How to Efficiently Use Vertical Space

Anyone that's ever been in a college dorm room has probably seen an efficient use of vertical space. Vertical space is the space in the room that is going up from the ground. It is not normally utilized in any way, but when one because to look at the vertical space as yet another dimension to a room, then a wide variety of possibilities start opening up.

Vertical space can add a tremendous amount of room to even the smallest of rooms. Vertical space works by utilizing the areas of the room that could not otherwise be utilized. In its simplest form, vertical space could be exhibited by a stack of canned foods. The foods are taking up floor space, thus making it impossible to use the space around it, but with ceiling heights as high as they are, the food could be stacked higher. And therefore make a much more efficient use of space.

Another great example of vertical space is the use of high shelving. High shelving gives you more places to put all of the things that you may have, without high shelving this vertical space would remain unused. Bunk beds are yet another traditional example of vertical space. Bunk beds allow two people to sleep in the space that would have previously only held one. These beds eventually led to other vertical space using creations.

The cheapest way to make use of a lot of vertical space in a small room is to but the bed on cinder blocks. You stack the cinder blocks quite high, and the result will be amazingly durable, cheap and temporary. The space underneath the bed could be used for a sofa, a table, or just open space. This method works best when the room has long windows that allow for the light to pass to both the normal space, and the newly recaptured vertical space. In some two man dorm rooms (with more than one bed) it is possible to put all of the beds up on cinderblock "stilts" and gain a tremendous amount of space. A small two man dormitory can be turned into a large poker den.

If you are looking for a more lasting solution you can build a piece of furniture that supports your bed and has a built in desk or sofa underneath. You can also buy prefabricated bunk beds that have a futon or a removable bed underneath. This bed can then be removed, and the space can be used for any suitable purpose.