Creative storage solutions

It seems we’re all in need of a little extra storage space. We collect so many things over the course of our lives that need a place in our homes to put it all. There are some places in our home that are prime places for creative storage solutions. You just need a few tips to know where to look and a few options for your space to get you started.

Under the Bed

The space under the beds is often under-utilised and just a space to collect dust bunnies. Take back that storage space under the bed boxes, drawers, or shelves. A small investment can bring you a large amount of storage space when it comes to using the space beneath your bed. There is a large variety of under-the-bed storage options out there for everything from Christmas decorations to shoes. For a child’s room, there are options such as roll-away play tables and art supply organisation on casters, toy storage chests, and off-season clothing space.

Go Up Rather than Out

Shelves are not the end-all option when it comes to storage space going up the wall rather than out into your space. Wall storage can be an artistic endeavour rather than a cluttered mess. Try painted boxes installed from floor to ceiling in a random colour palette and size, using sliding fabric or plexiglass panels (you can find them at retail stores like Ikea) to cover a wall of shelves or tall furniture pieces with storage space such as bookcases with doors.

Toe-kick

Most cabinets have a toe-kick space, so you don’t hurt your feet while using the cabinet. It is normally three to four inches high and two to three inches deep. But what about the rest of the space that’s just empty there under the cabinet? That’s three to four inches in height with around twenty inches of depth that is being used to store air. Why not give that space a functional use and turn it into a drawer. If you do that, you just added an incredible amount of storage to your space.

Garage Ceiling

Your garage is one of the first go-to spaces for storage, but you can make even more storage space for yourself by utilising the ceiling in your garage. There are multiple options when it comes to products you can use to utilise your garage ceiling, from expensive options such as motorised metal basket shelves that raise and lower at the touch of a button to the less expensive DIY projects such as building or installing runners in short sections on the ceiling to hold containers specially made for the purpose. Using the garage ceiling is like adding an entire storage room to your home without actually building an addition on.

Closet Ceiling

Just like your garage ceiling, there’s a lot of square footage at the tops of your closets that could be under-utilised as storage space for your home. Obviously, shelves that begin at the wall above the door would be inaccessible, but it doesn’t take an entire shelf to hold a storage bin. You can use runners on the ceiling, like the garage, or build out the highest shelf in increments, so the space is still accessible. If you have high ceilings, think about a third closet pole for storing out-of-season clothing. If your storage is lightweight, you can even just string yarn, twine, or a cargo net across the ceiling to hold it.