How to Freshen Up Your Home Storage
Freshen up your home storage and find functional new solutions without sacrificing style
Laura Wheat
2 June 2019
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
Takie a look around your home with a critical eye, ready to zone in on problem areas. Poor storage solutions mean more mess and, often, a bubbling undercurrent of irritation. If you’re ready to make changes, these simple solutions will help you see if there are ways to lighten your daily load.
Fill in the blanks
Snag a bit of extra storage above the sofa with a set of sleek shelves. This otherwise wasted space lends itself to displaying ornamental pieces, as well as neat stacks of books.
Floating shelves like these are hollow boxes supported on rods that screw securely into the wall. Opt for traditional brackets instead if your plasterwork winces at the sight of a drawing pin and requires more support.
Snag a bit of extra storage above the sofa with a set of sleek shelves. This otherwise wasted space lends itself to displaying ornamental pieces, as well as neat stacks of books.
Floating shelves like these are hollow boxes supported on rods that screw securely into the wall. Opt for traditional brackets instead if your plasterwork winces at the sight of a drawing pin and requires more support.
Go bespoke
Built-in wardrobes work harder and take up less space than their freestanding equivalents – and they tend to look neater, too.
Create a bank of full-length cabinets and take them up to the ceiling to avoid the dreaded dust trap. Although you’ll need a step ladder to reach higher cupboards, the extra space is ideal for storing out-of-season clothes, holiday gear or bed linen.
These capacious cupboards feature oversize wooden handles to match the scale and design of the wardrobe doors and provide easy opening. A mirror by the window lightens up the area and reduces any shadows created by the wardrobes.
Find joinery and cabinet makers near you on Houzz to custom-design wardrobes to suit your space
Built-in wardrobes work harder and take up less space than their freestanding equivalents – and they tend to look neater, too.
Create a bank of full-length cabinets and take them up to the ceiling to avoid the dreaded dust trap. Although you’ll need a step ladder to reach higher cupboards, the extra space is ideal for storing out-of-season clothes, holiday gear or bed linen.
These capacious cupboards feature oversize wooden handles to match the scale and design of the wardrobe doors and provide easy opening. A mirror by the window lightens up the area and reduces any shadows created by the wardrobes.
Find joinery and cabinet makers near you on Houzz to custom-design wardrobes to suit your space
Find a slimline solution
Swerve problem shoe storage with a wall-mounted cabinet near the front door. Rather than a rack, which could become a dumping ground for hats and bags, this specifically designed cupboard has compartments that pull out on a hinge to quickly conceal mess.
Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Hallway
Swerve problem shoe storage with a wall-mounted cabinet near the front door. Rather than a rack, which could become a dumping ground for hats and bags, this specifically designed cupboard has compartments that pull out on a hinge to quickly conceal mess.
Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Hallway
Put your feet up
Rather than choosing a sofa and coffee table combination or a sofa with a in-built chaise section, try a separate storage ottoman to kill two storage woes with one stone.
Designed with a hinged lid and one large interior compartment, a stool such as this can store a decent amount of mess while still providing additional seating when needed.
To use it as a coffee table, simply top it with a high-sided tray for extra stability.
Rather than choosing a sofa and coffee table combination or a sofa with a in-built chaise section, try a separate storage ottoman to kill two storage woes with one stone.
Designed with a hinged lid and one large interior compartment, a stool such as this can store a decent amount of mess while still providing additional seating when needed.
To use it as a coffee table, simply top it with a high-sided tray for extra stability.
Add accent lighting
How a room is lit can make a massive difference to its overall feel and usability. Statement lighting beneath storage cabinets and shelves will illuminate your belongings, making any display dazzle, as well as providing a soft, indirect glow for the rest of the room.
LED lighting strips can be retrofitted to existing shelves – providing you have a nearby power source – but the easiest thing to do is design shelves with a lip at the front to hide wiring.
