In an ideal world, every home would feature massive walk-in closets that would store anything needed and hide it from sight. Sadly I live in a world of small spaces where neat storage is a laughable concept. Things spill from over-packed drawers, closets are almost stuffed to bursting and every shelf is crammed and piled high. But things don’t have to be this way, as even the smallest homes are absolutely capable of storing all that is needed, without sacrificing a nice clean profile. All that is needed is a willingness to use all the space that is offered.
Under Bed Storage
Forget monsters under the bed. They won’t have room to hide when the space beneath is neatly filled with clean storage solutions. Despite the clearance of most beds not exceeding a foot at greatest, the area of floor space underneath is both large and oftentimes completely accessible. Worried about dust? Don’t be. Many storage boxes and drawer boxes have been designed specifically for under bed storage in mind. Bed not tall enough or still in need of a little extra space? Furniture risers built for the purpose of increasing clearance under a bed are sold cheaply to add a few extra inches of height and substantial extra space. I bought a six pack of these to store toys and seasonal clothes:
Wall Storage
When there’s no more room on the floor, the only way to go is up. While many people default to bookcases to utilize space on walls, what of the relatively vast and unused space above other pieces of furniture such as beds or tables? Or how about above your doors and windows? This is where wall shelves and hanging cabinets come into play. With the help of a stud finder and drywall fasteners, any part of the wall can be adapted for storage. Even better, with the help of wall shelves, you can free up space that would have otherwise been taken by large bookcases and project a clearer airier image without sacrificing storage. There’s also that wasted space above doors in all our rooms; how about making use of it with a shelf?
Over The Door Storage
While most are willing to drill or nail items into their easily repairable drywall, you would be hard pressed to find those willing to permanently alter their wooden doors in the name of extra storage, even with all that vertical and easily hidden space staring them right in the face. Luckily, hanging doesn’t always have to require nails. On the contrary, many solutions are completely damage-free. These days there are many options for hanging over the door storage, ranging from hampers to clothes hangers and even full body length cabinets with mirrors. Or consider this spice rack you could hang in a kitchen pantry:
Hanging Closet Storage
Closet rods aren’t just for hangers. With the current age of space saving in full swing, there are many hanging closet solutions to choose from. Hanging vinyl and fabric cubbies made for closets can store folded clothes, hats and shoes, freeing large amounts of hanging space. For those that prefer to hang as opposed to fold clothes, there are hanging rod solutions to add extra space. Here’s an idea that gives you shelves without losing rack space:
Buy Whitmor Fabric Closet Organizer on Amazon
Storage Furniture
Storage doesn’t have to stop where beds and sofas begin. When dressers and armoires have been packed to overflowing, a shocking amount of space can be found in furniture/storage hybrids. Many beds built for sale in recent years have drawer systems and other storage built into their insides, along with ottomans and benches that serve as storage trunks when their seats are lifted.
There’s nothing quite as unnecessarily nerve-wracking and as claustrophobic as looking around a room packed to the brim with a mess that seems to have nowhere to go. I’ve employed all of these in our house to try to manage the clutter. Not easy with a pre-schooler! However, make use of every inch of space you have and you can enjoy a clean and functional home to its absolute fullest. Literally!
