Creative storage ideas

Sometimes it seems that things materialize in our homes by themselves and begin to absorb space, displacing the owners of the home. Cluttered balconies, dusty mezzanines, wardrobes that can't hold clothes. To somehow remedy the situation, you can use the advice of designers on unusual storage of things. Or just do the cleaning. And better - both.

Optimizing the space of a small apartment is just two simple steps:

• get rid of unnecessary items;
• choose the most suitable place for the necessary ones.

The fight against the inner Plyushkin is a serious matter. More than one treatise has been written on getting rid of unnecessary things. One of the most effective advice: the object should bring either benefit or joy, and ideally, both, otherwise you need to get rid of it. It is unlikely that the matter will be limited to one total cleaning - the trash is perfectly able to mimic the "need". To get started, take a look at the following categories:

• Empty container. Even housewives who are not engaged in household preparations accumulate whole batteries of glass jars. And also bottles, plastic containers, boxes and so on.

• Non-working equipment and spare parts from it. If within a year you did not take the old printer for repair, do not be fooled - in the near future you will not carry it there, and if you have found the strength to part with the broken mixer, there is no need to store the corollas.
• Outdated gadgetssuch as a cassette player and more.
• Printed products. Books, magazines, newspapers. What you read once and are not going to reread.
• Used, out of fashion items and accessories. Fashion, of course, sometimes comes back, but think about this: truly vintage things look good only on young girls, and older ladies they age.

After cleaning, the potential storage space should be critically assessed. It is possible that they will have to be expanded, but this does not mean that it is time to get ready for new furniture. There are much more budgetary ways - sometimes it is enough to reconsider your attitude to storage, and an original idea will save space.

Remember, the fewer things you see, the neater the space looks. Therefore, you need to think over a list of things that you would like to remove. Start with large items or those of which there are many.

A sample list might look like this:

• clothes;
• shoes;
• linens;
• home textiles (bedspreads, tablecloths, curtains, and so on);
• dishes. Here it is worth thinking about the storage locations for daily used items and "holiday sets";
• books. No matter what they say, Russians are among the three most reading nations, and there are many books in our homes;
• we also live in one of the most athletic countries. Think about where the sports equipment will be stored (dumbbells, jump ropes, stepper, skis, skate, etc.);

• your hobby. If you are fond of drawing, you need to decide where you will keep the easel, paints, brushes, paper, canvas;
• large items of children's use (strollers, sleds, ice-skins, and so on);
• household appliances (vacuum cleaner, iron, steamer, etc.);
• tools (drill, hammer, screwdrivers, etc.);
• cleaning items (basins, mop, broom).

Now you need to find a place for each category of things. It is better if it is one, that is, all shoe boxes, for example, will be stored in one of the sections of the closet, and not hidden in secluded corners throughout the apartment. This approach to storing things allows, on the one hand, to avoid clutter - after all, a thing that has become unnecessary will immediately appear in plain sight. On the other hand, it will save you from unnecessary expenses: after all, we often buy some kind of "duplicate" item, because we cannot find what we need.

Whatever the area of ​​your home, you can make it more spacious. A clear understanding of what you would like to get as a result, and a phased organization of the space will help you.

The idea behind the surface is transformable furniture. Already you will surprise no one with folding sofas, folding tables, wardrobes with a built-in workplace. One of the most popular transformers is the chair-bed. Sometimes designers come up with fantastic things.

Immediate replacement of furniture with more functional models is uneconomical, however, if the time comes to change something in the interior, promise yourself to choose the most rational option.

A great way to optimize space is a podium. This design not only helps to save space, but also allows you to zone the room. There are many options for creating a podium in an apartment, while the simplest of them is quite capable of being realized by a “home master”.

Often the area of ​​a small apartment is zoned using shelving. In this case, it is better if the model is tall - from floor to ceiling, otherwise there is a chance that the rack will "cut" the space, making the room smaller. And the capacity of the high rack is more.

All kinds of shelves are needed, all kinds of shelves are important. Unlike wardrobes, they usually do not weigh down the space. Thanks to modern solutions, the shelves can be adapted to store almost any item, and they do not look boring at all.

You can hang on the wall not only the shelf. And not only a bicycle - other dimensional items related to your hobby can fit perfectly into the interior. For athletes, these are skateboards, snowboards, surfboards. For musicians - instruments. In the inventory of hunters and fishermen, there are also items that can become interior decoration, but do not forget about safety precautions.

Pay attention to the space by the windows. Modern designers offer solutions that turn ordinary window sills into a work area, a bookcase, or a small chest of drawers. Of course, the position of the heating radiators should be taken into account.

Empty corners are a luxury that a small apartment owner cannot afford. Remember that most corner furniture models are more ergonomic. In the corner, you can place a work area by placing a corner computer table, or a relaxation area by placing a corner sofa.

Typically, the space above the doorway remains empty. And this, too, is a waste of space. The simplest option is an ordinary shelf, which can be used to store books, documents, albums - any items that you do not use every day.

