4 genius ways to use your 3D printer to organize and tidy up your home

Published Aug 9, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. While every 3D printer owner loves the “fun” projects, it’s the ones that make your life easier that have the most impact. These range from repairing household items and making chores easier, to providing cost-effective bespoke storage to help keep your house tidy. Today we’ll be taking a look at some of the best organizational hacks you can print yourself. Whole-drawer organization with Gridfinity and similar systems To Gridfinity, and beyond! Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Gridfinity might be the most famous 3D printing project out there. This grid-based organizer system was designed with two parts in mind: a base plate that keeps items together, and the “bins” that fit into the base plate. By using a simple grid system, you can “Tetris” your way to an organized bench top or drawer. The project has taken on a life of its own, with Gridfinity generators (like the one from Perplexing Labs) allowing you to modify parametric designs to suit any space in your home. Drawers are the obvious choice here, since you can simply measure a drawer, design a baseplate to match, and then make bins to store literally anything. You can create different height bins for different areas, and even double up (or more) on layers to use every last little bit of space. Designing the perfect Gridfinity system can take a while, but the end result will be worth it. You won’t necessarily gain space, but you’ll always know where things are since everything has its own home. Gridfinity isn’t the only game in town, but it’s special because it has found its way into so many other projects, whether that’s organizers for spices in your kitchen or space-efficient ways to store photography gear. Wall-mounted organization systems and custom fixtures Make the most of the vertical space There are several wall-mounted organization systems that you can print on-demand, plus attachments for mounting just about anything on them. Multiboard is perhaps the best known of the bunch, a free system with paid extras. Honeycomb Storage Wall (or HSW for short) is an alternative system that does a similar job. These systems consist of a mesh, onto which you can attach tools, shelves, monitors, bins, and anything else you can think of. They’re especially useful in workshops, sheds, garages, offices, and spaces where beautification isn’t as important as utility. Many of them integrate with systems like Gridfinity, too. There’s also the IKEA Skadis, a similar system from the Swedish flatpack giant that has become something of a cult classic. You can buy three different sizes of Skadis boards, print your own, or (my favorite) print additional pieces to fill spaces that a traditional Skadis won’t fit. You can then make a massive number of Skadis bolt-ons, dwarfing the small number of “official” mounts sold by IKEA. Of course, there are plenty of other mounted objects you can download that screw right into the wall. This includes mounts for trash bags, broom hangers, and even guitar mounts for some functional decoration. Just make sure that you match your desired use with the right filament, which might mean avoiding weaker PLA. IKEA Skådis IKEA's signature pegboard system, the Skådis is available in three finishes and three colors with a range of accessories available. It's become a popular system among 3D printing hobbyists who have designed countless accessories, mounting options, and additional pegboards. Store anything on your shelves with Bookfinity Gridfinity-compatible storage on your bookshelf Credit: Martin / MakerWorld Hiding things away in drawers is fine, but some items benefit from being a bit more accessible. Bookfinity is one of the coolest storage projects I’ve ever seen, turning Gridfinity-compatible storage containers into faux books that live on shelves, desks, or anywhere else you might want to stack them. The original Bookfinity project includes ready-to-print books in a variety of designs. The “easy edit” version of Bookfinity uses different-sized containers with easy-to-edit covers, allowing you to customize each “book” with your choice of title and image. Both of these versions use magnets to keep the books closed when they’re not in use. If magnets sound like too much work, there’s the Bookfinity with latches release, which combines everything that’s great about the “easy edit” release with latches instead of magnets. The possibilities here are endless. You could create faux “books” for your board game pieces, spare dice, and other game night items. You can declutter almost any bookshelf, while keeping fiddly parts together. You can store cables, devices, clips, tools, sewing and knitting kits, garden seeds, jewelry—whatever you can think of. Cable management for every occasion Boring prints but meaningful upgrades Credit: David D / MakerWorld Cable management is a snoozefest, I know. At the same time, cables are the bane of my life. They look terrible, they get in the way, they become tangled, and you can never find the right one when you need it. A few weeks ago, I spent a whole Sunday afternoon cable managing my standing desk so that only a single cable protrudes from it, and I’m still riding high on the difference it’s made to my sanity. If you feel the same and own a 3D printer, don’t sleep on putting that printer to good use. Forget printing zip ties, and instead turn your attention to the massive number of cable organization tools out there. These parametric models are customizable to fit your space, your cables, and your needs. Had I not purchased a desk caddy months ago, I’d have organized my desk cables with Underware for openGrid. This is like Gridfinity for the underside of your desk, letting you route and mount cables using a vast number of accessories. For your walls, why not print yourself a raceway cover and channel system? If your cables have to be exposed, create the perfect wire mount for your specific use. For multiple cables, create a hinged clip with just enough space. If you’re putting holes in the wall, you can make a suitable cable grommet to finish the job. Looking for more household 3D printer hacks? Check out how to use your 3D printer to make chores easier.