The $0 Storage-Doubling Trick to Try on Your Bookshelf
Bookshelves, on their own, are already such great storage pieces for small spaces. They usually require minimal floor space by utilizing height rather than width. But what if you could double the storage space without anyone noticing? Well, Damon Dominique, who rents a 420-square-foot Paris apartment, has just the trick.
Damon got lucky in his apartment, which you can see in the video above, because it came with gorgeous, soaring built-in bookshelves. Although the shelving came with over 25 compartments, Damon wanted to make the most of them. “If you have a bookshelf, you can put books on the outer edge and hide more junk behind them,” Damon said at the time of the House Tour.
Don’t Forget About the Empty Space Behind Your Books
While this might not be a novel concept, it’s a good reminder to not forget about the dead space behind what you’re displaying on a bookshelf. Oftentimes, we’re so focused on acquiring that “bookshelf wealth” aesthetic that we forget about utilizing all the available space.
However, sometimes the stuff behind your books can be hidden a little too well. “But watch out: I hid my jewelry box there once, and then lost it because it was not visible,” Damon wrote at the time of the House Tour.
Testing Out Other Arrangements Can Help Hide Items
There are several ways to organize your bookshelves to get the most out of your space. For example, you can try out the “patchwork stack,” where you place your books horizontally and vertically on top of one another. This method really helps create height so that the items you store behind the books are well-hidden. Another trick to organizing bookshelves is to bring in storage bins.
“Another tip I’d say is to use things like cartons or boxes (like the ones on my bookshelf) to put your junk inside,” Damon said at the time of the House Tour. “At least it’ll feel more organized, put away, and more manageable.”
Damon’s bookshelf tip is a great reminder to use all of your space — especially if you’re living in an apartment around 400 square feet like he is. Just always remember to keep track of where you’ve placed your items.