All of us tend to hold on to things. If you would go through your stuff, we guarantee you’d find items you completely forgot about. No matter how big or small your home is, or how many closets you have, at some point, you will probably think about getting more storage space.
Therefore, it is essential to know how to maximize and utilize every square foot of your home. With our helpful tips and a little bit of out-of-the-box thinking, you will be able to find ways to create additional storage space.
Get rid of excess stuff
If you are running out of storage, it probably means you have more stuff than you need. Therefore, the first step to get more storage is to declutter. It’s like when you’re preparing your home for renovation – you need to go room by room and empty your closets and drawers. Then, you should thoroughly go through all the stuff you have and decide what to get rid of and what to keep.
To declutter in the best way, create three piles and sort your things:
- Keep – make sure to keep only things you are sure you need and that you will use.
- Toss – get rid of broken, outdated, stained, and items that you can’t use anymore. Recycle when possible!
- Give away or donate – you will probably find things that are in good condition, but you are no longer going to use them. You can donate them to a charity or give them to a friend.
Move your things outside
If you have a backyard and you lack storage space inside your home, maybe you should think about building a shed. Regardless of the size, it could be a perfect place to store different things. For example, you can safely put away your Christmas decorations or keep your camping equipment.
If you decide that building a shed is a good solution for you, make sure you use quality materials. You will be storing excess things that are still valuable and important to you, so you will want to make sure that they are kept in the safest way possible.
Renting a storage unit
If you don’t have room to build a shed nor extra space such as a garage or a basement, you should consider renting a storage unit. Nowadays, there are plenty of solutions, and you can probably find a storage unit very close to your home. That way, your belongings are safely stored, and you can access them quickly.
There are two ways to store your things:
- Traditional solution or self-storage means you rent a unit and keep your belonging there for a certain amount of time.
- Valet storage is the most convenient option and is becoming more popular. Using valet storage means that you can simply load the storage unit at home, and the company you’ve chosen will pick it up and store it at one of their facilities.
Think vertically
One of the best ways to fully utilize the space in your home is to think vertically. This means that you shouldn’t disregard the area above your head but use it to store different things. This is an ingenious way to utilize the space, especially if you live in a small home.
For example, you can order custom-made shelves that go from the floor to the ceiling. You can keep things you don’t use as much on the top. Due to safety reasons, don’t put heavy items on the highest shelves but focus on putting something lightweight. You can seriously injure yourself if everything comes crashing down.
Multi-functional furniture
Using multi-functional furniture is a great way to get additional storage. Sofas that have a storage box built in can usually turn into a bed, so this way, you have space for guests and storage solutions for extra stuff. For example, you can keep your bedsheets there.
If you lack storage in the kitchen, getting a banquette is becoming more popular. It creates space-smart seating while you get some much-needed storage space for all those kitchen details you don’t know where to put.
You can enrich your bedroom or living room with an ottoman with storage. It gives you extra seating space and enough room to put away books, games, or even your kids’ toys.
To get more inspiration for interior decoration and design, we strongly recommend you scroll through your social media feeds. You will be surprised by the number of ideas you’ll find.
Get creative
Look around your home, and you’ll probably see a lot of empty space that you are not sure if and how to utilize for storage purposes. One of the great ways for creating additional storage space is to use stairs.
You can utilize the exposed underside of a staircase by placing heavy-duty hooks. You can hang all sorts of things there – from sports equipment to garden tools. Under the staircase, you can create a built-in closet and use it for virtually anything. Alternatively, you can simply go for a built-in shelf or use individual steps for built-in drawers.
You can use doors, too. They are great for placing slim shelves or attaching hooks. You can do this in any room. For example, you can hang your towels in the bathroom. In your closet, you can use it to hold scarves or belts. The choice is all yours!
Go over and under
When you think about it, there is a lot of unused space below furniture in your home, for example, underneath your bed. If you don’t have enough closet space, you can put away seasonal clothes there. This way, they will be close and easy to grab. You can use vacuum bags, boxes, or plastic containers, depending on your bed height and the amount of space you have there.
We already talked about custom-made furniture that will fit all the way to the ceiling. However, kitchen cabinets and closets are usually made in a way that leaves at least two feet between the top shelving unit and the ceiling. You can use this space to store different things. Again, be careful not to put things that are too heavy.
Caption: Use the space underneath your bed to keep different things. It’s a great place for putting away seasonal clothes or your baggage.
Alt: A tall bed with a lot of space underneath that can be used for storage.
There are many more ways to create additional storage space. The best thing you can do is use your imagination. Hopefully, our tips have inspired you to get more creative and find perfect ways to store items in your home.
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