You can approach the issue more creatively - create an open wardrobe "with the letter P"using the space above the door. In the hallway, a similar model can be used to store accessories, and in the kitchen - for dishes.

Above the interior doorway, you can place the mezzanine compartments of the "closet to the whole wall".

And the door itself can serve not only as a space divider.

And perhaps there is also a storage space behind the door.

Small apartments usually do not have areas such as a pantry or dressing room, and most of the belongings are kept in closets. Of course, the larger and taller the cabinet, the better, but a lot also depends on how rationally the space inside will be organized.

Do not forget that you can store more than just clothes in the closet. The mezzanine compartments can be easily adapted for storing blankets, home textiles, seasonal sports equipment, interior decorations for all kinds of holidays. If there are no mezzanine compartments - well, you can create a semblance of them by placing beautiful interior boxes on the cabinet. And in one of the sections there can be a place for a vacuum cleaner and an ironing board.

Another storage space that cannot be ignored is under the bed or under the sofa. Of course, not under every berth you can arrange a small warehouse, it all depends on the model in your apartment. Often, beds and sofas are equipped with special drawers or compartments for linen. If there are no such boxes, but there is free space, look at hardware stores for suitable boxes or trunks.

It's great if the balcony was turned into an additional room., and it was transformed into a winter garden, a study, a recreation area. But the reality is that in most small apartments, devoid of storage rooms, balconies become a place of chaotic storage of things: homework, baby carriages, badminton rackets, dumbbells, non-working household appliances and a workable vacuum cleaner that did not find a place in the main premises, and so on. ... A well-thought-out storage system will help to cope with this pile-up - it can be a rack, a closed cabinet, a chest of drawers, a chest, it all depends on the needs of the owners. And who knows, maybe after putting things in order, there will be space for a small sports simulator.

Different storage options are possible for different rooms.

First of all, ergonomic furniture will help preserve space in the kitchen. The space of the headsets is used to the maximum - the corner "dead zones" of kitchen cabinets have disappeared.

• A built-in compartment for household appliances can be fitted under the wall cabinet.
• An interesting solution is a bread bin built into the worktop.
• A vertical drawer for storing trays can provide significant space savings. You can store other baking dishes there as well.
• A mobile kitchen table is a godsend for all small kitchens.

The most optimal height for kitchen furniture is from floor to ceiling, but this option is usually only made to order. At the very top, there may be a place for things that you rarely use, for example, for any little used household appliances or utensils. And there can be storage space underneath the kitchen unit too.

Open shelves are great when perfect order reigns there, and items stored for practical use also serve as interior decoration. But often you want to put more on the shelf - the result is a messy look.

Baskets or cute containers will help to solve the problem, one of which can also be taken away for storing medicines:

• Many household items can be stored in hanging baskets. They are also suitable for storing vegetables and fruits.
• If roof rails are installed in the kitchen, then their functionality should be used to the maximum.
• With the help of the crossbars, a place for storing the lids is organized. And it is not necessary that they be kept in plain sight.

• Another way to unload crates is with a perforated panel with integrated hooks. It can be installed on a wall or on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door.
• There is a chopping board stand - great.No - it can easily be replaced by a narrow basket made of moisture-resistant material, and if the boards are small, they can be stored in a plastic container for papers.
• The same container can be used to store foil, parchment paper, cling film. It can be attached to any vertical surface.
• An empty napkin jar will find a second life as a place for storing trash bags.

Bathrooms are perhaps the most limited in terms of space in our dwellings, and you always want to put a lot there. It is advisable that the washing machine is there, and a supply of towels, and a dryer, and detergents, and cosmetics. Every centimeter of usable space will be used in the lockers, and any niche will become an impromptu open cabinet with hanging shelves.

• It is inappropriate to leave empty space under the bathroom.
• The space above the toilet can also be used.
• The bathroom has a doorway, which means you can hang a shelf above it. And attach a couple of hooks to the door itself.

• Railing can also save space in the bathroom. If you don't want to drill extra holes in your favorite tile, use a curtain rod.
• Items that are used every day can fit in neat organizers.
• An ordinary ladder can become a towel rack.
• And the step-ladder will turn into a neat bookcase.

• For many, the issue of drying clothes is relevant. Even the smallest bathroom has room for a ceiling dryer. Wall mount options may be considered.
• For a curling iron and a hair dryer, it is better to purchase special stands that are mounted on the walls. A more budget option is to hang it on hooks attached to the side wall or the inside of the cabinet door under the sink.
• Wall-mounted toothbrush holders and an unusual shelf above the tap will help a little to unload the space.

The most obvious storage space in a bedroom is the bedside space. Try to use it as efficiently as possible. This is often the place where seasonal clothes and shoes are stored.

A simple and effective solution - using the space above the head of the bed and around it. It all depends on your decision and the availability of free space. It can be either one shelf or a whole P-shaped storage system.

