Best Storage Solutions for Home

A Place for Everything
Tired of closets overflowing, and piles and stacks of “stuff” everywhere? It’s not that you’re messy. You’ve just run out of storage space.

Built in storage is often limited by the floor plan of your home. If your house was designed by a male, that could mean a serious deficiency in closets and shelving. All is not lost. Just look for ways to add storage in unobvious places.

In the living room, instead of typical end tables, another type of flat surface will do double duty. How about a square or cylinder shaped hassock with a removable top? These practical alternatives become the perfect spot to stash off season decorations, or an extra afghan and pillows. A simple round table covered with a floor length skirt adds softness to your room décor as well as a clever hiding place for DVDs.

In front of the sofa, why use a coffee table when a trunk provides ideal storage for games, photo albums or books. The solid shape acts as a visual anchor for your area rug. A natural jute or bamboo rug below a weathered trunk creates a South Seas flavor for your décor. The rugged trunk surface is also a forgiving perch to prop up your feet.

Moving to the dining room, where do you store those lovely plates used only for special occasions? Why not store them in plain site? If space limitations do not allow for a china cabinet, create an arrangement of plates on the wall using plate hangers or shallow grooved shelves. You can enjoy your china’s beauty and make every day a special occasion. For those times when the plates are in use on the dining table, bring out a framed picture from another room to hang in their place or drape fabric on the wall that coordinates with your area rug to create the illusion of a window.

Bedrooms can easily become collect-all spots. It’s where you stash things when guests are coming over. Instead of tossing items into the closet or under the bed, invest in practical storage containers designed to slide below the bed. Off season clothes and shoes stay clean and organized. The foot of the bed is another spot to collect clutter. Park a bench at the end of the bed with storage below the seat, or a portable oversized basket with a lid that you can easily whisk through the house before guests arrive.

Don’t forget the small rooms in your house to maximize storage. A cabinet or series of shelves above the commode in the bathroom lets you stash away the collection of bottles and jars from your sink top. If towel storage is at a premium, roll up some towels and place them in a decorative basket by the sink or tub. Coordinate your towel colors with a cotton area rug for a decorative look.

Consider areas behind doors as prime storage space. Hooks and door hinge mounted towel bars catch coats, gloves and an assortment of scarves. Hang small baskets securely on the wall next to entry doors for last minute items, such as keys and cell phones, you’ll need on the way out the door.

Even decorative accessories can have a dual purpose. A floor vase holding silk flower stems can also secure napkin rings, bracelets or holiday decorations. A lidded soup terrine gracing the dining table can be filled with napkins and serving utensils. Create your own storage containers by wrapping shoe boxes in woven sea grass mats that are pretty enough to leave in the open. Build a stack of boxes next to a chair for an unexpected side table full of storage.

When you shop for new furniture pieces, keep in mind their storage possibilities as well as their obvious function. Storage space is everywhere in your home when you begin to notice it. Remember to make yourself an alphabetized list of the things you’ve stashed in out of the way places. You’ll be well organized and finally have a place for everything.