Storage design ideas small spaces
20 Best Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
DESIGN: EMILY HENDERSON, PHOTO: SARA LIGORRIA-TRAMP
No matter how much square footage you're dwelling in, it never seems to be enough. If you're working with a small space to begin with, it could feel close to impossible to tuck away all your belongings with limited storage options.
Lucky for you, we have solutions. Scroll through for 20 storage ideas to maximize even the smallest of spaces.
01 of 20
Hola Tiny House
If you have a lot of plants and are working with a small space, consider storage solutions that keep your pots off your floors and keep your counter space but in a visually pleasing way. Mount pots on the walls, utilize hanging planters and tuck greenery away on shelves for storage that doubles as a display.
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02 of 20
Courtesy of Ikea
By far the most under-utilized space in a home is the area over your doors. Think about it: it's valuable real estate that often goes unnoticed, let alone properly used for storage. Install cabinetry or shelving above your door, and you'd be surprised how much space this often neglected area provides.
03 of 20
Domm Dot Com
Have a spare wall? Install wall-to-wall shelving and you have yourself a space to store every book, plant, and tchotchke you own on a single wall. This keeps clutter organized and keeps the rest of your living space free and open, which also makes it look bigger.
04 of 20
White Sands Design
If you have even the smallest space to place a bench in your entryway, do yourself a favor and maximize your storage with some cubbies and baskets. Use them to hide away and store shoes, bags, and everyday essentials. Your space will always look tidy, and you'll finally have a place for those items that always seem to be in the way.
05 of 20
ALEXANDRA GATER
Whether you're a crafter or a remote employee, a clean and organized space is imperative to your productivity, and this goes for offices of all sizes.
If you want smaller items like colorful pens, paper supplies, and crafting tools within reach but prefer not to clutter your desktop or hide them away in bins, a pegboard is just what you need.
06 of 20
COURTESY OF THE HOME EDIT
Invest in jewelry organizers that double as displays to free up drawer space and keep jewels in pristine condition. Hang necklaces to avoid tangling, store earrings in pairs to make accessorizing a breeze, and display bangles and bracelets to keep them from losing their shape.
07 of 20
CATHIE HONG
Hooks are the best quick fix for those everyday items that need a home when not being used. Install them near your front door as a quick storage solution for items like your keys, purse, scarf and coat.
08 of 20
DESIGN: EMILY HENDERSON, PHOTO: SARA LIGORRIA-TRAMP
If you're like us, the space under your sink, in your shower and in your medicine cabinet is still not enough to house all your beauty and grooming products.
Take a page from this bathroom's book and turn your window into built-in storage to display and keep all your go-to items within arm's reach. Problem solved.
09 of 20
DESIGN: MICHELLE GAGE; PHOTO: REBECCA MCALPIN
Whether you're organizing your home office, your bathroom, or your walk-in closet, we find it effective to build storage vertically. Installing some shelves on your wall will give you tons of storage opportunities while taking up space that would've otherwise gone unused. And the best part is, you won't have the clutter floating around your desk while you're trying to work.
10 of 20
DESIGN: MINDY GAYER, PHOTO: KYLE MONK
We love how this space uses wall hooks to store hats and bags, vertical shelving to store bins, and even boasts plenty of unused space under the built-in bench. Moral of the story: when in doubt, utilize all the storage solutions you can all at once.
11 of 20
Sara Tramp Interiors
You may not realize it, but your home could be packed with even the smallest nooks that are inconspicuously brimming with potential.
A single shelf could transform that tiny space into a fully-stocked bar or a vanity to get ready at every morning. All it takes is a shelf and a vision.
12 of 20
Sara Tramp Interiors
When you're strapped for space, there's no smarter storage solution than recessed shelving. Built-in shelves offer a creative solution for not only storing your most-used items, but keep your prettiest items on display and within arm's reach.
13 of 20
VIVIAN JOHNSON ; DESIGN: SHIRA GILL
Bulky plastic hangers can be eating up valuable storage space in your tiny closet, but swap those out for super slim ones and you'll instantly gain some much-needed extra inches. You can thank us later.
