5 Ways to Free Up Floor Space With the Magic of Hooks
It's time to use your wall space to gain precious floor space by hanging items you use regularly
Amy Revell
13 October 2019
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering. I'm based in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and work with women to help them create the beautiful homes they've always dreamed of. As an author, speaker and podcaster, I love all things decluttering and embrace the freedom that minimalism brings.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering.... More
How many times have you walked into a room in your home (maybe a child’s bedroom, garage, hallway or entrance) and tripped over items that have been discarded on the floor?
Shoes, umbrellas, shopping bags, recycling… many of these items do not necessarily end up on the floor out of laziness, but because they don’t have a clear place in your home where they belong.
Find a storage designer or professional organiser near you on Houzz
Find a storage designer or professional organiser near you on Houzz
Whether you live in an inner-city apartment or a large family home in the suburbs, using clever storage to bring items up off the floor and onto hooks will change the way you live at home. Hooks allow you to use wall space and clear the floor so nobody will trip on a school bag or discarded beach hat again.
The beauty of hooks is that whether your walls are built from brick, plaster or concrete, and whether you own your home or are renting, there is a solution and style to suit every need.
Get Hooked on Creative Hanging Storage Ideas
Get Hooked on Creative Hanging Storage Ideas
1. Hanging bags
As a professional organiser, I am a huge fan of having some hooks installed in the space where you walk into your home from the car or front door. If you have a hallway that is wide enough, positioning hooks at waist height is great for kids to hang their school bags.
As a professional organiser, I am a huge fan of having some hooks installed in the space where you walk into your home from the car or front door. If you have a hallway that is wide enough, positioning hooks at waist height is great for kids to hang their school bags.
Sick of needing to search for school or daycare bags just as you’re leaving the house? Give them a home right near your entrance and encourage the kids to get into the habit of popping them straight on the hook as they walk in the door.
I also use a hook at the entrance for my handbag so it has a home and is kept out of the way, instead of being dumped on the kitchen bench when I arrive home. If your handbag doesn’t have a dedicated spot, a hook is both inexpensive and quick to install.
2. Hanging hats
When my boys were young, they started to accumulate hats. It seemed that whenever they joined a sport, they were given a hat.
Rather than throw them together into their wardrobes or lose them around the house, we installed a staggered row of hooks in their bedrooms where they could easily store six to 10 hats without taking up any extra space.
When my boys were young, they started to accumulate hats. It seemed that whenever they joined a sport, they were given a hat.
Rather than throw them together into their wardrobes or lose them around the house, we installed a staggered row of hooks in their bedrooms where they could easily store six to 10 hats without taking up any extra space.
I have since installed this design many times in clients’ homes. It turns out kids love being able to see their hat collection and quickly grab one when they want to head outside to play.
3. Hanging Keys
It’s been said that adults can waste about 2.5 days per year searching for their lost keys.
From Door to Hall: The Key Ingredients of a Great Entrance
It’s been said that adults can waste about 2.5 days per year searching for their lost keys.
From Door to Hall: The Key Ingredients of a Great Entrance
Instead of driving yourself crazy trying to remember where you put your keys, it could be as easy as having a hook installed near the garage or front door so you can hang up your keys as soon as you enter the house. You’ll never lose your keys again.
4. Hanging umbrella stand
Most families have a couple of umbrellas, but often can’t find them when they really need them. They might be in the laundry, in the back of the car or in a cupboard behind some winter coats.
Most families have a couple of umbrellas, but often can’t find them when they really need them. They might be in the laundry, in the back of the car or in a cupboard behind some winter coats.
One of my favourite solutions for keeping your umbrellas accessible without creating clutter is to install a plastic-bag holder near your entrance or in your garage to store all your umbrellas. The beauty of this system is that you can store both wet and dry umbrellas up off the floor, minimising mess and clutter.
5. Hanging jewellery
Do you have a drawer full of tangled joinery that you avoid because you can never find what you’re looking for? Instead of keeping necklaces and bracelets together in drawers, use vertical space either inside your wardrobe or on your bedroom wall to hang and store your jewellery.
Do you have a drawer full of tangled joinery that you avoid because you can never find what you’re looking for? Instead of keeping necklaces and bracelets together in drawers, use vertical space either inside your wardrobe or on your bedroom wall to hang and store your jewellery.
You could use a pegboard or hooks under a shelf, but by separating pieces, you’ll keep them from getting tangled and your entire collection will be visible when you’re getting ready to go out.
Hooks are great at letting you use the walls of your home for clever storage and to clear clutter off the floors.
Hooks are great at letting you use the walls of your home for clever storage and to clear clutter off the floors.
If you find there is something you’re always losing or an item you constantly need to have on hand, having some hooks installed could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Your turn
Do you use hooks in any other ways you can share with readers? Tell us your ideas in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more organisational inspiration? Find out The Top 10 Items to Declutter in Your Home
Your turn
Do you use hooks in any other ways you can share with readers? Tell us your ideas in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more organisational inspiration? Find out The Top 10 Items to Declutter in Your Home
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where can I buy these hooks?
In our holiday house we have hooks in all bedrooms and guests LOVE them, we collect old and antique hooks and mount them on nice timbers, rustic but suits our mountain lodge.
I do like the idea of the hooks, but definitely not for the keys.
The first thing that any burglar wants is the keys. Windows, doors, car, sheds, garage, etc. If you give them easy access to the keys, they have easy access to everything.