Budget-Friendly Organizing Hack: Command Hooks

Recently a fellow professional organizer asked us to name a favorite organizing hack under $5. Without hesitating, we responded “Command hooks.”

Now, not all packages are under $5, but the unit price of most of the hooks we use comes in at that price or even less for the smaller ones.

Command hooks are advertised as damage-free hooks that you can adhere to most surfaces without having to use nails or screws. They often come in a white plastic finish, but some are available in metal finishes, including bronze, brushed nickel, or black. The metal options often have a higher end look to them, so they are excellent for more visible storage.

In our own homes and in the homes of our clients, we’ve used Command hooks in numerous ways, from hanging potholders inside cabinets to brooms and mops on utility closet doors. If you want to hang a bathrobe or a towel on the back of a door without drilling, these hooks are an excellent choice.

In your closet, attach them to the wall, and just like that you’ve created some hat, cap, or scarf storage.

One of my favorite tricks to date is using a brushed-nickel Command hook inside a cupboard pantry door to tuck away a small step stool. As a shorter person, I often need the extra height boost in the kitchen without having the stool in my way and under foot when I don’t need it.

There are also specialty hooks available that are designed to hold spray bottles, so this is a wonderful way to store some of your most-used cleaning supplies under your sink, freeing up extra storage space on the shelves for other items. Attach a smaller one on the back of an appliance to help you wrap and manage its long cord.

On a front door, use Command hooks to hang your seasonal wreaths. In a mud room, these are handy for storing keys or lanyards or even coats. We generally don’t recommend hanging heavy bags or bookbags from them, as they often exceed the weight limit of most of the hooks.

The key is to select the right hook for your project, so make sure to consider the weight of what you are hanging and also the shape of the hook and be careful not to use them to hang breakable objects. While we’ve found these hooks to be indispensable, we also realize their limits. At some point even their very sticky and strong tape may have to be replaced, and most packages come with extra tape in case you need a replacement or if you want to relocate something.

The possibilities for these hooks are almost endless. Or dare I say, your storage wish is their “command.”

We’d love to hear from you: How do you use these hooks in organizing your spaces? Let us know in the comments section!