This useful household item can be used to tame clutter, keep essentials handy, and so much more.
You might already be using tension rods in place of traditional hardware to hang window treatments or shower curtains, but they have many other practical uses. They’re inexpensive and take up minimal room whether they are or are not in use. Plus, they can help keep you organized by providing unique storage solutions without the need for a full remodel or DIY project. Steel Structure Workshop
Tension rods are adjustable, so you can completely customize your space. And since you don't need any hardware to install them, they're easy to hang and prevent damage to walls. This makes them ideal for renters and anyone looking for a temporary or quick fix. We're sharing our best tension rod ideas to help you find new uses for them around your home.
Even if a product or appliance is vital to your home, it doesn’t mean you want to constantly look at it. Cover up any household eyesores using a tension rod and curtain cut to size. Whether that be the mess of electronics and cords in an open TV console, off-season clothes under the bed, or the laundry appliances in a hallway nook, you can simply close the curtains to conceal clutter.
Similarly, you can create privacy for some spaces without needing to install a door. A play area beneath a lofted bed, storage under the stairs, or the cat’s litter box can all be tucked away behind a curtain hung by a tension rod.
Nothing ruins a productive work environment like clutter all over your desk, but you don't need to spend a lot on your work from home setup to stay organized. Here, a small tension rod and painted wood box keep notebooks, planners, pens, and cards accessible but out of the way.
Small kitchens require some extra creativity when it comes to storage. Keep countertops clear by forgoing a crock and hanging cooking tools using S hooks on a tension rod along the backsplash instead. Your go-to spatula or oven mitt will always be available when you’re in the middle of making your signature masterpiece, and your countertops will stay clear.
If there’s already one tension rod in the shower for the liner and curtain, why not add another? Add one just below the original rod and hang small buckets using S hooks. Each bucket can hold different toiletry categories such as shampoo, body care, and shaving supplies to help streamline your shower routine. Alternatively, if you have little ones, place the rod against the tile near the top of the tub and use baskets to hold bath toys at their eye level.
Avoid cluttered chaos underneath thesink by storing cleaning supplies—specifically spray bottles—off the ground. Install a tension rod near the top and front of the cabinet and then hook bottle nozzles over it. This clears the rest of the space for other items and allows you to easily grab a bottle to clean up spills in a flash.
Whether you have a few dozen reserved for bake-offs or just a handful for when you’re in the mood for cookies, baking sheets, muffin tins, and cooling racks need a designated home. Place horizontal tension rods a few inches apart from one another in a wide cabinet. Then slide the various bakeware into the slots so they stay upright and sorted.
Drying racks are convenient to have but often bothersome to store when they’re not being used. There are quite a few ways to get innovative with drying racks, but there’s one that is the simplest. And that is to include a tension rod close to the ceiling in the laundry to hang-dry clothing indoors.
Whether it’s a ream of construction paper or a roll of your wrapping paper, a tension rod is the perfect way to store it. Just slide a roll of paper onto the rod, secure it in between two sturdy spots, and unfurl as much or as little paper as you need. Other craft or gift wrap supplies that come with a spool design, such as ribbon, twine, or washi tape, can also be slipped onto a tension rod for the same result.
You should always try to store pots and pans with their assigned lids, but that’s not always possible. There will always be a few that can’t be stored together because of the way the pans fit in the cabinet. Fortunately, there’s a way to prevent them from cluttering up the kitchen. Stick a tension rod near the edges of a deep drawer or towards the back of a cabinet. Then, slip the lids down into the gap, letting their handles rest on top of the rod.
The same can be said for the food storage containers that can easily become a jumbled mess in the cabinet. Use as many tension rods as you need to create dividers before adding in the assorted lids and containers in order. Just make sure that they’re all matching before you do so.
If you prefer to keep the outside of your fridge clutter-free, carve out a designated space for children's artwork, schoolwork, and photos. Fasten a tension rod in their bedroom, the playroom, or by the family command center and incorporate some hook clips. Then, when they come home with a piece they’re proud of, attach it to the collection and swap out artwork as time goes on.
Herb gardens are great to have year-round but you do need a sunny spot to store them. A window with bright, natural sunlight is the best place but sometimes you can’t (or don’t want to) give up the ledge space. In this case, hang a tension rod in the window and line up S hooks on it. Then, hang small potted plants using sturdy twine and lightweight pots. They will not only look pretty near the window, this method also serves a practical function.
Seasonal holidays, birthday parties, and other celebratory events are always better with decorations. But there’s no reason to put holes in the walls or scratch windows in the process. Instead, you can use tension rods to safely hang garland or festive banners before the big event.
A collection of fancy heels should be shown off, not stuffed away into boxes where they can’t be seen or allowed to breathe. You can create a display in your closet (or any available nook) by securing tension rods between the walls. Then, gently, hook shoes with heels that will fit the width, and be careful not to overload the rods with anything too heavy.
Take the same approach and apply it to all of the accessories you have shoved into dresser drawers, or items that are taking up too much space on closet shelves. Using a tension rod and helpful S hooks, display everything from hats to scarves to necklaces and handbags. Not only will this help you keep track of the accessories you have so you can easily find them, it'll protect them too.
If you need to keep your pet out of a certain room and don't want to use clunky baby gates, put a tension rod to use. Sew a pocket into the top and bottom of some fabric, then slide it onto two tension rods and mount them in the doorframe to block off the area. Just make sure you place the fabric screen high enough that your pet can't jump over the barrier but low enough that you can easily step over it to reach the other room.
If your drawers have C-shaped handles or wide pulls, you can place a tension rod through the center to keep drawers closed. This will keep out nosy children and pets. However, it's best to use this method on drawers you aren't using often so you don't have to repeatedly remove the rod.
Horse Barn Window Install tension rods inside a wooden box, then use S hooks to hang your favorite coffee cups. That way, you can show off your collection of mugs while keeping all your coffee-making essentials in one convenient spot in the kitchen.