Ways to find space in a small home for shelves

Living in a small house has its special challenges. Having ample storage is often a problem. Depending on how the house is designed, there are often storage solutions in the little nooks and crannies that can be utilized.

My shelf project took a day to complete and was beginner-level as far as ease. My kitchen is very small with only one set of cupboards, which I use for my dishes and small cooking items such as spices. There was no place for canned goods. Behind the back door, in the entry to the basement, was a perfect-sized little nook. It is rarely seen by anyone outside the family, and when the back door is open, my shelves do not show. Here is how I turned that nook into a small open pantry.

First, I had to remove the trim from the doors closest to the wall I wanted to use for my shelves. I then replaced it with a flat board to use for my shelf braces. I decided on the height I wanted and how many shelves to build.

Next, I put in the shelf braces using a level. The basement door on the right was not the same height as the outside door on the left, so using the eye only, a shelf that appeared level actually would not be. I then cut my shelves to the right size and added a bit of trim for a lip to ensure my items would not fall off the shelves each time the back door was pulled shut.

Once my shelves were in place, I caulked the gaps and painted them white. To make the entryway more attractive, I painted the walls the same pumpkin color as my kitchen, only in a lighter shade. Then I stocked the shelves with my canned goods, freeing up much needed space in my cupboards.

Anyone with a saw, hammer, nails, measuring tape and level can do this project. If your home is tiny, be on the lookout for small spaces that could house shelves.