The Affordable IKEA Item That Turns Kitchen Cabinet Doors Into Clever Storage

Upping your storage game seems to be a constant theme with homeowners, especially when it comes to certain spaces, like the kitchen. However, if you've been led to believe you need to shell out tons of money to have enviable kitchen storage, think again. An affordable IKEA hack can increase your storage space and organization, turning your kitchen cabinets into clever storage, and it will take you next to no time to implement.

The SKOLÄST from IKEA ($5.99) is marketed as a compost bin for your kitchen. While it's designed to fit over a lower cabinet door or drawer and catch produce waste, such as bits from your vegetable and fruit chopping, its storage potential is significant. If you struggle for enough room inside cabinets, you'll find that the bin can be used to hold items like dishwasher tablets, as one customer review mentions. The lid of the SKOLÄST easily opens so you can access whatever is stored inside whenever you need it. Depending on your cabinets' design, you may be able to hang the bin inside the cabinet, making for a discreet storage solution.

Staying on top of kitchen storage can be a challenge, but the SKOLÄST's open-ended design allows it to deliver versatile results in your kitchen. Owners of this product have discovered that it's the perfect container for small recyclables or trash, such as used coffee grounds. It could also be employed as a storage solution for extra kitchen supplies, such as kitchen sponges or plastic grocery bags that you'll reuse. If you have young kids in the house, you can use the bin as a creative pantry idea to expand your kitchen storage by filling it with packaged snacks, such as granola bars or fruit pouches — just be sure to position the bin on a cabinet door that is at their height.

If you've struggled to find a home for items outside the kitchen, you may find that the SKOLÄST provides a highly adaptable solution. One customer mentions that they use it to house their cat's litter shovels that were formerly lying around the house. In the bathroom, the bin can also hold children's bath toys and personal care items, such as a hairbrush or blow dryer. You can even use it to hold lightweight essentials around the house, like a box of fabric softener sheets and a lint roller in the laundry room. Make the SKOLÄST your own storage savior by putting it to use in whatever way you see fit.

The SKOLÄST is affordable and can be used in a number of ways around your home, but there are several potential drawbacks of the bin. The SKOLÄST has a fairly good track record with buyers, holding a four-star review average out of 131 reviews. Customers endorse the practical nature of the compact bin. However, there are numerous reviews that critique the lid's design, which allows it to fall off frequently. If you're planning to use the SKOLÄST for food waste or other smelly contents, the loose-fitting lid might be an issue, whereas storing neutral-smelling items inside would not be problematic.

Finally, before committing to this product from IKEA, understanding its intrinsic limits can set you up for success. Depending on the thickness of your cabinet doors, the SKOLÄST might not fit — the maximum door thickness it can accommodate is 0.87 inches — so remember to measure before purchasing this storage solution. And if you were planning on loading up the SKOLÄST with heavier items, think again; the maximum load limit is 2.2 pounds. While the SKOLÄST is substantial enough to house a wide range of items, you'll want to save heavier storage needs for another container. The LENNART drawer unit ($14.99), for example, is an affordable IKEA must-have that can add storage and organization to any kitchen.