A storage chest can double as a coffee table or bench.
It's hard for many individuals with busy lifestyles to stay organized and avoid clutter. Small living spaces add to the problem, since they seem to clutter and appear messy faster than larger spaces, according to MyGreatHome.com. Finding extra storage space is a concern for many people, but thanks to creative home storage possibilities, the 87 percent of Americans that live in small or medium-sized homes can stay clutter free, according to that website. Does this Spark an idea?
Buy Furniture with Storage
Many furniture companies realize that customers want more storage. The need for more storage has created a demand for multipurpose furniture with storage built in. MyGreatHome.com recommends looking for multipurpose items such as a coffee table with built-in drawers, side tables with enclosed cabinets and an ottoman or bench with a hinged top and chest-like storage inside.
Make Space
Things you use often may be taking up storage space, according to WomansDay.com. The website suggests keeping things you need readily available and using the storage space for things you only take out once in a while. For example, keeping everyday kitchen utensils and flatware in decorative boxes or crocks on the kitchen counter frees up drawer space for less-used kitchen items. The website also suggests moving items such as colorful pitchers, bowls and platters to the space above your kitchen cabinets (if they aren't built all the way up to the ceiling). That way, they double as kitchen décor.
Add Shelves
Using shelves for more than just books is a storage idea that doubles as a decorating technique. WomansDay.com recommends using shelves behind a bed as a substitute for a headboard, while CountryLiving.com suggests covering an entire wall with egg-crate shelving to store items while keeping them on display.
Revamp the Closet
Closet space can easily be transformed from a rod and a few shelves to a major home storage center. Adding additional closet shelves above existing shelving makes space for rarely used items, and using a cubby system on lower shelves keeps things organized, according to CountryLiving.com. The website also suggests hanging a jewelry hanger on the back of the closet door to keep necklaces and other items out of the way.
Hide the Home Office
The home office is generally one of the most cluttered rooms in the home. Using an armoire as a go-to home office keeps papers, pens and even your laptop computer all in one place. MarthaStewart.com recommends building a desk and shelving into the armoire and crisscrossing ribbon on the insides of the doors to create French-style memo boards.
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