cottage home decorating

Creative Storage Solutions

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Creative storage solutions are vital for any size home to look clean, uncluttered, and beautiful. Typical storage ideas can be found just about anywhere and can be fantastic ideas for clearing and storing the clutter. However, we're hoping you'll enjoy the spin we've put on these creative storage solutions and ideas for your home.

Begin your search for a peaceful home solution by asking yourself what it is you want to accomplish with the storage you choose for your home.

  • Do you want a clean and completely uncluttered look?
  • Do you want or need to maximize the space you have available?
  • Do you want to get things out from underfoot?
  • creative storage colutions Whatever the reason you’ve decided to declutter and get organized, always remember to think outside of what is typical or normal and you’ll discover a whole new world of creative storage solutions before you know it!

    Organizing ideas and clutter control throughout the home is relatively easy to achieve if you’re willing to consider unusual storage and unlikely spaces. Never underestimate the potential of even a seemingly small or out-of-the-way space. Shallow shelves, nooks, crannies, and odd spaces can be outfitted beautifully with storage space by custom building something that fits. There is rarely a space that cannot be used efficiently for the purpose of storage or creative storage soutions and displays. Here are just a few great ideas to get you started.

    Creative Storage Solutions for Every Room


  • Reusable grocery bags – take several of the same size bags, hook them together with binder clips at the top and at both ends, and use them for sorting laundry, storing accessories like scarves, mittens, hats, and ear muffs, or for sorting and storing fabric and sewing accessories. Attach labels to the bags using Velcro so you can see at a glance what each bag contains. creative storage solution
  • Repurpose an old desk or changing table for storing rarely used serving pieces, china, or linens. Repaint or stain the piece and then outfit it with a stylish curtain or “skirt” that goes around the entire piece, providing hidden storage underneath that easily accessible whenever you do want to use what’s under there.
  • Space available under the freestanding kitchen island? Attach hooks to the underside to suspend and store your rolling pins, paper towels, and extra dishtowels. Under-the-shelf style baskets can be attached to the underside of the island counter and used to store cookbooks, magazines, or recipes. If you don’t have a shelf under the island, build one across the bottom a few inches above the floor (so you can still get under it to clean properly). Paint it or stain it to match the piece and use the area to display pretty mixing bowls or vintage trays. storage solution
  • Pegboards make fantastic creative storage solutions for storing tools by the workbench, but these handy tools can be used for so much more. Paint it the color of your choice and then use the pegboard for organizing and gathering your sewing accessories, gift wrapping accessories, children’s toys, scrap booking supplies, and even office supplies.
  • Wooden vegetable bins make creative storage soutions. You can stack then on top of each other and side by side (securely attach them together), paint them and they’re immediately ready to double as storage for shoes, clothes, linens, towels, fabric yardage, toys, or tools.
  • Another creative storage solution...A dollhouse that has outlived its usefulness or has seen better days can be spruced up, hung on a wall, and used as creative storage in a child’s room, bathroom, den, foyer, or parlor.
  • Window boxes, vases, galvanized buckets, and terra cotta planters can be used inside too! Make sure they’re clean and then use them to sit in a corner, hang on a wall, decorate a corner, or sit on a bookshelf for attractive storage of things of every size.
  • Build a custom book display on a wall or curving around an empty corner space. Go floor to ceiling with the shelves (even if they’re shallow) and you’ll have plenty of space for all of your books.  width=
  • For nightstands that offer more storage, use a smaller scale dresser with three or four drawers. It will look amazing, provide storage, and offer plenty of space on top for a lamp, alarm clock, and your favorite reading material.
  • Group together several small nightstands to create a wall unit in place of a dresser or toy chest. These will make creative storage solutions! It will all match and look fantastic!
  • Frame a window with custom built shelves. Paint the entire unit the same color and use it to display vintage books, collectibles, antique quilts, and more.
  • The area underneath the staircase is often written off as unusable. However, it’s likely that you can use this fantastic area to store holiday items, camping gear, and other seasonal items. Built in your own cabinets that mimic the size, structure, and style of the space underneath the staircase. You will add value to the home and you’ll have additional hidden storage! storage baskets
  • Store out of season items in wicker baskets or office-style boxes with lids.
  • Instead of hiding your favorite jewelry away in a box, consider displaying it where it will add beauty and charm to your room, but also be easily accessible when you want to find a pair of earrings and a necklace in a hurry. Use small shadow boxes (with fronts that open easily) to house your jewelry. Use sewing pins to hang each piece or group like items together. Use a series of these boxes to display all of your jewelry or use one larger shadow box for all of your pieces. Wrap the back part of the box with fabric that matches or coordinates with your décor for an even more customized display. storage bench
  • Steamer trunks are perfect for storing toys, blankets, linens, sentimental items, books, magazines, quilts, or movies out of sight while adding style to any room.
  • Built-in banquettes and window seats with storage under the seating area are perfect for incorporating attractive and functional storage into just about every room of the house.
  • Moveable storage – outfit wood crates with wheels and they become instant storage that can be rolled from room to room whenever necessary or just look great sitting still.
  • Cubbies of all sizes and styles are great for storing and displaying favorite toys, books, piggy bank, collectibles, stuffed animals, shoes, and more.

