Comments
Maximising Vertical Storage in Indian Apartments
The future of storage is vertical, so look towards your walls for easy storage solutions that also look good
Rukmini Ray Kadam
9 July 2019
Houzz India Contributor, Home Decor Feature writer with Huffington post India, Decor stories at Deccan Herald, Realty section & Founder of Trumatter- a design and decor blog which won 3 prestigious awards panning 2014 to 2016. When not dabbling with decor I work with a few brilliant people in a leading Food Tech organization, nurture my enthusiasm for good photographs and sing for an alternative band.
Houzz India Contributor, Home Decor Feature writer with Huffington post India, Decor... More
Storage doesn’t have to look messy. Storage doesn’t have to occupy your floor space. The future of storage is vertical, and it is brimming with possibilities. Today, we are exploring some wonderful vertical storage ideas that you can easily incorporate in your space. From living room to bedroom, from bath to kitchen – these ideas will not only help you store things but also will let you do so in style, so you never have to compromise.
A smart wall study
If small spaces are driving you up the wall, that is exactly what you should be considering when doing up your space. Cast-iron pipes and running shelves can make a fabulous wall study plus storage, freeing up ample floor space.
Fit in one workstation or two, customise the shelves in different colours or leave them as they are for a more raw and rustic look.
7 Cabinet Designs Perfect With Study Tables
If small spaces are driving you up the wall, that is exactly what you should be considering when doing up your space. Cast-iron pipes and running shelves can make a fabulous wall study plus storage, freeing up ample floor space.
Fit in one workstation or two, customise the shelves in different colours or leave them as they are for a more raw and rustic look.
7 Cabinet Designs Perfect With Study Tables
The entrance storage trick
If you have an entrance or a passage, you can very well use the walls for built-in storage and run it from floor to the roof. If your entrance is small, consider painting the storage in the same shade as your wall for using the illusion to your advantage – it makes your space look bigger.
Don’t want to invest in a built-in? Floating shelves work just fine, along with a chest of drawers.
Find an interior designer to help design your storage
If you have an entrance or a passage, you can very well use the walls for built-in storage and run it from floor to the roof. If your entrance is small, consider painting the storage in the same shade as your wall for using the illusion to your advantage – it makes your space look bigger.
Don’t want to invest in a built-in? Floating shelves work just fine, along with a chest of drawers.
Find an interior designer to help design your storage
A room divider storage idea
A lot of us live in open-plan layouts where dining and living spaces are combined. A room divider with storage lets you create defined areas, besides giving you the extra edge to store and display.
Take it up a notch by adding wheels beneath it, so you can move it around: sometimes to divide the space and sometimes to open it up by pushing it against a wall.
14 Ways to Partition a Room Without Blocking Light
A lot of us live in open-plan layouts where dining and living spaces are combined. A room divider with storage lets you create defined areas, besides giving you the extra edge to store and display.
Take it up a notch by adding wheels beneath it, so you can move it around: sometimes to divide the space and sometimes to open it up by pushing it against a wall.
14 Ways to Partition a Room Without Blocking Light
Nook on top of the window
Need a sliver of storage space in your living room that can also work as a display? Look above the windows. A cubby hung horizontally can do the trick effortlessly.
Pro tip: Add a bit of drama to your window shelf, with trailing plants.
Need a sliver of storage space in your living room that can also work as a display? Look above the windows. A cubby hung horizontally can do the trick effortlessly.
Pro tip: Add a bit of drama to your window shelf, with trailing plants.
A storage wall can be an accent wall
Yes, it can! Turn one of your living room walls into a storage-meets-accent-wall by adding a full-length open cupboard. If you are a bibliophile, you already know where to keep your books now!
How to Transform Your Wall Into an Accent Wall
Yes, it can! Turn one of your living room walls into a storage-meets-accent-wall by adding a full-length open cupboard. If you are a bibliophile, you already know where to keep your books now!
How to Transform Your Wall Into an Accent Wall
Wardrobes as bedroom walls
A clever trick to maximise vertical storage is to have cupboards running end to end, and from floor to roof. As a matter of fact, look how this space adds a built-in dressing space that not only saves floor space but also looks a part of the storage.
The cupboards are also painted in the same shade of white throughout to create an illusion of space. Any other colour here would have blocked the space, making it look stuffy.
Look for wardrobes and armoires in Houzz products
A clever trick to maximise vertical storage is to have cupboards running end to end, and from floor to roof. As a matter of fact, look how this space adds a built-in dressing space that not only saves floor space but also looks a part of the storage.
The cupboards are also painted in the same shade of white throughout to create an illusion of space. Any other colour here would have blocked the space, making it look stuffy.
Look for wardrobes and armoires in Houzz products
Headboard storage
More often than not the wall above our bed is dedicated to recessed lights and a piece of art, and it looks beautiful. But what if we told you it can be turned into a fabulous storage space that also looks nice?
This space, for example, adds storage with display in the headboard to maximise vertical storage, and we think it’s the way to go for both small and large spaces.
More often than not the wall above our bed is dedicated to recessed lights and a piece of art, and it looks beautiful. But what if we told you it can be turned into a fabulous storage space that also looks nice?
This space, for example, adds storage with display in the headboard to maximise vertical storage, and we think it’s the way to go for both small and large spaces.
Vote for Murphy
Guest rooms are often not practical for small spaces and yet, what’s a home that sees no guests, right?
