Storage can be incredibly versatile. Though we may mentally think of storage space as a few typical examples like a coat closet or a kitchen cupboard, storage solutions come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and purposes. When we also consider that homes often need unique solutions for our unique lifestyles, clever storage solutions that solve for our needs become quite valuable. In this post, we’re taking a look at 5 interesting and uncommon storage solutions from our real Cincinnati area projects.
A Place for Everything
Mudrooms are intended to capture and contain the chaos in and out of your home, so it makes sense to have versatile and functional storage in these rooms. We’re calling this particular mudroom remodel in Loveland out, though, due to the way in which it handles the task. Rather than providing a basic coat closet and drop spot, this full-wall solution creates a Tetris-style combination of solutions, each with specific tasks. Drawers with integrated outlets provide a one-stop spot for a variety of devices while the cabinet over the counter functions as a mini office. At the base of the wall, drawers with mesh fronts allow shoes to be tucked away and still air out. This is the epitome of designing for everything to be in its place.
The Storage Under the Stairs
The space under the staircase in your home is probably under-utilized. It’s an interesting space that doesn’t typically make a useful room and may not have the easiest access. That doesn’t mean that this triangular space can’t be fully utilized with a custom cabinetry solution. There are a few variations to choose from here. Pull-out drawers of various widths can be installed for a range of items at different scales. The space could also be treated like niches, similar to a medicine cabinet in a bathroom, to store items without a lot of depth. To fully integrate under-stair storage as a purposeful part of your home’s storage plan, concealing the storage access doors as just part of the room’s regular molding adds a playful and unexpected touch that feels a bit like magic.
Multi-functional Wall Space
You may be considering a remodel to repurpose areas of your home with low ceilings and angled walls, which can be found in both older homes as well as attics in newer builds. In these sorts of projects, head height will always be your first and biggest consideration. It’s important, therefore, to fully think through what you need to store in an awkward space so that the cabinetry and layout of the room can be adequately appointed. In the Indian Hill example above, an attic was converted into a dressing room. The single wall at the end of the room had to account for every need that could not be handled by the shorter side walls. To solve this, the wall performs 3 functions simultaneously. Shelves hold the homeowner’s shoes in an eye-catching display, a full-length mirror takes center stage, and tucked behind all of it you’ll find a closet for hanging dresses.
Repurposed Cabinet Accessories
Though cabinetry manufacturers will often have something specific in mind when they create fixtures for the interiors of their cabinets, clever designers can often see even greater potential. Where one person may see a double trash bin pull-out, a savvy designer may see an opportunity to better hold large bags of dog and cat food. If a narrow utensil storage cabinet works well next to the oven in the kitchen, perhaps it also works to great effect holding your blow dryer and curler in your master bathroom vanity. The key is often to simply find solutions that already exist for the new challenges you bring to your design wish list.
Wrap-Around Storage
For kitchens with low square footage or limited wall space, it can be a challenge to find enough room for everything. This is an even greater challenge when an addition isn’t possible. There may be options, however, to employ clever cabinetry techniques that seamlessly extend the kitchen into adjacent spaces. In the example above from a Montgomery area project, cabinetry was wrapped around two corners on the periphery of the kitchen, adding valuable storage onto walls that would have otherwise been left bare. The nearby hallway now houses much-needed pantry storage while a display cabinet and slim buffet offload some of the storage capacity into the breakfast room.