• If the size of the bedroom does not allow installing side tables or shelving by the bed, consider the idea of ​​a pull-out section.
• A narrow bedside rack will not take up much space, and there is enough space on its shelves for an alarm clock, a telephone, an interesting book, and your favorite perfume.
• A completely minimalistic solution is a corner bedside shelf.
• In the hidden compartments of the head of the bed, you can store bed linen, pillows, blankets.

The clothes on the chairs look messy, and the wardrobe doesn't fit in the room, or you just don't like it. Consider an open wardrobe option. A mobile clothes rack does not clutter up the space, and if you decide to create a full-fledged clothes storage system, it can be hidden from prying eyes behind a light partition or curtain.

• Many cannot give up the habit of falling asleep to the measured muttering of the TV. But it doesn't have to be on the wall.
• A similar idea can be realized by placing a TV in a chest, which can be not only an interesting element of the interior, but also serve as a bedside table or bedside table. The chest does not have to be made of wood and look old-fashioned.
• You can't hide a TV in a pouf, but useful space can be found there too.
• And an ordinary mirror can become magical - after all, you can keep your "treasures" behind it.

The "Made in Yugoslavia" wall was the dream of Soviet citizens. Bulky furniture walls are a thing of the past, but the idea of ​​making the most of the wall space remains.Modern storage systems combine open and closed modules, and this technique allows you to visually lighten the space.

• The center of such a storage system can be a TV or fireplace.
• The wall on which the window is located is not "wasted" space.
• As a rule, upholstered furniture is indispensable in the living room. Now there is a huge selection of sofas, poufs, armchairs with storage boxes.
• A non-standard idea for storing books is an armchair-bookcase.
• Books can also be stored on shelves high around the perimeter of the room.
• Coffee and coffee tables can also combine the functions of nightstands or bookshelves, or they can be simply invisible.

When arranging a children's room, one must take into account the general rules for creating free space. Furniture should be as functional as possible, more light and clean, light colors.

However, if in other rooms high shelves and racks help, then in a nursery the use of such furniture is problematic. A stool - a ladder can help out.

The main problem is toy storage. It is not about the lack of storage systems, but about choosing the right one. This could be a chest of drawers or a small cabinet.

• The textile floor basket is ideal for storing soft toys.
• Or you can install a hanging basket.
• But plastic toys are best stored in boxes on wheels, containers. Or in a whole tower of containers.
• Buckets can come in handy too.
• There will be more order with a carpet bag.
• Small toys will find their place in baskets or containers on the shelves.
• Or in wall pockets, baskets.
• You can also place hooks on the walls, which are suitable not only for clothes, but also for backpacks, bags with toys, and so on.

Many things that save us space can be created with our own hands. Even structures that are complex at first glance are not so difficult to execute.

If you do not live in the frosty region, if you have boards, plywood, polystyrene or expanded polystyrene, you can build a thermo box for storing vegetables on the balcony. If the room is cold in winter, then the thermobox will also need a heating system.

Fabric, foam rubber, furniture stapler - and the thermo box turns into a nice resting place. And your balcony becomes more comfortable.

The summer option for storing vegetables on the balcony is a rack made of boxes, it can be made mobile. Such a cabinet will look appropriate in the kitchen.

A light, space-saving storage system for the living room. And it is based on all the same ordinary wooden boxes.

Neat shelves and racks are obtained from pallets. And it's up to you to determine their intended purpose.

Another look at a familiar thing from an unusual angle. Chair-poufs made of tires. Try to use bright colors to decorate them. The inside of the product can be equipped with a storage compartment.

And by the way, old tires are useful not only for creating chairs.

• Any box with a lid can easily turn into a pouf if you sew a cover.
• The cardboard box will become a place to store toys.
• The pouf cover can also be knitted.
• And if knitting is your hobby, there will be no shortage of organizer baskets.
• Tin cans are a godsend for the hand-made lover. After all, you can make a huge number of useful things out of them and store kitchen utensils, stationery and even shoes there.

• Glass jars are also great for creativity.
• Not only clothes are hung on hangers.
• And suitcases do not have to be taken with you on a trip. Perhaps they will be more useful as lockers and banquets.
• Hinged pockets for storing small things will come in handy in the nursery, and in the bedroom, and in the kitchen, and in the hallway.

Your home is your personal space. There is a fashion for interior and design items, however things around should bring joy and comfort to you... The lamp from the tire will delight someone with indescribable delight, and horror for someone.

• Asymmetrical shelves are a perfectionist's nightmare and an interesting interior solution.
• The bedside lamp will find its place on the renewed dresser.
• Don't be afraid of bright accents. Perhaps the decoration of the living room will be a cozy multicolor pouf.
• Wall mirror framed by plastic spoons. Unusual and budgetary.

• Country style coffee table. Also not expensive.
• Pockets can be located not only on the walls.
• There is usually little light in the hallways. Such a non-standard "rug" in front of the door will help to add colors.
• You can also put a tree hanger in the hallway.
• Here, with the help of tree trunks, the space was zoned.
• And in conclusion, a few photo examples of the design of small rooms.

For information on how to organize storage of things in the closet, see the next video.