A Murphy bed is the most wonderful example of how you can utilise vertical space to the fullest. What can be your lounge or study for most days can be a full-fledged guest room on days you need it to be, thanks to a bed that fits in a wall.
Guest rooms are often not practical for small spaces and yet, what’s a home that sees no guests, right?
A Murphy bed is the most wonderful example of how you can utilise vertical space to the fullest. What can be your lounge or study for most days can be a full-fledged guest room on days you need it to be, thanks to a bed that fits in a wall.
Making a dead corner alive
Dead corners are spaces that are, well, just dead. More often than not, we find no use for them, barring maybe adding a few plants and a light fixture. But imagine if you could turn one into your work station?
With a vertical cupboard and a wall-mounted desk, it’s possible. We also love how turquoise and red colour-blocks the place, giving it the feel of a dedicated area.
Dead corners are spaces that are, well, just dead. More often than not, we find no use for them, barring maybe adding a few plants and a light fixture. But imagine if you could turn one into your work station?
With a vertical cupboard and a wall-mounted desk, it’s possible. We also love how turquoise and red colour-blocks the place, giving it the feel of a dedicated area.
Floor to roof shelving for maximum use
Kitchens are where wall shelving is critical but often, in Indian kitchens, open shelving leads to a lot of dust and grime. A floor-to-roof vertical storage helps you store with ease, yet keeping dust at bay.
For ease of use, add slim pull-outs throughout so you don’t have to rummage for things in deep shelves.
Kitchens are where wall shelving is critical but often, in Indian kitchens, open shelving leads to a lot of dust and grime. A floor-to-roof vertical storage helps you store with ease, yet keeping dust at bay.
For ease of use, add slim pull-outs throughout so you don’t have to rummage for things in deep shelves.
Hobby walls are a thing
A music aficionado? Love to have your bicycle handy?
Hang up your instruments and your bicycle by sturdy hooks on the wall and keep your floor space free.
A music aficionado? Love to have your bicycle handy?
Hang up your instruments and your bicycle by sturdy hooks on the wall and keep your floor space free.
Toys can go up on the wall, too
A great idea for your kid’s room storage is to add a play corner with a wall storage shelf. After your child is done playing, the toys can simply go on the wall! We love how a wall here is utilised to hold the kid’s supplies, and convenient utility rods and baskets help utilise the space below effectively.
A great idea for your kid’s room storage is to add a play corner with a wall storage shelf. After your child is done playing, the toys can simply go on the wall! We love how a wall here is utilised to hold the kid’s supplies, and convenient utility rods and baskets help utilise the space below effectively.
A tiny bathroom maximised
You have super-small bathroom? That’s fine, too. Take a look at these vertical storage options. Is there anything wicker baskets and open shelves can’t do? Don’t miss the useful fabric pockets on the wall at left foreground.
Solutions to 9 Big Problems in Small Bathrooms
You have super-small bathroom? That’s fine, too. Take a look at these vertical storage options. Is there anything wicker baskets and open shelves can’t do? Don’t miss the useful fabric pockets on the wall at left foreground.
Solutions to 9 Big Problems in Small Bathrooms
Glam bath storage
Create a dedicated storage area on your bath wall and see the ample space it saves. Should you want, you can add a full-length mirror to your cupboards, too. See how a niche is used here to store all bathroom supplies
Create a dedicated storage area on your bath wall and see the ample space it saves. Should you want, you can add a full-length mirror to your cupboards, too. See how a niche is used here to store all bathroom supplies
The under-stairs as a functional storage space
Vertical storage is not just your walls but any space that can be used vertically and in stacks. The space under the staircase is a fine example of this. We love how you can use it not just as a storage space but a functional storage space.
Take a look at how it’s turned into a reading nook here.
Vertical storage is not just your walls but any space that can be used vertically and in stacks. The space under the staircase is a fine example of this. We love how you can use it not just as a storage space but a functional storage space.
Take a look at how it’s turned into a reading nook here.
This area becomes a complete workstation!
Read more:
Why Vertical Storage Is Great for Kitchens
Ingenious Storage Ideas for Small Space Living
Tell us:
What are your storage enhancing, space saving ideas? What do you swear by? Share in Comments below.
Read more:
Why Vertical Storage Is Great for Kitchens
Ingenious Storage Ideas for Small Space Living
Tell us:
What are your storage enhancing, space saving ideas? What do you swear by? Share in Comments below.
Related Stories
Decorating Ideas
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
Decorating Guides
7 Types of Glass That Allow in Light & Privacy
These glass products and treatments will increase privacy without losing natural light
Full Story
Most Popular
Which False Ceiling Material is Better: Gypsum or POP?
Here is all you need to know about the difference between gypsum and POP before you commit to a ceiling
Full Story
More Room Guides
No Space for a Walk-In Wardrobe? Think Again
By Laura Wheat
Think again with these tips for maxing your clothing capacity and adding a dressing room feel
Full Story
Dining Rooms
12 Breakfast Nooks Cool Enough for a Dinner Party
By Susan Redman
Forget eating side-by-side at a breakfast bar or supping at a long dinner table – the cosy kitchen nook is a far more hip way to dine
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
Indoor Plants You Just Can't Kill
These greens can up your decor game and refresh the indoor air but do not demand much in return
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
10 Must-Have Elements in an Inspiring Home Gym
Make your workout zone a space that inspires you to get your sweat on
Full Story
Decorating Guides
False Ceiling: Yes or No?
If you are in two minds about installing a false ceiling, this should help you make up your mind
Full Story