Transform your craft or sewing room into an organized haven with these three brilliant DIY ribbon storage organizer ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter with a sprawling ribbon collection or a beginner looking for smart ways to manage your spools, these solutions are designed to be both highly functional and incredibly affordable. Learn how to create custom ribbon racks and holders that can be beautifully displayed on a wall, neatly tucked away in a closet or cabinet, or customized to fit any specific need within your craft or sewing room.

3 Different DIY Ribbon Storage Organizers to Make for Craft Rooms — Showcasing three distinct DIY ribbon storage solutions to declutter and organize your crafting space.

DIY Ribbon Storage Organizers: Smart Solutions for Every Crafter

Each of these innovative ribbon organizing ideas comes with a detailed, step-by-step tutorial, complete with visuals to guide you through the creation process. From simple, quick fixes to more robust installations, there’s a solution for every skill level and storage requirement.

The first project details a sturdy wall-mounted rack, requiring a few basic tools and a bit of DIY experience.
The second and third organizers are designed for ultimate simplicity, requiring no specialized DIY skills or tools, and can typically be completed in under 30 minutes.

Before diving into any specific project, it’s wise to consider your unique ribbon collection and available space. Not every organization method will seamlessly integrate with your existing setup or work area. Take a moment to evaluate your crafting habits and the environment you work in.

For instance, if you have a craft table with convenient drawers underneath, a drawer-based organization system might be the most efficient and perfect option. This could involve dividers or simple trays to keep spools neat and tidy. If wall space is abundant, a display-style organizer might inspire your creativity every day.

Ultimately, let these organization ideas serve as a creative springboard. Feel free to adapt them, mix and match elements, or even invent your own unique system for storing and organizing your precious rolls of ribbon. The goal is a functional, beautiful, and accessible ribbon storage solution that enhances your crafting experience.

Essential Ribbon Organizing Tips

Before embarking on your DIY ribbon organizer project, consider these invaluable tips for managing your spools of ribbon effectively, regardless of the method you choose.

1. Choose a Strategic Spot: Where will your new ribbon organizer live? Do you have ample open wall space in your craft room or studio where a wall rack would be a perfect fit? If not, think vertically. A seldom-used closet can easily be repurposed into a dedicated craft supplies closet. Here, you could hang a multi-tier ribbon rack from a sturdy closet shelf or design a more compact holder for a smaller, curated collection of ribbons.

2. Sort Your Ribbon Collection: Before you can organize, you must first understand what you have. Group every roll of ribbon into logical categories. This initial sort will reveal the true extent of your collection and help you determine the optimal size and style for your storage solution. Start by grouping spools by color, then further categorize them by similar sizes or even material type. For smaller pieces, scraps, or remnants, consider placing them in decorative old shoe boxes, a charming basket, or even tying them neatly onto a clothes hanger.

This crucial sorting step allows you to visualize your entire inventory, including those forgotten snippets, ensuring easy access to every single piece. Seeing the actual volume of ribbon you possess will directly inform whether your ideal organizer should be large, small, or somewhere in between.

3. Prioritize Ease of Accessibility: Take time to reflect on your crafting process and how you interact with your ribbon. Do you prefer to have all your spools immediately at hand, allowing you to effortlessly select and cut ribbons as you work? If so, an open-display solution, perhaps mounted directly on a wall or near your workbench, would be ideal. Conversely, if you prefer a minimalist workspace, storing ribbons neatly away in a closet or cabinet, but still easily retrievable, might be a better approach. The key is to design a system that complements your workflow, making crafting more enjoyable and less about searching.

1. DIY Wall-Mounted Ribbon Organizing Rack: A Sturdy & Stylish Solution

Craft Room Wall Ribbon Storage Organizer — A beautiful and functional way to store ribbons in a craft room.

When I conceived this wall-mount ribbon rack, my primary goal was to ingeniously utilize one of the empty frames adorning what I affectionately call my craft room’s Creative Wall. This particular frame once served as a mini photo studio in my previous residence, and I was eager to repurpose it into something equally practical and visually appealing for my new creative space.

Elegant ribbon organizer for wall display in craft space — The repurposed frame now acts as the base for a stylish ribbon organizer.

My initial thought was to use gutters for organizing my ribbons, but a trip to the home improvement store led to a more inspired choice: Corrugating 2.38-in x 10-ft Aluminum Drip Edge. This material proved to be a fantastic alternative. Not only was the drip edge incredibly inexpensive, but it also came pre-painted in a clean white finish, eliminating any need for painting and saving valuable crafting time!

Aluminum drip edge material for DIY ribbon storage — Close-up of the aluminum drip edge, a surprising and effective material choice.

