It is quite the no-no to do a renovation or remodel for the sole purpose of having enough room for all your stuff. Honestly, you can spark joy or use the “I-don’t-remember-the-last-time-I-used-this” method of measurement, but whatever you do, if you don’t have enough space in your place you’re much better off discarding than throwing down thousands upon thousands of dollars for a home renovation that may or may not bring back any sort of return.
This isn’t to say you can’t remodel or renovate with organization in mind. On the contrary, coming up with creative solutions to storage space can be a very savvy thing for you and anyone who might one day own your home. While many storage woes can be fixed with the right furniture – and also getting rid of things you don’t need/use anymore – having a home that contains storage features that aid in organization are highly attractive. Here are some popular structural ways you can build towards better organization with less clunky furniture.
Knee Drawers
These are perfect for any small bedroom. Knee drawers are built into the recesses of the walls and take up zero floor space. Kids bedrooms, play rooms, or even the master bedroom can all benefit from a good set of knee drawers.
Lazy Susans And Pullout Shelving
The kitchen is an incredibly cluttered room. Depending on how much you cook and bake, there could be hundreds of small appliances stowed away in your cabinets. Rather than springing for a custom set of new cabinets (which, by all means do if you can) an easy solution is to install shelves that pull out from deep lower cabinets, and installing a lazy susan in your corner units. Depth is a trick thing because while it allows you to store a lot of stuff in its far reaches, getting to that stuff in the back is a hassle. Lazy Susans and pullout shelves make everything easily accessible.
Built-In Bookcases
Even if you aren’t an avid reader, the decorating opportunities that exist within a set of built-in bookcases are endlessly appealing. You can create a full library, bookend your fireplace with a set that takes up the upper half of the wall, or just a small section in the bedroom for knick-knacks, records, and – obviously – books. If you’re going for an open floor plan, but need some structural support, instead of settling for columns or support beams (boring) install a set of open bookcases. They’ll maintain the open feel of the room, provide just the right amount of divide, and keep the house standing strong.
Closets
If you’re upgrading the master bedroom into a suite, consider not only building a walk-in closet, but one with custom storage. Since it’s a closet, make a space for ties, shoes, hand bags, anything that might need a home in the closet will do. Drawers, shoe racks, you name it. You could even save some space in the bathroom and bedroom by placing your vanity (complete with lighting and hair/makeup needs.
Small Rooms
Where space is extremely limited, don’t just turn it into a junk closet. Build shelves up towards the ceiling for storage. This not only provides you space for books and decorations, but it also draws the eyes upward giving one the sense of a larger room. Hanging shelves is another way to maximize the space without taking up any room on the floor. If this is your choice for an office, instead of buying a huge desk, stick with the hanging shelves and mount your desk to the wall. Really capitalize on your venture and put your desk on a hinge so it can fold away when not in use, and now you’ve got an extra sitting room.