Space and time have become precious commodities in the modern world. Is your home short on storage space? Do you like the feeling of freedom that comes with spacious clutter-free living areas? Of course, everybody does. The problem is that there are way too many things in the home and not enough place to put them away in. Don’t worry. There are plenty of hidden storage spaces in your home that is commonly overlooked and hence underutilized. Here are some tips that will help you discover hidden space to store things, and make your apartment look bigger.
Tips for freeing up hidden storage space
1. Hands in the air
In the kitchen, anything that can be hung is normally hung from the walls and ceiling, and anything that can be stacked is placed on top of each other to maximize on vertical storage space. This eliminates the need for closed storage, and brings utility and efficiency into play. Take these principles into the other areas of the home, and see what you can do with decorative hanging racks, stacked books, sports and travel equipment.
2. Innovative uses for closet spaces
Closets typically end up being a messy catch all. Use them instead as storage for the rooms they are nearest to. Consider placing a small cupboard inside the closet or adding some shelves to provide more organized space.
3. Making your storage look good
Disguising storage spaces can make clutter vanish. Draping floor length cloth covers conceals things that you store under a table, for instance. You can also use the same trick for storage boxes and bins. Look out for furniture with hidden storage in them, like beds with storage drawers, benches with hinged seats etc.
4. They are in the walls! They are in the walls!
Plenty of hidden space lies behind the walls of our homes. Even after all the pipes and cables and stuff, there are some spaces that are ready to be put to use. For new homes or homes that are under construction, these are easy to find. For the rest, it may take a little searching to discover which are the spaces that can be reclaimed. After you have identified them, you can rework them with shelves or racks, or place a small cupboard in them, or just use them as a landing area for the room they are in.
5. Choosing function as well as form
Purchases like furniture are long term purchases; we don’t keep replacing them. Many of our buying decisions, especially with regard to furniture, are made with only the form in mind. We neglect the space efficiency of the piece. Keep in mind where you want to keep it in your home, how much space it will take, in all directions – length, width, depth and height, and whether any of that space is going to get blocked from further use. Think vertical. A long horizontal cabinet will effectively waste the space above it. Think of all the pros and cons before making a purchase.
6. Furniture that conceals itself
Thanks to modern designers and inventors, you have a wide range of beds, chairs, tables, stools, cots, etc, that fold up, allowing them to be hung, stacked, slid under a bed or behind a door to save space. You have dining tables that can go from a four seater to a six seater, cabinet doors that can prop up to become a table top or a counter, and many other such space saving furnishings.
7. Maximize on space when planning a new house
If you are building a new home, review your home plan carefully, keeping in mind hidden spaces that can be utilized. Some common places that can be used are under staircases, corners of rooms, unusual curves or angled walls, and inside walls. A little bit of planning and some elementary woodwork can turn these spaces into valuable storage space. Don’t neglect small spaces that can be created. Small niches, shelves, etc., can turn into useful places to store your knick-knacks or souvenirs or even a mirror.
8. Stairway to Storage Heaven
Using a pull down ladder with a hatch can give you access to overhead storage spaces in the attic, or in areas where ceiling height is not critical. Attic areas over garages are especially useful since they are free from insulation and ducting. The pull down ladder eliminates the need to create additional stairs space, and can be used only when needed.
