Tips For Storing Luggage at Home

published Apr 3, 2012
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(Image credit: Cathy Pyle)

For those of us who don’t have much closet space (let alone garages, attics, or basements!) where oh where are we supposed to store our luggage? Sure, there are some decent soft-sided suitcases out there, but many of the most durable suitcases are not exactly beautiful and they have hard sides and take up some serious space.

One solution comes from the folks over at the blog In Decent Order who screwed in hooks high up on the wall of a large closet to hang their luggage from. This way the suitcases and bags are accessible, but also out of the way.

Other ideas for storing suitcases:

1 Under the bed: Having a high bed that only requires a mattress (no box spring) translates into much more room under the bed. If your bed isn’t high enough, buy bed risers and raise it as high as needed. A bed skirt can come in handy here to hide everything.

2 Tucked behind a screen. Place a screen or room divider in the corner of a room and stash suitcases or other unwieldy items behind it.

3 Suitcase as home storage: Never leave the suitcases empty! Store a whole range of items within your suitcase. Just be sure to put the contents inside a breathable bag so that when you need the luggage you don’t have to dump out a messy pile of stuff.
• out of season clothes and shoes, coats and cold-weather gear
• extra sheets, blankets, bulky duvets
• Christmas decorations or gifts that must be hidden from prying children
• smaller bags and luggage
• Old tax files or photos in a soft-sided storage bag

4 Get a new suitcase: If you are really tight for space, sell your bulky, hard Samsonite and invest in a suitcase that expands from flat. Or switch to a hip vintage one that you won’t using as a side table or hanging on the wall as decoration.

5 Think vertical: Use the dead space way up high in your closet. Build a shelf at the tip top of your closet to stash luggage. Or install a hook at the top of the closet ceiling and suspend the suitcase from above.

6 Watch for mildew: Consider the climate where you store your luggage: Attics and basements can get very humid and suitcases may get damp, mildewy, and unusable. Also, don’t wrap luggage tightly in plastic, which restricts air circulation and can cause mildew.

(Image: In Decent Order)