If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, the inevitable and dreaded question becomes, should you tidy up the house? Those messy drawers and cluttered countertops point to yes.
While very few people like to organize, it’s never too late to get your house in order so that you can have a more functional space to work and live in. (And by “work”, we of course mean “3D print”. After all, you can never have too many spools!)
If while perusing the following, you like what you see but don’t have the means to make it yourself, consider trying a 3D printing service. Through Craftcloud, you’re guaranteed to find the best price and provider for your needs.
Now, let’s get to those procrastination busters.
Desk Organization
If you’re someone who often works from home, you may find yourself needing to organize your (possibly improvised) desk space. We’ve collected a few items that should help without being too difficult to print.
VW Bus Marker Holder
This hippie van from the Flower Power era is still recognizable today for its iconic shape and vibrant colors. It’s not a difficult model to print, requiring no special settings or surface finishes, and this is attested for by the generally great quality of makes shared.
If you have marker sets, this is a way to keep them organized in a flashy and aesthetic way, and there are different hole sizes available, so even thick markers are an option. It’s printed in several different parts; some need supports while others don’t.
- Who designed it? munchlax1147
- How printable/popular is it? So far, 22 people have made it, and there are 4 remixes, which is remarkable considering it was only posted in 2022.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Revolver Caddy
There are few things more annoying than not being able to find the pen, pencil, or highlighter you’re looking for. Luckily, finding the right storage container that will keep all your writing implements ready for a quick draw isn’t difficult.
If the classic van wasn’t up to your style and you’re looking for something a bit more dynamic, this pen caddy revolver combines two functions: storing your pens and swiveling. Easily switch between your trusted no. 2 pencil and your flamboyantly-colored highlighter.
Conveniently, the swivel action of this revolver doesn’t require any special bearings or purchased parts. That said, the operation can be improved by keeping the spinning areas lubricated.
- Who designed it? muzz64
- How printable/popular is it? This has 16 confirmed makes, which demonstrate that it can be printed in PLA and without supports or post-processing.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cable Hanger
This print will save you the trouble of picking up your cables from the floor every time you want to plug them in by keeping them within hand’s reach. You can attach it to a wall, desk, or any flat surface with some double-sided tape and print with as many as 12 slots.
The hanger is designed for USB connectors, but it can also hold earphones and even a printer cable. With time, you can grab them without even looking.
- Who designed it? aitch6ar
- How printable/popular is it? 12 people have printed this model, while 4 shared remixes. It’s available in different lengths and won’t need supports to print.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Tiered Organizer
Often, the most effective organizers are the simplest ones, and this eleven-dish tiered organizer is just that. It’s great for a variety of items that may not easily fit in other organizers, such as screwdrivers, drill bits, and various tiny odds and ends.
Given its simplicity, this design can be scaled to whatever size suits your needs and can be printed in most types of 3D printable material. Use whatever you have on hand!
- Who designed it? DevanM
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 750 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Cable Hook
A good organizing tool doesn’t have to be large. Here’s a quick and easy print that solves one of the most annoying organizational nightmares: dangling cables.
These small cable hooks simply screw into the underside of a desk, allowing your cables to be neatly tucked away. Alternatively, they can be screwed into a wall and work just as well.
Want to move stuff around? No problem! The curled design allows cables to be easily removed from the organizer if needed.
Cascade Card Wallet
Okay, technically it’s not for your desk, but it does help keep your personal belongings organized.
This pop-up card wallet uses a front swipe motion to access the cards. It’s a print-in-place design that has been updated with easy, generous tolerances. Very sleek, very thin, and oh so very geek. “This wallet? Oh, you know, I just printed it the other day.”
Make sure to use PETG, print it vertically, and add a brim if you feel it might move during printing.
- Who designed it? Hugo
- How printable/popular is it? With over 900 makes, this wallet is extremely popular.
- Where to find it? Printables
Bathroom Organization
There are so many things that you keep in the bathroom that can benefit from some organization. Below are a few designs that should help put your mind at ease while freshening up.
