12 things you should be doing with Command Hooks

The article explores the surprising versatility and effectiveness of hooks as an affordable and readily available solution for home organization, challenging the notion that tidiness requires expensive overhauls or extensive decluttering. It highlights how these humble fixtures can transform chaotic spaces into organized and efficient areas throughout a home. Professional organizer Marie Potter and operations manager Karina Toner offer insights into using hooks in various rooms. For entryways, hooks are presented as a simple remedy for clutter, managing items like jackets, hats, keys, and dog leashes. Potter suggests a rustic coat rack with a shelf to create a functional 'command center,' while Toner recommends a Deco Brothers Wall Key Holder and Mail Organizer for its elegant appearance and visibility. The article notes that this simple addition creates a designated drop zone, streamlining the grab-and-go process and preventing common entryway organizing mistakes. In kitchens, hooks are advocated for maximizing storage within cabinets, freeing up drawer space, and keeping small items accessible. Toner advises using hooks for measuring spoons and pot lids, suggesting color-coding or labeling to maintain order. Dish towels, oven mitts, and small cutting boards can also be hung, utilizing vertical space and reducing countertop clutter. Specific product recommendations include 3M Command General Purpose Wire Hooks for lightweight items and Joseph Joseph adhesive pot lid organizers. For bathrooms, adhesive hooks designed for wet environments are recommended to organize shower areas, preventing bottles from toppling and allowing items like washcloths and loofahs to air dry and remain mildew-free. Potter suggests limiting hooks to three per shower to avoid clutter and ensure airflow. Recommended products include the Umbra Flex Adhesive Double Hook and the OXO Plastic Good Grips Suction Shower Hook. Under the sink, hooks offer an effective solution for the often-jumbled space. Stick-on hooks, like iDesign White Plastic Stick-on Hooks, can be applied to cabinet doors to hang cleaning gloves, spray bottles by their trigger handles, or small caddies with sponges and scrub brushes, freeing up shelf space and keeping supplies organized. Magnetic hooks are highlighted for transforming the side of the refrigerator into an organizational hub, suitable for kitchen towels, grocery lists, and reusable shopping bags. Toner suggests hanging loose produce and herbs to free up counter space and improve air circulation, recommending Foldable Banana Hooks and Lotus Sustainables Reusable Mesh Produce Bags. In bedrooms, particularly children's rooms, over-the-door hooks are presented as a practical way to manage toys, clothing, and backpacks, keeping items off the floor and promoting independence. Potter emphasizes that children will gravitate towards the easiest storage solutions, making hooks ideal for quick tidying. The IKEA KLYKET Folding Hook is recommended for its sleek design and space-saving feature. The article also suggests using over-the-door hooks in guest and primary bedrooms for robes and frequently worn items. Utility rooms and garages benefit significantly from hooks for vertical organization. Pegboard hooks are praised for their flexibility in arranging tools, while sturdy screw-in hooks are recommended for larger items like ladders, bikes, and sports equipment. This approach declutters floors, improves safety, and facilitates quick access to needed items. The Hogurity Peg Board is suggested for heavy-duty storage. Finally, clothes closets can be optimized with hooks for smaller items such as scarves, belts, necklaces, and bras. Potter explains that hooks preserve the structure of bras and provide quick visual access. The ODT method (Organize, Declutter, Toss) is mentioned for purposeful decluttering. Command Medium Designer Wall Hooks are suggested for behind-the-door closet organization, and Utopia Home Velvet Hangers are recommended for efficient hanging storage. Overall, the article concludes that the simplicity, affordability, and adaptability of hooks make them an invaluable tool for organizing any space in the home, encouraging readers to transform their living areas one clever hang at a time. #HomeOrganization #StorageSolutions #DeclutteringTips #KitchenStorage #BathroomOrganization #EntrywayOrganization #UtilityRoom #ClosetOrganization #SpaceSaving

