DIY Storage: 9 Easy Ideas for Small Homes

Introduction

A tiny house is often beautiful and cozy, but lack of storage space may become a problem for its owner. If you do not have places for belongings, a room becomes crowded and hard to arrange. However, there is no need for spacious furniture to get more storage capacity for your apartment. Using simple DIY storage tips, you can take advantage of extra walls, corners, furniture, and many other elements that are not used before. Some materials, planning and creativity will allow you to increase the amount of storage space despite the small room.

The first and foremost benefit of homemade storage solutions is that you will be able to design furniture according to all requirements. Ready-made furniture is often too big to fit into a small corner or has inappropriate shelf sizes or hooks. Making a project yourself means that you will have the opportunity to decide on the size, materials and shape of the product.

Proper arrangement of belongings is another important aspect related to a small home. Before starting a storage project, consider all the items you have, divide them into those that are necessary and throw away the rest of the possessions. It is senseless to save space for useless belongings, especially when you have only a few of them. The items you are going to use often should be easily accessible for you, while those which you are unlikely to take out can be kept in less accessible places.

This article will help you to consider several effective storage projects for a small home.

Under-Bed Storage

Sometimes people overlook the fact that there is a huge space under the bed that can serve for additional storage. This way of organizing the room will not make it dusty since everything will be stored under the bed. It is very convenient to store such things as shoes, blankets, additional bedding, bags, books, and others that are not used frequently in the bedroom.

There are several ways to create storage space under the bed. One of them is just to use storage boxes or containers. There are different types of storage containers like cardboard, plastic or wooden ones. But before creating or buying any storage, it is necessary to measure the height, width and length of the space under the bed. It should fit in perfectly without difficulties in removing. If there will be many containers, it will be good to leave some space between them to have access to everything.

It would be very helpful to use labels on each container since the things can be found easily just by looking at the label on the container. You need to label the containers as winter clothes, shoes, blankets and others. Also it is useful to use containers with lids to protect the things from dust. In case if it is humid in the room, it is better to choose proper storage materials and avoid putting wet things inside.

As another more complex DIY you can create simple wooden storage drawers with handles or wheels if they will be steady and it won’t harm the floor. All parts of containers should be able to carry the weight of the container and all its belongings. It is not good to store very heavy things because it can be difficult to move the container with them inside.

You need to keep the space under the bed relatively clean. From time to time it is necessary to change what belongings are kept in the containers and rearrange everything.

Wall Shelves

The installation of wall shelves is one of the best solutions for the residents of small flats. Unlike regular storage facilities, wall shelves do not take floor space but use the wall surfaces for storing various things. Usually, people have a number of free spaces on walls that can be used for storing books, plants, kitchenware, photos, cosmetic products, etc. Wall shelves can also be adjusted according to the shape of any particular wall, corner, or area.

Before mounting the shelf, one should measure the free space on the wall and think about the things he or she wants to keep there. Depending on the size and weight of those things, one should select the proper type of shelf board, brackets, screws, and wall anchors. Mark the location of the shelf with a pencil and use a leveler to ensure its straightness. If possible, one can mount brackets to wall studs. However, wall anchors should be selected specially for other wall types.

To build a simple shelf, one needs a pre-cut wooden board and two proper brackets. It is recommended to sand the surface of the board for its smoothing and then paint it with a desired color. When installing several shelves, one should ensure that there is enough vertical distance between them to put and remove things easily. Corner shelves can be especially effective in small rooms because they use the space that can remain unoccupied otherwise.

It is not advisable to place very heavy items on the shelves unless the whole mounting system is able to bear their weight. Overloading of shelves can lead to their bending, loosening, or falling down. One should check the installed shelf from time to time to ensure that screws are tight.

One can use wall shelves in almost all parts of a small flat. In the kitchen, one can store jars and utensils; in a bedroom – books and small accessories; in a bathroom – suitable shelves can accommodate cosmetic products. With the right measurements and hardware, one can create a functional storage space.

