Genius IKEA BOAXEL Ideas That Will Take Your Home Storage To The Next Level

The BOAXEL line is one of IKEA's most versatile storage offerings. It's an open storage system, mounted on powder-coated carbon steel rails. Height-adjustable brackets fit along the length of the mounting rails so you can install shelves, baskets, and more, providing tons of flexibility to create your own layout. The IKEA BOAXEL system is commonly used in closets (and it's a great pick for the job), but there are many more potential uses for this versatile line. To allow you to take full advantage of this affordable colelction, we've rounded up some IKEA BOAXEL ideas to help you improve your home storage.

In order to last in a range of locations, the BOAXEL line is suitable for humid areas, so you can use it in a laundry room or bathroom. You can choose one of IKEA's pre-made storage combinations or set up your own combination by buying individual parts and using the BOAXEL planner tool. The brand sells pre-made combinations that are small enough to fit into and organize a compact closet, or large enough to fill an entire garage wall. If you're making your own combination, always check the sizes of accessories before you buy: BOAXEL parts come in two main widths. Add affordable and easy-to-personalize storage to multiple areas of your home with these IKEA BOAXEL ideas.

It might be hard to keep a mudroom clean, but it doesn't have to be disorganized. The BOAXEL system is an excellent choice to install on an empty mudroom wall. This open system looks nice and is practical too. Take inspiration from one of the wardrobe combos (like this combination for $344 from IKEA). Use rods to hang outerwear; you can adjust them to different heights to fit longer jackets. Incorporate a few shelves for shoes (the BOAXEL shoe shelf costs $8 from IKEA and is metal, so it's easy to clean). Also consider adding some mesh baskets for odds and ends, like hats, gloves, umbrellas, and more.

Whether you have a large shoe collection or are super tight on space, sometimes shoe shelving just isn't compact enough. Instead, opt for some BOAXEL mesh baskets to store shoes ($2 each from IKEA). You can fit more pairs by stacking them in the basket to save space rather than placing each pair flat on a shelf. Even if you have enough space, this is a great option for storing shoes like sandals, flip flops, and off-season footwear that you just want to throw in a bin. Place the baskets low on the mounting rail to create a kid-friendly shoe storage solution.

The BOAXEL system comes in a few laundry room combinations, perfect for adding open shelving on top of a washer and dryer. If you have a laundry nook, an option like the narrow BOAXEL laundry combination ($86 from IKEA) might be the perfect fit. You can also create your own combination to fit your space. Make sure to include the BOAXEL drying rack as part of your setup (it costs only $8 from IKEA). Consider placing a mesh basket ($12 from IKEA) directly above the machine for storing laundry accessories and cleaning supplies: the shallow basket is more secure than a shelf to keep small items contained.

The simple look of the BOAXEL system means it can work in almost any room and pair perfectly with a range of other IKEA furniture. A match made for minimalist living rooms is the BOAXEL shelves with a BESTA storage combination. Since the BOAXEL shelves are open, we do recommend a BESTA unit with doors; it gives you a spot to hide living room clutter. To get a similar look as this video from @aaronjlegaspi, use the large BESTA storage combination with doors ($285 from IKEA). BOAXEL shelves will also look super stylish over top of a floating BESTA TV unit ($200 from IKEA). 

With their equally angular and minimalist appearance, BOAXEL shelves also look fabulous with an EKET unit. This photo from @burakaydn shows the shelves over top of a wall-mounted EKET combination: an EKET Cabinet with 2 drawers ($90 from IKEA) flanked by a second EKET Cabinet with a door ($25 from IKEA) on each side. But of course, there's also a range of other EKET combinations you can pair with your BOAXEL shelving. You can play with IKEA's color options, but white is an easy bet: it matches the white BOAXEL shelves seamlessly.

Do you have a blank white wall that you're not sure what to do with? Floor-to-ceiling shelving is a fashionable solution that might appeal to some people more than hanging wall décor. Decorated open shelving can make just as much of a visual impact, but you'll have the flexibility to switch out décor on a whim. Not to mention, you can also use the shelves as storage space. Installing floor-to-ceiling shelving can feel intimidating, but IKEA simplifies the process and makes it more affordable with the BOAXEL line. Create your own layout or start with the BOAXEL shelving unit ($80 from IKEA) and expand from there.

The BOAXEL system is an unassuming but stellar pick for garage shelving. Not only is it a sturdy open system, but it also is resistant to humidity, rendering it suitable for garages without climate control. With so many options to personalize, you can adjust the rods and shelves to your needs. For an all-metal system, use the wire shelves ($10 from IKEA) or shoe shelves ($8 from IKEA), which are metal rather than particle board like the standard BOAXEL shelves. Also make use of mesh baskets to store and organize smaller tools and items.

The BOAXEL line has some excellent laundry room shelving combinations, but depending on your laundry area, you might still feel short on storage. Here's a space-saving hack shown in this video from @palomapetri. Instead of installing the standard or wire shelving, use the drying rack ($8 from IKEA) as a shelf. Add storage bins on the drying rack to hold smaller items. Then, you can just take the bins off when you need to dry clothes, and place them back when your laundry is put away.

