One of the most important, common, and perhaps boring challenges when decorating your home is storage. Just decorating your home as you wish, without thinking about functionality and storage, feels tempting, but storage is a necessity we can rarely avoid. Yes, I know it sounds dull, but bear with me here as we go through 5 ideas that can help you maximize storage, even in a small space.
1. Add storage high up on the walls
Simple but often forgotten – you have the ENTIRE wall space to use for storage. Hang shelves and cabinets high up on the wall to maximize your storage. Choose a wardrobe that goes all the way up to the ceiling, or hang some freestanding shelves up near the ceiling or in a corner. It becomes a very cool detail.
You can even hang a shelf above the door frame if you have a little space there.
2. Store under your furniture
Bed drawers and storage boxes are fantastic for items that don’t need to be accessed frequently. Get the ones with wheels so you can easily roll them out when needed without scratching the floor. Roll them under the bed, sofa, a cabinet, or a dresser.
Tip: If you don’t want to show off your storage boxes under the bed, get a bed skirt. It adds both cosiness and hides your stuff.
3. Put shelves in your cabinets
Yes, you read that right, shelves in cabinets. Yes, most cabinets already have shelves, but this time I mean those small portable shelves that help you maximize the storage space.
Check out the shelf insert “VARIERA” from IKEA below and you’ll get what I mean. It truly helps to maximize the space in the cabinet.
Imagine this cabinet without the shelf insert, barely half of the items would have been able to stay in there in an easy access way.
4. Multifunctional furniture
Look for smart furniture that not only looks good but also provides extra storage and functionality. For example, a sofa with a built-in storage drawer under the seating area, a bench with a drawer underneath for the hallway, or an ottoman with storage inside. There are plenty of smart furniture options out there, even tables with built-in storage inside.
5. Maximize your corners
Corners are easily forgotten as functional spaces. Do you have a corner somewhere that you can make som use out of? Find a stylish corner shelf or cabinet and maximize storage there as well. Or why not create your own corner solution? Pinterest or Instagram is your DIY friend!
What are your best ways to add storage to your home? Would love to hear your tips and ideas in the comments!