Elephant Toothbrush Drainer
This design uses a low-poly elephant design coupled with a dose of maximum cuteness to create a holder that’s also able to drain water from its contents, making it useful for things like cutlery or, in this case, bathroom utilities.
Remember, though, that it will probably be constantly wet, so you should consider using water-resistant filament or making the one you choose waterproof. It requires supports, and may take some time to print as it’s all shell.
- Who designed it? aleiovanevcp
- How printable/popular is it? This model has 178 makes, so it’s undoubtedly popular just like it’s undoubtedly cute.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Interchangeable Soap System
Let’s be real – the only time we really organize the bathroom is when guests are coming over, in which case we frantically try to make everything look clean. During this hurried effort, one of the worst things is scrubbing soap stains off shower surfaces. To get around that, why not try this interchangeable soap system?
The soap dishes are removable, making them easy to clean whenever they get too gunky from soap buildup. Even more convenient, each dish has blade offsets that allow the soap to dry off between uses, with water draining through openings at the ends of the dishes.
Interestingly, the creator printed their dishes out of ABS and the main holder out of ASA. They did this to avoid UV degradation, as their shower apparently gets a lot of sunlight.
WALL-E Toilet Paper Holder
This one’s sure to be a conversation starter when visitors come over. WALL-E’s signature move is to hold boxes of compressed trash to pile around, but what if, this time, he holds something different? WALL-E’s geometry makes him the ideal bathroom companion to hold your toilet paper and keep you company.
This project will require time as it’s composed of more than 20 parts. It will also benefit from some painting, whether of details or whole parts.
- Who designed it? StanleyB
- How printable/popular is it? Over 1,700 people have downloaded this model. It’s composed of more than 20 parts so it will require some assembly, but the fun result will be worth it.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Accessory Set
In truth, we could write an entire article on bathroom accessories (and we have), but here’s a nice alternative: a single source with an eight-piece set.
The print includes a double-robe hook, a towel bar, a soap dish, a toilet brush holder, vertical and horizontal toilet paper holders, and toothbrush holders. Conveniently, these accessories can be mounted with either screws or double-sided wall tape. (The prints have recesses in them to accommodate the latter.)
These models seem to be easily printable in PLA and other filaments, however, the creator recommends that they be printed at a 45- to 50-degree angle relative to their flat surface. And since these are to be permanent additions to your bathroom, we suggest prettying them up with some post-processing!
Note that while the soap dish is available for free on Pinshape, there’s a fee to download the whole set from RedPah.
Toy Organization
Whether you’re a little kid or a big kid, organizing (and not playing with) toys isn’t fun. Yet, as most of us can attest to, without a little tidying up, it can be hard to find that crucial piece or playing card.
In the following, we’ve put together a few organizers to help you put your fun away until the next time you need a break, whether with a board game, card game, or something a bit more involved.
Twist Open Mushroom
Just like Mario, you use these mushrooms to become super (organized). They’re designed with a simple twist cap and are very easy to print. For the full effect, you’ll need four filament colors unless you want to paint the parts, but whichever path you choose will be worth it, as they will become the cutest containers in your home.
People have turned the model into dice holders, nightlamps, and piggybanks, and recently the author made a new giant version too!
- Who designed it? 3D Printy
- How printable/popular is it? There are over 200 documented makes online, with plenty of remixes to boot! Thank you maker!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thangs, Thingiverse
Nerf Gun Mounts
Work hard and play hard, right? Well, if you’re the type of person that likes to start Nerf wars, you might want to consider printing these mounts. After all, what good is having Nerf guns if you can’t access them at a moment’s notice?
Unlike some of the other items in this list, these mounts were attached via hot glue rather than fasteners, but double-sided tape should also do the trick.
- Who designed it? OneIdMONstr
- How printable/popular is it? These mounts have been downloaded over 270 times and can be printed in many materials, including PLA.
- Where to find it? Cults
MTG Deck Boxes
When it comes to collectible card games, Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is one of the most popular and most collected in history. For that very reason, players often have trouble keeping track of all their cards, and standard boxes are neither customizable nor free.
