Building blocks. Old pallets or crates are a fine alternative to the traditional coffee table and are incredibly versatile too. The ones here have simply been turned upside down — but you could screw yours together if you tend to move your furniture around a lot. You could also stack them or cut them down to size, or use one pallet and elevate it with small apple crates, for example. A coat of paint will transform the trusty courier once again. Tip: Consider where the pallet or crate came from and how it was used. You wouldn’t want to bring something into your home that has been contaminated with toxic chemicals or other icky stuff.
The couple goes to bed each night and wakes up each morning to spectacular views of the harbor and the city. They gave up about half the square footage in the master bedroom to incorporate the new, efficient storage. The custom nightstands are also space savers and add to the ambience. They have silver-backed glass tops, are backlit at night and are finished in the same black as the bedroom cabinetry. Also adding to the ambience is the wall covering in the niche behind the bed. “It has glass in it, and it sparkles at night,” Johnson says.
Small-space tip: Pack the door with storage. Just like the outside of the closet door was put to good use in the last example, consider ways you can make the inside of a closet door work harder for you. Houzz user Kelly Gropp shared this photo of her neat and organized hall closet, with hooks and translucent file holders providing spots for stashing hats, scarves and a backpack. Adhesive (and removable) hooks are a good solution for renters.
Design idea: Hidden door with coat tree. Why: A coat tree on the door provides easy-access storage in what would normally be unused space. How: To get a look similar to the one shown here, hire a cabinetmaker to design a door with an integrated coat tree. Or try your own take by outfitting your existing hall closet door with coat hooks and an umbrella holder.
The closets don’t need to match the room’s walls. Most closets lack windows. Plus, the lighting in closets is usually an afterthought. This creates, to put it mildly, a poorly lit and poor viewing space — not ideal for when you’re trying to pick out that power outfit for your next big company meeting. The best way to treat closet interiors is to paint all surfaces with light-reflective white for maximum visibility. You can check how reflective your white is by looking on the color card at your local paint store for the LRV number. The higher the number (accompanied by the initials LRV, for “light-reflective value”), the more the available light will bounce. As in a gallery, white highlights the distinctive colors that it surrounds. This will allow you to sort out the color combinations that you want to have harmonious for a well-dressed day. If you have a bold wall color in your bedroom, don’t feel the need to automatically make your closet interior match. Instead, tint white paint with a percentage of your bedroom wall color
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