You might be wondering, what exactly is aluminum drip edge? It’s a common roofing material primarily used to protect roof edges, channeling water efficiently into rain gutters. You can typically find it in the gutter aisle of major home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s. It’s readily available in various colors, including white, brown, black, or silver, meaning you can often find a suitable color that requires no additional painting.

HELPFUL

TIP

If you plan to construct this DIY ribbon storage rack, remember to bring tin snips with you to the store. This will allow you to easily cut the long length of aluminum drip edge into more manageable sections, making transport in your car a breeze. Just be sure not to cut it shorter than the desired width of your finished organizer!

Supplies Needed for the Wall-Mounted Ribbon Organizer:

Large wood photo frame (any size that fits your wall space)
3 sections of Corrugating 2.38-in x 10-ft Aluminum Drip Edge (found in the roofing/gutter aisle of home improvement stores)
Tin Snips (for cutting metal)
Measuring tape
Pencil
14 – 1-1/2″ zinc corner braces with accompanying screws
Electric drill and appropriate drill bits
Large brass fasteners
Phillips head screwdriver
Work gloves (essential for safety)
Optional: Washi tape to cover the potentially sharp ends of the cut aluminum drip edge.

The base frame I used is part of my existing Creative Wall. If you’re interested in how I originally created it, you can find the details in this post: Craft Room Idea. However, if you prefer a simpler approach, you can easily purchase any size picture frame from craft stores like Michaels and hang it directly on your wall to serve as the foundation for your ribbon organizer.

For my specific ribbon organizer, I cut the aluminum drip edge into seven equal pieces to create seven individual shelves that would perfectly fit inside my chosen frame.

Once your frame is securely hung on the wall (without any glass or matting, just the bare frame), carefully measure the inside width of the frame. This measurement is crucial, as it will dictate the precise length to which you need to cut your aluminum drip edge sections.

Measuring the inside width of the frame for ribbon shelves — Accurate measurement ensures a perfect fit for your DIY ribbon shelves.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Assembling Your Ribbon Rack Shelves

Cut the Drip Edge: Don safety gloves before handling the aluminum drip edge, as its edges can be quite sharp. Using your tin snips, cut the aluminum drip edge to the measured width of your frame. Cutting through aluminum is surprisingly easy if your snips are sharp. I recommend marking your cut line with a pencil, then cutting into the drip edge from one side, flipping it, and cutting from the opposite side until the cuts meet. Don’t worry about perfectly square cuts; minor imperfections won’t be noticeable.

Attaching a ribbon spool organizer to a wall frame — Demonstrates how to attach the corner brace to the drip edge.

2. Attach Corner Braces: Position a corner brace on the outside of one of your cut drip edge pieces, as shown in the image above. Mark the hole closest to the edge of the corner brace onto the aluminum drip edge. Repeat this process on the opposite end of the drip edge piece. Now, using your drill, create pilot holes where your pencil marks are. Place the corner braces around the L-shape of the aluminum drip edge and align the newly drilled holes. Insert a large brass fastener through the aligned holes.

Securing brass fasteners for ribbon shelf stability — How to secure the brass fasteners for a stable shelf.

3. Secure Fasteners: Bring the tips of the brass fastener to the inside of the drip edge and spread them out to securely hold the brace in place. For added stability, you can apply a small drop of strong adhesive or glue over the center of the opened fastener. Repeat this entire process for all the other cut sections of drip edge. Each completed shelf should have two corner braces firmly attached, one on each end.

Finished ribbon shelf with corner braces — Each shelf ready with two corner braces for mounting.

Optional Enhancement: While I chose to leave the cut edges of my ribbon organizing shelves as is, they can be a bit sharp. If you prefer a smoother, safer finish, consider adding some colorful Washi tape over each cut edge before you proceed to hang the shelves on the wall. This adds a decorative touch while also providing protection.

Ribbon organizer with washi tape detailing — Washi tape can add a decorative and protective finish to the shelf edges.

How to Attach Your DIY Ribbon Organizing Rack to the Wall

Attaching the ribbon shelves to the wall frame — Begin attaching the shelves from the bottom of the frame.

Starting from the bottom of your securely mounted frame, begin attaching the metal shelves to the wall. Use screws to fasten the other side of each corner brace directly into the wall. As you attach them, you might find yourself needing to slightly bend the front lip of the shelf outwards. This is perfectly acceptable and even desirable, as the weight of the ribbon spools will naturally push the front out further, creating an angled display.

Angled display of ribbon spools on the wall organizer — The slight bend creates an optimal angle for holding ribbon spools.

