Our Favorite Ways To Use An Over-the-Door Elfa Rack

The Elfa over-the-door organizing solutions are perfect for using every inch of space! They maximize the vertical space behind an otherwise wasted back of the door, and can be customized hundreds of ways for your specific storage needs. They can be mounted directly onto a solid door, or can hang over most residential and commercial doors. The vertical standards come in the most common door sizes, and can be cut for any non-standard size. From there pick your baskets, hooks and bins- time to get organized! Here are some of our favorite ways to use this Elfa door solution.

Pantry

An Elfa over-the-door unit can transform your pantry! The vertical space behind the doors of a reach in pantry are often completely unused, wasting valuable kitchen real-estate. Corralling like-sized items together and containing them in their own basket helps maintain categories and provide great visibility and accessibility. 

The large size basket is the most versatile. It is 17" wide and 5.25" deep and 5.5" high- this makes it the perfect size for so many pantry items: bulky items like rolls of paper towels, large liter bottles of soda, boxes of cereal, even boxes of pasta, and jars of sauce. I like this size for storing reusable paper and plastic grocery bags too. The small and medium sized baskets are still the same width (so you can keep happy symmetry on your doors) and are great for corralling a spice collection or smaller cans and jars. 

It is always best to keep your smaller items in smaller baskets on the higher portion of your door, and the larger baskets with bulkier items closer towards the bottom. Look at all that shelf space you've reclaimed! 

Bathroom storage

This is great on the inside of a door to a bathroom or inside of a linen closet to keep spray bottles, cleaning supplies and even extra toiletries corralled. The large size basket is great for bulky shampoo and conditioner bottles, while the smaller baskets are great for corralling smaller lotion and skin care products, even bars of soap. 

Laundry Room

This might be my personal favorite at my own home. I have an over-the-door system to the door closest to the washer and dryer. The large basket is perfect for bottles of detergent (large enough even for the flip box of laundry pods). I have smaller baskets on top for items like stain markers and brushes. The middle part of the door I keep my most grabbed items- a few mesh bags for delicates, extra wool dryer balls, and a couple of room spray bottles. 

Arts and Crafts Storage

If you have a spare closet you are thinking of revamping- think about turning it into a craft closet! I love using the over-the-door system to hold gift wrap supplies. The large utility basket can be used with a three-section gift wrap organizer, to easily hold over a dozen rolls of wrap, shown here.

The medium and large baskets can also be used for decorative totes, tissue paper, bows and ribbon! The utility boards have accessory hooks great for craft supplies at your fingertips- like scissors and tape, while accessory bins are great for smaller gift tags and rubber stamps. 

Clothes Closets

That's right- you are wasting the space behind your bedroom closet door too! Elfa utility baskets can upgrade your bedroom closet, guest rooms, kid's closets and mudroom coat closets. I recommend using the large mesh baskets for handbags, clutches, even a handy place to stash your umbrella! During the winter time the baskets are great for hats, gloves, and scarves. Utility boards are great to hang up jewelry. Their hooks can be used to drape your favorite bracelets and necklaces. Hooks are also good for hanging belts. Using an over-the-door solution in your bedroom closet can significantly reduce the amount of small items being buried in drawers and create a nice "getting ready” area. 
I also love adding this behind a guest room door. Adding a couple of shoe holders and baskets to the door instantly gives your visitors tons of closet options while still leaving plenty of hanging space.

Toy storage in a playroom or bedroom 

Give your favorite little one(s) the gift of organization! Elfa over-the-door components can be used in smart ways for nurseries, playrooms, and help with toy storage in a bedroom. I find the baskets work really nicely for children's picture books, storing a lot of books and keeping them easily accessible for play time. Have large bins at the bottom for the easiest and most popular go-to toys, and keep some of the nicer ones up high. It’s a great way to keep toys accessible, but contained. They’re attractive too! I love this example from the Container Store that shows it mixed with other great toy solutions and mounted directly on the playroom wall.

Need I say more? The Elfa over-the-door rack has a plethora of ways to get you organized. Now what are you waiting for?! Go get yourself one!