Skip the hardware store: 5 home must-haves you can 3D print at home

Wall Hooks for Lightweight Storage

Great for coats, keys, cables, and more. Wall hooks are one of the most straightforward and satisfying things you can make with a 3D printer. Whether you want to hang up keys by the door or keep charging cables off the floor, a basic hook shape does the job. All you need is a flat backplate and a curved or angled protrusion to hold the item. Even if you're new to CAD, you can sketch this kind of part quickly using basic shapes and extrusion.

You can customize the hook’s angle, depth, or mounting method depending on where it’ll go. If it’s going on drywall, you might want screw holes with countersinks. For smooth surfaces like tile or wood, adhesive pads or command strips will hold just fine. You can even design a small lip or notch at the end of the hook to keep things from slipping off. Once you’ve made one, cloning it for a matching set is easy.

Hooks don’t use much filament and print quickly, especially if you use a sparse infill and just two walls. PLA usually works fine unless the hook is exposed to heat or holds something heavy. For higher strength, switch to PETG or ABS. These are small prints, but they’re incredibly handy, allowing you to keep your space neat without spending money on hardware-store organizers.

Light Switch Extender Plates

Handy for oversized or misaligned openings. When light switches or outlets don’t line up perfectly with your drywall, extender plates are a clean and functional solution. They cover gaps, cracks, or uneven drywall cuts without the need for messy repairs or store-bought plates that may not fit right. It’s also a great fix for older homes where the original cutouts may be off-center. You might also need a cover to prevent someone from turning on or off a switch that you don’t want to be messed with. A few measurements and a rectangle tool are all you need to design a solution to these concerns.

The design itself is simple: a flat panel with cutouts for the switch toggles or rockers and holes for the screws. You can use your existing plate as a reference or model something entirely custom. It’s easy to tweak the shape to include rounded corners, a beveled edge, or a subtle frame if you want it to blend better with your wall. If you need to extend the switch outward, you can also add depth to the back of the model.

PLA works well for this purpose since it will be mounted indoors and not subject to stress. If you want something sturdier or heat-resistant, PETG is a suitable upgrade. These prints don’t take much time or material, especially since the part is flat and doesn’t need a lot of infill. Once you’ve installed it, it looks just like a standard plate—only better fitted and made to your exact specs.

Custom Drawer Dividers

Keep clutter in check with tailored compartments. Drawer dividers are one of the best ways to bring order to chaos, especially when dealing with a variety of random tools, utensils, or office supplies. A fully custom insert ensures that every item has a designated spot, making it easier to keep things organized and tidy. The best part is that they’re incredibly simple to model. All you need are a few rectangles for walls and some measurements of your drawer’s inner dimensions.

Designing the layout is as straightforward or as advanced as you want it to be. You can make a full one-piece divider or smaller interlocking sections that can be rearranged. Rounded corners, chamfers, or fillets help prevent stress points or cracking over time. Some designs even include small tabs or lips that hold the dividers in place when the drawer is opened and closed. It’s also easy to modify your layout later if your storage needs change.

These dividers print quickly due to their low height and sparse fill. PLA is ideal unless you’re storing something heavy or abrasive, in which case PETG gives added durability. If you’re organizing a deep drawer, you can design stackable sections to use vertical space more efficiently. Once you start using printed dividers, you’ll find more and more drawers around your home that could benefit from the same treatment.

Cable Passthrough Grommets

A neat fix for desks and shelves. Cable grommets are a small detail that can make a significant difference in the appearance of your desk or TV stand. When you’ve got a hole drilled for cables, it often ends up with rough edges or chips in the wood. A custom grommet gives it a polished finish while protecting cables from abrasion. They’re also great for routing wires through walls or entertainment centers.

Modeling one is very simple. Start with a cylinder that matches your hole diameter, then add a lip around the edge to keep it from falling through. You can design it as a solid ring or split it into two halves that snap together, especially useful if you’re installing it after the cables are already in place. Add internal grooves or padding if you want to manage specific cable types or bundle wires neatly.

PLA works fine, but if you want a softer fit, TPU is a good alternative. These grommets are small and can be printed in under an hour, often using just a few grams of filament. You can even color-match them to your furniture or paint them for a cleaner appearance. Once in place, they make your setup look deliberate rather than thrown together.

Outlet Spacers and Wall Shims

Ideal for uneven drywall or loose outlets. Loose electrical outlets can be frustrating and unsafe, especially when they wobble when you plug something in. Outlet spacers and wall shims are a simple solution to the problem. By filling the gap between the electrical box and the wall surface, these printed parts bring everything into alignment. It’s a clean, professional fix that doesn’t require tearing into drywall or using makeshift solutions like stacked washers.

Designing one is easy. Start with a ring or rectangle sized to match your outlet shape and screw spacing. You can create versions in different thicknesses and print just the size you need. Some people like to add a central guide hole for the mounting screw or cut notches to allow airflow. Once the spacer is in place, the outlet mounts flush, and the faceplate sits flat against the wall.

These prints are small, fast, and cheap, using only a couple of grams of filament. PLA or PETG both work fine since the part isn’t under stress or exposed to heat. If you do a lot of renovation work or live in an older house, keeping a few of these on hand is a time-saver. They make the difference between a wobbly outlet and a polished, safe installation.

Small Design Efforts with Big Payoffs

It doesn’t take a lot of time or skill to make a useful household fixture with your 3D printer. These prints solve real problems and can be customized to fit your home perfectly. Most of them are quicker to design than to find online or at the store, and they save you money while giving better results. With just a bit of practice, you’ll start spotting opportunities all over your house to print exactly what you need.