This set of printable MTG boxes comes with the symbol for each mana color imprinted on the front, so you can give your monocolor decks some branding. Each box comes with a simple top cover to keep your cards safe while transporting them to your next duel.
The boxes require no support and can be printed in any color or material. That said, it makes sense to print them in the colors they represent, such as forest green for the green mana.
Pandemic Part Boxes
Who doesn’t love playing board games to pass the time? Unfortunately, few come with proper organizational boxes to keep all the parts properly stored.
Luckily, at least for the game Pandemic (appropriate), designer Roborov has created a set of boxes that allow you to easily manage and store cards and pieces, both during and after play.
By the way, there are tons of similar designs for other games out there. Just head over to your favorite 3D model repository and do a search.
- Who designed it? Roborov
- How printable/popular is it? There are 14 confirmed makes of these organizers, and they can all be printed easily in PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
3D Printing Organization
When it comes to 3D printing, organization is key to having a functional workspace. Toward this end, there are many convenient storage solutions out there, some of which even utilize things you might normally throw away. Here are some of our favorites!
Spool Tool Box
If you’re like many 3D printing enthusiasts, you probably have a lot of empty spools lying around. Why not turn one into something useful?
This spool toolbox allows you to take an empty spool and create a storage solution that’s both stylish and functional. It has various compartments for storing small items, from printer screws to SD cards. Conveniently, there are a variety of interchangeable drawers you can use to fit your specific organizational needs.
In case you’d like some extra assistance, there’s a full-fledged guide with a video on MatterHackers.
- Who designed it? MatterHackers
- How printable/popular is it? The organizer has been downloaded nearly 10,600 times and seems to be printable in PLA and similar filaments.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Skådis Spool Holder
If you want to create or organize your own printing workshop, this will definitely give it a professional look. If you already have a workshop, you can adapt your Ikea pegboard to hold the spools.
The creator of this design used a simple but effective geometry and coupled it with smart printing settings to achieve a patterned border that makes the holders look like a store-bought spool holder.
And for even more flexibility, each spool holder is composed of two symmetrical sides that don’t attach together, meaning it works for different spool sizes.
- Who designed it? alecsform
- How printable/popular is it? 55 people have made it. To achieve the hexagon pattern on the sides, simply use the infill setting for hexagon, according to the creator’s instructions.
- Where to find it? Printables
Pegboard Wizard
Many makers turn to pegboards to organize their equipment, but not all tools can be easily hung. Conveniently, designer mgx created a series of accessories that will allow you to store all your tools with ease on a standard 1/4″ American pegboard.
The accessories were designed in OpenSCAD, and there are 11 different models to download and print.
Kitchen Organization
We could all use a little extra help in the kitchen. From simple to complex, we’ve collected a few organizers that are bound to cut down on your meal prep time.
Simple Spice Organizer
One of the most common things always in disarray in a kitchen is your spice collection. These organizers aim to fix the mess by giving spices an orderly home in a drawer. Print them in different colors to group them according to type.
Naturally, sizing is key, as drawers and spice canisters can vary. So scale accordingly and make sure you print something that you can use!
- Who designed it? SpoonUnit
- How printable/popular is it? This print has been downloaded almost 200 times and can be printed in many different filaments without supports.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Knife Block Plus
Knife blocks are great organizational tools for your cutting utensils, and this 3D printed design takes things to the next level.
Apart from holding knives, measuring cups, spoons, thermometers, and a bottle opener, it also has a space for a touch screen, which can aid you while you cook. With this much kitchen organization, you should be cooking like a professional in no time at all!
- Who designed it? swtchrwr
- How printable/popular is it? The Micro-Block has 2 confirmed makes and over 20,000 downloads, and can be printed in PLA or other food-safe filaments. The only drawback is that the design doesn’t fit on some printers, owing to its large size.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Automatic Hållbar Opener
For most, “kitchen organization” is synonymous with Ikea, and it’s not hard to see why. The Swedish company has revolutionized our ability to organize our lives without breaking the bank.
