When furnishing apartments and smaller homes, it can be a challenge to find enough storage space. As families grow, adjusting to the increased storage needs requires creativity. Fortunately, choosing furniture that doubles as a storage solution can solve many space dilemmas.
The entry to your home should welcome visitors, and make you feel relaxed. Walking in to a chaotic hodgepodge of bags, shoes and outerwear is anything but relaxing. A simple bench for shoe storage offers a comfortable place to put on or remove shoes. Baskets under the bench keep shoes organized and tidy looking. Better yet, an open locker for each family member's coats and bags is a perfect solution to entryway clutter.
Living/Family Room
Living rooms and family rooms are designed as a place for the family to gather. Storage ottomans offer stylish but discreet storage. Leather or fabric covered ottomans lift up to reveal interior storage space prefect for books, remote controls, or other items that are used by the family when in the area. Storage coffee tables also provide great storage in large drawers for games, magazines and books. Very clever cubes act as a coffee table or side table, but conceal a hollow center great for storing small entertaining supplies, table linens or toys. Media cabinetry/cabinets provides a polished look and offers storage for games, toys, AV equipment and videos/CDs.
Bedrooms
The master bedroom should be a sanctuary. The simple addition of bed-risers, available for under $20, turns the area under the bed into a storage powerhouse. A wide variety of containers are designed for under-bed storage of off-season clothes and seldom used accessories. Removing unused clothes and shoes from the closet makes accessing in-season items easier and more pleasant. A bench at the foot of the bed provides a comfortable place to put on shoes; a storage bench takes up the same space, but offers a place for bulky blankets, linens and extra pillow. Replacing simple closet rods with semi-custom systems can triple the storage space. Hooks for hanging frequently used clothes and handbags are another great strategy for maximizing storage.
Kid's rooms often seem like a magnet for clutter. Easy to access bins marked with pictures help kids keep toys off the floor. A loft bed opens floor space for a desk, play area or second bed. Trundle bed offers double the sleeping capacity in the space of a single bed. For siblings sharing a tiny room, or unexpected guests, it's a perfect solution.
Kitchen
A cluttered kitchen makes preparing family meals more difficult, and less enjoyable. The problem in many kitchens is not a lack of storage space, but poor utilization of the existing space. Place frequently used items in easy reach, seldom used items in less accessible places. Make sure all cabinet space is maximized with efficient organizers. After-market pull out drawers, shelves and lazy susans can double or triple the existing cab space. Plate racks add space and make accessing tableware easier. A ceiling mounted pot rack keeps cookware organized, easy to reach and maintains clear counters.
Two areas that are frequently overlooked are the top of the refrigerator and oven. Adding deep cabinetry here can add a huge amount of storage. If adding cabinetry isn't possible or practical, consider a wine rack, or shelving unit for cookbooks.
By:Huqh Mcinnes