I strategically attached the very bottom shelf so that it rests directly on the frame itself. This provides extra support and a cohesive look. When ribbon spools are placed on the shelf, the metal naturally flexes out slightly, creating an angled view that not only looks appealing but also ensures a secure fit for your spools of ribbon, preventing them from rolling off.

Arranging ribbon spools by size on the DIY organizer — Plan your ribbon arrangement before finalizing shelf spacing.

Before permanently screwing all the shelves to the wall, take the time to arrange your ribbons, particularly by spool size. For my ribbon organizer, I placed my largest spools on the bottom shelf, which required approximately 5 inches of clearance. The next two shelves above were spaced 5 inches apart to accommodate similarly sized spools. For the remaining shelves, I used a slightly smaller spacing of 4 to 4-1/2 inches, suitable for smaller and medium-sized spools.

Using a bubble level to ensure straight ribbon shelves — A bubble level is essential for a professional and even look.

As you attach each shelf to the wall, diligently use a bubble level to ensure they are perfectly horizontal. This small step makes a big difference in the final, polished look of your ribbon display.

Beautifully organized ribbon collection by color and size — Your organized ribbons are now easily accessible and visually pleasing.

Once all shelves are securely in place, arrange your ribbons by size, color, or any system that makes sense for your crafting style. You might notice that some smaller spools don’t quite touch the very bottom of the shelf, but rest assured, they will all be secure and incredibly easy to access. The most rewarding aspect of this project is not just the organization by color, but the transformation of a jumbled mess into a beautifully displayed collection that is both functional and a joy to behold. Pretty ribbon is always a pleasure to look at!

2. Quick & Easy Closet Ribbon Organizer: The Hanging Chain Method

This method offers an exceptionally easy and creative approach to storing various types of ribbon – from craft ribbon to curling gift wrap ribbon, or indeed anything stored on a spool – within a dedicated craft storage closet. The beauty of this style of organizer lies in its simplicity; it requires minimal effort and can typically be completed in approximately 30 minutes, making it ideal for those seeking a fast and effective storage solution.

Easy Ribbon Organizer for a Craft Room Closet — A simple yet effective hanging ribbon storage system for your closet.

Supplies Needed for the Hanging Closet Ribbon Organizer:

2 equal lengths of large link chain (length depends on desired height)
2 large S Hooks
Cafe style curtain rods or metal rods – at least 27″ long (or suitable for your closet width)
Optional: Rubber bands – 2 for each rod (to secure spools)
Variation: 2 eye-hooks to screw into a ceiling or wood shelf if you don’t have wire grid shelving (as shown in the photo)

S-hook and chain setup for ribbon holder — Detail of the S-hook securely holding the chain from the closet shelf.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Assembling Your Hanging Ribbon Organizer

Hang the Chains: First, determine the number of curtain rods and the total length of chain you’ll require for your collection. Then, using an S-hook for each side, hang two equal lengths of chain from your closet shelf. Aim for the chains to be approximately 27 inches apart to accommodate standard curtain rod lengths.
1. Variation for Wood Shelves: If you have a solid wood closet shelf, you can use screw-in style eye-hooks to securely attach the chains to the underside of the shelf.

Materials needed for the hanging ribbon holder — Essential components: chains, rods, and ribbons.

3. Thread the Ribbons: Carefully thread your spools of ribbon onto a cafe-style curtain rod. Load each rod to your desired capacity, keeping in mind the size and type of ribbons.

Ribbon Spool Holder and Organizer for a Crafts room — A loaded rod ready to be hung.

4. Hang the Rods: Next, slide one end of the loaded curtain rod through a link on one chain. Then, repeat this process with the other end of the rod on the corresponding chain. To ensure all your rods hang perfectly level, make sure to count the chain links down from the top for each rod, matching the height on both sides.

5. Repeat: Continue this process for each rod, utilizing as many as needed to accommodate your entire ribbon collection.

Easy way to organize a lot of ribbon in a closet — A fully assembled and organized hanging ribbon system.

Optional Enhancements for Ultimate Convenience: Do you prefer to cut off just the amount of ribbon you need before starting your project? If so, consider these additions:

Scissors at Hand: Hang a pair of sharp crafting scissors with some ribbon and tie them securely onto one of the chains of your hanging ribbon organizer. This ensures they are always within reach.
Integrated Measuring: Place a yardstick at the very bottom of the chains, attaching it in the same manner you added the curtain rods. This provides a convenient, built-in measuring tool.
Prevent Spool Movement: If you find that spools on rods that aren’t completely full tend to slide back and forth, wrap a small rubber band around the finial (end cap) of the rod. This creates just enough friction to keep your spools in place.