14 of 20
Design: Emily Henderson, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Don't underestimate the power of furniture pieces that boast some hidden storage within. Items like ottomans, tufted benches, couches, and beds that house secret storage work double duty to hide clutter, and serve as functional furniture.
And the best part is, you'd never know that bench you're sitting on is packed with heels you haven't worn in over a year.
15 of 20
Design: Emily Henderson, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Credenzas can be a bit bulky, but they're an excellent storage option for those looking to maximize small spaces. They come in tons of trendy designs and are capable of hiding anything you need to tuck away. Store your most stylish items on top, your unsightly clutter within, and if the design allows, some books, records, and slim bins underneath.
16 of 20
Design: Emily Henderson, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Baskets are the perfect solution for tucking away everything from records to books, and pantry items to junk-drawer remnants. Slide them under beds, style them on shelves, file them away in cubbies, anywhere you can. And the best part is you can find just the style of basket to pair with any décor style you're working with, from beach-house-friendly rattan to modern ones made of leather.
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17 of 20
COURTESY OF THE HOME EDIT
Catch-all baskets are a great way to hide everyday items in plain sight around your home, but when it comes to maximizing small closet spaces, bins are your secret weapon. Label everything to keep your items organized and make finding your items so much easier. Plus, it'll hold you accountable when putting things away, ensuring your closet stays organized.
18 of 20
SCANDINAVIAN STYLIST
If you search your home well enough, you might find a tight basement space or an awkward attic area that can easily become your seasonal closet or home office. No matter how tight or oddly shaped, trust us, where there's a will, there's a way.
19 of 20
DESIGN: DANIELLE WURTH, PHOTO: DIANA ELIZABETH
No matter how large of a closet you may be working with, it seems there's never enough space. If you need more room for evening bags, try this trick to maximize space.
Store clutches and wallets in a filing system to keep them on display and within easy reach—plus, storing them upright will also help them retain their shape.
20 of 20
BREATHING ROOM ORGANIZATION + STYLING
If you have a tiny pantry, put your snacks on display in clear and easy-to-reach baskets. Remove snacks from their bulky boxes and see how much space you free up instantly.
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Small Wonders
Or for big spaces when you just need that extra bit of storage
By Amanda Sims and Gabriela Ulloa
When square footage is at a premium, it can feel as though storage solutions will only present themselves with the assistance of magic (if you don't want to get rid of all your stuff, that is).
But thanks to the tiny home movement, no wands or wizards needed—storage ideas for small spaces are in greater supply than ever. Yes, some require a handyman—the power of a well-made built-in cannot be overstated—but others are as easy as a simple rearrangement. Below, we've rounded up twenty particularly smart and easily adaptable storage ideas for small spaces.
Shelf Dividers
If your small space is a studio, you might be trying to find inventive ways to delineate the bed "room" from the living "room" without putting up a wall. Stacking crates or even floating an open shelving unit will provide you with extra space to stash things while you're splitting things up.
Courtesy of Small Homes, Grand Living, Copyright Gestalten 2017. Design: Muuto; Photo: Petra Bindel
Fold-Down Desk
In many small rooms, it would be crazy to consider making space for a full-size desk. But you can't write that novel in bed (well, you could, but it sure would be nice to sit on a chair occasionally), so either slip a stool under a console table or find a fold-down desk you can affix to the wall.
An Architectural Brooklyn Living Room with a Modern Sensibility. Photo by Nicole Franzen
Wall-Mounted Seating
If your lease or budget permit it, install a floating bench-shelf low along a wall, or have one fashioned from an inexpensive material like plywood and mounted the way BY Architects did in the room below. Seating that doesn't clutter floor space? Check.
Courtesy of Small Homes, Grand Living, Copyright Gestalten 2017. Design: BY Architects; Photo: Aleksandra Vajd
Kitchen Island with Storage Space
Tuck your extra plates and multiple gadgets you purchased during your celery juice phase in the cabinets of your kitchen island. Never wonder where to store your holiday placemats again.
