If you live in your home for several years, especially if it’s small, you might believe that you are simply out of storage space. The cabinets are packed, the bathroom drawers are brimming with products, and let’s not even discuss the closets. But, guess what? There may be “hidden gem” storage spaces in your home that you are totally overlooking.
“Often, people become accustomed to the space they inhabit and don’t challenge themselves to consider how the space could function differently,” says Amy Kunst, founder and principal designer of Designed | Curated Interiors. Glenna Stone of Glenna Stone Interiors points out that most homeowners think about storage room by room: the kitchen, the closets, the mudroom. “The spaces in between don’t register as opportunities because they’re transitional,” she says. “It takes a shift in perspective to see them as square footage that can work harder. When you start looking at a home through the lens of what each space could hold rather than what it’s currently doing, the whole floor plan opens up.”
So, what are these storage-ready nooks and crannies in your home that are flying under the radar? Read on for what designers think are the most underutilized storage spaces.
1. Spaces Alongside Cabinets
Kunst says that spaces abound in the home that are forgotten-about storage opportunities, like awkward corners and narrow gaps. One specific example of where overlooked spaces can be put to work are the recesses alongside kitchen cabinets. Calling them “difficult corners and small areas adjacent to a large cabinet run,” Kunst says that these can actually be very functional zones. “What could initially be considered wasted space is transformed into an appliance garage, bread cupboard, produce storage, or charging station, improving both functionality and organization,” she says.
2. Cabinet Doors
Kunst says that cabinet doors can also serve as storage. For instance, in the kitchen, spice racks can easily be mounted to the inside of a cupboard door or you can easily install a few hooks to hang items like dish gloves or lids for pots and pans. It’s also a good spot for paper towels. Have limited space in your bathroom? A simple wire organizer can be used to hold small toiletries and makeup.
3. Hallways and Landings
It’s easy to overlook hallways and landings, but Stone says these spaces are untapped storage areas. Consider integrating custom cabinetry if your budget allows. “Oftentimes, a wide hallway or deep landing is the opportunity to add custom cabinetry, creating floor-to-ceiling customized storage,” Stone says. “Custom cabinetry built into a deep landing or flanking a hallway reads as architecture, as if it belongs to the house.”
4. Under the Stairs
A lot of us have that random space lurking underneath our stairs, but it just sits there instead of being used as surprisingly roomy storage space. For instance, Kunst says that the empty space under the stairs can become a walk-in wine cellar. Also, think: a small closet for entryway essentials or a spot to stash board games. You could even consider integrating a comfortable built-in bench, which would be handy for putting on and taking off shoes.
5. Vertical Space on Walls
Kunst recommends thinking vertically when it comes to storage. If you have a small strip of vertical wall space, you can hang a narrow shelf, a mail organizer, or wall baskets.
6. Existing Cabinets and Drawers
“Many homeowners overlook existing cabinets and drawers,” Kunst notes. “By better organizing the existing space, they can dramatically increase usable storage.” It’s storage that you’ve long had, but reenvisioned in a whole new way. Donate items you don’t need. Purchase an organizational system for your cabinets or drawers. And you might be shocked at how much “bonus space” you acquire in the process.
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she’s not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
