10 Smart Tricks to Find Extra Storage at Home
Too much stuff and not enough room? Let these storage ideas come to the rescue
In a small space, it can feel impossible to find a place for all your stuff. While I am a huge fan of decluttering, the fact is that for a small space to work well, you need ample storage options. If you need more storage but are not sure where to begin, these creative, smart and unexpected ideas should help.
2. Fill open shelving with unified containers
You can put just about any identical storage containers on open shelving; they look fantastic and hold a lot. To make the most of your space, let your shelving go all the way to the ceiling and measure before buying the containers to get the size exactly right. Details make all the difference between having a giant storage wall like this looking sleek versus looking shoddy, so consider how you will label your boxes before you get started, and keep your system consistent.
This homeowner paired white boxes with small instant photos of the shoes contained within for labels. You could also use a label maker, or neat handwriting on simple craft paper tags.
You can put just about any identical storage containers on open shelving; they look fantastic and hold a lot. To make the most of your space, let your shelving go all the way to the ceiling and measure before buying the containers to get the size exactly right. Details make all the difference between having a giant storage wall like this looking sleek versus looking shoddy, so consider how you will label your boxes before you get started, and keep your system consistent.
This homeowner paired white boxes with small instant photos of the shoes contained within for labels. You could also use a label maker, or neat handwriting on simple craft paper tags.
3. Build a mini-library
A big statement-making wall of books like this, complete with a library ladder, may seem like something you couldn’t pull off in a small space, but it can actually make your room seem bigger; not to mention it would provide heaps of space for your book collection. Tuck your mini-library into an unused nook or an otherwise awkward space, and it may suddenly become your favourite spot in the house.
More: Dream Spaces: Your Very Own Home Library
A big statement-making wall of books like this, complete with a library ladder, may seem like something you couldn’t pull off in a small space, but it can actually make your room seem bigger; not to mention it would provide heaps of space for your book collection. Tuck your mini-library into an unused nook or an otherwise awkward space, and it may suddenly become your favourite spot in the house.
More: Dream Spaces: Your Very Own Home Library
4. Replace your buffet with a major storage piece
In the dining room, consider swapping your low sideboard for something with more storage potential. This works wonderfully if you sometimes use your dining table as a desk, but don’t think you must sacrifice the standard dining room functions. If you go down this route, you can still tuck a bar tray, wine racks and serving pieces in among the books and other items.
In the dining room, consider swapping your low sideboard for something with more storage potential. This works wonderfully if you sometimes use your dining table as a desk, but don’t think you must sacrifice the standard dining room functions. If you go down this route, you can still tuck a bar tray, wine racks and serving pieces in among the books and other items.
In an open-plan space with few walls to work with, it may seem counterintuitive to give up an entire wall for storage, but it can be well worth it. In the space shown here, the homeowners could have gone with a small buffet that took up three-quarters of the wall, offering very little storage. Instead, the wall-sized cabinets they installed can hold everything from dishes and bedding to pantry goods.
5. Aim for a mix of open and closed storage
As much as I love the look of well-styled open shelves, the fact is we all have items that are best stored behind closed doors. Be sure you work enough closed storage into your plan otherwise you will feel the need to be constantly cleaning up.
As much as I love the look of well-styled open shelves, the fact is we all have items that are best stored behind closed doors. Be sure you work enough closed storage into your plan otherwise you will feel the need to be constantly cleaning up.
6. Unpackage everything you buy
Open everything and discard the outer packaging as soon as you it bring home from the shop to minimise bulk.
7. Stack things to the top
Look in each of your closets and make sure you are using every inch of vertical space.
Open everything and discard the outer packaging as soon as you it bring home from the shop to minimise bulk.
7. Stack things to the top
Look in each of your closets and make sure you are using every inch of vertical space.
8. Keep big storage pieces sleek with minimalist hardware
Avoid the feeling of having a large cabinet or chest looming over you in a small space by opting for a hardware-free design or one with simple, sleek pulls. Light-coloured surfaces with a bit of shine or gloss will help bounce the light around, making the cabinet’s bulk blend in with the surrounding walls.
Avoid the feeling of having a large cabinet or chest looming over you in a small space by opting for a hardware-free design or one with simple, sleek pulls. Light-coloured surfaces with a bit of shine or gloss will help bounce the light around, making the cabinet’s bulk blend in with the surrounding walls.
9. Fill unavoidable open gaps with shelving
Even when you’ve done your best to maximise your home’s storage potential, there will still inevitably be a few gaps here and there. Don’t let them go to waste! Do another walk-through and keep an eye out for small, unused gaps that could be filled with a bit of shelving; a tall, narrow opening beside the washer and dryer, for instance, or that space on either side of the kitchen door.
Even when you’ve done your best to maximise your home’s storage potential, there will still inevitably be a few gaps here and there. Don’t let them go to waste! Do another walk-through and keep an eye out for small, unused gaps that could be filled with a bit of shelving; a tall, narrow opening beside the washer and dryer, for instance, or that space on either side of the kitchen door.
10 Turn everyday objects into decor
Rather than cluttering up your home with lots of purely decorative objects, see which of your daily necessities can be turned into decor with a bit of prop styling. Use clear containers to hold pretty craft supplies and office basics, fill a jar with spare candles and prop up rolls of wrapping paper up in a tall basket or an umbrella stand. By getting creative with the things you already own, you can save space and money and feel more organised.
TELL US
Do you live in a small space? What works for you? Please share a photo in the Comments section. We’d love to see it.
MORE
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now Why Didn’t I Think of That?”
10 Ways to Add Extra Storage to Your Bathroom
Hidden Agenda: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
Rather than cluttering up your home with lots of purely decorative objects, see which of your daily necessities can be turned into decor with a bit of prop styling. Use clear containers to hold pretty craft supplies and office basics, fill a jar with spare candles and prop up rolls of wrapping paper up in a tall basket or an umbrella stand. By getting creative with the things you already own, you can save space and money and feel more organised.
TELL US
Do you live in a small space? What works for you? Please share a photo in the Comments section. We’d love to see it.
MORE
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now Why Didn’t I Think of That?”
10 Ways to Add Extra Storage to Your Bathroom
Hidden Agenda: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
Remember those little wicker baskets designed to sit on your stairs? This is like those but on steroids. You can have a piece designed specifically for your stairs (as long as they are wide enough to give up some space) and use it for anything from shoes and bags to books and photo boxes.