A Midcentury Kitchen Gets a Modern (and Moody) Makeover. Photo by Nicole Cohen
Hanging Bike Rack
Go big with a fancy pulley system that draws them up out of view, as Tribe Studio did in the home pictured below, or simply screw some vinyl-coated c-hooks into a joist and loop the back tires over them.
Design: Tribe Studio; Photo: Katherine Lu
Attached Butcher Block
Not feeling inspired to cook due to too little countertop surface? We hate our ingredients falling to the ground because of a lack of space just as much as you do. But there’s a solution: Attach a butcher block for that much needed extra space. Opt for one with different levels (or DIY this and create your own mini shelving unit).
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An Of-the-Moment Designer’s DIY Kitchen in Hudson, New York. Photo by Pippa Drummond
Peg Board Wall
For easy re-arranging, good looks, and an abundance of adjustable storage, consider a pegboard wall, like this cheerful peachy one by Position Collective.
A Passive House Grows in Brooklyn. Photo by Peter Dressel
Banquette Seating
Build a bench in that underutilized corner of the kitchen, top it with a custom cushion, and you'll only need a round table and two small chairs to make it feel like a legitimate dining area—just be sure it's the kind of bench you can open from the top, so the storage factor is maxed-out.
Scalloped Tile and Heirloom Stained Glass Make This Kitchen Remodel Look Expensive. Photo by Bri Ussery
Convertible Furniture
Instead of opting for single-use pieces, consider adding furniture that can convert easily for use in another way. A drop-leaf table can be a console, a desk, or an all-out dining room table depending on how you set it up. And two consoles, side-by-side, can be rotated to stand back-to-back for bar-height table seating.
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Courtesy of Small Homes, Grand Living, Copyright Gestalten 2017. Design: A Little Design; Photo: Flat in Taipei
Under-the-Stairs Storage
Yes, you can opt for glamorous built-ins—or simply get creative with how you arrange furniture in that underutilized nook beneath the stairs. (Just no cupboard bedrooms under the stairs, please.)
Design: Workstead; Photo: Stefanie Brechbuehler
Tiered Shelving
A quick reminder that shelves don't only have to be on your walls.
Clear away clutter by stacking books and candles on a tiered console table.
Joey Laurenti’s Home Is All About the Power of Personal Style. Photo by Or Harpaz
Entryway Table
An entry table serves as more than a place to throw your keys. A proper console can house books, arts, trinkets, and even the clothes you refuse to let go of. Nothing says "welcome home" like a perfectly curated and functional entryway table.
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Raised Platform
If your ceilings are tall enough, consider adding a raised platform to a room (or part of a room, if you're in a loft or studio) and you'll be able to stash all kinds of things within it: suitcases, winter coats, or even a whole extra mattress for when unexpected guests appear on your doorstep.
Courtesy of Small Homes, Grand Living, Copyright Gestalten 2017. Design: Tribe Studio; Photo: Katherine Lu
Storage-on-Storage
Nothing is more satisfying than layering storage with, you guessed it, more storage.
Top off your bookcase or shelving unit with jars or small baskets to up your organization game.
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Built-In Nooks
Optimize storage space by taking full advantage of your nooks. Build in a small desk area that meets all of your work-from-home needs or maybe just add a bit of extra seating with an armchair.
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Flexible Furniture Makes Room for One More in This London Landmark. Photo by French + Tye
Baskets, Baskets, and More Baskets
Ah, the love we have for a good basket. It's unparalleled, truly. Tuck away pretty much anything (within reason, friends) you don't necessarily want your guests to see. Top off your basket with a throw and no one will ever know that all of your takeout menus are jumbled in there.
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Photo by Kelsey Ann Rose
A Bookcase Not Just for Books
Not to choose favorites, but...stacking bookshelves with more than just books is one of our most coveted decor/storage space hacks. Use this as a way to clear up space by putting on display your fave trinkets and objects.
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Kitchen Hanging Pots
A great way to declutter your prized countertop space is to hang up your pots and pans. A great excuse to refresh your collection of cookware? We think so.
