No More Messy Kitchen: The Stylish IKEA Solution To Make More Storage

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You may be a wizard in the kitchen, but do you know how to magically create more storage space out of thin air (no renovations required)? As it turns out, all you need is a utility cart and a couple of items from IKEA's HÅLLBAR series, as Instagram user @ugllycat shows us in this video. The product line includes plastic waste bins in several sizes, ranging from 101 ounces ($3.99 at the time of writing) to 9 gallons ($19.99) — and they make a surprisingly stylish kitchen storage solution.

In the video, the creator places a HÅLLBAR bin on the top shelf of a wire cart, propping open the lid to easily throw away trash while working in the kitchen. The lower sections are used to hold onions, eggplants, dry goods, and other non-refrigerated items. To create even more storage space on the rolling cart, the video creator also attaches a compost bin and adds hooks to hold tissues, a wicker basket, and more.

There are a few reasons why we love this kitchen storage hack. For starters, since the cart is portable, it's easy to hide it in your pantry when you aren't using it or when you're hosting guests. We also like that the HÅLLBAR bins come with handles, so they're easy to carry and remove from the cart for cleaning. With that said, you don't necessarily have to use a cart with the bins. Since they're stackable, you could put a couple of the smaller ones on a shelf (instead of on a cart).

Ready to build your own kitchen storage? The first step is finding a utility cart. If you don't already have one, there are plenty of carts available from IKEA, with prices starting at around $20. Otherwise, you can buy one from an online retailer like Amazon — which sells the Yasonic 3 Tier Metal Rolling Cart — a home improvement store, or possibly a local thrift store. If you'd rather not shell out for a new one, look around your house and see if there's a utility cart in another part of your home that you can repurpose.

From there, you can pick the right-sized HÅLLBAR bins based on your cart's dimensions. Depending on what you're using them for, you might want to mix and match a couple of different sizes. However, even though the bins are designed for trash or recycling, you don't have to use them for that purpose — and there are plenty of other ways to customize your cart so it meets your specific needs. For example, if you're an avid baker but short on cupboard space, you could use a HÅLLBAR to store flour, sugar, and other pantry essentials. They're also great for non-food items, like shopping bags and paper goods. Alternatively, you can buy one of the bigger bins to tuck away countertop appliances (such as blenders or rice cookers) that you only use occasionally.

As we mentioned, the video creator also added hooks to the side of the cart for extra storage. If you want to pick some up, check out IKEA's KUNGSFORS S-hooks, which come in a pack of five and cost $4.99. They'd be perfect for hanging lightweight kitchen items, like pot holders, towels, or utensils.