Storage Ideas for Your Home

When people are looking for apartments or houses to either rent or purchase, one of the first things on their list of must-haves is plenty of storage. Everyone wants an ample supply of cupboards in the kitchen, huge closet space in the bedrooms and plenty of extra closets or cupboards around the home to store their possessions.

However, not everyone is fortunate enough to find just such a place to accommodate each and every one of their needs. Sometimes we must choose our homes for other reasons other than storage space. Yet, there are still many ways to add that much needed extra storage, no matter where you reside, or how much "stuff" you need to store.

Making the Best Use of Entryway Closets

When it comes to entryway closets, one usually thinks only about hanging their seasonal coats and jackets. Sometimes, you might store some shoes or boots on the floor and hats and mittens on the top shelf. One idea is to keep one or two storage chests (either store-bought or home-made) in your entryway closets. One chest could be for shoes and boots, keeping them organized and out of sight. The other chest could be for hats and mittens/gloves. This keeps the entryway closet looking clean and neat whenever the door is opened. As well, you will know just where to find your items without rummaging through everything.

The top shelf, which is usually too high for most of us to reach, can then be used to store other household items that aren't needed as often.

Stairway Storage

Under stairways is a great place to store items that you don't use everyday. Most homes with a second story, will inevitably have an empty staircase area. Unfortunately, sometimes this area is enclosed by a wall, making that a totally useless waste of space, that you could otherwise use for storage. By adding a door to this area, you are able to access the space, storing several items.

The same would apply if you have a basement. Make use of that under-the-staircase area for storage, by either adding shelving or stacking boxes where you can perhaps keep your seasonal or seldom-used items.

Hooks can be positioned under the stairs as well. It's a perfect space to hang out of season coats or even bags, where you might keep your recycling, out of sight and out of the way.

Making Use Of Nooks and Crannies

Many homes have those unusable spaces, or nooks and crannies. Sometimes these spaces happen to be juts in the walls where pipes or chimneys pass through the home and are therefore, enclosed by plasterboard. Of course, these pipes and chimneys are very much a part of what makes our homes functional, yet they can take away from our usable living spaces. If you happen to have such nooks and crannies in your home, you can make use of them by adding shelving between the nooks for extra storage, and possibly adding a door to hide the contents.

Bedroom Closets

Whether you have large or small closets, the best thing to do is to make good use of every inch of space. There are many styles of closet organizers offered by all home improvement stores. Choose the one that works best for your particular space.

A quick, simple and inexpensive way to make full use of your closets is to "make" your own storage bags. Using canvas (or some other sturdy fabric), or even the cut off legs from old blue jeans, you can make very useful storage containers.

Cut a square piece of fabric, making one side longer than the other. Sew 3 ends together, leaving the longer end open. Now, fold the longer end over a wooden clothes hanger (wooden clothes hangers are more sturdy than the wire type) and sew securely (or in the case of blue jean legs, sew the bottom end closed and leave enough material to hang over the wooden clothes hanger). This makes an excellent storage bag for smaller items, such as socks, unmentionables or toiletries. They are within easy reach and can help to save up the much needed space in your bureaus for larger items of clothing.

You can make the bag(s) any size that suits your needs. Make several for different items, helping to make your closet a well-organized, well-utilized space. These can be hung on your closet rod, easy to access, along with your clothing, taking up very little space.

This is also an excellent idea for children's bedrooms. You can hang them at their "reach level" and store their stuffed animals or other toys. This makes it easier for them to clean up their rooms.

Kitchen and Bathroom Storage

Whether it's in the kitchen or other rooms, such as a bathroom, if you find you have very limited space (as in square footage) and few cupboards, the only place you can go is "up". You can add shelving (well above head level). There are so many beautiful and color co-ordinated fashion boxes to choose from these days and can be purchased at very reasonable prices. Store certain items in these boxes and place on the shelving. They can be within reach when you need an item, yet out of the way and stored neatly. This also adds a nice touch to your room's decor.

If you happen to have kitchen cupboards that are from the 70's, and are enclosed from the top of the cupboard to the ceiling, maybe consider opening up that space. This not only gives you extra storage area, but can give your kitchen a more modern appearance.

If your problem is limited counter space, and you have an empty wall in your kitchen, maybe a baker's rack will solve the problem of where to store some of your items.

Small Home or Apartment Living

If your space is quite confined, by either living in a smaller home or apartment, think about purchasing furniture items that can double as storage. End tables, coffee tables, ottomans and/or TV stands that are enclosed by doors or lids can add much needed extra storage. They will keep such items as CD's and DVD's organized and out of sight, but can also make good storage for other household necessities such as extra blankets, magazines/books or what have you.

You can also purchase storage containers that fit neatly under the beds, keeping clothing, linens, or towels organized and out of the way.

Not Enough Storage or Too Much Stuff?

Something to also keep in mind and possibly consider, if you find you are terribly short of storage space, you might want to think about how much "stuff" you possess and how much of it you really need? It might not be so much that you don't have enough cupboard or closet space after all, but that you have "too" many useless and unnecessary possessions.

Define what is really needed and what is not. You might find that this is a huge determining factor as to whether or not, you do in deed, have enough storage space in your home.