Storage space is a precious commodity in so many homes. With your family growing larger and your house seeming to grow smaller, finding places for all those possessions can be tricky. In tough economic times, moving to larger properties is increasingly not an option that many families can take advantage of.
Yet there are ways and means of enhancing the storage space available to you and your family. With clever furniture purchases, you can double your storage options at a very low cost, leaving your home tidier, your possessions safer and you happier. This short article lists five ways for you to virtually double your storage by investing in some clever furniture solutions.
Toy Storage Chest
1. Utilise wooden chests for storage and style
Wooden chests are a great place to store your treasures. These versatile spaces can be used to store almost anything, from pots and pans in the kitchen, to your child's favourite toys, to clothes or shoes in the bedroom. They're a slightly unconventional storage space which makes them all the more stylish and wooden chests are always fabulously attractive. Consider putting chests to work not just as storage space, but also as a coffee or lamp table in the living room or den for a truly multi-purpose piece of wooden furniture.
2. Storage sofas for extra space
If you're about to buy a new sofa then it may be worth your while investigating storage sofas. These are offered by many retailers and online stores nowadays and they don't compromise anything in style or appearance for their multi-functional purpose. Check out some of the lovely leather storage sofas which you can find on the market. These handy sofa arrangements can be an excellent place for storing DVDs or blankets in your living room, den or spare room.
3. Better your bedroom with a wooden wardrobe
It sounds obvious but you'd be surprised at how many people don't have one of these most basic of bedroom facilities. Wardrobes are essential for storing and ordering your clothes, shoes, coats, ties, scarves, even books, DVDs and other paraphernalia. A good wardrobe is never just a rail inside a cupboard; there are some wonderful sturdy wooden wardrobes out there that offer varying sized drawers, racks, rails and shelving for your convenience. By investing in a decent wardrobe you will minimise clutter and store your belongings safely out of sight and out of harm's way.
4. Go retro, sideboard style
Although sideboards haven't been at the height of furniture fashion for quite some time, there's something to be said for going retro and investing in a proper sideboard. These great little cupboards originally offered storage space in the living room or dining room for crockery and glasses, as well as an extra surface for top storage or display purposes. Sideboards generally comprise two tall, deep shelves so there's no need to keep to the crockery convention; you can fill them with DVDs, boardgames, photos... whatever you wish. Buy fabulously futuristic sideboards from the eye-catching Gilmore Space Collection or make a retro statement by seeking out second-hand sideboards from charity shops, flea markets or your local Freecycle.
5. Give your child some space with a sleep station
As children grow bigger, their bedrooms seem to grow smaller. One space maximisation trick that always goes down well with the kids is a sleep station. These innovative solutions comprise a raised bed accessible via a ladder. This frees up space below for desks, cupboards or sofas, dependent on your child and the model you choose. Teenager often prefer a sofa or desk, whereas young children are often happy with a cupboard and some more floor space for toys. You could even put two of these great combo affairs into one shared room, providing each child with his or her own space.