​homify Smart Choices Guide: 12 Storage Furnitures

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
'Designed for living' - Whitehall Park Residential, SWM Interiors & Sourcing Ltd SWM Interiors & Sourcing Ltd Salas modernas
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Huge homes with spacious layouts are not meant for everyone. And that’s why the majority of us retreat to smaller homes and apartments and make the best of our tiny layouts.

But don’t fret, for even the smallest of homes include various nooks, crannies and other overlooked areas that can be used to your advantage. And then we don’t even mention how clever designers have gotten with the amazing storage furniture that further help us to squeeze even more space out of our smaller homes. 

Like these…

1. Storage furniture: Wall-to-wall shelves

Wall-to-wall shelving can be implemented anywhere: living room, hallway, bedroom, even the bathroom if there’s adequate legroom. This ingenious creation gives plenty of welcome shelf space for decorative elements, trinkets, and many more. 

So, instead of opting for an ordinary television unit, why not go all out? Set aside a wall and install a shelf, drawers and cabinets. Creating a ‘built-in’ TV stand with all the needed storage can help not only add value to your home, but create a stunning focus point as well.

2. Storage furniture: Clever kitchen cabinet corners

They call it the ‘LeMans’ corner unit, and it’s been changing the way we view kitchen storage for decades! 

What seems exactly like an ordinary corner cabinet on the outside is actually a very creative storage space on the inside. Pull on that handle and even the farthest of dishes, pots and pans (or any other adequately sized kitchen goodies) magically come to you.

These make perfect use of otherwise dead space in those overlooked corner units.

3. Storage furniture: Tiered coffee table

This is why we always say never to pick the first item you see in a furniture store – keep looking, there might be something better out there, like this tiered coffee table.

Any ordinary coffee table has a flat surface that offers plenty of function, yet the tiered model provides additional potential for books, magazines, storage baskets, coasters, and a world of other goodies.

Reserve the top space for decorative items like candles and floral arrangements.

4. Storage furniture: Storage racks/shelves

Now there’s extra storage room for your dishes, cups, textiles, and various other kitchen goodies, in plain sight! We especially love the idea of putting this one up above the kitchen sink.

But of course this marvellous creation can also do wonders for a bathroom, giving you additional storage space for toiletries like detergent, sponges and washcloths.

5. Storage furniture: Containers

Containers (regardless of whether they’re made from wicker, plastic or other materials) have always been trusty storage solutions. And even though they can be used anywhere in the home, we especially like the idea of placing them in a closet/wardrobe for socks, purses, shoes, scarves, etc. 

Play areas and children’s bedrooms are also perfect places for you to whip out those containers and get organising. Why not assign a container to each child (complete with his/her name and favourite colour) and put them in charge of stocking it after playtime? 

Traditional glass and plastic containers can also be ideal for the kitchen. See how far these take you in organising the scullery, laundry room and pantry!

6. Storage furniture: Shelf cubes

Small, easy-to-carry shelf cube units are ideal, seeing as they can either function on their own as stand-alone units (for bedside tables), or be stacked together to form bigger storage units (such as bookcases).

What’s more, they can work equally well when placed on the floor or nailed to a wall – your style, your choice!

7. Storage furniture: Under-stairs storage

You might need a decent carpenter or designer for this one, but the results will be well worth the effort! If you have space under a staircase, decide which is more valuable to you: an indoor garden or extra storage areas.

If you go with the latter, get a pro and start transforming that dead space into a set of shelves, a cupboard or a study nook. Even bicycles and other sports equipment can be stored out of the way by adding in simple wall hooks.

8. Storage furniture: Entrance hall benches

Even a tiny entrance hall can double up as a walk-in closet for all your outdoor gear, such as boots, umbrellas and coats. This is done by simply adding in a bench (they come in all sizes these days). It acts as a seating spot while putting on / taking off shoes, while the built-in storage space under the seat can be reserved for anything from muddy boots and firewood to seasonal clothing and children’s toys.

9. Storage furniture: A wall rack

No more space in your bathroom for hanging up towels? Have you tried putting up this nifty little design behind the door? 

Hanging up a rack or basket can also be added to cupboard doors to store cleaning products, for example. And they make perfect storage pieces on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door.

10. Storage furniture: Ceiling- and above-door shelves

Ceiling-height shelves are useful for long-term storage of items that aren't frequently used. Even the space above a doorway, for example in a bedroom or bathroom, can be home to a helpful little shelf or cubbyhole.

11. Storage furniture: Extra cabinets and shelves

Isn’t it amazing the spaces in which shelves can fit into? Even narrow little areas, like alcoves and niches, can be turned into extra storage areas. 

This idea can also be incorporated into closets and cupboards where space is poorly utilised. Seeing as space below hanging clothes is seldom used for more than shoes, it’s simply a matter of adding a few shelves for extra storage surfaces (and not just for shoes).

12. Storage furniture: Ottomans

Gone are the days when an ottoman was only there to be an extra flat surface for seating or to be used as a table. Ingenious creators have blessed us with ottomans that come with lids and built-in storage spaces that are ideal for storing winter clothes or extra blankets (or any other item that needs a good hiding spot). 

Available in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes, ottomans are a flexible way to bring organization and function to your living room. 

Pair this up with that neat little tiered coffee table mentioned at no. 3! 

Now, some more ideas to make the most of your small living spaces: have a look at How to make a room look bigger—The homify guide.

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