Entry #25, February 22, 2010
In celebration of Stagetecture’s 25th blog entry, I decided to explore the world of hidden storage. Storage
Hidden storage is everywhere
areas and closets are the number one space we ‘secretly’ look for when we buy a new home, but the last thing on our mind when it’s time to buy furniture, books, toys, and all of the other items that clutter our rooms. Let’s help you find 3 hidden storage areas that you always forget.
1.) Go vertical: Believe it or not, 50% of all storage in rooms is wasted because only the floor up to 6′-0″ is used in most rooms. For the average room that has 8′ – 10′ ceilings – this is a lot of wasted space! If you don’t have obstructions (windows, doorways, etc…) blocking your way, use this space for shelving, hooks, drawers, you name it! In Canadian House & Home, shelving is used to above door height to maximize a corner of a wall.
Decorate a wall with your storage!
2.) Use storage as decor: Storage doesn’t have to mean 30 clear Tupperware bins all lined in a row. Storage can be functional and look great!
Freshome shows how book storage can act as decor, and a utilitarian bookshelf is now made into unique wall focal point. How about using the tops of your kitchen cabinetry for storing unique cookbooks, kitchen ware in decorative ceramic vases, or unique baskets to hold seasonal table linen.
Don’t forget under the bed!
3.)Under the bed: Go look under your bed, what’s under there? Shoes, lost socks, eeewww, what is that?!! For real, this is a storage gold mine! Look at great under bed storage at The Container Store. Storage can be strictly functional for seasonal clothing, blankets, and toys. Have a higher bed, and want to show off the storage? Try using decorative baskets and a shorter dust ruffle under your box spring mattress.
Remember, your home is full of hidden spaces for storage. Closets too small? This just means you have to be more creative in hiding your stuff… accept the challenge!!
LEAVE US COMMENTS! DO YOU HAVE SOME GREAT HIDDEN STORAGE AREAS? WE WANT TO HEAR THEM!
For more storage ideas on Stagetecture, click here.
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Decorative baskets. Decorative boxes. Extra baking dishes inside my oven. Extra 5′ shelf above my office closet doors for books. The Container Store sells a hanging organizer for wrapping paper, bows, etc. — I use it for my umbrellas, sash and tie-type soft belts, and small items. IKEA sells metal-grid “drawers” that are designed to be inserted in some of their furniture (slides into furniture). I buy these separately (inexpensive) and use them for open storage and store my art supplies. You can lift up the whole metal “drawer” and take it where needed. That’s all for now! Happy organizing. Eileen
Thanks Eileen. The shelves above your closet doors for books is a good hidden storage area!
I adore those stair step cabinet organizers. Three little steps I put in cabinets, under sinks, and in the fridge. Then I place the tallest things on the top step, middle sized things on the middle step, and – guess what? – smallest things on or in front of the bottom shelf. Everything is visible. Everything is easy to reach.
I know this is a bit old, but bed storage is such a good idea. Most beds have some way of adding storage, but if you’d like there are also very good bed frames with drawers, for example.
Also consider hanging things on the back of your door with hangars or with an over-the-door hangar that fits right on top of the door, but doesn’t stop it from closing. You can hang all sorts of things on the back of it!