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With the world moving at a rapid pace, the need for appropriate storage solutions has now become a necessity. Whether you live in a small apartment or a big house, finding ways to organize your belongings can make all the difference in your space and lifestyle. In this post, I will be going over 10 smart storage ideas that will help you declutter while elevating your home aesthetic.
Why You Need Smart Storage Solutions
The more complex your lifestyle gets, so do your belongings. From clothes and toys to kitchen utensils and office supplies, it’s easy for clutter to take over your life. Smart and easy storage solutions not only help organize your items but also gives you the most use of your space.
Why Choose Smart Storage?
- Efficiency: Smart storage saves time when having to look for items.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Organized spaces look better, are more inviting, and encourage a more organized life.
- Functional Living: Well-designed storage solutions improve the functionality of each room.
1. Multi-Functional Furniture
Using multi-functional furniture might be one of the best ways to make use of your space. These types of furniture provide you with a two-in-one solution, both aesthetic and practical decor.
Ideas:
- Storage Ottomans: These work well in any living room or bedroom. Storage ottomans can serve you as extra seating space or even as a coffee table as well as a source of storage for your items like blankets, magazines, or toys (for your fur babies or children).
- Sofa Beds: These are perfect for a guest room or a small apartment. Sofa beds provide you with a comfortable couch during the day and serve as a bed at night, some even come with linens storage.
- Storage Coffee Tables: One of the most important furniture pieces in a living room, apart from a sofa, is a coffee table. Next time you go furniture shopping, think of buying those coffee tables that open up with a storage inside. I love this one (above) from Amazon, it’s practical and modern. You can store remote controls, books, or board games inside while keeping your table surface clean.
2. Vertical Storage Solutions
If your floor space is limited, go vertical! By using wall space for storage, you can gain some extra square footage in your home.
Ideas:
- Wall-mounted shelves: You can display books, plants, or picture frames on wall-mounted shelves. This will not only add some visual interest but also use any wasted space on your walls.
- Over-the-door organizers: These are great for teeny bathrooms or kitchens. Over the door organizers provide you with extra storage without giving up square footage. Hang them to store towels, spices, or cleaning supplies.
- Pegboards: Perfect for garages or craft rooms, pegboards are used to hang tools or crafts. You can paint or decorate them to your liking.
3. Under-Bed Storage
Use the space underneath your bed! This is a perfect way to create more storage:
- Storage Bins: Place seasonal clothes, shoes, or extra bedding in clear, stackable storage bins. The clear containers allow you to easily see what’s inside (saving you lots of time!).
- Rolling Storage Carts/Drawers: Compact rolling storage carts/drawers can easily be hidden under your bed and are pretty affordable. They’re great for items you want to keep out of sight but still within your reach.
- Bed Risers or Furniture Risers: One (often not talked about) efficient storage solutions are bed risers. These expand your under-bed storage space allowing you to place larger containers or boxes underneath!
4. Smart Small Closet Solutions
Use closets! Closets are some of the least used spaces in your home. With just a little tweaking, you can reorganize your closet into an efficient storage hub.
Strategies:
- Double-Rod Clothing Racks: A second rod attached below where you usually hang your clothes can help create some space for shorter items like shirts and pants.
- Shelf Dividers: Use shelf dividers to organize stacks of clothes or linens so they don’t fall over.
- Clear Storage Bins: (I mentioned these in the under-bed storage section) Use clear storage bins for storing shoes, accessories, or seasonal items. This will help keep things organized and easy to reach!
5. Creative Kitchen Storage
I believe that your kitchen is the heart of your home, and choosing right storage can make your kitchen even more functional.
Kitchen Storage Options:
- Magnetic Spice Racks: If you have spice jars or small containers that you want to easily access, using magnetic racks will hold them nicely on the side of your fridge or on top of your oven.
- Pull-Out Shelves: You can set up pull-out shelves in your cabinets to easily reach pots and pans without having to dig through everything. We all know how annoying that is!
- Hanging Pot Racks: You can use hanging pot racks, this is great way to free up room especially if you lack cabinet space, plus it’s a decorative element that adds charm to your kitchen!
6. Bathroom Storage Hacks
Bathrooms can quickly start to look cluttered! Here are some smart storage ideas to keep it all in order:
- Tiered Organizer: For small items like toiletries or makeup, I personally like to use tiered organizers in my bathroom to make them easily accessible while also giving my bathroom a pretty and organized look. I really like the one pictured above, you can get it on Amazon.
- Mounted Cabinets and Shelves: You can set up cabinets or shelves on your bathroom wall above your toilet for added storage that doesn’t take up much space. Also, don’t pass on under the sink organizers with stackable containers to store your cleaning supplies and others toiletries.
7. Outdoor Storage Ideas
I always say that making the most out of your outdoor space is just as important as keeping the inside of your home organized!
Ideas:
- Storage Benches: You can use storage benches for sitting but you can also use them as hidden storage for your gardening tools, cushions, or even outdoor games.
- Vertical Garden Planters: This one option is almost never talked about. If you enjoy gardening, vertical garden planters will save you space while also allowing you to grow a number of herbs and/or flowers.
- Shed Organizer: If you have a shed, make the most of it by using pegboards and shelving to keep your tools and other equipment organized and at your fingertips!
8. Smart Storage Technology
Another thing a lot of people brush off is technology. Using tech solutions can help you create a smarter storage space. So why not use technology to your advantage?
Ideas:
- Smart Waste Trash Can: You can purchase smart waste bins/ smart trash cans like the one above, that have built in sensors to open and some even let you know when they need to be emptied.
- Phone Apps: You can download apps on your phone, for example the Sortly app. These apps can help you keep track of your belongings and simplify organization, especially if you have bigger household.
- Voice Controlled Organizers: Smart home devices (like Google Home Speaker, or Amazon’s Alexa) can also be programmed to remind you to re-stock items or organize specific things.
9. Seasonal Storage Solutions
Knowing how to manage your seasonal items is a sure way to keep your home organized throughout the year.
Here are some ideas:
- Seasonal Storage Containers: Make sure to label your storage containers for everything seasonal like clothes or decorations. Keep them in an easily accessible place like your garage so it’s easy to grab for when the holidays come around!
- Vacuum-Sealed Bags: Vacuum Sealed bags are my favorite invention! They’re awesome for storing winter clothes or bedding while also saving you space and keeping things from collecting dust or moisture. BONUS TIP: I also use them to store my clothes in my luggage when traveling, saves me SO much space!
- Garage Organization: Shelving and… you guessed it, bins, in your garage are a great option for storing seasonal items like holiday decorations and extra furniture.
10. Personalize Your Storage Space
Last but definitely not least… let your storage solutions show off who are!
Ideas:
- Decorated Storage Boxes: You can decorate baskets or your storage containers to your liking
- Labeling: Clear labels not only keep things organized but also create cohesive look to your storage space, you can also add some humor to it if that’s something you like to do.
- Color Coordination: Organize your belongings by color to create a visually pleasing look
Conclusion
Using smart storage solutions is essential to maintaining a clean, organized, and functional home. You can easily achieve this through using multi-functional furniture, vertical storage, and other smart organizing strategies. Whether you live in a big house or a tiny apartment these 10 smart storage ideas can help you create a clutter-free environment and improve your quality of your life.
…and remember, effective storage isn’t just about hiding things away; it’s also about making your belongings easily accessible while also displaying them!