Tension rods are often overlooked, typically reserved for hanging shower curtains or gathering dust in storage. However, their versatility extends far beyond these traditional uses, offering practical and affordable solutions for various household needs without requiring drilling or permanent modifications. This article explores six innovative ways to utilize tension rods for enhanced organization, concealment, and privacy within the home, drawing on insights from Homes & Gardens' Solved editors. Their adjustable nature allows them to fit into a wide range of spaces, making them a budget-friendly option for home improvement and organization. One common and effective application is as an alternative cabinet door. If a cabinet door is damaged or missing, or if there's a desire to conceal the contents of an open cabinet, a tension rod can be used to hang a curtain. This method provides an easy update, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal, such as a cottagecore look. For example, one editor successfully used a tension rod and linen fabric to hide slow cookers and freezer bags in a kitchen cabinet with a broken hinge, providing a practical and charming solution. Another smart use for tension rods is in organizing cleaning supplies, especially under the sink where bottles often create clutter. By extending a tension rod across the top of a cabinet, spray bottles can be hung from their triggers, suspending them and freeing up valuable cabinet floor space for heavier containers. This not only declutters the area but also makes cleaning products more accessible. To prevent the rod from falling due to excessive weight, it's advisable to distribute cleaning supplies by room, storing bathroom cleaners in the bathroom cabinet, for instance. For this purpose, a robust, extendable telescopic rod with a high weight limit, such as 30 pounds, is recommended. Tension rods can also be instrumental in maximizing closet space, particularly in small closets or for children's clothes. By installing a tension rod below an existing hanging rail, the hanging space can be effectively doubled. This allows for better organization of clothing and can make items more accessible, especially for children. One editor shared an experience of using a tension rod in her daughter's closet to create a lower rail for school uniforms, which remained stable for two years without issue. Choosing rods with extra support brackets or sticky rubber stoppers can further enhance stability. In the kitchen, tension rods can create stylish and functional wall-mounted storage for utensils and mugs, even in spaces where drilling isn't an option. By placing a tension rod under wall-mounted cabinets, vertical storage is maximized. Small S-hooks can then be used to hang frequently used kitchen tools and mugs, keeping countertops clear and items within easy reach. It's important to monitor the weight to prevent the rod from falling, so it's best to avoid hanging very heavy items like large pans. For privacy solutions in rented homes or spaces where drilling is restricted, tension rods are ideal for hanging cafe-style curtains. These curtains can be installed in window recesses, providing privacy while still allowing natural light to enter. This method offers a temporary and charming way to obscure views from outside, as demonstrated by an editor who used tension rods to add privacy to kitchen and bathroom windows, contributing a whimsical touch to the rooms. Finally, crafters can benefit from tension rods for organizing supplies like ribbons and strings. Running a tension rod across a cabinet in a home office allows reels of string and ribbon to be threaded onto it, keeping them neat, untangled, and easily accessible. This prevents craft materials from becoming messy or hard to find. When using tension rods for any of these purposes, ensuring a snug fit and considering rods with enhanced grip or support mechanisms, such as wall brackets or rubber stopper ends, is crucial to prevent slipping and maintain stability. #HomeOrganization #TensionRods #DIYHomeImprovement #SpaceSavingSolutions #KitchenStorage #ClosetOrganization #PrivacySolutions #CraftStorage #HomeDecor

Tension rods are a versatile and affordable tool that can be used for various organizational and decorative purposes around the house. They offer a temporary and damage-free solution for storage and design, making them ideal for renters or those seeking quick fixes. This guide explores 19 innovative ways to utilize tension rods beyond their traditional use for hanging window treatments or shower curtains. One primary application is concealing visual clutter. Tension rods, paired with a custom-sized curtain, can hide electronic cords, off-season clothes stored under beds, or laundry appliances in nooks, creating a tidier appearance. Similarly, they can create private spaces without the need for door installations, such as defining play areas under lofted beds, organizing storage under stairs, or discreetly tucking away a cat's litter box. For desk organization, small tension rods and boxes can keep notebooks, planners, pens, and cards accessible yet out of the way, fostering a more productive work environment. In the kitchen, tension rods can maximize space and keep countertops clear. By hanging a rod along the backsplash with S hooks, cooking tools like spatulas and oven mitts can be readily accessed. For shower organization, a second tension rod placed below the main one can hold small buckets with S hooks for toiletries, streamlining shower routines. This method also works for storing bath toys at a child's eye level. Under the sink, a tension rod can elevate spray bottles, freeing up cabinet space and making cleaning supplies easy to grab. For kitchen storage, tension rods can sort baking sheets, muffin tins, and cooling racks by creating vertical dividers within wide cabinets. In laundry rooms, a tension rod installed near the ceiling provides a convenient indoor spot for hang-drying clothes, eliminating the need for bulky drying racks. Craft and gift wrap supplies, like paper rolls, ribbons, and twine, can be neatly stored on tension rods, allowing for easy access and dispensing. Lids for pots and pans, which often create clutter, can be organized by securing a tension rod in a deep drawer or cabinet, allowing lids to rest vertically. Similarly, food storage containers can be tidied using multiple tension rods as dividers to keep assorted lids and containers in order. Tension rods can also be used to display children's artwork and schoolwork by attaching hook clips, offering a clutter-free alternative to refrigerator displays. Indoor herb gardens can benefit from tension rods by suspending small potted plants in sunny windows using S hooks and twine, preserving windowsill space. For temporary decorations, tension rods can safely hang garlands or banners for holidays and parties without damaging walls or windows. Fashion accessories also find a home on tension rods; high heels can be hooked onto rods in closets for display and accessibility, while hats, scarves, necklaces, and handbags can be organized with S hooks, protecting them and making them easy to find. Beyond organization, tension rods serve practical functions like pet gates. Fabric with sewn-in pockets can be slid onto two tension rods and mounted in a doorway to block off rooms for pets, offering an alternative to traditional baby gates. They can also babyproof drawers with C-shaped handles by threading a rod through them to keep them closed. Lastly, tension rods can contribute to creating a functional coffee station by hanging favorite coffee cups with S hooks inside a wooden box, keeping essentials organized and displayed. When using tension rods, it's crucial to ensure they are level and properly adjusted to be slightly longer than the space they span to create sufficient tension. While an average tension rod can hold up to 22 pounds, heavy-duty versions offer more support. These diverse applications highlight tension rods as a simple, effective, and non-permanent solution for enhancing home organization and decor. #TensionRodUses #HomeOrganization #StorageSolutions #DIYHomeDecor #SmallSpaceLiving #CreativeStorage #HomeImprovement #BudgetFriendlyDecor #DeclutteringTips