No matter the size of the home, it seems we always have a need for more space. Not only are we looking for ways to store our things, but to minimize clutter, effectively utilize space, and attractively display our favorite things. Built-ins allow for all of this and more, creatively utilizing areas around the home which may not ordinarily be functional – and allowing you to create your dream space.
If you are building a new custom home or are looking to renovate your current home to better utilize your square footage, here are some of our favorite built-in space saving and storage solutions.
Brilliant Storage Solutions
Under the Stairs: We’ve all seen the photos, and secretly wished we had though of that idea. If you have a large staircase in your home, chances are that the space below it is under-utilized, if utilized at all. Instead of simply using it for storage space, how about creating a child’s playroom, complete with comfy seating, a book nook, and a TV for popcorn and movies? This idea also allows you to creatively hide all of their favorite toys when company is on its way. Another idea we love is to equip the space with a large screen TV screen and adjoining bookshelf for favorite titles. In wide open floor plans with substantial windows, the space under the stairs provides an additional wall surface area to add your entertainment center. Finally, the stairs offer a perfect oppoetunity for slide outs to house shoes, coats, umbrealls – anything normally dropped at the front door.
Hiding the Laundry: From the kids room to the laundry room, you can build in clothes hampers into dressers or desks. or under counters. These slide=-out storage bins will keep laundry away and out of sight, while presenting a beautiful cabinet face to the exterior. Place removable bins into the cabinet space for easy transport to the laundry room if need be. Of course, you have to train your family to use them – but once you do, dirty towels and socks are no longer lying on the floor or in a hamper in the middle of the room.
Clean Up the Kitchen: It seems everyone has a canister on their kitchen counter which is a catch-all for spatulas, wooden spoons and other common kitchen implements. They often don’t fit easily into drawers, but you can create a deep drawer with multiple vertical cylindrical compartments to hold all of your implements. Drawers are the ultimate cover for anything usually found on the kitchen counter. For instance, use a flip-up cabinet to store toasters, coffee makers and more. When closed, it looks like a normal cabinet door – and no one will know your secret.
Utilize Small Spaces: Bathrooms can be notoriously tight spaces, especially if you live in an older home. You can repurpose even the narrowest space, however. by adding a slide-out for shampoo, makeup or hair styling tools. Look between the sink and the shower, as even 6 or 8 inches of wall space may be the perfect opportunity for a hidden slideout.
Storage Walls for Flexibility Adding a storage wall is one of our favorite options. These walls sit on tracks and can slide from one side of the room to another, and have storage options on either side. Two storage walls can be utilized to quickly create a private space for a guest, walling off an area of a room only when it is necessary and leaving wide open space when it is not.
AS you can see, the options for storage solutions are limited only by your imagination. If you have a small space and are looking for ideas on how to create more space, call the experts at Lindahl Construction. Our team of general contractors is skilled in making any space more functional and beautiful.