Creating Storage in Underutilized Spots

Spring is a great time for some DIY projects and getting your house organized! There are many clever ways to create storage in underutilized spots. With these quick tips, you may actually be surprised at how many areas of your home you have been underutilizing.

Creative Furniture

Buy furniture that allows you to maximize space, like a desk with storage above it or an ottoman that opens and can hide away some clutter. Classic cube storage has started popping up at places like Target and Ikea. This can be used as a nightstand, but also store books, jewelry, make-up, and any other everyday items. For kitchens without a lot of counter space, a butcher block can be a good way to create more prep room, but be sure to buy one with shelves or drawers.

Cabinet Storage

Bathroom and kitchen cabinets can easily turn into an organized person’s worst nightmare. However, there are plenty of hooks and gadgets you can attach inside the cabinet to help store cleaning supplies or your hairdryer. The kitchen sink is another great place for storage. Pull out drawers or turntables are a great way to take advantage of the deep cabinets but still be able to access everything. This is also an opportunity for some over the door storage. A small basket that attaches directly to the door or hangs on it is a great spot to store small soaps and extra sponges.

Storage On Display

Just because it’s storage doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty! Hang pots and pans from racks to free up some kitchen cabinet space, or put your organized make-up boxes on the counter. If you don’t have a pantry, you can make one on any shelf! Just transfer all of your flours, sugars, and dried foods to matching mason jars or plastic containers. That way everything is uniform and doubles as storage and decoration. An over-the-toilet storage unit is another great solution. Roll up your towels and put cotton balls and q-tips in glass containers for another organization/decor combo!

Behind the Door Storage

We all know the shoe storage behind the door solution, but there are tons of other ways to utilize door storage. Hang an organizer on the back of your pantry door to store more food or cleaning supplies. You can also buy a shoe organizer but put it in the bathroom for storing your hairbrush, deodorant, and other bathroom necessities. The same idea goes for storing kids’ toys. We also love the idea of using over the door storage in an office or spare bedroom for wrapping paper organization!

Look up!

If you need some more storage and have an unfinished attic you never use, we have a solution for you! Try hanging boxes from the ceilings so you don’t lose any floor space or put in a shelving unit so you can keep all of your holiday decorations organized. Try putting some shelves in the areas between trusses as well so not a single space goes to waste! If you’re ready for a full-on transformation of your attic, check out YouTube. There are plenty of handy tutorials that will walk you through all the steps of a DIY storage makeover.

Stairway to Organization

Storage under the stairs can be tricky because it’s generally a pretty small space. However, installing some shelves can make it easy to put some books in there, and adding some baskets gives you instant office storage. Try putting some plastic or wire drawers in as well so you can take advantage of how deep these spaces can be. Bonus points if you turn this spot into an adorable storage area for kids! After all, everything is already kid height!

Still Not Enough Space?

Sometimes you realize you have simply outgrown your home. If our tricks don’t work and you decide it’s time to start looking, let us know below. We’d love to help you start your search!

Contact Form

We would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly.
About the Author

Shannon Jones has been selling real estate since 1998 and specializes in listing and marketing homes. She has consistently been one of the top Realtors in the Long Beach area. Prior to her award-winning career in real estate with the Shannon jones Team, Shannon has had successful careers in journalism and public relations. She holds a bachelors degree from UC Irvine and a masters degree from UC Berkeley. Shannon holds E-Pro, CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert), and PSC (Pre-Foreclosure Specialist) certifications. Shannon is very personable and maintains a very strong moral compass, always putting the best interest of home buyers/sellers above monetary goals. A California native, Shannon enjoys gardening, travel, reading, cooking and poker when she’s not selling homes MY DESIGNATIONS Lic# 01247705 | CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) | E-Pro | PSC (Pre-Foreclosure Specialist) MY SERVICE AREAS Anaheim Bellflower Buena Park Carson Cerritos Cypress Downey Fountain Valley Garden Grove Huntington Beach La Palma Lakewood Long Beach Los Alamitos Los Angeles County Norwalk Orange County Rossmoor San Pedro Seal Beach Signal Hill South Bay Westminster