Neaten Up Your Cluttered Kitchen Or Bathroom With A Genius Space-Saving IKEA Hack

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It's a truth universally acknowledged that toiletries and kitchen gadgets without designated storage space will wind up on your counter, taking up precious space. For those of us in small homes or apartments, or those who simply prefer sleek designs, the conventional fix of adding shelving doesn't always make sense. There may not be much space to work with, and there are challenges to consider before committing to open shelving, including keeping them styled when they store frequently used items. While it may not be your first thought to solve this problem, using an IKEA LURÖY slatted bed base as a DIY organizer is a genius and beautiful way to create extra storage on a kitchen or bathroom wall.

You don't have to buy a whole bed frame to get the materials for this project. The LURÖY slatted bed base is sold on its own, with a full-size base retailing for $40.00. For an even more cost-effective option, use a similar slat base from an old bed, either your own or someone else's; you may be able to get it for free. By mounting the bed base to the wall and hanging hooks, baskets, or other items onto the slats, you get immediate storage space that doesn't protruding too far into the room. Or, mount the slats to a door or on the side of cabinets to reclaim dead space that otherwise goes unused. Since the bed slats are light in color, they can help make the room feel larger. Of course, it's still important not to overcrowd your new DIY creation so you keep visual clutter to a minimum.

This IKEA hack makes a quick organizer that will help keep your bathroom clutter-free or function as a go-to place for kitchen essentials. Besides the slatted bed base, you'll need two brackets to attach it to the wall (L shelf brackets are a popular choice). Use a stud finder to locate two studs in the wall to help securely support the brackets. After you've marked where the brackets will go and made sure the points are level, drill or screw them into the wall with wood screws, and hang the bed slats over them. Now it's time to hang light baskets, towels, or anything else that fits over the wood slats. Over-the-door organizers with hooks or IKEA KUNGSFORS S-hooks offer an easy solution for hanging items that you can rearrange when you like.

You can choose between many options to make the hack fit your aesthetic. One way is to let the neutral color of the slats pop against a dark background. Experiment with contrast by placing wallpaper on the wall where the DIY organizer will hang, or paint the wall a darker color before hanging the slats. Another way to personalize the organizer is to paint the slats themselves, whether you want them to match the wall color to blend in or stand out with a contrasting hue.

Are you worried the size of the slat base will overpower your wall? Luckily, it's easy enough to cut the fabric that holds the slats together with a utility knife. This way, you can make multiple smaller organizers for different rooms. Positioning the slats vertically instead of horizontally, then installing screws to hang necklaces and other items gives you a creative jewelry organizer that will make your bedroom more organized than ever.