    And Even More Creative Storage Solutions...

  • Turn heavy-duty plastic trash cans on their sides, anchor them to the wall, for creative storage solutions. Use them to store shoes, dress shoes, flip-flops, and small umbrellas. Choose a color or shape that fits your décor. storage buckets
  • The laundry room can have bookshelves, nightstands, or dressers too! Add these and shelving to your laundry room for storing everything from guest linens, tablecloths, and cleaning supplies.
  • Loft-style beds or bunk beds are great for saving space in a child’s bedroom.
  • Wire organizers usually used in the office can be used to store cookbooks in the kitchen or schoolbooks in the schoolroom.
  • Do you have stairs? Custom-build into each step a drawer that pulls out. You’ll create hidden storage for extra tools, holiday decorations and much more. antique suitcases
  • More creative storage solutions...Cover shoeboxes or shipping boxes with fabric or contact paper to create customized storage for any space in the house.
  • Corner shelving – regardless of what room of the house has an empty corner, there is always a way to turn these small spaces into great display areas with a little paint, stain, contact paper, or fabric.
  • Pull out those wonderful antiques from the attic and use them for unique storage containers: carpenter caddies, coal scuttles, and oversize teacups and saucers.
  • Wicker or vintage suitcases are perfect for adding warmth and charm to a room while hiding away silverware, china, or craft supplies.
  • Turn an upright CD storage tower onto its side and hang it on the wall as cubby-style storage. Great for a child’s room, den, or living room.

  • Creative Storage Solutions for This ‘n That

    vintage storage tins

  • Eggcups are rarely used for the purpose for which they were created, so why not use them for something else? A set of four, six, or however many you need, are perfect for storing small office supplies, sewing notions, school supplies, and small gadgets.
  • Muffin tins are ideal for organizing the kitchen junk drawer – holds orphaned game and puzzle pieces, small tools, safety pins, and more so you can find them quickly.
  • Make your own fabric drawstring bags for storing laundry, toys, sports equipment, or simply treasured items.
  • Popcorn tins are decorative and functional containers, and creative storage solutions for storing pet food or treats, crafts, yarn, small toys, or bulk food items that have been packaged in bags.
  • Cutlery trays are perfect for creative storage soutions when storing pencils, pens, highlighters, and colored pencils.
  • Coffee tins can be painted or covered with paper or fabric to create unique and complimentary storage containers for any room of the house.
  • Glass jars with lids are often seen in a bathroom for storing cotton balls and other small bathroom essentials. However, for a clean look in the office, these glass jars are great for storing rubber bands, paper clips, binder clips, and pushpins.
  • Attach wire baskets to the wall to store and display favorite movies or music CD’s.

    Think outside the box when it comes to creating innovative and unique storage for your home. As you’re thinking of what type of creative storage solutions you’d like or need for each room of your home, try to imagine how you’d like the room to look and how unusual choices of furniture or other household items might fit the bill. Above all, have fun!


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