Using Cube Storage Bins in Your Magic IKEA KALLAX

ikea kallax cube storage bin recommendations

Clockwise, from top left: IKEA DRONA Box, $4 || Threshold Medium Tapered Basket in Cream, $17 || Pillowfort Cube Storage Bin, $10 || Better Homes & Gardens Velveteen Storage Bin, $9 for 2 || Target Y-Weave Plastic Cube, $8 || Foldable Fabric Basket Bin from Amazon, $23 for 4 || Amazon Foldable Fabric Cubes in White, $23 for 4

This is a new series of posts focused on life at home. For the first post on IKEA KALLAX, click here.

Convinced that the IKEA KALLAX cubed shelf is what you need? Great! The next step is to fill it with cube storage bins to contain and conceal your clutter. Today’s post is all about my recommendations for cube storage bins and storage baskets that maximize the space of each cube while looking great in your home.

Not All Cube Storage Bins Are Created Equal

Look at the IKEA SKUBB in a KALLAX shelf. See all the shadows around that cube? Those are the dark corners of wasted space. {Insert ominous music here}

One of the first things I noticed when I was trying to organize our home using cube storage bins is that it’s really important to read the measurements for bins before purchasing them. This might seem like a “duh” moment for you. For a mathematically-challenged, non-numbers person like myself, I didn’t even think about the fact that if you don’t have bins that fill the cubed space inside the KALLAX completely, you’re wasting valuable storage real estate.

There’s Math In Organization

This cube storage bin from Wal-Mart wins the math war by maximizing the storage space you can use in a KALLAX. Plus, it’s inexpensive, at $9 for 2.

Here’s a sample calculation for you (please be impressed): the interior space of each KALLAX cube is 13 inches x 13 inches x 15 inches, or 2,535 cubic inches. Let’s say you grab the IKEA SKUBB cubes at $15 for a set of 3. The dimensions of the SKUBB are 12.25×13.5×13, or 2,149.88 cubic inches. By using a SKUBB instead of a cube that fills the IKEA KALLAX space completely, you’re wasting nearly 15% of the total storage space.

Instead, you should try to find a cube storage bin that very nearly perfectly fills the entire space capacity of the KALLAX to maximize your storage space. Take, for example, the Better Homes & Gardens cube storage bins available at Wal-Mart, which I purchased in gray and white stripe for our children’s bedroom. The dimensions measure 12.75 x 15x 12.75, with an inner capacity of 2,438 cubic inches. You’re only leaving 4% of the KALLAX’s full storage capacity on the table.

Okay, But What Do I Put in My Bins?

Marie Kondo’s folding system is key to keeping everything visible inside a cube storage bin.

At our house, we use storage baskets to contain everything from the obvious (toys) to the children’s clothing. Each kid has 6 clothing cubes in their bedroom (long sleeved shirts/sweaters, short sleeved shirts, shorts/pants/skirts, PJs and underwear, school uniform and dresses/sportswear).

By storing each category of clothing separately in a cube, the kids know exactly where to put their clothing away on laundry day, and getting dressed is more streamlined. Well, it is in theory. My kids are daydreamers and lollygaggers, so sometimes there’s no amount of organization that can keep us on task. But a girl can dream, right?