RESIDENT ADVICE: TOP 10 CREATIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
No matter what size our homes are, many of us often find ourselves wishing we had more storage space. If you are tired of clutter taking over your space, it might be time to start thinking outside of the box to find some clever storage solutions that suit your lifestyle.
This article by interior design expert Sylvia James at HomeHow.co.uk will explore both common and lesser used methods of creatively maximising your home storage in ways that are not only practical but will also add a touch of personality and style to your décor!
Store Items Under the Bed
If your bedroom is lacking wardrobe, cupboard, and drawer space consider storing items underneath your bed – out of sight and out of mind until needed! It is the perfect place to keep bedding or out-of-season clothes in storage boxes, waiting until their time to shine comes around again.
Measure the space underneath your bed and purchase some pull-out baskets or drawers that will neatly tuck in to the space. It is important to ensure that your items and fabrics are kept within lidded containers to avoid them becoming dusty. Alternatively, some beds come with built-in storage beneath the mattress which can be deceptively spacious and are a great investment for smaller bedrooms.
Make Use of Jars and Boxes in the Kitchen
Decanting dry foods such as rice, pasta, cereal and oats into large glass or plastic storage jars will save space, keep them neater and allow you to see exactly how much of each you have left. Airtight containers will also help the food to stay fresher for longer than it would if it remained in the original packaging.
Boxes are also an excellent idea for neater storage, and you can place your jars, other food packets and fresh produce inside of them. You can purchase them in a variety of styles and materials such as plastic, wood and wicker – which you choose depends on your personal taste and kitchen aesthetic.
Use Drawer Organisers
In your kitchen area, drawers can be extremely useful for storage, particularly for smaller items such as cutlery and utensils. They can, however, easily become very untidy making it tricky to find the items that you need to use so it is important to keep them well-organised.
Drawer dividers and organisers can be directly inserted into your drawers to keep utensils in their designated space. These handy pieces can also be utilised in other areas of the homes such as bedrooms and living rooms for separating and storing items like jewellery and stationary.
Use the Back of Doors
The backs of doors are an often overlooked but highly effective area when it comes to storage. In a smaller room, the door can provide valuable storage space when installed with clever solutions such as hooks and baskets that can simply be hung over it.
Wardrobe doors are a great place for maximising your storage space within these units. Hang over bags and racks that can store items such as shoes and accessories to free up more room on the rails, hooks, and floor space. In a kitchen the back of a door can be used to hang cleaning essentials or spice racks and in a bathroom cosmetics and toiletries.
Make the Most of Windows
Another commonly underused storage space is the space beneath our windows. Unused space under a window can be a great place to add built in storages units, chests of drawers or even a bench with storage space underneath.
Windowsills themselves can also be a great place for storing items that are of value to us, but we don’t otherwise know where to place. They can be turned into a mini bookshelf or a decorative space to beautifully display plants, trinkets, ornaments, photo frames, and other items of sentimental value.
Create a Makeshift Closet with Curtains
If you do not have space in your bedroom for a bulky or built-in wardrobe or closet, there may be potential for you to utilise small areas within the room to store your clothes without it looking cluttered.
An alcove is an ideal space to add shelves or racks on to your wall for storing clothes and accessories. Then, simply install an attractive hanging curtain to camouflage your clutter as well as make your room feel more cosy and stylish.
Choose Furniture with Built-in Storage
Sofas and chairs with hidden compartments for storage are great for serving a dual purpose in small spaces. In the living room, ottomans with lift-up lids are ideal for storing items such as blankets and spare cushions, as well as frequently used items such as laptops and other devices, remotes and children’s toys.
Benches with hidden storage are a great solution in kitchens and hallways. Kitchen benches can be used to store a range of bulky equipment that would otherwise be cluttering up surfaces such as blenders and coffee machines whereas hall benches are excellent for shoes, coats, umbrellas, etc.
Invest in a Moveable Trolley
A storage trolley has an endless amount of uses. It can be used to organise anything including cosmetics, craft supplies, toys, or groceries. How you utilise it depends on your lifestyle needs and how it can be used for maximum benefit within your home.
The wonderful thing about these clever storage solutions is that because they are on wheels they can always be manoeuvred out of the way however small your space is. This makes it a terrific tool for accessing items that we frequently use but don’t want to be cluttering up our space when not in use.
Make Use of Wall Space
This is particularly important in homes with limited cupboard or floor space – we are surrounded by walls so may as well maximise every inch of them! In kitchens and bathrooms shelves and racks can be installed on walls to store items such as jars, bottles, cosmetics and toiletries.
Floating shelves in living room areas such as above the sofa are a stylish and effective way to utilise the vertical space within the room. Install these sleek shelves to display books, plants, or decorative items whilst keeping the floor space clear. As well as providing an efficient storage solution they can be arranged to transform any wall into a functional work of art.
Create Custom DIY Pegboards
Pegboards are a versatile storage solution that can be customised to suit your needs and tastes. Use them in areas such as garages, home offices, craft rooms, and kitchens to hang tools, supplies, or pots and pans.
Add hooks, baskets and shelves to the pegs to create a personalised organisation system that reflects your style. In terms of aesthetic appeal, you can paint the pegboard in bright, fun colours or leave it natural for a more rustic, earthy look.
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR… SYLVIA JAMES: Sylvia James has worked as an interior design expert for over 15 years. Sylvia is skilled at creating beautiful home designs and can work with a range of budgets to suit the homeowner. In addition, Sylvia also provides expert interior design tips and advice for HomeHow.co.uk, and her tips have been published in a range of leading press publications.
