Storage can be a rather difficult thing to come by whether you live in a large or small space. Getting creative is often the best solution and thinking outside of the box is typically the best way to start the process. I've found five creative storage solutions for around the house that just may leave you wondering why you hadn't already thought of them!
• Small Toy Display: Kids are messy and leave toys all over the house. Hours can be spent trying to figure out ways to conceal them as much as possible, but have you ever thought of embracing them? Fill a dome jar with small toys and keep them on a shelf — maybe clean up time won't be so disappointing!
• Towel Storage: Linen closets aren't always guaranteed and when ample storage space isn't provided it's time to get creative. I was inspired by Hunter's towel storage and installed my own!
• Bathroom Drawer Storage: If you're lucky enough to have drawers in your bathroom, you probably just toss items in without any general sense of organization. If you're looking to add more space and functionality to each drawer — try adding compartments. With the use of a piece of wood and several bins you can easily create extra space.
• Paper Towel Storage: Sometimes even having a roll of paper towels on the counter is asking too much, especially for those that enjoy clutter free counters. If you have the opportunity to do this fun storage project, you really should!
• Shoe Organizer In The Pantry: The pantry is one of the most used spaces in the kitchen. Everyone heads straight there when the munchies come around and often there just isn't enough space for everyone's favorite snack. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of the door for extra easy access storage.
What are your favorite creative storage solutions?
Images: as linked above
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I have a child of toy-car age. I would never put his toys in a glass dome like that. I don't know where that picture came from, but I would be astonished if it was from a house with small children. Those toys aren't meant to be played with, they're on display. Just buy a toybox, it's neater, easier, and a lot less likely to end up in shards all over the floor.
What a fun idea! I use my glass cake plate to display fun items inside. I also love my antique spice rack for knick knacks in the bottles.
I have to agree. The moment a child grabs the dome you'll have tiny cars everywhere, and most kids aren't going to think to pick the whole thing up and turn it over. Plus, unless it's plastic (doubtful) you're also adding the potential for broken glass into the mix.
I may not have kids, but it doesn't take a parent to see what a disaster waiting to happen that is.
I do love those towels in wire baskets, though. I just wish my miniscule bathroom had space even for those! My walls are tiled to the 4' mark, and I'm only 5'2", so at most I could put one above the toilet tank and still reach it.
The shoe organizer is clever (although the super-processed food contents sort of made me gasp), but it would require having a pantry... which is already more storage than a lot of apartments provide for the kitchen.
The storage solution in pic n.3 maybe be creative but not so smart: the drawer is already full!
Pic #1, the cars under glass, is so enjoyable! I really doubt they intended it as practical storage.
I'm very intrigued by the paper towel solution! I picture it on the side of a narrow END cabinet, behind a short drawer. Academic, I know, requiring too much carpentry; but we need more creative cabinet-designs, IMO, like to accomodate petfood bowls so they're not in midst of floor space, better broom closets, standing-desk-type facilities for laptops, etc.
Thanks for the ideas!
That small-toy-storage is a disaster waiting to happen. Truly. And glass, too. OMG.
I love the other ideas, though.
This was the best thing we did in the whole house - turned the old ironing board cabinet (in the kitchen) into a spice rack - http://dailycoop.blogspot.com/2009/10/nice-rack.html
@Annie-O, the person who put the toys there and took the picture probably didn't intend it as toy storage, but if you read what Kristen wrote above, she seems to have taken it as a place to keep toys that still get played with.
I use old 9x13 cake pans from thrift stores in my pantry as "sliding drawers." This way I can still reach stuff in the back, and I always have an extra pan should I need one.
Never mind kids! I want to put MY toy cars in a bell jar!
Exactly Charlotte... great to display 'childhood' toys... or other keepsakes instead of in some old box or something!
Do you remember Stacey from last year's Design Star? She got lambasted by the judges for putting a ceramic cab under a glass dome. I actually thought it was kinda cute. Funny thing is, ever since I have been seeing them everywhere.
I have used the shoe organizer to put craft supplies in it for my kids. I placed it on the front and back or the door in a craft area. It is easy to see and they can put things back in their place. Some craft supplies are glue/glue sticks, scissors, paints, yarn, popcycle sticks, stickers, buttons, rope, beads, markers, colored pencils, pencils, pens, tape, stapler, rulers, etc.
The glass dome car storage must come from the makers of Bag O' Glass.
I do like it as a decoration, though.
Those vintage toy cars are too good for kids. Love it, will hunt for a glass dome and hope my own toy cars turn up somewhere.
And yes, I'm childfree.
I have a shoe organizer on my bathroom door for those items that would belong is cabinets and drawers, if I had them.
The shoe organizer as a pantry is a great idea. When I saw it I imagined the glass dome was for adult toys.
In my upstairs linen & toiletrie closet I use a shoe organizer on the inside of the door for small items like shoe laces, shoe polish, small shampos from the hotels, powders, lotions, etc. I have baskets on the shelves for larger things. In my children's bathroom closet I have another shoe organizer with household cleaners--cleanser, window cleaner, furnature polish, scrub brushes (once they are clean & dry), etc. A friend of mine put two shoe organizers on her daughters closet doors (inside) to display her small beanie (animal) collection.