15 Clever Storage Tips for Small Spaces
Maximise your storage needs with a multitude of smart tricks such as these
Vinita Kunnath
26 June 2018
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
“I have a place for everything in my apartment,” said nobody. Ever. Apartments, unlike houses, do not come with built storage spaces such as attics and basements. Instead, you must rely on your smarts to make the most of available space, be it by way of walls, furniture or nooks and crannies. Here are some ways to accommodate your rising stock of belongings, without sacrificing on breathing room.
1. Have bedside cabinets
Bedside cabinets are a great alternative to traditional nightstands. They take up about the same amount of floor space but more than double your storage capacity. For even more storage, install floating cabinets on the wall behind the headboard as well.
Bedside cabinets are a great alternative to traditional nightstands. They take up about the same amount of floor space but more than double your storage capacity. For even more storage, install floating cabinets on the wall behind the headboard as well.
2. Construct hard-working headboards
Using a headboard for storage is a clever way to make the most of your space. This custom solution manages to be a bedside table and bookcase as well as a headboard. One can easily imagine the other side to have as much, if not more, space – maybe a rail and shelves for clothes.
Using a headboard for storage is a clever way to make the most of your space. This custom solution manages to be a bedside table and bookcase as well as a headboard. One can easily imagine the other side to have as much, if not more, space – maybe a rail and shelves for clothes.
A bed with a similar concept has a draw-out as well, that can be used as an extra bed or to put away linen or clothing in lieu of the mattress.
3. Re-purpose a cupboard
I love this idea for being simple and doing the job so well. A large linen wardrobe has been overhauled into a huge shoe storage cabinet, thanks to rows of slanted shelves, allowing enough space at the bottom for taller boots.
Browse through more images of clever built-in storage
I love this idea for being simple and doing the job so well. A large linen wardrobe has been overhauled into a huge shoe storage cabinet, thanks to rows of slanted shelves, allowing enough space at the bottom for taller boots.
Browse through more images of clever built-in storage
4. Try a pegboard in the kitchen…
Used more in retail or commercial spaces, it can be used just as well at home. Hang a basic pegboard on your kitchen wall to store cooking items and implements using S-hooks and baskets.
Used more in retail or commercial spaces, it can be used just as well at home. Hang a basic pegboard on your kitchen wall to store cooking items and implements using S-hooks and baskets.
…and elsewhere
Splash out on a pegboard sheet in the children’s room to help keep things in place. The addition of this pegboard creates flexible vertical storage space with lots of room for art supplies and decorations that can be easily moved around as their collection grows and changes.
Splash out on a pegboard sheet in the children’s room to help keep things in place. The addition of this pegboard creates flexible vertical storage space with lots of room for art supplies and decorations that can be easily moved around as their collection grows and changes.
5. Use the doorways
Use the space all around a door – an otherwise unused space – to build shelves. This shelving unit fits snugly around the doorway without looking cluttered.
Use the space all around a door – an otherwise unused space – to build shelves. This shelving unit fits snugly around the doorway without looking cluttered.
6. Floor to ceiling built-in bookshelves
These are the most space-efficient way of utilising your vertical space. Use the same concept in the kitchen too, just as the owners have in this double-height kitchen. The rolling library-style steel ladder, apart from being handy to reach for things higher up, brings dramatic style to this open-plan space.
These are the most space-efficient way of utilising your vertical space. Use the same concept in the kitchen too, just as the owners have in this double-height kitchen. The rolling library-style steel ladder, apart from being handy to reach for things higher up, brings dramatic style to this open-plan space.
7. Transform sloped ceilings
Awkwardly designed ceilings make can make certain parts of the room unusable. In the case of this space, they have been used for storage. This space’s built-in shelving transforms the area beneath a tricky ceiling into a functional space.
Awkwardly designed ceilings make can make certain parts of the room unusable. In the case of this space, they have been used for storage. This space’s built-in shelving transforms the area beneath a tricky ceiling into a functional space.
8. Use the staircase wall
Most times the staircase wall is used to hang pictures – instead use it to install a wall-to-wall bookcase, both as an innovative storage solution and to create a colourful feature in this otherwise dead space. You will just need to ensure it does not encroach enough to impede traffic.
Most times the staircase wall is used to hang pictures – instead use it to install a wall-to-wall bookcase, both as an innovative storage solution and to create a colourful feature in this otherwise dead space. You will just need to ensure it does not encroach enough to impede traffic.
9. Wall-mount some wire baskets
It’s okay to be a basket case … when choosing vertical storage solutions for your walls. In the kitchen, wall-mounted wire baskets provide ideal storage for fruits and veggies. Why stop there? You can also use them for plenty of other household items, including towels, toys, shoes and magazines.
