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POLL: Unconventional storage

12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
What's your favorite unconventional storage idea?

Vote for your choice! To win a pair of Houzz slippers, post a comment telling us about your strangest storage ideas, (photos welcomed too) and you will automatically be entered into the drawing.

*One entry per person, per drawing. Entries must be posted before 12:00am Pacific Time 2/12/2014. One winner will be drawn at random.

Comments (83)

  • 12 years ago
    Love the Lego idea!! My son loves Legos it would be fun to have him make us some for our new kitchen!
  • 12 years ago
    Irina Northman's use of the under stairs drawers is an idea I have always liked.
    None of the ideas shown work for me.
  • 12 years ago
    I like the LEGO AND THE LADDER.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    me encantó el lego, algo tan diferente, ....muy creativo !
  • 12 years ago
    legos
  • 12 years ago
    I use vintage suitcase to store my sewing supplies like zippers and trim. I made tags out of the cardboard cartons soda cans come in to label them.
  • 12 years ago
    I've also used 3 oatmeal boxes, attached as a triangle to stuff plastic grocery bags in, some for clean dust rags, overflow for other plastic bags.
  • 12 years ago
    I would like the bookshelf/ladder idea in a rustic room.
  • 12 years ago
    When my son was little, he had oodles of Legos with different specialty pieces. To keep them somewhat organized we used expandable fishing tackle boxes.
  • 12 years ago
    I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT IS EASY LOOK FOR STORAGE AND ORGANIZER.
  • 12 years ago
    además, me gusta el contraste de un juego como utensilio de cocina y el colorido que aporta
  • 12 years ago
    I'm a beader who would rather spend money on beads and supplies than organizers. When I saw a clearance sale of Rubbermaid drawer organizers I knew they would make perfect bead storage shelves. Since the drawer organizers interlock I can add more when needed. And since I also like to recycle I now ask my friends and family members to save me their small glass jars and bottles for beads.
  • 12 years ago
    We are totes addicts. We must have 35 of the 65 qt. size. We have them our two attic spaces, in our closets, hobby room, storage room and of course, the garage. We can't park in our garage because of the all the totes. I will admit, some are my son's, and some will go with him to his new home but most are filled with my crafting stuff.
  • 12 years ago
    Most practical for me are the large plastic crates with wheels. Store Christmas decorations, shoes, large items, craft books. Shoe boxes are great for scrap pieces of fabric, and labelled as to size and colours. Also, stackable drawers on wheels, don't take up a lot of space! Biscuit tins for threads, separate ones for needles, machine and hand sewing. Garden pots for writing supplies. Tool chest on wheels fir paper craft supplies and beading. Yes, spend too much time on craft methinks!!!!
  • 12 years ago
    I have this really nice mug that I just bought, and one day as I was making myself a nice hot beverage it cracked :( (it was the second time I was using it)....and so I just decided to put it on my desk and keep all my writhing equipment in it. :)
  • 12 years ago
    I use the second oven to store all the frying pans. Don't ever bake so much that we need to use both ovens together.
  • 12 years ago
    I use an old woven Sherpa bag to hold saved Travel articles, postcards & sentimental souvenirs.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I use have used unconventional storage for many years: old Wagon for reference books, Hoosier cabinet for makeup station, metal picnic basket for art supplies and large lunch pail for sewing notions.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Hoosier cupboard in my bathroom:)
  • 12 years ago
    My most creative storage solution has to be my "Magic Closet". I found an extra large baker's rack for $50 on Craig's List and put it in our unused bathtub. I used full length curtain panels (longer than a shower curtain) for more vertical coverage. LOTS of storage right where I need it!
  • 12 years ago
    My most creative storage solution was when I lived overseas in a very small house with my husband and two small children. At the end of a short hallway there were three doors. The one to the left going into a bedroom, the one to the right going to a linen closet and the one straight ahead going into the bathroom. The frames of the doors were very wide and prominent and the ceilings were high. The top of the door frames was the perfect place to place a shelf that spanned the width of the hallway. I bought a piece of plywood, cut it to the exact size of the space for a good tight fit and painted it. Then I set it on top of the wide door frames above the three doors. On 3 sides it butted up against the walls. I now had about 3 feet of usable space above the shelf for storage. I rigged up a cute curtain to go from the ceiling to the bottom of the shelf to hide the items I planned to store there and hung it over the open side. I used it to store extra bedding, Christmas presents for the children, etc. It was a great use of this unused space.
  • 12 years ago
    I think the cardboard cutouts would look better with some paint or decorative tape on them. A lot of great ideas.
  • 12 years ago
    I feel that all this is just to clutter for me. I don't like a lot out in the open. Always love the saying that less is more!

    However I came up with making like medicine cabinet shelves from wood, painting and hinging cork board on the front. Then take fabric and cover cork board. This give kids a place to store video games movies or even crafts.

