42 Easy DIY Storage Ideas for Small Spaces on a Budget

Last updated on November 15, 2023

Looking to declutter a small room? You have to see these 42 easy DIY storage ideas for small spaces that you can do on a budget.

Small spaces are especially tricky to organize because there’s just so much room for storage solutions. Very likely, you can’t even squeeze a shelf in a small area and you have to use furniture that doubles as a storage unit. That’s when you need to get creative with your DIY projects.

Check out the following easy DIY project ideas to add extra storage to any small room in your house. The best part is that you’ll add decor value to your home as well!

Crate Storage Coffee Table with Stools

This is a really great DIY project that is easy to follow and results in multiple pieces of furniture with multiple purposes. You get an awesome farmhouse style coffee table with plenty of storage room and stools which can be also used for extra storage. And all you need are a few wooden crates and wood boards to build it.

Crate Bookcase

The best thing about this DIY project is that it’s so easy but you get a very attractive bookcase as a result. Take a few crates and fix them together, paint them in a color of your liking and that’s all it takes to build a wonderful piece of furniture for your home. It’s great for displays in your living room or towel storage in the bathroom.

Sectional Sofa with Storage

Building a sectional sofa may sound like a big task but it’s a lot easier than you think. Check out these plans and the story of how it was done. Whether you’re up for the challenge is for you to decide.

Storage Bench from a Bookshelf

Have you ever noticed that if you turn a simple vertical bookshelf on a side it looks very much like a bench? Use this hack to your advantage to build a simple yet attractive storage bench. You can pick up cheap bookshelves from Ikea for this little project.

Storage Bench from Crates

Another great DIY project that makes use of wooden crates from storage. Instead of stacking crates with stuff you can build this attractive bench with plenty of easy storage. Originally it was built for shoe storage but you can store just about anything in this convenient piece of furniture.

Window Seat with Storage

A window seat is a great functional piece of furniture but the problem is it almost always has to be custom made to fit your room. Well, this problem is easily solved and you can have fun while doing it. Build your own window seat bench with storage by following this easy tutorial.

Storage Ottoman/Coffee Table

Whether you build a coffee table or an ottoman following these plans is entirely up to you. This DIY project is very easy and requires only two crates to accomplish. Get your own unique rustic accent piece for your home.

Shelf Rack for Bathroom Storage

A small bathroom can certainly benefit from extra storage but you have to work in a very limited space. Consider building this small but spacious storage shelf in rustic style. Your bathroom decor will never be the same again.

DIY Kitchen Island with Storage

Building a DIY kitchen island with storage may not be the easiest DIY project but this one is as easy as they get. This piece of furniture will easily become the focal point of your kitchen decor and it’s very functional too. It makes use of wooden crates for storage really well and does it in a very attractive farmhouse style.

Barnwood Sideboard

If you like farmhouse style accents in your home decor then you’ll love this little DIY project. Transform just about any old cabinet with these rustic barn wood doors that create so much decor interest.

Storage Cabinet

Cheap storage cubes can be made so much more attractive by building a cabinet from them. This DIY project is easy to follow and you’ll absolutely have fun while building your own storage cabinets.

Open Pantry from Crates

Another great DIY project that makes use of wooden crates. We don’t have to say how easy it is to fix the crates together for a nice DIY pantry cabinet. This project adds lovely drawers for some closed storage and the wood stain goes so well for a rustic style.

Mobile Laundry Station

If your laundry tends to get disorganized try building a storage unit to organize your laundry room on the fly. It’s an easy DIY project but a very useful one.

Crate Cabinet with Sliding Drawers

This lovely DIY piece of furniture has a very functional design. Wooden crates provide a lot of storage and the drawer frame makes it very accessible. You can use this unit as DIY garage storage or apply wood stain and use it as a rustic/farmhouse accent piece in the kitchen to store produce.

Rustic Toy Box

If you can get your hands on an old but attractive crate, you can have an easy DIY storage box for just about anything. In this tutorial, you will learn how to build a mobile toy storage box by adding rope handles and wheels to a vintage crate. Can’t get any more rustic than that and we love it.

Birch Wall Hooks

Are you up for a unique decor feature? Try these birch wall hooks that look a lot more interesting than a regular coat rack. We love the minimalist and rustic style that this idea introduces.

Coffee Mug Rack

How to make  Pallet Coffee Mug Holder
Tutorial: www.onelittlebirdblog.com

Your kitchen needs this awesome coffee mug rack that you can make from pallet wood. The idea is so simple but quite genius – it had spread like wildfire on Pinterest a while ago.

Bathroom Mirror with Storage Shelf

How to make  Rustic Mirror Shelf
Idea via etsy.com

This mirror with storage shelf for your bathroom is not only relatively easy to build, but it’s also practical in providing a lot of storage for small things, not to mention it looks super attractive. (Read also about our picks for the best bookshelves for small spaces.)