Cohesive shelving beside and above your desk can make the area feel cozier, especially if you decorate it with books, photos, and décor. In this example from @itskaaybee, a floor-to-ceiling shelf layout envelops the desk to make a welcoming office area. It is possible to buy BOAXEL combinations with a desk (like this BOAXEL/LAGKAPTEN for $217.99 from IKEA). However, the desk only has two legs and latches into the system. If you want to be able to separate the desk from the shelving, opt for a standalone IKEA desk instead, such as the MICKE desk ($89.99 from IKEA).

If you don't mind a shallow workspace, you can use a standard BOAXEL shelf as a stylish floating desk. This layout is a great option if you love the previous desk idea but are working with limited space or a small budget. As this image from @suush0me shows, you can make a decent-sized work surface by placing two BOAXEL shelving units side-by-side. Two of the BOAXEL shelf units ($80 each from IKEA) will get the job done, providing a desk and stylish overhead shelving for under $200 — not a bad price.

One reason why the BOAXEL shelves are so versatile is the length of the mounting rods; they make it possible to install shelves close to the floor and to the ceiling in most standard rooms. Use this to your advantage to turn a BOAXEL shelf into a TV stand. This photo from @ikeasingapore shows just how stylish and useful this system can be in the living room. Place the shelves in one of the lower slots to find the perfect height for watching. The rest of the shelves are useful for decorating the living room.

The neat, simple, and open design of BOAXEL shelves is ideal for contemporary utility rooms or even bathrooms. Just keep in mind that the standard shelves are particleboard, so you don't want to get them wet. Either way, this shelving looks lovely as linen and towel storage, whether on an empty wall out in the open or in a linen closet. In this photo from @bettina_homestyle, we like how items are placed on a low shelf rather than the ground: it makes it look more elegant overall. We also have to appreciate how the neatly folded towels look lovely in the mesh baskets.

Use a BOAXEL unit to move your appliances off a cluttered counter. This image from @yuliaulva shows how you can use a single narrow BOAXEL shelving unit ($80 from IKEA) to take advantage of vertical space to hold appliances. Under-shelf baskets help to improve organization. These are easy to find from online retailers, the Smart Design under-shelf basket is one example, and sells for $19.39 on Amazon. If under-shelf baskets aren't spacious enough, replace one of the BOAXEL shelves with a mesh basket. It's a useful spot to store items like coffee pods, tea bags, and even fresh produce.

One reason why the BOAXEL system is so versatile is because of the mounting rails (called the BOAXEL wall uprights, which cost $10 individually from IKEA). The rails have plentiful slots along their length so you can adjust shelves up and down the entire rail — a huge advantage when you're trying to fill the space under the stairs. Infinite control over shelf placement means you can tailor heights to the objects you want to store. It's even possible to make a tiered storage shelf with this adjustable design, as this image from @organizedtothrive displays, so you can take advantage of all the wall space.

Reaching almost to the ground, the lower levels of the BOAXEL mounting rails are the ideal height to provide clever storage in a kid's room. Mesh baskets make it even more child-friendly, providing the perfect spot to keep small toys contained. When they're old enough, kids can also easily slide the baskets in and out. Mount the system on an open wall to create toy storage in a child's bedroom or playroom. Or install it in a closet to create a "toy library" (following this example from @eliza.donelson), that's excellent for rotating toys.

If crafting takes up a lot of your free time, you need a dedicated supplies station. Create a practical storage and work area with the BOAXEL system. This photo from @paperylove shows how, with storage overhead and below and a middle shelf as a standing desk. Pegboards add even more storage flexibility. If you want a table you can sit at, omit the bottom shelves and put the tabletop shelf lower so you can pull up a chair. Or opt for a BOAXEL combination that includes a desk, like the BOAXEL/LAGKAPTEN shelving unit with a tabletop for $139.99 from IKEA.

If you own a stylish shoe collection, you might be looking for a way to put your footwear on display. Sleek and simple, the BOAXEL shelves are an affordable and minimalist option. You can adjust the shelving to accommodate different pairs, leaving more space between shelves for tall boots and heels, and less space for flats and sandals. To make more of a visual impact, consider following the lead of this video from @oxfordone. Installing the shelves up the wall and above an adjacent door makes the display even more of a statement piece.

An organized pantry starts with the right type of shelving (and enough of it!). With excellent height adjustability, the BOAXEL shelves are great for kitchen and pantry storage. You can move each layer around to accommodate all sorts of pantry items, whether it's small kitchen appliances or rows of cans. The shelves are open and rather shallow, making it easier to see everything (and less likely for you to lose cans at the back). Consider starting with the simplest BOAXEL shelving unit ($80 from IKEA) and adding on as needed.

If you plan on setting up a BOAXEL system in your pantry, it's worth adding on a couple of mesh baskets. As this photo from @cleanhousetink shows, they're excellent for organizing pantry staples. Stacking items is an automatic space-saver, and these bins keep stacked items better contained than a shelf. They'll also make sure cans don't roll away. Store cans sideways in one of these mesh baskets and you'll be able to pull out the bin and see all your tinned goods at once.

If you're trying to encourage your little one to start dressing themselves, the right setup will make this task easier. Mesh baskets in a BOAXEL system might be the perfect solution. Install the baskets low on the mounting rail so toddlers and young kids can easily pull out the bin and see every item. This video from @olivia.and.skyler shows how nicely the shallow basket fits a layer of clothes — no digging around needed. Use a shelf on top to hold accessories like shoes, hats, and bows (these look extra adorable on display).