    Right now I'm working on two projects in my 14 year old daughters room. Trying to provide lots of hidden storage.
    First picture is of cabinet I'm working on for around tv. I still have to add shelves paint and hinge cork board on front of the two sides and cover in the popular Zebra.
    Next is doing the same to hinged trifold mirrors so she can put her purfumes nail polish and all her beauty products
    Last picture is of an old shelving unit I made when my oldest was still as home.
    N
  • 12 years ago
    If no longer being played with, the lego would look nice melted together
  • 12 years ago
    When remodeling a leaking bathroom, I noticed the space behind the shower was framed in, but empty. It was also under the staircase. I had the contractor install a small door (a scrap) and frame the door case with leftover moulding. I installed cedar planks on the floor, and a new doorknob--instant storage for extra china, decorations, and linens. It smells so good to open that door and see all those items safely hidden away.
  • 12 years ago
    The Legos are my favorite. I have stored clothing temporarily in garbage bags during a move.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Old boxes and also clay crocks !
  • 12 years ago
    I have to go with the metal tubs and buckets. I have about seven tubs that I plant with a variety of annuals. The ones in the front garden each have a birdhouse in them. And I just have a weakness for buckets.
  • 12 years ago
    silver metal tins from powdered drinks etcwere great shiny storage for my sons room when he had a space theme
  • 12 years ago
    We took a metal silverware drawer organizer and hung it vertically on my son's wall to display his action figures.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I'm loving the old ladder as a bookcase! Especially great for a store or for a cottage look.
  • 12 years ago
    I voted for the legos. I thought it was colorful and a great way to crate something fun with your favorite little guy or girl.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I like finding something unexpected to keep a plunger in:
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    The idea is to reduce clutter, not add to it with crazy storage - which is why I think unique buckets make a for a great storage option. Though I am a huge Lego fan...
  • 12 years ago
    Barnhart Gallery: What a great idea! Thanks so much.
  • 12 years ago
    Barnhart Gallery, I used the bottom half of a cookie jar for the toilet brush!. Yes, It has "Cookies written on the front. Use and re-use is my motto!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Old wooden crates.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    LOL ssgtkitty! Pity any visiting children...
  • 12 years ago
    I have hardware (?) boxes with 18 and 24 little clear drawers. Okay, the one in the garage holds various screws, nuts, nails, etc., but since it worked so well there I ran with the idea and put one in my sewing! That one I use for bobbins, spare buttons, safety pins, sewing needles, etc.
  • 12 years ago
    I use a bread basket to store extra paper towels on top of my fridge
  • 12 years ago
    JudithGeis

    We moved and my large L-shaped desk would not fit in my office at our new residence.
    I needed a large work surface so I used a maple kitchen table pushed up against the wall with a bookcase on top of the table also pushed back against the wall. My husband cut a bathroom drawer cabinet to fit perfectly under the right side of the table. It works better and offers much more storage.
  • 12 years ago
    I recently moved into a smaller space. Have a huge queen size bed that takes up about half the bedroom, but I can't afford to replace it right now . Anyone got an idea ?
  • 12 years ago
    I voted for the scale because it was the only one I thought was unconventional. It seemed unusual to me, and the others weren't. By the way, as best as I could tell The milk jugs are really milk cans. 1960s & 1970s they were very popular.
  • 12 years ago
    p. s. Although I like the Legos, one can buy them at the container store. To me that means they cannot be unconventional.
  • 12 years ago
    My own storage ideas are not outside the box but my favourite is the book that hides all the tv remote controls. I also love my tall wire Eiffel Tower which holds my ear rings.
  • 12 years ago
    @Cynthia: If you build simple storage (I once used unpainted particle board that acquired a kinda nice "patina" as it aged) in back of the bed wall on the whole wall and don't use a headboard, you eliminate your bureau or dresser and night tables by placing your stuff in baskets (really inexpensive at Ikea) on the shelves. I had the two central columns of the bookcase align with the width of the bed. Directly in back of the bed in the two columns was solid particle board that were like a headboard. The two openings on top of those I used to put tissues, alarm clock, and stuff I had kept in bedside tables. I used baskets for bureau and dresser stuff. You can put decorative stuff and books in the bookcases as well. I used clip on lamps that clipped right on to the bookcase for reading lamps.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    The French wire baskets make a design statement as well as being a practical storage solution.
  • 12 years ago
    CONGRATULATIONS to @2013anita for winning a pair of Houzz slippers! If you missed out on this one, don't worry, you still have a chance to get your comments into our Hallway poll!
    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/poll-hallway-decor-dsvw-vd~841306
  • 12 years ago
    love the storage stairs...what a great idea...."where is it?" ..."stair #3"....COOL and fun!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Unfortunately in my houzz I'd be stuck upstairs all day with those stair drawers, as my guys would leave them all open and take off, LOL. Either that or I'd face-plant in the middle of the night.