Do you need more storage space? It seems like an inevitable fate. The less space you have, the more treasures you have to store. If you find yourself short on storage space, here are eight tricks to transform your home's accessories and decor into clever storage solutions.
Decorative Boxes. Hat boxes, wicker boxes...any box can be used as a decorative piece. Cover a shoe box with fabric to match your decor. These boxes look nice stacked one atop another and can be filled with a variety of things. They can be used to store the family photos or to cleverly disguise the home's paperwork.
Trash Cans. Purchase a new, round trash can and your investment will double as a side table with ample storage. Place the trash can right side up and fill it with your extra pillows and blankets. Purchase a circular piece of wood to use as a cover for the trash can. Cover with a round tablecloth and you have just created the perfect night stand to keep beside your bed. No one will ever know what truly lies beneath.
Chests. Today chests are becoming very popular as decorative accessories for the home. No longer banished to the far corners of the bedroom, these practical furniture pieces are being showcased as the focal point of the living room. This new fad is a dream come true for people with small spaces. They can house anything from linens to holiday decorations. It is like having an extra closet right in the middle of your living space.
Decorative storage bins. The wonderful wooden bins with wicker baskets, like those intended for vegetable storage in a country kitchen, shouldn't be solely intended for those lucky enough to have the extra space in their kitchens. These bins can be useful almost anywhere in the home. How about in a bathroom with no storage? They can be filled with every bathroom necessity and tucked between the toilet and the wall, slid beneath the window or hidden behind the door. Used as a nightstand in a children's room, these cute storage solutions could house books and toys. These bins make adorable diaper stackers in a nursery.
Bookcases are automatic storage shelving. Put one up against the back of a sofa as a sofa table. If your sofa is against the wall, place a bookshelf between the wall and the sofa and stack all the things that you want hidden but don't need to get too often. Now you have a nice tabletop to put a plant and a lamp behind the sofa.
Turn your bookcase into a headboard with storage. Place a bookcase that stands a few feet taller than the bed against the wall. Push the bed frame up against it and center. All the things that used to be shoved under the bed can now be put on the shelves that are hidden below the bed (before you use this storage, remember that you will have to crawl under the bed to get it). The portion showing can display a book collection or a few decorative treasures.
Wicker baskets. Hang baskets along the ceiling line decoratively and then fill them with all your little storage items like sewing supplies, tape and ribbon, candles, etc.
Make use of all the vertical cabinet space. If the space was not blessed with shelves in the cabinet, put them there. Under the sink is the biggest space-stealing offender. All that wonderful space and most people usually store cleaners in the bottom third. This is a perfect place to put stackable shelving to take advantage of the wasted space.
 | Home organization demands ongoing time and effort. If you find a storage and shelving system that works for you and develop a realistic organization routine, you'll be more likely to keep your home uncluttered. |
 | From tiny tots to towering teens, kids love collecting just about anything. |
 | Keeping your kitchen organized is the best way to keep yourself organized. Rummaging through the cupboards in search of the right bowl or the correct cereal can cut into your time in a big way. Knowing what you have and where it is really is the key to being organized. |
Garage sales are a great way to make money and empty your closets. |
When homeowners decide to remodel their existing home, or build a new one, they often complain that their current house lacks adequate storage space. Most people find that the inevitable clutter that comes with hectic living can quickly take over a home, whether they live in a small apartment or a sprawling mansion. |
