I'm always swimming in papers, cards, notes, etc. that I don't want to part with. So I like getting decorative and/or vintage looking boxes that fit the room's motif while still holding things. The boxes can always be stacked or things placed on top of it like a make-shift shelf. :)

I like to collect old crocks. They are all around in my kitchen and dining room, and I have a little "list" of what is in what so I can find things easily. Double the pleasure for me; I get to look at them, AND they are storage too!

When I livedf in an apartment, I used to store things at work ... christmas tree, ornaments, etc. :)

I had a friend who used shower/tub molded units in both children's bathrooms. The area from the top of the unit to the ceiling was completed with sheet rocked. Not long after the house was complete, she realized what a waste of space that was and had the builder build a box into that area and enclose it with cabinet doors. She stored all of her offseason linens in them. No more trying to figure out where to put those bulky beach towels or heavy blankets when they weren't being used.

LOL indianpatti -- that's hilarious. And genius.

I like to use decorative boxes, even old sewing boxes. The wood box in the photo was originally a sewing box. It stores small family items in the dining room that the client wanted to keep but rarely used: butter pats and salters and salt spoons and name card holders.... Boxes can be stacked and look great, they work for small spaces and large ones too. Other items can sit on top such as the lamp and small painting shown here.

Probably my best storage accident happened when my construction team quit for the day in the midst of shuffling furniture from one room to another. The semi-antique dresser that landed in the middle of the kitchen (um, guys, really?) was going to be a nuisance so I slid it right under the island ledge and, Eureka! Added drawers to the kitchen, and just the shot of old soul to a new space.

My mom has the craziest stacking techniques. It's like a real life game of Tetris for her when she wants to fit everything in a tiny space. She even "organizes" the trash can! Luckily, I inherited some of her skills and can always make room in the fridge for bulky items.

I have small chests with drawers in almost every room downstairs. They look great, offer limitless opportunities for displaying beautiful lamps and chatchkas and I have drawers space out the wazoo!

Like Shakuff...I have taken to decorative, different patterned boxes that go with the room. Ex.: under my side board is a pretty box with a magnet lid that houses my candles and candle sticks when they need to be removed from the table so I can set it for a dinner. You can find them at Home Goods/Marshalls if you have one near you.

Fasanating!:)

Those back of the door shoe pocket organizers are great! I have them in my office on the back of the closet door with those seldom used, but essential, office items, in the bathroom with q-tips, band-aids, hair products, etc., on the wall in my closet with socks, etc. Easy to organize and easy to find an item. On the back of other doors I use towel racks and hang purses, table cloths, etc. on them. I utilize every empty out of the way spot I can find!
I almost forgot the towel warmer that was in an out of the way space. It's in an awkward spot and you'd drip water all over the oak floor getting to it if you wanted a warm towel. I use it to hang my fun necklaces on. Keeps them organized and easy to select just the right one!

I turned a tiny broom closet into a canning pantry recently by purchasing wooden crates and had them built specifically with two deep (one without a bottom). I stacked them 4 high, and ended up with 4 double-deep wooden crates to store all my freshly canned goods on. The tiny broom closet previously housed a broom and dustpan and a small coat/clothes rod for guests. The broom and dustpan can still fit along side the crates stacked up, and we take the guests coats to lay on our bed during their visit. No harm in that. Otherwise, I had no space for all my canning efforts - we're talking over 100 jars! I was thrilled to find this space!

I used a tension shower rod on the inside of the shower just a few inches from the wall and use that to hold the shampoo bottles, shower gel, etc. and keep them off the edge of the tub.

We have several wooden cigar boxes that we put to good use. One sits on the end table with remote controls, ink pen and paper, and a couple of spare batteries for the remotes. We have another in the bath room that holds cotton balls a Q-tips. I also use a smaller one in my dressing area to hold lipstick and other small needed items that otherwise clutter the space and make it difficult to dust. Don't tell but actually my husband keeps his denture cleaning tables in one in the bath. Decorative Yet Useful!

This revolving, mirrored shelving unit is one of the most well imagined pieces of furniture I've ever bought. When I need access to the hidden make-up, linens etc it revolves on a lazy Susan. No doors, just open shelving. I bought it at World Market and filled it with clear plastic containers from The Container Store (perfect fit). This way, I pull out whatever I'm using - no hassle and I get a great mirror.

