A home is a place where you can relax and enjoy your free time.
But the problem is that you will always have extra things that you don’t want to throw away, but at the same time, it takes up space in your living room or bedroom.
Now that space is at a premium in most homes, maximizing storage in every room can be challenging. So have you ever had the problem of not having enough places to store things?
Nowadays, many clever and unique ways to do that without investing much money. For example, you can shop board game furniture online that can double as a centrepiece for your living area.
You can even do away with cabinets and keep things tidy, neat, and organized. With so many options and possibilities, the truth is you can easily add more storage simply by adding furniture pieces that have storage built in.
If you are looking for some clever and unique ways to add storage to your home, below are some examples you can use to nudge your way into more storage space.
Repurpose items
Shelves are great for adding storage to a room, but sometimes they can be challenging to install. So if you’re looking for a quick solution to add extra storage space without having to drill holes in the walls, repurpose items you already have lying around your house.
When it comes to repurposing, there’s no need to spend money on new storage items when you can create something from scratch with the materials and tools you already have.
For example, you can use an old side table or entertainment centre as a bookshelf or place baskets and trays on top to hold other items.
Or, if your coffee table is too small for your family’s needs, consider putting it in another room for a different purpose and replacing it with something more extensive, such as an ottoman or bench.
You’ll be surprised how much extra storage you can get from repurposing items around your house.
Maximize hidden spaces
Though it’s not a new concept, maximizing your home’s hidden spaces is a great way to add storage without building an addition or remodelling.
For example, you can use an old entertainment centre as a closet or a bookshelf as a room divider.
Likewise, hiding things in plain sight is a great way to save space, including making the most of attics, basements, and new walls. So you can consider adding attic stairs or building a loft bed in your kid’s room.
You can also turn your bathroom into more of a functional space by making the most out of your shower caddy, shampoo and conditioner bottles, and even your toothbrush holder by hanging them on the wall instead of storing them in cabinets or drawers.
You can also set up hooks along the wall near doors to hang coats and jackets on them when they’re not worn.
You can implement this rather than taking up space on hangers in closets or shelves in bedrooms or bathrooms where you may easily forget about them until they’re needed later down the road.
When maximizing these spaces, you only have to consider using every nook and cranny in your home — even if it’s just for small items like batteries and dog treats.
Stack and nest furniture
You can take advantage of small spaces with stackable furniture, which allows you to store large items in a small area.
For example, stack books on top of one another rather than leaving them open on a bookshelf or table.
Or you can also nest tables or chairs together to make them appear as one piece of furniture in your room.
This works incredibly well if you have a small dining room — stack the chairs against one wall when they’re not needed and pull them out.
Use vertical space wisely
Use empty wall space as a place to hang things up or store items that would otherwise take up valuable floor space.
You can utilize vertical space by hanging things like scarves and ties from hooks on a wall or door.
This will save space on tables and counters, so they’re not cluttered with accessories that you want to keep close at hand.
You can also create makeshift shelving by hanging a towel rack or curtain rod across the wall.
This makes it easy to hang towels and clothes or other items that usually end up on the floor — like shoes and belts — instead of taking up precious space on shelves or countertops.
Choose multifunctional pieces
Multifunctional furniture is a great way to add extra storage space without adding another bulky piece to the room.
Here are some examples you can recreate in your own home.
- Add an extra shelf or hooks to your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanity, or install a medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
- If you have a wall of windows in your living room, consider adding a window seat where you can tuck away extra blankets or pillows.
- Use closet shelves to create more hanging space for clothing and shoes.
- Replace traditional bedside tables with ones that come with built-in drawers or shelves to store items like books and magazines, glasses, chargers, and other nightstand essentials that tend to clutter up this space.
- You can use an ottoman chair for extra seating and storage or a coffee table with built-in drawers for additional storage for remotes, magazines, and other odds and ends.
Final Thoughts
Adding storage is a great way to increase the value of your home. However, if space is tight, it may be worthwhile to get cosy with a neighbour and combine storage areas to upgrade your home.
You may already be familiar with these techniques that have been discussed above. But it is still good to review them. You can always update what you know with a few new ideas.
Either way, take the time to reflect on your home’s storage needs and see how you can apply these strategies to your own living space.
External factors like a floor plan or zoning laws may limit your storage options. But if you choose to be flexible with what you like to do, there’s no reason why you can’t squeeze in a little extra storage for yourself.