Door Storage

In a small home, the door could provide a good possibility for storing things by using its vertical space, which is often underutilized. Installing some suitable organizers at the back side of a bedroom, bathroom, pantry or closet doors would give you an additional storage place for various everyday items without wasting precious floor space. Such storage solution would be especially helpful in a small home when all possible space should be used.

The most convenient option for installing on a door is an over-the-door organizer, which contains several pockets, baskets or hooks and can be used for storing shoes, cleaning equipment, toilet articles, accessories or various household items. When choosing a specific organizer, first of all, you should check the dimensions of a door and make sure that the organizer will not affect the closing of the door. Also, you should keep the weight of items under the limit of the organizer’s recommendation.

Another simple idea for creating storage place on a door is to install some hooks on it. Small hooks could give you an opportunity to hang there your coat, bag, scarves, towel or any other light items. Depending on the material of the door and types of stored items, you can use various screws, adhesives or other mounting solutions, which are advised for a certain door surface. If you want to drill some holes, then you need to measure everything carefully and use right hardware for such installation.

As a custom solution for storing items on the door, you could design an organizer from a light wooden board with some hooks or baskets. Sanding and painting of the board should be done first, and then you can arrange the storage devices on the board. Light organizer could be installed on the back side of the pantry door for storing spices or kitchen items, or on the bedroom door for storing accessories or clothes.

You shouldn’t overload your door with heavy items, especially if it is light or its hinges are not made for carrying any extra loads. From time to time you should check all hooks, brackets and other hardware to make sure that everything is installed correctly. Besides, the stored items shouldn’t affect the door handle, hinges or door frame.

This is an easy way to create some additional storage place without any major changes.

Multi-Purpose Furniture

Multipurpose furniture can be described as one of the best storage furniture pieces for a small house since a single piece of furniture can be used for multiple purposes. As such, there will be no need to have many pieces of furniture in a room to have places for sitting, sleeping, working, and keeping various items. One can purchase multipurpose furniture that will perform multiple tasks and help keep things organized.

Storage bench is one of the simplest examples of the multipurpose furniture. It will not only provide one with a comfortable chair but also will feature storage under its surface. A bench with removable or hinged seat can serve to keep shoes, blankets, toys, bags, or any other things. Besides, ottoman with storage will be able to act as a chair and as a place to keep items.

Bed with drawers underneath is another perfect furniture option for small bedroom. There will be no need for having another storage furniture piece; instead, one can use a space under the bed to keep clothes, bedding, and any other things. A desk with shelves can be a great combination of workspace and storage for books, stationery, gadgets, and papers. Wall-mounted folding desk will be a good solution when the floor space is very limited since it can be folded back to the wall when not needed.

In case of creating or remodeling multipurpose furniture as a part of your DIY project, you should take exact measurements in order to ensure that furniture fits well in the chosen place and leaves enough room for functioning of doors, drawers, etc. The quality material should be selected for furniture creation; especially, one should think about quality materials when the furniture will serve as a support to someone. All hinges, brackets, screws, and all other hardware should be attached securely.

Safety is an issue that must be taken into consideration during modifications of furniture. No structure weakening should be performed while remodeling the furniture, and heavy furniture should be placed firmly. Anti-tip hardware may be needed for some pieces.

Multipurpose furniture will help you make good use of limited space without losing any comfort and practicality.

Kitchen Storage

A small kitchen is always hard to organize since there are many items to store in an insufficient amount of space. Plates, cups, cooking utensils, spices, containers with food, and home appliances can overcrowd countertops and cabinets pretty fast. Some simple DIY projects can help one to use any unused spaces for storing some items and put those which are often used close at hand.

Small wall shelves can be installed in suitable places. They can store jars, spices, cups, or any other kitchen stuff that doesn’t take too much weight. A narrow shelf can be put inside the cabinet door, and all the small items that can be easily lost can be kept there. Before any installation, it is necessary to check what the cabinet or wall is made of, and use appropriate fastenings for the required weight.

Some hooks can serve as a good solution too. They can be installed under the cabinets or in the suitable places on the walls, and used to hang mugs, cooking utensils, measuring tools, and any other lightweight accessories. A simple rail with hooks can keep all utensils in order, and leave some drawers free for other items. It should be noted that all hooks should be installed safely and not interfere with cooking.

