I brought back this retro storage solution as a surprising, chic fix for chaotic cables in my small, messy living room

This hidden charging station instantly made my space stylish and streamlined

A living room with a large white-brick fireplace, two blue sofas, and a modern black metal coffee table between them. A plant, two books, a bowl, and a chessboard on the table.
(Image credit: Design: Ashe Leandro / Image: Shade Degges)

Is there anything as visually overstimulating as a tangled mess of chargers, power cables, and cords? I certainly don’t think so, which is why I made it my mission to find a solution that didn’t scream ‘tech storage’.

Enter a humble wooden magazine rack from Amazon. This retro storage piece may not have a place in many living rooms anymore, but this impulse buy became one of the smartest storage moves I’ve made for my small living room in a long time.

With a few quick tweaks, I turned mine into a tidy, stylish spot for hiding cords and chargers. Here’s how I did it – and why you should give this retro-inspired storage idea a chance.

I used a retro magazine rack as a compact charging station

Rather than organizing cables in another room, making quickly charging my tablet or phone feel more like a chore, I decided to repurpose an old magazine rack that had previously been storage for my college textbooks.

Hiding cords and cables is the quickest way to clear visual clutter in a living room, but I was tired of stacks of boxes and had no more space for under-sofa storage.

Why a magazine rack? These retro storage gems are the perfect size for organizing small spaces, slotting in between my sofa and the wall, directly in front of a wall outlet. The tall sides and open edges hide cords from view, while allowing me to trail chargers from the outlet into the basket, keeping items such as my tablet, headphones, or Nintendo Switch hidden while charging up to full.

Because they are nice and open, they also prevent items from overheating when plugged in, too, something that a lidded basket or plastic cable tidy can’t promise.

A living room with a brown wood Herringbone floor, a cream sofa, and yellow and white stripped wallpaper. Blue and white roman blinds on large windows, and two large square framed prints on the wall above the sofa.

This narrow storage solution is perfect for small spaces.

(Image credit: Havwoods)

Although it might not seem like a big change, using a magazine rack to conceal clutter in plain sight instantly elevates a living room while reducing stress caused by the visual clutter of open storage.

Jodi Peterman, CEO and owner of Elizabeth Erin Designs, explains, ‘I always say, nothing ruins the illusion of a beautifully styled room faster than a tangled mess of tech cords. Doesn't matter if you've got a designer sofa – if there's a tangled mess of wires behind your console, that's all people are going to notice.’

To take your home organization to the next level and keep things neat inside the magazine rack tidy, Laurie Hise, founder of Passionate Penny Pincher, adds, ‘Cable organizers can be expensive. Instead, try using Velcro straps [available at Walmart] or twist ties to keep cords from tangling. Or, for a super cheap option, stash charger cables in empty toilet paper rolls in your drawers and stop creating unnecessary trash at home.

‘Effective organizing goes beyond aesthetics; it prioritizes practicality, affordability, and simplifying daily routines,' she adds. 'Rather than following every storage fad, concentrate on straightforward, cost-effective methods that genuinely improve functionality.’

Need to save even more space? This side table from Wayfair comes with a magazine rack built in for efficient storage.

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Meet the experts

Jodi Peterman
Jodi Peterman

With over 21 years of experience, Jodi brings a wealth of knowledge and a deeply personal touch to every project. Her laid-back yet professional approach ensures that clients feel confident and supported throughout their design journey.

Laurie Hise
Laurie Hise

Since starting on blogspot back in 2009, Laurie has used Passionate Penny Pincher to helped millions of folks save money all over their homes.


This trick works perfectly in every room, too, from decluttering a home office to decluttering a bedroom.

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Chiana Dickson
Content Editor

Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years and is our resident 'queen' of non-toxic living. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.

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