However, even Ikea’s industrious engineers haven’t thought of everything. Their Hållbar waste bin, for example, fits inside drawers for easy access disposal, but you still have to reach in to open it!
This 3D print allows the bin to open automatically whenever the drawer is opened, making waste disposal as simple as a drop. Conveniently, this system doesn’t require any fasteners, only double-sided tape, so it won’t mar the inside surfaces of your cabinets.
- Who designed it? Jaapp
- How printable/popular is it? This clever Ikea hack has been viewed over 3,600 times. The designer recommends printing it in PETG or ABS in order to give it some flexibility and strength while opening. You’ll also need an 18-mm or larger M3 screw to attach the hinge to the arm.
- Where to find it? Printables
Garbage Bag Roll Holder
Say hi to the item you didn’t know you needed. This is such a smart way to keep garbage bags and other essential kitchen supplies! There are three designs for different-sized bags, both with mounting holes and without. This item would also be easy to re-size if you wanted to fit a particular bag size or another item.
In the picture, it’s attached to a door, but you could attach it to virtually anything, including a door in your supply closet or a wall in your garden or janitorial space.
- Who designed it? Va_Le
- How printable/popular is it? There have been around 1,500 downloads of the different designs, and there are 3 remixes in case you’re looking for alternatives.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Wine Glass Holder
Okay, this isn’t exactly a “crucial” bit of organization, but sometimes you just need to pamper yourself, and, well, you don’t want anyone to think you’re a disorderly slob, do you?
This beautifully simple wine glass holder uses two 40-mm suction cups to hold a wine glass wherever you might need it, whether that’s next to the bath, by your desk, or just out of the way while you cook.
Important: We highly recommend that you only use plastic wine glasses in combination with this model. While it should be as stable as whatever you’ve used to mount it, you can’t be too careful!
- Who designed it? 3DMasterRace
- How printable/popular is it? This print has 5 confirmed makes and over 1,200 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Workshop Organization
Whether for hobbies or work, if you’ve got a place with some manual tasks (and plenty of tools) that needs some organizing, here are some great ideas.
Gridfinity
Gridfinity is the instant-access storage and organization system that took the 3D printing world by storm.
Zack Freedman created Gridfinity to help makers see and access their tools or parts where they’ll use them. It’s also easy to implement. Simply measure the space you want to bring order to, print a baseplate, choose some containers depending on what you want to store, and get to organizing.
Oh, and just in case you need some pointers, we talk about the system more in-depth.
- Who designed it? Zack Freedman
- How printable/popular is it? Thousand of makers have printed, remixed, and hacked away at Gridfinity. It’s so popular, it even has its own category on Thangs!
- Where to find it? Thangs, Printables, Gridfinity.xyz
Parametric Toolbox
Users love this toolbox, and it’s easy to see why. It’s parametric, so you can change it to meet your needs, it’s easy to print, with plenty of successful documented makes, and it’s rugged enough for a geocache yet precise enough to house expensive multimeters.
It’s hard to find a design that checks so many boxes (pun intended – sorry not sorry), and this one does that while looking great too!
- Who designed it? Yanev
- How printable/popular is it? There are 136 makes and 55 remixes combined from both sites!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Honeycomb Storage Wall
The Honeycomb Storage Wall (HSW to close friends) is the most liked item on Printables ever. It’s a vertical storage system with endless custom sizes and border options. Think of it as a souped-up pegboard on steroids.
Since it’s so easy to remix, the community has come up with a ton of holders, hooks, bins, and even adapters for other systems, like Gridfinity, and makers have used it for plenty of things, like displaying toys, hanging keys, arranging sunglasses, and keeping Sharpies organized.
- Who designed it? RostaP
- How printable/popular is it? HSW has over 740 makes and more than 865 remixes, and the title of most liked item on Printables.
- Where to find it? Printables
License: The text of "25 Organization 3D Prints: Stay Sane in a Tidy House" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.