Want to clear the clutter? We’ve got genius ideas for every room. Storage is seriously lacking in many homes today–but with a few simple additions, it doesn’t have to be. As interior designers, being in thousands of homes, we know Americans love stuff—stuff we can place on side tables, stuff we can carefully curate cozy corners with, and just stuff for the sake of stuff. But all this stuff needs to go somewhere and that’s where our room-by-room list comes in.
THE HALLWAY
✱ Invest in made to measure bespoke cabinetry rather than off-the-shelf storage solutions. It may be more expensive, but there are big benefits as the cabinetry can be tailored to the dimensions of your space and work around any quirks, such as a sloping ceiling or an awkward corner.
✱ Got stairs? Put your under-stair storage space to good use with deep drawers, where shoes, bags and walking essentials for your furry friends can go. Or, if you already have a cupboard under the stairs, consider adding hooks, shelving and boxes to keep items ordered, so they are easy to find and reach when you are about to leave the house.
✱ Full-height cabinetry works fantastically well in a hallway. The taller cabinets can house backpacks, sporting goods and longer coats on hooks that hide behind paneled doors.
THE LIVING ROOM
✱ Every inch counts when it comes to storage so think vertically. Blessed with high ceilings? Instead of stopping three-quarters of the way up the wall or investing in ready-made items, build storage that runs from top to bottom and from side to side to cover a whole wall.
✱ Add adjustable shelves and lots of them. A floor-to-ceiling bookcase with outlets for all the electronics can be built in and hidden away, so there are no jumbled wires or Wi-Fi routers on display.
✱ Awkward spaces need not be lost, so make those corners count. Consider a window seat under bay windows, and incorporate space within it where you can tuck things away, or make alcoves work harder by placing shelves, cupboards or even a folding desk in them.
✱ To maximize storage space in a living room, your furniture needs to be functional—and in more ways than one. Think sofas with hidden storage, ottomans, coffee tables with deep drawers and bureaus that double up as an office workspace during the 9-5 and become a side table thereafter.
THE KITCHEN
✱ Custom storage is the best solution for kitchen designs as it will maximize every inch of the room. Running cabinets to the ceiling will avoid odd gaps at the top and dust collecting, while creating specific layouts within each cupboard, such as pullout drawers–deep ones for saucepans, or shallower ones for utensils.
✱ Up your storage game with a freestanding pantry for all your dried goods. Built-in cupboards are a great idea for a kitchen pantry, offering shelving for food, as well as space to store all the items that often take up worktop space such as the crockpot, toaster and microwave. These can all be concealed behind doors, with the additional option of storage racks built inside.
✱ Open shelves help break up a run of units and are great for displaying jars and cookbooks. Add hooks and you can hang cutting boards and cooking utensils from them.
✱ Kitchen islands are the ultimate storage option, as you can add a variety of innovative design elements, such as pullout racks and wine fridges, with either closed, or open shelving for display and accessibility.
THE BEDROOM
✱ In any bedroom, your bed is usually what swallows most of the square footage. But what if you could make this sleep space work harder? Thankfully, there are lots of ways to do this. Depending on what size bed you choose, many come with two- or four-drawer storage options that are built-in. If you just have a bed frame, use under-the-bed storage to house any items.
✱ Make every inch of your storage space work for you (and your clothes) with fitted closets. These bespoke storage options allow you to design the space however you desire. Own more dresses than trousers? Prefer to fold or roll your clothes rather than hang them? You name it, a fitted wardrobe can do it.
✱ Got room for a window seat? You could build a seating and storage area into your space so you can enjoy the view outside and in.
THE BATHROOM
✱ Using every possible nook and cranny is the way to ensure that you keep your bathroom neat and uncluttered. That means clever storage ideas such as a corner shelf or a niche shelf in the shower area. Also consider a mirrored cabinet that houses toiletries to avoid having to leave them around the sink.
✱ Still in the planning stages of your bathroom reno? Then think about adding in recessed shelving. This looks aesthetically pleasing and offers an unobtrusive way to squeeze more storage space into your splash zone. Plus, this design idea will allow you to display all your pretty beauty products without encroaching on your floor space.
✱ If extra storage is on the top of your list of must-haves, opting for a vanity sink and unit allows you to bring your dreams to life. If square footage is at a premium, choose a floating sink and incorporate a floating shelf or shelves underneath to house all your necessities.
