Turn to the Wall for Space-Saving Storage
Your home will function better with this problem-solving approach to finding a place to put things
Lucy Searle
June 13, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
Storage: You can’t live without it. But storage furniture that sits on the floor, such as chests and bookcases, has a space-stealing footprint that lessens its effectiveness. With these clever wall-focused solutions to common dilemmas, however, you can have your storage and floor space too.
No room for a coat closet? A coat rack running the length of your hallway can provide enough hanging space for the family’s outerwear.
Choose one with a shelf above to maximize hat and bag storage, and squeeze in a narrow bench (even just the depth of the shelf) beneath to keep shoes neat too. Paint it all to match the wall for a tidy finish.
Browse coat racks
Choose one with a shelf above to maximize hat and bag storage, and squeeze in a narrow bench (even just the depth of the shelf) beneath to keep shoes neat too. Paint it all to match the wall for a tidy finish.
Browse coat racks
No space for a dressing table? Custom wall storage comes in handy for stashing jewelry and makeup. Install shelves just above head height to make the room’s footprint feel as big as possible and to leave space for rails with handy hooks beneath. “Custom” makes it sound expensive, but you can DIY this look.
studiocuvier.se
Don’t like wall cabinets? You can keep the kitchen feeling spacious with open shelving tailored to your storage needs.
Don’t waste an inch: Use the underside of the shelves to suspend rails and hooks, and don’t plan to stand or stack anything that can hang instead (mugs and wineglasses, for example). Keep the whole area looking good by finding coordinating accessories to display.
Don’t waste an inch: Use the underside of the shelves to suspend rails and hooks, and don’t plan to stand or stack anything that can hang instead (mugs and wineglasses, for example). Keep the whole area looking good by finding coordinating accessories to display.
Want storage and art? Look for wall storage designed for practicality and sculptural aesthetics. This piece has tons of hanging space. Because it obviously looks better slightly underdressed than overstuffed, however, consider a row of three if the budget allows.
You could create your own shapes with plain old hooks and knobs too.
You could create your own shapes with plain old hooks and knobs too.
No desk space for an inbox?
You don’t need an inbox if you have a pin board or pegboard. This one is just big enough for a few bills, business cards and the odd reminder or two.
If you’d rather cover a bigger area, choose a color for your board that matches the wall behind to help it blend in. Or cover a padded pin board in a bright coordinating fabric.
You don’t need an inbox if you have a pin board or pegboard. This one is just big enough for a few bills, business cards and the odd reminder or two.
If you’d rather cover a bigger area, choose a color for your board that matches the wall behind to help it blend in. Or cover a padded pin board in a bright coordinating fabric.
Not enough cabinets for cookware? When closed kitchen storage is lacking, you can simply hang your pots and pans from hooks or a rail. Putting them on a wall is great; suspending them overhead is marvelous (if the kitchen has the ceiling height).
But if you’re really short on space, consider putting a rod or two across a window. This may block a little light, but if your cookware is made of sparkling stainless steel, it’ll reflect light back into the room too.
But if you’re really short on space, consider putting a rod or two across a window. This may block a little light, but if your cookware is made of sparkling stainless steel, it’ll reflect light back into the room too.
Don’t like standard shelving?
Modular cubes can turn your displays of books and knickknacks into an artful arrangement.
They work best in groups, and you can up the visual interest by creating a defined shape with them and by choosing ones in different but complementary colors.
Modular cubes can turn your displays of books and knickknacks into an artful arrangement.
They work best in groups, and you can up the visual interest by creating a defined shape with them and by choosing ones in different but complementary colors.
Have tons to display? Devoting an entire wall to open shelving like this cleverly incorporates a desk and stylishly combines attractive interiors accessories with practical home office wares.
Find wall-mounted shelving
Find wall-mounted shelving
Want to avoid pinholes in the wall? Magnets hold your paperwork in place without ruining the wall. This works here because the wall is made of magnetic plaster, but you can achieve the same effect with magnetic paint or a large magnetic board attached to the wall.
Learn how to work with magnetic primer
Learn how to work with magnetic primer
Pinching pennies? The 1970s and ’80s are back in fashion, both on the catwalk and in the home. Stop back-combing your big hair and arranging your giant collars for a minute and take a look at this old favorite: a cork-tile bulletin board.
You can attach the tiles to the wall with adhesive and then stain, color-wash or varnish them to suit your design for hardly any dough.
Tell us: How do you use wall storage and which ideas do you like best? Share photos and tips in the Comments.
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You can attach the tiles to the wall with adhesive and then stain, color-wash or varnish them to suit your design for hardly any dough.
Tell us: How do you use wall storage and which ideas do you like best? Share photos and tips in the Comments.
More
Read other stories about storage
Find a home organization pro
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No! It all collects junk. Unless there is a medical need or special needs situation, all those things on the wall are not favorable looking to me.
For people who live in apartments or homes and have a car space, the car space storage units (VEBOX) provide a huge amount of ultra secure, ultra stylish storage. Danish design, British made.
VEBOX storage