Another good option is a drawer organization system. Any simple dividers made from suitable wood or plastic can help to keep utensils separate. Some storage containers can be put in cabinets to keep similar items in order. Labeling the containers can be very helpful to find the right dry products, baking items, or any less frequently used stuff.

It should be noted that additional space above the cabinets or on the sides of kitchen furniture can be used to store some things if it is safe to do so. However, one should never place anything too heavy in such locations.

Before any kitchen improvement, it is better to measure the suitable space and to decide what kind of items will be stored. One should not block any ventilation, electric outlets, home appliances, and any area needed to prepare the food safely. Some simple modifications can significantly improve the kitchen condition, leaving much more space on the counter and floor.

Bathroom Storage

Small bathrooms usually lack enough storage spaces for keeping the required items in order. However, there are several ways to organize the existing walls, corners, cabinets, and other available spaces for a better placement of toiletries, towels, cleaning agents, and personal items. The objective is to provide convenient access to everyday items while maintaining the bathroom free from clutter.

One can install some shelves on the bathroom walls in order to hang lightweight bathroom products. Thus, one can store folded towels, toilet paper rolls, skincare items, or other decorations. One can make a narrow shelf that will suit perfectly a certain area and require no additional space at all. In any case, while building shelves, one should choose appropriate materials and hardware for such conditions and fasten them firmly to the wall.

Also, one can use the hooks in order to hang some additional items in the bathroom. One can install several hooks in the convenient places in order to hang towels, robes, or lightweight bags. Besides, an over-the-door organizer may offer some space for small toiletries and cleaning agents without taking up the precious floor space. One should be aware of the necessity to use a certain organizer allowing the normal movement of the door.

The area under the bathroom sink may also be improved with the help of some containers or removable organizers. Small baskets can serve as separators of cleaning agents, extra toiletries, and other useful items. One should use labeled containers in order to avoid confusion and disorder. If the bathroom has some unused corner space, one can use a small freestanding shelf or any other storage unit.

Of course, one should take into account moisture when designing the storage system for the bathroom. It is better not to use any easily water-absorbing materials or materials which can get damaged by humidity unless one protects them properly. All electrical devices should be placed away from water, and there should be no storage system interfering with the plumbing, electrical items, and ventilation.

Thus, before starting the DIY storage process, one should carefully measure the area and think about what products should be stored there. One should keep all the necessary products near and put rarely used things somewhere else. Also, one should not overload shelves and cabinets with various stuff since some spare space will make cleaning easier.

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Conclusion

Storage creation does not have to be costly, or it does not require expensive furniture. One does not need to renovate a house to organize their stuff properly, although a bit of imagination and proper planning are required. One must utilize vertical space, hidden spaces, doors, furniture, and other elements of a house, which were not initially created for this purpose, but which can be used to store the things one needs.

Under-bed storage can be very helpful for people living in compact houses as it will provide some extra room for storing clothes, shoes, blankets, and seasonal possessions without taking any additional place on a floor. Wall shelves can be also very helpful because one can use their walls and the empty space on them to store books, plants, decorations, and other necessary things. Door storage is a good choice since one can use organizers, hooks, and little shelves without using precious floor space.

Multi-functionality of furniture can provide one with additional benefits because a storage bench, ottoman, bed with drawers, or desk with built-in storage will perform many tasks at once and will take space equal to one piece of furniture. For the kitchen and bathroom, there are very easy shelves, hooks, baskets, and organizers, which will help to store frequently needed things and maintain a clean look at the same time.

Before making any DIY project of storage one needs to measure the space, one has, to think about the weight and the purpose of the things to be stored, to use proper materials, to secure mountings for shelves and wall organizers, and to leave door, drawer, plumbing, electric outlets and ventilation access.

Thus, good storage means not only additional space, but the more efficient utilization of the existing one. Such simple storage projects can be done in order to make the compact home more organized, functional and comfortable. Starting from simple storage projects and making improvements, one can build a functional home with the help of cheap DIY storage projects.