I sew and have scraps and fabrics to keep handy. Larger pieces I hang over a hanger in the closet (also good for storing tablecloths) and smaller bits I have stored in vintage picnic baskets that are in perfect condition, like Redman and Hawkeye. I love baskets so this fixes that need. I label them by fabric color and keep them on open shelving in the sewing/guest bedroom.

Like retiredbp2, I once turned a broom closet into better storage. I put shelves in the top half for storage. I put a hanging bar at about the halfway point. It then served as additional closet space for jackets. This left the front hall closet available for long coats.

O-o-h, you people are talking my language...I LOVE organizing things! My house may look like a train wreck (very lived in) but if you go into my closets, vanities, cupboards and dresser drawers, you will see everything neatly categorized, contained or more importantly HIDDEN in a variety of purchased and/or repurposed storage containers (jars, shoeboxes, baskets, cartons, boxes, plastic tubs, crates, reusable plastic food containers, cans, tins etc.) I do try especially with the repurposed items to decorate them in some way so when someone for example looks in my vanity, they don't see a spaghetti sauce jar holding my Q-tips but rather a pretty jar (painted lid, pretty label). For aesthetic reasons I try decorating most of my repurposed items with paint or cover them with wrapping paper, contact or wallpaper that coordinates with the décor in the room. All that effort isn't really necessary because most of these storage items are behind doors but it makes me feel better and gives me an outlet for my creativity.

For bigger items (storing unused linens and out of season clothes) I use two big trunks and three old suitcases I inherited. I just incorporate them into the room décor. When I bought my first house, I had a collection of straw hats that became a focal point on my bedroom wall. I did a display of them over my headboard instead of hiding them in a closet. They became artwork and looked good! A few years ago I had a long sofa table that I used behind my couch. Eventually I decided it was too dated (screamed 70's) in style to use in my living room but since it was still very functional, I moved it to my dining room to use as a buffet. I stuck it under a mirror, sewed a very tailored box-skirted cover for it, and then hid four baskets underneath the skirt where I kept my extra table linens, flat wear etc.

My project for 2014 is removing a useless kitchen cupboard and bottom cabinet next to my refrigerator to install a very simple pull out pantry that will give me storage space for all my non-perishable foods.

Occasionally, it would be nice to be able to buy some of the wonderful storage items I see when shopping, but I live on a really tight budget and can't afford splurges for non-essentials. I have to admit that out of necessity I have come to enjoy the process of creating what I need for organizing my life. After all I am attaining the same end result. Thanks for an interesting and idea provoking question. Enjoyed it.

When I downsized this spring, and moved to a duplex that had 8 foot floor-to-ceiling closets, I used one in the hallway as my food pantry, since the kitchen had so few cabinets. I have shelves every 16 inches or so, and am able to categorize my foods by type--vegetables, fruits, dessert mixes, etc.--on each shelf! Everything is so very easy to see and I can rotate foods as I get low on something and buy more to replace it. Much nicer than storing extras in the garage or basement, as I used to have to do!

Lazy susans in the kitchen cabinets = LOVE!! Plastic shoe boxes in the kitchen - we have one for my husbands huge collection of spice rubs & one for my vinegar collection. You can pull out the box & see everything you have without having to remove 1/2 the contents of a cabinet to get to what you seek. My sis uses small ones for spices - one for savory, one for baking & sweet spices.

I hung plastic hooks all over the door of my panty to hang wok, colander, jello molds, bread baskets.

Small plastic mini chest of drawers in the bath linen closet to help organize extra hotel shampoo, toothpaste, hair clips & other small items.

Boxes on closet shelves let you stuff it full to the ceiling. Like JaneMary1, I have stored stuff under draped tables too!

Extra bookcases in closets make useful storage for gifts, vases, etc.

@felixgrantham: Lazy susans in kitchen cabinets
We SOoooooooooo much need those

I place furniture diagonally across corners and store in the triangular space behind. works especially well with tall bookshelves and headboards.

Lauriedeetz clever plan but how do you move the bookshelves or the bed when you need to retrieve the stored items???? :>{

"Moving Men" furniture gliders. :p Walmart sells an off-brand version

I'm trying to get rid of stuff :) but after reading all these posts I realize that everyone is more clever than I am :)