In a Former Italian Restaurant, Sophie Lou Jacobsen Crafted an Eclectic Apartment. Photo by William Geddes
Floor Cabinets
Same part of the apartment, different functionality: Build cabinets on top of the floor and you'll be able to easily compartmentalize—and access—clothes and supplies.
Courtesy of Small Homes, Grand Living, Copyright Gestalten 2017.
Design: Bogdan Ciocodeicā; Photo: Radu Sandovici
Wall Hooks
Whether you need space to hang your towels or you're looking for a place to hang up your coat, wall hooks are your answer.
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15 Practical Storage Ideas Without Bulky Wardrobes
There are many storage systems that are more convenient and functional than large wardrobes and wardrobes. Such systems offer a practical space for clothes and other useful things, and they also look more original and beautiful than the usual closet, emphasizing the decorative qualities of the room.
Today we're going to talk about 15 ways to keep things in order that will free up the room and even decorate it. Choose what suits your taste.
1. Hanging shelves
Wall shelves help keep essentials visible without taking up too much space. And in small rooms, they can be hung in length to save space even more. The main advantage of such shelves is that they are open, and this visually makes the room freer.
Photo: elikarealestate.com
2. Shelving
A more organized wall shelving option is a single shelving unit or shelving composition. They can also be placed not along the wall, but across - this will help in zoning a large room and allocate a lot of storage space. Open shelving has a positive effect on the visual expansion of space.
Photo: happylife.id
3. Small pedestals
Several compact pedestals placed throughout the area will be a more practical option than a one-piece wardrobe up to the ceiling.
In addition, their surface can be used functionally: put a lamp on one bedside table, and a TV on another. For small rooms, it is better to choose long narrow cabinets to use the width of the walls and not compress the room.
Photo: vimfox.info
4. Suspension rods
Do not forget about the ceiling. You can hang long rods for hangers with clothes on it. Moreover, anything can serve as such a barbell: a plastic or steel pipe or even a tree branch, as in the photo below. Any handmade arrangement of storage systems is always welcome - this will help diversify the interior and make it more individual.
Photo: funtime.ge
5. Racks on wheels
Universal wardrobe solution with a bar and several rows of shelves. This rack will help keep all the necessary wardrobe at hand. And it takes up much less space than a bulky closet with doors. And the stand is mobile thanks to the wheels - you can always move it to a more convenient place.
Photo: stemcellglobal.org
6. Bed with drawers
An ideal option for a bedroom is to get a bed with internal compartments for clothes, linens and other things. This eliminates the need to organize additional storage, and also makes the bed as functional as possible.
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Photo: digitalpinpage.com
7. Poufs with internal compartments
Not enough space in your nightstand or under your bed? Place a pouffe or banquette next to it with a box hidden under the seat. If the room is small, it is better to replace everything with such ottomans, even the most beautiful and original chairs, in order to increase the functionality of the furniture.
Photo: mebelanapa.com
8. Boxes, boxes, baskets
Open racks and shelves are not universal - some things still need to be kept hidden from view.
This will help cardboard or plastic boxes, wicker baskets, wooden boxes and other similar containers. They can be mounted on open shelves: such a solution will be much more economical than using a cabinet. Drawers can be selected in different shades to add color and bright accents to the room.
Photo: blogdecorandoonline.com
9. Hollow Podium
Raise the floor in part of the room and you have a practical podium, under which you can organize many compartments for things. And along with this, if we are talking about a studio, you will get a zoning of the sleeping area from the rest of the room - with a workplace or a kitchen. If the podium is quite large, no cabinets or even shelves will be needed. However, such a storage system should be designed at the design development stages of the project.
Photo: enterpriseymca.org
10. Hanging organizers
Fabric organizers that can be hung on a bar or on a door are useful for storing shoes and small items of clothing.
You can place them both in the hallway and in living rooms, the main thing is to choose the right size and color scheme.
Photo: homsu.ru
11. Sliding rack
Side tables with drawers can be accompanied by a vertical sliding rack. It is very convenient to use it for storing books, but hangers with clothes can also be placed there. The main advantage of a pull-out rack is its narrow design, which will take up minimal space in the room.