Rolling Bookshelf

How to make  Rolling Bookshelf
Tutorial: www.craftsmandrive.com

Build this rolling bookshelf (which is quite an easy project if you follow the tutorial) and save on a storage unit furniture while adding an attractive decor feature to your living room. It’s perfect for storage and display vignettes.

Apothecary Cabinet

While this project is a bit more involved than others on this list, it can be just what you need if you’re looking for a storage system with more space. This rustic apothecary cabinet is visually appealing and obviously practical. Try the tutorial if you’re up for the challenge.

Clock End Table

When it comes to unique ideas, this end table is certainly one of a kind. Take an old clock face and turn it into a whimsical end table for your sofa. Extra decor points guaranteed.

Wood Slice Shelves

Rustic or modern industrial – likely something in between – these adorable little shelves will sprinkle your kitchen decor with whimsy. And this project is quite simple to do too.

Rustic Wall Rack

How to make  Rustic Wall Knife Rack
Tutorial: www.ehow.com

If you need to organize your knives in the kitchen, here’s a rustic idea for you. This little project involves just installing little magnets into a simple wood plank, but the end result is the perfect rustic kitchen decor feature.

Suitcase Coffee Table

How to make  Suitcase Coffee Table
Tutorial: shopruche.com

Those bulky vintage suitcases make perfect makeshift furniture, so if you can get your hands on one, you can make this wonderful whimsical coffee table that will certainly improve your decor.

Repurposed Old Window Coffee Table

Repurposing old materials is a big part of rustic DIY crafts and this lovely coffee table made using an old window frame is a wonderful example. Make one for your home and you’ll have an attractive coffee table with storage space that works as a display case too.

Rustic Bookshelf

Sometimes a simple bookshelf is all you need, but why not make it rustic and why not do it yourself. Here’s how you can quite easily do that.

Crate Bookshelf

The benefit of building a bookshelf out of crates is two fold – first, you have a cheap but attractive piece of furniture, and secondly, you are free to choose any shelving layout you want.

Rustic Wood Tray

One of the best solutions to organize small things around the house is a tray that you can place on any surface in any room. A rustic wood tray that you can make yourself brings this idea to a whole new level.

Enamel Mug Organizer

How to make  Enamel Mug Organizer
Tutorial: homeroad.net

Such a wonderful idea to use big enamel mugs and build little wall shelves for small things. It brings a lovely rustic country style to your decor.

Mason Jar Shelves

How to build  mason jar shelves

We’ve had these lovely mason jar shelves as a DIY project before but it’s worth bringing them back – they’re just that lovely and brilliant.

Coat Hanger Hat Organizer

How to build  a DIY hat organizer
Source: www.housedressingstyle.com

Use a simple coat hanger with an array of curtain hooks to hang your hats for easy and convenient access without cluttering up. The same idea can be used to store much more than hats.

TP Tube Cable Organizer

Cables can get messy but not if you organize them well. Toilet paper tubes work surprisingly well for this.

Billy Bookcase Nightstand

Having more storage in your bedroom is becoming more commonplace and so is using a small bookcase for a nightstand.

Under the Cabinet Drawers

A clever idea to use the space under the cabinets for storage drawers
Source: www.familyhandyman.com

There’s a lot of space to be used for storage under the cabinets and you build drawers to make use of it.

Bed Pockets

Love these bed pockets for extra storage in the bedroom
Source: www.containerstore.com

Bed pockets are very easy to add and give you some extra space for magazines, books, electronics, and other small items without the need for a nightstand.

Headboard Storage

How to build  headboard storage
Source: gravityhome.tumblr.com

Your headboard can do much more than serving as a headrest and decor feature. Small shelves can be implemented to store books and other small items.

Scarf Storage Racks

How to build  a scarf holder using clothes pins
Source: www.pinterest.com

Scarves should be kept tidy but it’s so easy to lose them in the closet. Build a rack of clothespins to conveniently store all of your scarves and other accessories.

Over the Door Bookcase

You can even add an entire bookcase over the door and it will be an interesting addition to your home decor.

Staircase Storage

How to build  shoe storage built into staircase
Via Pinterest.com

A functional staircase is a pleasant surprise in any home. Drawers built into the stairs is a great space to keep shoes and other things.

TV Stand Cabinets

You have a TV and you have to place it somewhere. Whether it’s a stand or its hung on the wall, make sure to use it for storage. Get a stand with cabinets and even if the TV is suspended on the wall, use the space underneath it. This is the perfect space for DVDs, books, or display items.

Bookcase Behind the Couch

Here’s a sneaky way for extra storage. Place a bookcase behind a couch, whether it’s in the middle of the room or against the wall, it doesn’t matter. Either way, you’re using the same visual space and make the couch more functional.

If the couch is against the wall, consider adding wheels to the bookcase so you can draw it out and get even more hidden storage space that way.

Wall Clock

How to make a  wall clock

To make your home decor more interesting, get a freestanding wall clock with storage space. You may want to have an accent like a clock as part of your interior design anyway, so might as well make it functional.

Recap

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