How a room is lit can make a massive difference to its overall feel and usability. Statement lighting beneath storage cabinets and shelves will illuminate your belongings, making any display dazzle, as well as providing a soft, indirect glow for the rest of the room.
LED lighting strips can be retrofitted to existing shelves – providing you have a nearby power source – but the easiest thing to do is design shelves with a lip at the front to hide wiring.
Rework your bathroom
Bathrooms tend to suffer from a lack of planned storage, but this elegant space is proof that you can create organisational opportunities without compromising on style.
Rather than a crammed rail, choose a luggage-style rack to hang hand towels and stack fresh bath linen ready for use. Double up on mirrored medicine cabinets for barely-there beauty storage and more reflected light. Or just keep it simple and swap your basin mirror for one with a handy shelf to stash a few essentials.
20 Bathroom Storage Ideas Loved by Australian Houzzers
Bathrooms tend to suffer from a lack of planned storage, but this elegant space is proof that you can create organisational opportunities without compromising on style.
Rather than a crammed rail, choose a luggage-style rack to hang hand towels and stack fresh bath linen ready for use. Double up on mirrored medicine cabinets for barely-there beauty storage and more reflected light. Or just keep it simple and swap your basin mirror for one with a handy shelf to stash a few essentials.
20 Bathroom Storage Ideas Loved by Australian Houzzers
Shelve the TV cabinet
Don’t sacrifice a whole wall of potential storage for the sake of a tiny TV cabinet that will never hold more than a few dusty DVDs. It’s far more effective to design joinery that accommodates your screen (and hides cables), while at the same time providing a home for more attractive items.
This bespoke unit features shelves for displaying books and objets d’art, with drawers underneath for more substantial storage. Despite the final product being more conspicuous than a small cupboard, the effect is to take the focus away from the TV.
Don’t sacrifice a whole wall of potential storage for the sake of a tiny TV cabinet that will never hold more than a few dusty DVDs. It’s far more effective to design joinery that accommodates your screen (and hides cables), while at the same time providing a home for more attractive items.
This bespoke unit features shelves for displaying books and objets d’art, with drawers underneath for more substantial storage. Despite the final product being more conspicuous than a small cupboard, the effect is to take the focus away from the TV.
Consider a garden refresh
Storage should not just be relegated to interiors. It may seem counterintuitive, but painting your outside storage in a dark colour can help it fade into the background, as it acts as a foil for foliage.
Don’t fret that a black shed would require a matching fence – as this sharp space shows, you can combine a dark painted surface with natural timber for a pleasing mix of textures.
Your turn
Which of these smart storage solutions would help freshen up your storage and increase its function? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need to declutter your home’s storage? Read up on The Top 10 Items to Declutter in Your Home
Storage should not just be relegated to interiors. It may seem counterintuitive, but painting your outside storage in a dark colour can help it fade into the background, as it acts as a foil for foliage.
Don’t fret that a black shed would require a matching fence – as this sharp space shows, you can combine a dark painted surface with natural timber for a pleasing mix of textures.
Your turn
Which of these smart storage solutions would help freshen up your storage and increase its function? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need to declutter your home’s storage? Read up on The Top 10 Items to Declutter in Your Home
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I bought a thick wooden shelf from Etsy too. There are loads of craftsmen on there who sell wooden items and some of them make them bespoke. Mine was from Ben Simpson.
I have a black shed in the garden and think it is great at showing off the green of the surrounding plants. My most recent storage is a jumbo pegboard that I made for my new workroom and it only cost £45 in materials. I just love the versatility of it - I can just pull the pegs out and rearrange the shelving and hooks as I please.
https://www.ednaandossie.com/jumbo-pegboard-a-do-it-yourself-guide/
So many good ideas here! In particular though, I love the dark garden shed with the dark outdoor furniture; the floating shelves at right angles and the two mirrored cabinets hung above each other in that bathroom.