No matter what size house or apartment we upgrade to, we never seem to have enough room to hold our possessions, and finding a home for keepsakes in tight living quarters is like trying to squeeze a boat into a bathroom. Instead, we watch as our memorabilia explodes out of drawers, picture frames are smashed together, precious wedding memories are pinched between file boxes, and drawers can’t be pried open with the drastic amount of clothes stuffed in them.

A Goodwill cleanse is a cramped-home pick-me-up and could be a solution to the above. But if you’re in a smaller space and plan to grow into a larger home—or if you just can’t part with the stuff you have—then it may seem like you’re out of luck. 

Enter creative home storage solutions.

Storage doesn’t have to be limited to the cabinets above your closet or the entirety of your garage. There are clever storage solutions that can help ease your congested domain and will spread the collection of your life into an organized consensus.

Add Shelves to Maximize Pantry Storage

Kitchens are a repository nightmare. Much of our pantry space goes to waste because of improperly spaced shelves, leaving a foot of unused airspace above our spices. The answer? Add custom shelving.

Install a Pull-out Hamper in Your Laundry Area

Laundry hampers take up tons of ground space. Instead of stealing square footage from your room, get your dirty laundry out of sight by implementing an easy-to-install pull-out hamper in your laundry area.

Add Endless Drawers With Your Staircase

It’s quite a DIY project, but this may be the most effective way to annex more storage space. If you have a two-story home, turn each step into a storage goldmine by making drawers out of each stair.

Ottomans = Storage

Footrests that don’t serve another purpose aren’t welcome in a storage-conscious space. Create a space for your extra blankets, bath towels, pillows, and even your extra pairs of shoes by utilizing multiple ottomans for storage.

Fireplace Makeover

Extinguish the flames and turn the thermostat up for a big new cache. After cleaning out your fireplace, use it to proudly display mountains of books or load your home’s overflowing items into a few stacked artsy cases.

Your Chest or Bench Becomes the Only Filing Cabinet You’ll Ever Need

Files all over the place? Turn that chest or bench at the foot of your bed into an easy-access filing cabinet for all your important papers. No drill necessary—a cheap hanging file-folder frame should do the trick.

Wrap the Room With Shelves

Have a collection of books or trinkets that don’t need to be accessible all the time? Wrap your living room (or all rooms) with high floating shelves to get items out of your hair. Get a library ladder to access your knickknacks stylishly, and hang blankets on the rungs when you’re not using it.

Tension Rods for Just About Everything

Tension rods are a miracle for storage solutions, and they don’t have to look terrible. Use one under the sink to hang all of your cleaning bottles, and stick a few in the closet for your heels, ties, and scarves. Have crafts? Use a few rods as a ribbon rack for your artsy area.

Under the Bed and Under the Couch

Had it with hordes of Halloween costumes and old memorabilia? Pile them into an under-the-bed organizer and say sayonara for now. Better yet, invest in a headboard and bedframe with ample drawers and nooks.

Get Vertical With Stacked Antique Suitcases

Vertical space has ample storage opportunities. Instead of stacking shelves, find antique bookcases, fill each to the brim, and stack them all the way to the ceiling.

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