Storage happens, but too often storage spaces develop without a plan. We stash something where there's an empty spot, then pile something else on top of it, and so on, until one day we've forgotten where we put any of it. And, in the meantime, the pile has grown big enough to cause problems of its own. One reason we create such visible messes with our haphazard, unplanned storage habits is that we fail to consider the large, and largely empty, spaces that exist around the house. The first step in planned storage, therefore, is to inventory the potential storage spaces that surround you. Let's start at the top.
- Attics
Many people have no idea what their attic looks like, nor even how to get into it. If you have a flat roof, chances are you don’t have an attic. But beneath most sloped roofs is a big, largely empty space that, with a little attention, can serve as a major storage depot. Unfinished attics are typically outside of the thermal envelope wrapping a house. That means they are going to reflect the temperature outside rather than inside, so you need to think carefully about what you store up there.
- Walls
Short of beds, couches, recliners and other big, heavy pieces of furniture, there is almost nothing else that can't be stored on the wall. Wall-hung bookcase units have been around for many years, but there has been an increasing trend toward hanging shelf and cabinet units for use in the kitchen, in closets, in home offices and media rooms. Wall-hung storage units are so versatile and easy to install that you might find that they can easily replace a host of furniture pieces. One additional benefit is that they keep the floors clear.
- Closets
I know what you're saying: "Nobody 'overlooks' closets for storage." True, most closets certainly are used for storage. Too often, however, they are also full of empty space (such as that big gap between hanging pants and the shoes on the floor) or a big pile of . . . well, who actually knows what is in there? A closet makeover is often one of the most effective storage chores you can do. Easy, inexpensive tips for closet organizing include adding separate clothes rods for short items (like shirts) and long items (like dresses) and putting in shelves for shoes. Closet organizing systems are a great way to create customized, super-efficient storage. Top Choices in Closet Organizers is a good place to begin researching the options.
- Pantries
Pantries were once a standard feature of new houses, and then they faded as modern house styles replaced traditional designs. But it's hard to keep a good idea down, and pantries are a very good idea that has been enjoying something of a comeback. Though kitchen uses and cooking habits seem to vary widely from one household to another, just about everyone benefits from having a nicely organized space to store large, little used and/or unopened goods. A separate room is nice, but when that is not an option it is still possible to dedicate a specific zone of the kitchen as your pantry.
- Garages
Garages are built first and foremost to house vehicles. There are times, however, when it seems a little foolish to give over such a large, protected space to cars, which, after all, are built to withstand the elements at their harshest. But whether or not you wish to share your garage with the vehicles in your life, there are many ways to create terrific garage storage spaces that can simplify your life. With so much empty wall and ceiling space, the options are almost unlimited.