It’s okay to be a basket case … when choosing vertical storage solutions for your walls. In the kitchen, wall-mounted wire baskets provide ideal storage for fruits and veggies. Why stop there? You can also use them for plenty of other household items, including towels, toys, shoes and magazines.
While on the topic of baskets, use wicker baskets in the bathroom to add an earthy feel and provide handy storage for accessories, toilet rolls and towels. The beauty of a basket is its versatility – you can store it on a shelf as seen here, or simply dot several around the house.
Look here at stylish storage containers for a clutter-free home
Look here at stylish storage containers for a clutter-free home
10. Squeeze in a slim drawer
Often spaces less than 6-8 inches wide tend to get overlooked as storage solutions. This tiny space in the kitchen could very well have been panelled over, but instead a pull-out towel rack lets wet towels dry even when tucked away out of sight. The trays on the top and bottom of the pullout provide additional storage for cleaning supplies.
Often spaces less than 6-8 inches wide tend to get overlooked as storage solutions. This tiny space in the kitchen could very well have been panelled over, but instead a pull-out towel rack lets wet towels dry even when tucked away out of sight. The trays on the top and bottom of the pullout provide additional storage for cleaning supplies.
11. Find your niche
Recessed niches in this bathroom provide great storage space that is easy to reach; plus they eliminate the need for a shower caddy and sundry cabinets that gobble up space.
Here are ways to beautify your bathroom niches
Recessed niches in this bathroom provide great storage space that is easy to reach; plus they eliminate the need for a shower caddy and sundry cabinets that gobble up space.
Here are ways to beautify your bathroom niches
12. Closet it in
If budget permits, installing some built-in units to really make the most of your space would be well worth it. Here, huge floor-to-ceiling cupboards in easy-to-clean, hard-wearing materials open up to reveal masses of storage opportunities for toys and craft; you could even incorporate a little desk for homework.
If budget permits, installing some built-in units to really make the most of your space would be well worth it. Here, huge floor-to-ceiling cupboards in easy-to-clean, hard-wearing materials open up to reveal masses of storage opportunities for toys and craft; you could even incorporate a little desk for homework.
13. Use under-stairs storage
There’s ordinary under-stairs storage, and then there’s this great solution for getting rid of unsightly shoes strewn across the hallway. This slide-out shoe rack is just the thing, allowing you to see and reach for stuff easily, all the way in.
Tip: Keep in mind that fitted pullouts and cabinets under stairs need to be custom-made to allow for the staggering height, which makes this type of storage more of an investment. But the ample space available makes it all worthwhile.
There’s ordinary under-stairs storage, and then there’s this great solution for getting rid of unsightly shoes strewn across the hallway. This slide-out shoe rack is just the thing, allowing you to see and reach for stuff easily, all the way in.
Tip: Keep in mind that fitted pullouts and cabinets under stairs need to be custom-made to allow for the staggering height, which makes this type of storage more of an investment. But the ample space available makes it all worthwhile.
Pro tip: In case you don’t have the budget to commission a tailor-made storage, put old crates and boxes to use. Turn them on their sides so they become rustic cubbyholes for stashing various odds and ends.
Find out how to get multiple uses out of the humble pallet
Find out how to get multiple uses out of the humble pallet
14. Divide and conquer
Rather than having a ‘conventional’ wall dividing up the space between a bedroom and an en suite, go for a half-wall that also incorporates a wardrobe. Neither space will feel hemmed in, both will have valuable privacy and the cherry on top is the huge amount of storage space this neat solution provides.
Rather than having a ‘conventional’ wall dividing up the space between a bedroom and an en suite, go for a half-wall that also incorporates a wardrobe. Neither space will feel hemmed in, both will have valuable privacy and the cherry on top is the huge amount of storage space this neat solution provides.
15. Create shelves within shelves
Freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cupboard help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They double the storage space, raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with a ton of things.
Read more:
20 Most Popular Storage Ideas on Houzz India
Ingenious Ways to Maximise Space in an Apartment
Innovative Storage Solutions for Everyday Items
Tell us:
Which ideas would you incorporate in your apartment? Do share in the Comments section below.
Freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cupboard help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They double the storage space, raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with a ton of things.
Read more:
20 Most Popular Storage Ideas on Houzz India
Ingenious Ways to Maximise Space in an Apartment
Innovative Storage Solutions for Everyday Items
Tell us:
Which ideas would you incorporate in your apartment? Do share in the Comments section below.
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Venita, Thank you for featuring our towel rack pull-out cabinet! We have a lot of narrow pull-out storage solutions and accessories to optimize small spaces. Here are a few more ideas if anyone is looking for more inspiration...
Thin Pantry/ Spice Rack Pull-Out
A pull-out knife block
Try hiding a pull-out behind a decorative post!
Tray Storage!
Make a small space at the end of a row of cabinets or under that awkward kitchen window a useful place for storage:
Mandi @ Dura