10 Genius Ways to Declutter Your Tack Room (Without Spending $$$)
Tack room looking more chaos than charm? We’ve got you. From saddle pad overflows to bridle tangles, this guide shares 10 smart, budget-friendly ways to tidy up your tack space using what you already have. Less mess, more barn bliss. Let's get organized!

The tack room is every rider’s happy place… until it isn’t. One minute, it’s neatly arranged saddles, sparkling bridles, and rows of gleaming boots. The next, it’s a Bermuda Triangle of half-empty fly spray bottles, mystery girths, and a mountain of saddle pads that may or may not ever be used again.
Decluttering your tack room doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune at the container store or investing in Pinterest-worthy custom cabinetry. With a little creativity, repurposing, and elbow grease, you can whip your tack room into shape using things you probably already have on hand.
Here are 10 genius (and budget-friendly!) ways to declutter your tack room and bring back a sense of order to your barn life.
1. The Saddle Pad Situation: Sort, Stack, Simplify
Let’s face it, saddle pads multiply like rabbits. They’re cute, they’re colorful, and they seem to sneak into your tack room after every show season. But how many do you really use? Start with a simple rule: if you haven’t used a pad in the last six months, it’s either a show-only item or it’s time to part ways.
- Declutter tip: Sort pads into three piles: everyday use, show use, and “what was I thinking?” Donate the third pile to a local rescue or lesson program.
- Storage hack: Instead of stacking them in teetering piles, use a folding chair rack, an old blanket bar, or even hang them on sturdy hangers. Vertical storage saves space and makes them easier to grab.
2. Harness the Power of Buckets
Buckets aren’t just for water, they’re a tack room’s secret weapon. Old feed buckets, broken handle tubs, or even those big supplement containers can all be repurposed into storage bins.
- Declutter tip: Assign each bucket a purpose, grooming tools, bathing supplies, polo wraps, fly gear, etc. Label them with tape and a marker for quick identification.
- Storage hack: Hang buckets on heavy-duty hooks along the wall to keep the floor clear and your stuff within reach.
3. Bridle Chaos, Be Gone
Few things scream “messy tack room” like bridles tangled together on one hook. The good news? Tack already comes with built-in organization, it’s designed to hang.
- Declutter tip: Give every bridle its own hook. If you don’t have enough, get creative: use nails, spare halter hooks, or even repurpose a coat rack.
- Storage hack: Slip old socks or pillowcases over bridles you don’t use daily to keep dust off. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
4. Boots and Wraps in Order
Open any tack room cabinet, and you’ll probably find polo wraps unraveling themselves into a rainbow mess. Same goes for mismatched boots and bell boots tossed in a pile.
- Declutter tip: Roll polo wraps neatly and secure them with hair ties or rubber bands. Toss any with holes beyond repair.
- Storage hack: Store boots in pairs inside mesh laundry bags (the kind you use for delicates). They’ll stay together, breathe, and won’t clutter your shelves.
5. Create a “Barn Junk Drawer”
Every tack room has those random little items: extra spur straps, broken clips, a single glove, empty spray bottles you “might refill someday.” Instead of letting them float around, corral them.
- Declutter tip: Dedicate one small bucket or box to be your official “junk drawer.” Once a month, go through it. If you still haven’t used something, toss or donate it.
- Storage hack: Repurpose an old grooming tote as your junk drawer—it’s portable and easy to tuck in a corner.
6. Tack Trunk Triage
Tack trunks are magical: they hold everything. But that’s also the problem. They become black holes where items go in and never come out.
- Declutter tip: Empty your trunk completely (yes, all of it). Sort into keep, donate, or toss. Only put back what you actually use.
- Storage hack: Use cardboard shoe boxes or old supplement tubs as dividers inside your trunk. You don’t need fancy organizers, just something to keep brushes out of your show gloves.
7. Repurpose Household Items
The best tack room hacks often come from outside the barn. Look around your house or garage, you probably already have organizational tools waiting for a second life.
- A hanging shoe organizer = perfect for brushes, sprays, and hoof picks.
- A dish rack = ideal for organizing boots or helmets.
- An over-the-door towel rack = instant saddle pad or blanket holder.
- Plastic coffee cans = great for storing treats or medical supplies.
Decluttering doesn’t mean buying more horse products; it’s about rethinking what you already own.
8. Label Everything (and Mean It)
Barn chaos often comes from too many people sharing the same space. The quickest way to reduce clutter? Labels.
- Declutter tip: Use masking tape and a marker to label shelves, bins, and racks with what goes where. “Grooming,” “First Aid,” “Fly Gear”—make it obvious.
- Storage hack: Labeling isn’t just for you—it helps barn mates, kids, and helpers know where to put things back. The more everyone uses the system, the less mess accumulates.
9. Go Vertical
If your tack room floor looks like a yard sale, the solution is to look up. Walls, doors, and even ceilings are untapped storage spaces.
- Declutter tip: Get stuff off the floor—saddle racks, blanket bars, bridle hooks, broom holders. Even old nails can serve a purpose.
- Storage hack: Mount an old ladder horizontally on the wall and use it to hang pads, blankets, or girths. Cheap, rustic, and effective.
10. The 10-Minute Rule
The best decluttering system isn’t about organizing once, it’s about maintaining daily. Enter the 10-minute rule: spend just 10 minutes at the end of each barn day putting things back where they belong.
- Declutter tip: Make it part of your routine; sweep the aisle, hang tack, and reset the space.
- Storage hack: Encourage barn mates to join in. A tidy tack room is a team effort, and it makes everyone’s life easier.
Conclusion
Decluttering your tack room doesn’t require custom cabinetry, matching containers, or a massive budget. It’s about creativity, repurposing, and consistency. From saddle pad sorting to using buckets for everything, small changes can make a huge difference.
A tidy tack room means:
- Less time hunting for lost gloves.
- Less money wasted replacing things you “swear you had.”
- A cleaner, safer, and more pleasant space for you and your barn crew.
At the end of the day, the tack room should be a reflection of your riding life: functional, inviting, and just organized enough that you can find what you need without digging through chaos. So grab a broom, a few buckets, and maybe a pool noodle or two, it’s time to reclaim your tack room, one hack at a time. And when you’re ready for even more barn hacks, creative storage solutions, and rider-tested tips, the TurnoutHQ community is the place to be. It’s where horse people swap their smartest ideas, share before-and-afters of tack room makeovers, and celebrate the little wins that make barn life easier. By joining THQ, you’re not just organizing your tack room, you’re connecting with a whole network of equestrians who know the joy (and struggle) of keeping hay, leather, and endless gear in check. Together, we make barn life not only manageable, but a little more fun.
Sources
https://www.budgetequestrian.com/the-real-secret-to-an-organized-tack-room/