Small or large, we love our homes. Anyone who’s ever moved knows just how much stuff we tend to accumulate over time: clothes, shoes, toys, books, tools, souvenirs, cookware… it goes on and on.
But there some really clever ways to create space to store all our stuff: built-in storage units.
They create functional spaces unique and special to you to keep your most loved possessions out of sight but easily within reach.
Smart storage spaces are a great way to:
- Squeeze a little more living space out of your home
- Reduce the amount of furniture you need (think bookshelves, wardrobes)
- Add pizzazz and visual interest to your rooms
Get inspired by some really clever built-in storage ideas for every room in your home. Then give us a call and let’s make it a really fun, functional, and fabulous project.
The entrance
One of the most underused areas – the entrance – can certainly use a resdesign.
Cut down on clutter and create a built-in unit complete with a coat rack and cubbyholes, doubling up as a built-in bench. Perfect for Oregon’s wet winter weather. it’s a great way to redesign what’s typically a very underused area.
Under the windows
What could be better than relaxing and enjoying Oregon’s beautiful autumn season from a comfortable built-in window seat? Bring a book and a cup of tea and it’s a party for one. Add drawers or a fold-up storage area beneath the seat, and a niche on either side to display your favorite books, photos, or ornamental pieces.
Along the walls
This one’s for the book-lover in your family. Make a stunning display with an otherwise empty wall by creating wall-to-wall bookshelves for all your favorite reads (including, of course, Portland author Brian Doyle). A blank wall transformed to the central feature of the room. Genius.
‘Post-and-lintel’ doors
Accessorize your dullest doors with floor-to-ceiling units to create a stunning frame for an ingenious bookshelf storage unit. Not a big reader? Place your most prized photos or ornaments on display, and enjoy them every time you pass through your door.
Around the radiator
It’s hot – but only because it’s really smart. Add shelving units around and above your radiator to create a seamless surface that extends to your walls. You’ll have ample space to transform a boring space into a really functional one.
Under the stairs
If Harry Potter must live under the stairs, then surely we can at least give him great storage.
No one enjoys that uneasy feeling of reaching into under-stairs closets to find what they’re looking for. So forget closets, and think slide-out drawers that fold right back into the wall. Make the handles small and transparent to keep the hallway looking clean.
Stair landings and staircases
Stairs are a treasure-trove of unused space. Create one, two, three or more pull-out drawers out of your first few steps. Use them for practical hallway items like shoes, scarves, or gloves handy for Oregon’s cold winters. Or hide your valuables there instead, where no one will think to look!
Bedroom walls
Bedrooms are perhaps our most private rooms in the house, where we retreat to be ourselves. And we always need just that little bit more space. Use the walls of your bedroom to install a built-in desk, complete with shelves for your paperwork. You’ll add even more character to the room you love to be in.
Bathroom
Often, the bathroom is the smallest room in the house, but it doesn’t have to be the one with the least amount of storage space. Custom-made vanities and glass-front cabinets and provide light and easy storage for all your essentials.
Kitchen islands
Kitchen islands are perfect for adding extra cabinets for those – everythings – we tend to buy for the kitchen. Maximize the space with built-in bar counters, bookshelves, and drawers to free up space for all the much-loved non-essentials.
Along a hallway
Dead spot? Do something creative with what would otherwise be wasted space. Transform a wall into a vibrant storage unit and display area.
Beside the laundry machines
If you could have the laundry room of your dreams…what would it look like? Make it a utilitarian heaven by adding storage above or beside your washing machines. Just imagine… counter space, drawers, a cabinet for the laundry basket… Ah, the possibilities!
A niche or alcove (between wall studs)
Simple, functional, stylish: shelves, counters, drawers. Everything you need, right between two walls. Maximize storage in places you’d least expect it.
In the dining room, instead of chairs
Feeling a little squashed in your dining room? Install a banquette with storage space for a modern, practical seating option that doesn’t take up any room. Perfect for bright corners.
By the bed…or beneath the bed
Your bed can do a lot more than help you get a good night’s snooze. Create nightstand ledges and platform drawers that not only set the bed apart from the rest of the space, but also offer lots of storage. And great for pets – you’re welcome, Fido.
Up by the ceiling
It’s not a last resort, but nearly. If you’ve run out of room everywhere else, consider a ledge just below the ceiling to display your most favorite ornaments or books.
In the attic
Attics can look a lot larger than they are with the right renovations. You’ll need creative storage solutions, but this is the space where you can really experiment. Use mirrors to open up the space, and glass doors to lighten the area. New bedroom? Check.
Convinced? Built-ins can help you get rid of bulky wardrobes and bookshelves, find new spaces for all your stuff, or just create beautiful areas with visual interest,
If you’re ready to talk built-ins, let Keith Green Construction give you some great ideas to help you design, build, and love your home.