Photo: residencia.ezaap.com
12. Lean ladder
A ladder with wide steps is a more decorative version of a regular shelving unit. It has a narrower and more compact design, so it is suitable for very small spaces, such as a bathroom or hallway.
Photo: houseandgarden.co.uk
13. Niches in the wall
Instead of a built-in wardrobe, you can simply organize a deep niche in the wall with rods and hangers and place clothes there.
An open recess without doors will visually expand the room.
Photo: collettivomensa.com
14. Behind the curtain
All open shelves, racks and niches can be closed - but not with cabinet doors, but with a curtain to the floor. This solution has many advantages. Firstly, a long curtain raises the ceiling and makes the room wider. Secondly, the fabric creates a more comfortable home environment. Thirdly, you can choose any color of the curtains, making the interior brighter.
Photo: tremontgrand.com
15. Decorative storage systems
This includes any antique decor: worn suitcases, large wicker or wooden chests and so on. With them, the usual storage of things will also turn into an interior decoration.
Photo: mywhitecountryhouse.se
8 small office design and renovation ideas
Cramped, uncomfortable offices are inevitably bad for business. They affect employee morale, reduce productivity, and don't do any good for your reputation.
If you don't have the funds to move to a larger space, the good news is that renovating a small office provides many ways to transform your space.
Grow your brand with our top 8 small office design ideas.
Communal Desks
Perhaps the biggest advantage of a communal desk is that you fit a significant number of employees into a small space. Conversely, a separate desk for each employee takes up more space and costs more.
The attractiveness of the common table is that it is suitable for open-plan offices. For a number of reasons, the open plan style is still one of the most popular office spaces. Creative companies, for example, seek to create an environment where employees sit in close proximity to each other and share ideas.
Shared desks also create an egalitarian spirit, with management sitting next to employees rather than locking themselves in separate rooms.
Coffeepoint
If you don't have the space or budget to set up a coffee shop in your small office, the coffeepoint is a practical alternative.
They are compact, stylish and good for lifting the mood of employees.
You can plan your coffee area to include seating. These are ideal conditions for special meetings, dinners or quiet work.
Professional Space Planning
Consulting with an office design company to maximize your space is the best approach.
An experienced design team takes into account how many people use the space and optimizes it for comfort and productivity.
From furniture arrangement to stylistic elements, the right design can take your business to the next level.
Acoustic furniture
Distracting noise becomes a real pain for busy employees. Although large offices include “quiet zones” in their interiors, this is not so easy if your space is small.
Acoustic chairs can be the perfect solution. Not only do they fit in tight spaces, they are also specially designed for quiet operation. The chair creates a cocoon around the person and blocks sound with acoustic panels built into the inside.
The capsule can be equipped with speakers to listen to relaxing sounds.
Single chairs are not the only option. Large cabins are available that are great for collaboration.
Storage
Built-in cabinets and shelving are an alternative to bulky stand-alone units and are a great way to maximize space in small offices. Due to the fact that office storage systems are designed according to individual dimensions for office interior elements, you can save up to 30% of the area.
Office furniture is extremely practical and gives a modern look to your office. Depending on the needs, systems can include everything from office and folder storage to air conditioning installation.
Wireless technology
The fewer desktop PCs, the more free space. In terms of space planning, wireless technology is very practical.
Technology continues to evolve and we are seeing a surge in the number of offices moving to wireless. For example, in a smart office, employees change their way of working by switching between iPads, laptops, and mobile phones.
But this is not a reason to completely abandon the PC. The other side of the smart office is integrated technology, thanks to which the system unit can be built into desks. This gives it a streamlined look and hides those pesky wires.
Glass Partitions
Refurbishment is a great opportunity to bring more natural light into the office. According to neurological research, workplaces with good daylight increase productivity and sales by 3-40%. The study also found that daylight is the most sought after natural element in workplace design.
Glass partitions add more sunlight and also give more depth to a small office space. Partitions made of glass can achieve a sense of division into departments, which is preferred by many enterprises.
Light colors
Light colors are known to make a room look larger. Businesses love to incorporate their brand colors into their interior design, which can be problematic if your corporate identity is dark.
