspiration as you consider how to put the doors around your house to good use.
Related: If You Buy In Bulk, You’ll Love These 12 Clever Storage Solutions
12 Smart Ways To Add Storage To Doors
1. Handbag Hanger
This helpful handbag hanger hooks right over any door, and provides arched hooks that are perfect for purses and handbags. Hang one inside the closet in your entryway or in your bedroom to help keep your purses accessible, but out of the way.
Related: 8 Brilliant Closet Hacks That Will Actually Help You Get Organized
2. Sink Cabinet Storage
This back of door organizer fits perfectly over a cupboard door, like the one under your kitchen sink. You can use it as a handy place to store long boxes like tin foil, wax paper, and ziplock bags. You could also store cleaning products in it too!
Related: 5 Easy Ways To Organize The Space Under Your Kitchen Sink
3. Command Center
Speaking of cabinets, the inside of a cabinet door is a great place to create a “command center” for keeping track of notes and family appointments. We created one in our studio with a magnetic white board, a few pads of sticky notes, and a small organizer for coupons and other small papers. It’s a great way to keep the whole family on the same page!
4. Pantry Storage
If you’re frustrated by your limited pantry space, look for a storage rack you can hang right on the back of your pantry door like this one! It’s a great place to store spices, condiments, snacks, and other things that are taking up room on your pantry shelves.
Related: This Is The Most Useful Kitchen Storage Hack I’ve Tried In Ages
5. Pot Lids Rack
This kitchen makeover included the installation of a rack for lids. The rack hangs on the inside of a pantry door, which is a much better solution than trying to stack them precariously on a shelf!
More Ideas You'll Love
6. Extra Storage For Toiletries
It seems like no matter how big your bathroom is, there’s never enough space for all your toiletries, bathroom items, and cleaning supplies. Adding an adjustable rack to the back of the bathroom door can give you a LOT more space to work with, and it makes it easier to see when you’re running low on something!
7. Craft Supplies Station
If your collection of art supplies, gift wrap, notebooks, and other craft-y items are feeling more like clutter, you can use the space on the back of a door to get more organized. In this project, they used pegboard, file holders, hooks, and even a small trash can to make a place for everything!
Related: 25 Simple Ways To Tackle The Messiest Chore Of The Holidays
8. Tool Organizer
If you need a better solution for keeping your tools and everyday fix-it items in check, here’s a simple solution. Just hang up a few hooks, baskets, and even a magnetic bar on the inside of a door! With a door like this, you’ll know exactly where to find the right tools right when you need them.
9. Homework & School Supplies
Use an over the door organizer with pockets to create a one-stop shop for your kids’ school supplies! Keep everything organized and labeled, and you’ll never have to hunt down pencil sharpeners or glue sticks before the kids can get started on their homework!
10. Spice Rack
To keep spices organized but tucked away, utilize hanging racks and a couple of rails to store them! This is a great solution for anyone who struggles to reach their spices when they’re stored up in high cupboards. Storing your spices on your pantry door can also help free up some cupboard space, so you can use it for something else.
11. Bookshelves
Hang up a couple of narrow wood racks on a door to use as shelves for picture books! It will keep your little one’s book collection up off the floor, and they can easily see which books they have to choose from.
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12. Outfit Station
Sick of laying out your clothes out for the next day on a chair or dresser? Use the back of a door to create a useful outfit station! This project used over the door hooks, a towel bar, and a few pegs to create spaces to put together a whole outfit (shoes and accessories included)!
What other ideas would you add to this list?
The solution for too much stuff isn’t more storage space, it’s less stuff! That being said, I find spice racks useful. I have a set of magnetic spice racks attached to my fridge that I use to store my nutritional supplements.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.how about storage ideas for those in rental properties??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Julie, that’s a great idea! I will add it to our list of blog post ideas. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Although the space is free for the using, I disagree with all this ‘stuff’ hanging on doors. Ever hear the term ‘wrack’? It’s used to describe a twisting from overloading. Take those same bottles and put them in a grocery bag. Then, you’ll understand how much extra weight you’re putting those little hinges that control and hold your door in place. So tempting to do but not good for doors.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have my scarves hanging on a towel rack that hangs over my closet door.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Normally when I click on “Printer Friendly,” then, “Pdf” I’m able to save your article as a “Pdf” file. However, something appears to have changed. After I click on “Printer Friendly,” then, “Pdf” it appears to freeze up and doesn’t transition to a “Pdf” format. So, I’m unable to save the article as a document. I don’t understand what has changed. Help.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Robyn! Sorry for the hassle, I’m not exactly sure what the problem is – it’s working on my end! Are you just printing the page from your browser, or did you hit the green “print friendly” button at the bottom of the post?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hit the green “print friendly” button and then it opens up a page that asks if I want “Print”, “PDF” or “Email.” Normally when I select “PDF” a “PDF” document is generated and I’m able to save it and give it a name.
After hitting the “PDF” button, a green button that says “download your PDF” will appear. Click that, and then the PDF will automatically be in your downloads, and it should show up at the bottom of your browser, too. Click on the PDF, and click on the printer icon. :-) It should be working, but I’ll be sure to email you a PDF of this post too!
This is off the topic, but I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for telling us about the pillow that goes between your knees. My sleep and comfort have really improved. Thanks a lot!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have folding doors on our pantry and our coat closet. Any ideas for those doors?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s tough. When the doors are open, is there any space for storage?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I find that over time, the door hinges get loose when things are hung on doors. Is there any scientific information on how much additional weight a door hinge can handle without becoming loose?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s a good question. The answer will depend on whether you have solid or hollow doors. If you smack your door and it thunks, it’s solid. If it bounces a bit, it’s hollow. Don’t hang too much on a hollow door; the hinges will rip thru the ply.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My problem with this approach is that I really dislike the hook hanging on the right side of the door. And it can also cause abrasions on the casing if there is not a good sized gap between the door and the frame.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Some of your suggestions seem so practical, sometimes I think I thought of it! I’ve been using the mesh pocket organizers for bathroom clutter! The mesh allows me to easily see what’s inside and lets things dry! The first time I saw the plastic ones in use was in Glamor Shots-as an earring organizer! Thanks for all your help!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep all my pill bottles in a shoe hanger on the back of my pantry door. Vitamins, OTC Allergy/pain meds, dog/cat medicine, prescription pills. It’s surprising how many pill bottles there are. My kids are older and I don’t need to worry about toddlers getting a hold of something they shouldn’t.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The back of a door is an excellent place to store so much more than coats. Excellent tips
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