The Dollar Tree DIY That Adds Extra Cabinet Storage For Lightweight Kitchen Items

You know that feeling when you just want to enjoy a cup of tea but the thought of digging through your cluttered kitchen cabinets sends a wave of anxiety over you? You open the cupboard to find a chaotic mess — items stacked precariously, things buried in the back, and no easy way to grab what you need. Well, what if we told you that in addition to more permanent solutions like extra shelves or shelf risers, you can easily build a DIY setup to keep your lightweight kitchen items organized? This Dollar Tree DIY consists of attaching a file holder under a shelf or to the bottom of your cabinet using double-sided tape. It's a budget-friendly way to use every inch of cabinet space. 

To complete this hack, all you need is a cardboard file holder from Dollar Tree (just $1.25) and some EZlifego double-sided tape for $12.99. Once you see how it's done, you can easily customize the hack to what you have available. For example, you can use Command Strips. No file holders? Use any other flat box as your makeshift shelf. 

This DIY is great for storing small and light things that never seem to have a proper home in your cabinets. Think paper napkins, paper plates, tea bags, or toothpicks. This way, you can make your cabinets work for you, not against you. You'll finally be able to enjoy your tea stress-free. 

Start by taking your file holder out of its package, but leave it flat and deconstructed for now. Laid on a flat surface, you'll notice it isn't a perfect rectangle. To get rid of that triangle side, grab a ruler and a pen, draw a line, and cut with scissors, just like the YouTube channel FABEDhacks shows in their video. Fold your file holder into a neat rectangular box.

Now, attach the box wherever you need it using double-sided tape. If you're too short to reach under the top shelf of your cabinet, try sticking the box underneath the bottom one instead. You can experiment with placing it on the side of the cabinet to store tall items like paper cups. You can even use this hack to attach the box underneath your cabinet, above the countertop. And if you change your mind, you can always remove it. Double-sided tape might leave a little residue, but it's nothing permanent.

If you decide to do this and want a prettier alternative, Dollar Tree sells some pretty trinket boxes with prints. You can remove the drawers from it to avoid too much movement that might cause the tape to come off. On the other hand, if you're using it inside the cabinet and don't care about looks, you can repurpose an empty cereal box or old cardboard box. Just remember that what you store in there should be lightweight and dry, since cardboard isn't moisture resistant.