Finding Hidden Space
How often have you complained about not having enough space to store things? Itīs a common complaint among women everywhere, but it is also one that can easily be remedied. The trick is in creating dual-purpose furniture!
In the Bedroom
If you have space under a window, why not put in a windowseat? Itīs practical and a great place to sit and read in the sunshine. Have the top hinged and you can store a lot inside that handy perch!
Under-bed storage units are relatively cheap and well worth the investment. If you prefer something more permanent, buy a bed that has drawers built in under it. This is an especially great idea for children. Even if you have a closet or dresser, store out-of-season clothing under the bed. Craft supplies can also be stuck under there.
Add an extra shelf in the closet. Most of us donīt use all of our closet space. If you have shirts hanging, the whole lower half is going unused! There are lots of different closet organization systems on the market, but you could easily enough put in another shelf yourself, using a plank and shelf supports from the local hardware store. Alternatively, put in another bar to hang more clothes.
In the Kitchen
Letīs face it, we seldom use that space between the top of the cupboard and the ceiling and it just ends up getting dusty. Why not have the space closed in with invisible magnetic doors set in? Paint the section the same color as the walls and store little-used items up there. Or, if you prefer, arrange a collection of figurines, tins, etc. that was homeless until now.
Corner cupboards often go unused since we canīt reach into the depths. A quick fix is to buy a lazy Susan turntable that makes the entire space usable. A small lazy Susan is also handy on the table to store sauces and condiments that are used frequently and keeps them in reach of anyone at the table.
Adding a wheeled cart to your kitchen provides not only storage in the shelves beneath, but extra space when you have visitors. Wheel the cart over to the dining room table to hold extra bowls and platters of food!
In the Living Room
Coffee tables donīt have to be glass-topped. A nice wooden one can conceal a hollow interior that is accessible by lifting the top. This is a perfect place to store extra blankets for guests or table games.
Behind the couch can be an unused space that just gathers dust bunnies in many homes. Using the space for storage is the perfect solution. Just add a narrow wooden trunk that wonīt stand out and fill it with extra items that havenīt yet found a home.
Another great place to display collectables is in the living room. You can easily put up a shelf that runs around the room, about a foot below the ceiling, to display everything from stuffed animals to a Coca Cola collection.
Again, a window seat storage bin works well in the living room. And footstools can be built to store smaller items in their interior, as well.
Buy a simple wire wine rack for storing magazines and newspapers in the living room. Choose a rack that doesnīt incline too much or the magazines will slide right out! This way, everything is in plain sight, but looks decent.
Using these ideas as starting points, you can find quite a few hidden storage spaces in your own home and start using them. Make furniture serve a double purpose where possible and add shelves and trunks wherever you can.
