Using walls and doors for storage

Walls and the backs of doors offer surface area that many rooms never use. Hooks, rails and boards can hold brushes, bags, tools, towels and kitchen utensils without taking up floor space. The approach works best when every hook is mounted securely, the items sit at a height that suits how they are used, and the weight stays within what each fastener and anchor can hold.

A good starting point is the set of items that currently sit on the floor or crowd a surface. Ask which of them are used often enough to hang within reach. A wall plan that begins with real items tends to stay useful, while one that begins with attractive hardware often ends with hooks that nobody uses.

Find solid points to fasten into

Before drilling, locate the framing behind the wall. A stud finder can show where the wooden or metal studs run, and fastening into a stud gives the strongest hold for heavier items. Many hooks and rails can be fastened into drywall with the anchors supplied, while other walls, such as plaster or masonry, need different anchors. Pilot holes help screws go in straight and reduce the chance of splitting a wooden stud. Read the weight rating on each product. Ratings usually assume the product is installed as the manufacturer describes, and screws or anchors that are too short or the wrong type reduce what the wall can safely hold.

Check for pipes and electrical cables before drilling. A stud finder with a setting for live wiring helps, but it is not a guarantee. If you are unsure what runs behind a spot, choose another spot. Walls that are old, damp or made of plaster on lath are good reasons to ask a qualified installer before you commit to heavy loads.

Choose heights for how things are used

Hang daily items between waist and shoulder height, where they can be reached without lifting or stretching. Keep heavy objects low, ideally between the knee and the waist, so that lifting them does not strain the back or require reaching above the head. Overhead storage is best for light or occasional items. A bag of tools that falls from a high hook can cause injury, and a heavy pan dropped from above can crack a tile or hurt a foot.

The back of a door can hold more than a single hook, but it needs the right fastening. Screw-mounted door racks are more secure than clip-on organizers, provided the screws bite into solid material. Many interior doors are hollow-core: a lightweight panel with an empty or honeycomb interior that will not hold a screw or a heavy load. Knock on the door before you drill, since a hollow sound usually means a hollow core. On a hollow door, use a mounting kit designed for hollow doors or put heavier items on a wall instead. Keep anything mounted on a door light, and keep it clear of the handle and any peephole.

Use pegboards and rails for changing needs

Pegboard and rails suit storage that changes over time, because hooks, baskets and small shelves can be moved as needs change. A pegboard takes a range of hooks and small shelves, and a board can be mounted on a plain wall in a utility room, a hallway or a garage. Rails with sliding hooks allow a single strip to hold kitchen utensils, bags or towels, and the position can be adjusted without drilling new holes.

A useful habit for tools or utensils is to trace each item's outline on the board with a marker or a strip of tape. When an item is missing, the empty outline shows it at a glance. Keep the most-used items at the front and center of the board, and move the rarely used ones to the sides or the top. Hooks should suit the item. A hook that is too small may slide off under the weight of a heavy bag, and one that is too large can let items rattle or swing.

Rails and boards also make it easier to adapt when the household changes. A child who grows may need hooks at a different height, and a hobby that takes over a corner may need room for more tools. Moving a few hooks along a rail, or adding one to a board, is quicker and less disruptive than refitting a whole shelf. When a board is mounted on the wall, leave enough space between it and the surface behind for hooks to sit flat, so that items hang close to the wall and do not pull the board away from its fasteners.

Keep heavy and sharp items safe

Heavy items should go on fasteners rated for their weight and at a height where a fall will not reach anyone. Avoid hanging anything heavy above a bed, a sofa, a crib or any place where people sit, since a hook or rail that fails can injure someone. Cookware, tools, heavy bags and cans of paint are better stored on sturdy low shelves or in a cabinet than on wall hooks.

Sharp items need the same care. Blades and saws should be hung with the edge covered or facing away from walkways, and stored out of reach of children. Flammable liquids, such as paint thinner and gasoline, should not be hung on walls at all. Keep them in their original containers, away from heat sources, and keep gasoline out of the living space entirely, since it belongs in an approved container outside the home. Finally, check the wall and its fasteners once or twice a year. Loose screws, cracked plaster and sagging rails are far easier to repair early than after something has fallen.