Creative Variation: Framed Ribbon Storage

For those who desire an even more polished and finished aesthetic for their ribbon organization, consider incorporating a decorative frame to hold the rods. This approach offers a clean, contained look, much like how I organized my gift wrap rolls.

DIY gift wrap or ribbon rolls organizer with a frame — A framed organizer provides a neat and decorative way to store rolls of ribbon or gift wrap.

You can learn exactly how to construct this elegant framed organizer by following the detailed steps in this post:

How to Make a Gift Wrap Wall Mount Organizer

3. Effortless Cabinet Ribbon Storage: The Tension Rod Method

Among the three ribbon storage ideas presented in this article, this particular method stands out for its sheer simplicity. It’s the easiest to implement, requiring absolutely no DIY skills or specialized tools, and offers an instant organizational upgrade. This solution is especially ideal for smaller ribbon collections, loose ribbon pieces, or for maximizing space within existing cabinets or cupboards.

The secret weapon here is the versatile spring-mounted tension curtain rod, typically featuring protective rubber tips. These rods are incredibly user-friendly; their length can be effortlessly adjusted by simply twisting the rod until it creates a snug, secure fit against the inner walls of your cabinet or cupboard.

Organizing spools of ribbon with tension rods in a cabinet — Four tension rods neatly holding spools of ribbon within a cabinet, optimizing vertical space.

Before I transitioned to my more elaborate wall-mounted ribbon organizer, which I detailed earlier in this post, I effectively stored my spools of ribbon within my crafts supply cabinet using these very cafe-style tension curtain rods, as seen in the photo.

Detailed view of how to store ribbon on a tension rod — A single tension rod demonstrating how to hold multiple ribbon spools.

All you need to implement this remarkably simple ribbon organizer is a basic spring-mount tension rod. These versatile rods are widely available wherever window treatments are sold, making them incredibly easy to procure.

Colorful ribbon rolls neatly arranged on a tension rod — The tension rod effortlessly supports a vibrant array of ribbon spools.

Tension rods come in a wide variety of lengths, from very short options perfect for small cabinets to longer ones. If you happen to have a particularly large cabinet or a wide shelving unit, you could even creatively employ a spring-mount shower rod for even greater capacity. This adaptability makes them a fantastic choice for diverse storage needs.

Pros of the Tension Rod Method: The primary advantage of this ribbon organization idea is that your ribbons are elevated and suspended off the cabinet shelf. This ingenious design frees up the shelf space underneath, allowing you to store other craft supplies or items, effectively maximizing your storage potential within the cabinet.
Cons of the Tension Rod Method: The main drawback to consider is that when a spool located in the center of a tension rod becomes empty, you will typically need to remove the entire rod. This means temporarily taking off all the other ribbons on one side to access, remove, and then replace the empty spool, which can be a minor inconvenience.

FAQs About Storing Ribbon

To prevent the ends of ribbon on each roll from unraveling and creating a mess, a simple straight pin inserted through the end or a small piece of tape can effectively keep them neatly in place.

Organizing ribbon scraps can be approached in several creative ways. The easiest method is simply placing them in a decorative shoebox or a basket. For better categorization within, you can sort the scraps by color into small food storage bags.

Another clever technique involves tying the ribbon scraps onto a coat hanger or, even better, a multi-tier slack hanger designed for pants. This allows you to tie ribbons on by color and easily slide them back and forth along the hanger for quick browsing. This makes organizing ribbon scraps by color exceptionally easy and visible.

A third innovative approach is to gather ribbon scraps onto key rings. Designate a key ring for each color family, then hang these rings on a wall hook or inside a cabinet for a compact and accessible system.

To efficiently organize rolls of ribbon within a drawer, consider using sheets of inexpensive dollar store foam boards to create custom drawer dividers. These can be cut to fit your drawer perfectly, creating individual compartments. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-made drawer dividers designed to fit various drawer sizes. Adding these dividers will keep your ribbon rolls neatly aligned by color, size, or any other system that enhances your workflow and accessibility.

Ready-Made Ribbon Storage Organizers

Pegboard Ribbon Holder

Multi-Spool Ribbon Dispenser

Acrylic Ribbon Storage Box

Tiered Swing Arm Hanger

Collection of DIY Ribbon Storage Organizing ideas for crafters — Find the perfect DIY ribbon storage solution to enhance your crafting space.

More Ribbon and Decorating Ideas to Inspire You:

Master the Art: 3 Easy Ways to Make a Beautiful Ribbon Bow
Eco-Friendly Craft: Recycle a Ribbon Spool into a Charming Gift Box
Unleash Creativity: Easy DIY Decorating Ideas Using Ribbon
Behind the Scenes: A Detailed Tour of My Craft Room & Studioffice Changes