If you live in a small home and are struggling to fit all your belongings into the current available space, you’ll need to come up with creative storage ideas that can add more space to your room without affecting its appeal. There’s a lot that can be done in this regard, so stay with us as we discuss some of the best storage options for your consideration.
Creative Storage Ideas for Your Home
If you want to add more space to your room, here are some ingenious ways to do just that:
- Under-the-Bed Storage
- Dual-Purpose Storage Chest
- Storage Ottomans
- Storage Cubicles
- Ceiling Cabinets
- Toy Chests for Kids
- Under-the-Stairs Storage
- Laundry Baskets
- Behind-the-Door Hooks
- Under-the-Sink Storage
You can easily make the most of your home’s square footage with these storage hacks. The best part is, you won’t need to take any walls down or build new ones. Let’s discuss these storage options in detail now.
Under-the-Bed Storage
While pushing a few storage boxes under your bed and draping a sheet to cover its sides and the mess underneath is always an option, it doesn’t give that neat and refined look you’re after. Alternatively, you can choose to custom design or buy a bed that offers pull out drawers for additional storage.
Although the drawers might require additional floor space on either side of the bed to open, the reason why you should opt for them is simple. Once you close the drawer, it seamlessly merges into the bed’s frame, hiding all the mess away from your guests and keeping it away from the reach of the naughty little ones. Thus, you get additional storage space without a negative impact on your room’s appearance.
Dual-Purpose Storage Chest
Do you have heavy quilts, blankets, and throws that you need to store in your new home but don’t have any space left for them? Consider investing in a storage chest with a lid that lifts up to reveal a spacious interior. Such chests are perfect for storage, and most of them are made of sturdy and high-quality wood like teak, meaning they won’t rot easily over the years. They also look great as antiques in any room.
But if you want to make the most of your furnishings, cut a piece of foam to size after measuring the length and width of the storage chest. The foam should be about a foot high. Cover this foam with a fabric of your choice and place it over the lid of the chest. This will create a custom seating arrangement in your room.
Storage Ottomans
Readily available in the market, storage ottomans work the same way as a storage chest mentioned above. The top part of the ottoman is a cushioned lid that lifts up to reveal a hollow space which is ideal for storing your winter clothes or blankets. However, keep in mind that the key purpose of furnishing your living room with an ottoman is to be able to conveniently position it for use as needed, so the items you store inside should not be so heavy that it makes it difficult to move the ottoman from its position.
Storage Cubicles
Want to keep everything in its place? Install small storage cubicles on top of desks, shelves, or racks, so you can keep your odds and ends organised. The cubicles can be as small as a few inches or as big as a foot in length, height, and width. The size depends on what you want to store in the cubicles. Keep in mind that storage cubicles are open and do not have a lid or door. So, if a cubicle is too messy, it’ll bring down the aesthetic appeal of your room.
Ceiling Cabinets
Perfect for modern kitchens and offering a lot of additional storage space, ceiling cabinets have been around for a while. Having a height of about two to three feet and a width of 1.5 to 2 feet, most ceiling cabinets are made from wood, and are covered with Formica sheets, polished to a reflective finish, or painted to match the kitchen’s colour scheme. Whichever approach you take, as long as your home has 8-foot high ceilings, this storage option can be an amazing addition to your kitchen. Don’t forget to add pull out shelves on corner cabinets to make maximum use of the space inside.
Toy Chests for Kids
If you’ve got young ones at home and you keep finding their toys underfoot, it’s time to get them a designated storage spot for their toys and to teach them how to tidy up the room after playtime is over. Storage chests for kids are generally made of plastic, are lightweight, spacious, and are available in a range of colours and themes.
Bonus Tip: You can even buy a plain one and ask the kids to decorate it with stickers as per their choice.
Under-the-Stairs Storage
There are many creative ways to use the space under your stairs. From cabinets to shelves, and a customised reading nook, there are plenty of options that you can consider to make the most of this underestimated storage space. If you want to place things on display, opt for open shelves. Otherwise, cabinets or pull out drawers under the stairs can help you store shoes, jackets, as well as your children’s toys.
Laundry Baskets
Yes, we know that many of you already know that laundry baskets exist, and yet, it’s surprising how many of us have chairs in our homes that are laden with clothes, some of which are due for a wash. So, how about emptying that chair and chucking those dirty piles into a basket designated for this purpose. It improves the look of the room and also gives you a dedicated space for your dirty laundry.
Behind-the-Door Hooks
It’s incredible how many of us forget to make use of the space between the door and the wall. Wall hooks, placed either on the wall or the door, can help you hang up your dupattas and stoles, as well as jackets during the winter season. You can even choose to hang up your ironed clothes on the hooks behind the door.
Under-the-Sink Storage
Vanity sinks and countertops are one of the most popular types of bathroom sinks in Pakistan. They offer a chance to add more space to your room. Creatively designed to suit almost all interiors, antique finishes work best for vanity sinks. Accommodating your plumbing as well as cleaning supplies and bathroom toiletries, these spacious dressers need a lot of floor space and are only recommended for master bathrooms.
Love the creative storage ideas we’ve presented? Want to custom design your own? Head to Mehmoodabad and its famous furniture market if you live in Karachi for both readymade, as well as bespoke furnishings. Lahoris can also find some fantastic furniture pieces for their interiors in Gulberg, Lahore.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more home décor tips and tricks. You can also reach us with your suggestions and queries at blog@zameen.com.
