Anyone have ideas for limited storage space?

[SillyMe]

My two dd's and I might be moving into an apartment that is really small. It doesn't have any closets. None. Not one. There are two bedrooms, but the one is super tiny.

I cannot stand clutter, and I know some of you must have some neat storage ideas. Can ya help?

 

[SRUAlmn]

We have a similar issue. What types of things are you thinking of storing? Let me know and I'll do my best to help

 

[sunkissed212]

you can use ottomans and/or coffee tables that have storage underneath for all kinds of stuff (blankets,books, photo albums, etc). Ottomans that open up are nice too....very practical and multi purpose.

 

[sunkissed212]

oh yeah! here's another thing. You can buy "bed boosters" ... they're little things you can put your bed on to boost it up, this can offer you more under the bed storage space as well.

 

[SillyMe]

I'm looking for any kind of ideas you all can give me, and I'm looking to store all the normal stuff...vacuum cleaner, bath towels, shoes, you name it. Like I said, there aren't any closets at all and the rooms are very small.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Put beds on risers (sold at places like Bed Bath & Beyond) & use underbed storage. OR you can get under bed drawer units (instead of a dresser) to raise the bed even higher.

Use backs of doors & inside cabinet doors.

Use vertical wall space.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We found our biggest problem is that in Maryland we had a big linen closet, and here there isn't one at all. We had a little space in our bedroom closet for sheets, but nowhere for towels, so we got a great $20 storage ottoman at Wal-Mart (looked online, can't find a pic, tan, microfiber) and we have it in the vanity area of the bathroom. We threw some dryer sheets in for freshness and folded up and put our towels inside it. It works great!

 

[sweet angel]

I found this for you! small rooms

Also: Small space, big style - HGTV

 

[Michie]

Ok, Silly, I am breaking my vow silence just for you

First, get rid of everything you don't need, use. Go through the clothes, get rid of the ones you don't wear, don't like, too small, too big.

Have you seen those bed risers? It makes your bed taller which enables you to store things under your bed.

oh, and curtain off a corner of a room with a pretty drape~instant closet.

I will ask a dear friend of mine for some ideas for you, she is a professional organizer.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Have you seen those upright bookcase-looking things? I think you can get them at Walmart, they're narrow, maybe only 10 inches or so wide, but they're tall, you could get one of those for the bathroom to store towels in.

Also, get rid of anything you don't truly need, or put it in storage if this is a temporary move.

Hope this helps!

 

[SillyMe]

Ok, Silly, I am breaking my vow silence just for you

First, get rid of everything you don't need, use. Go through the clothes, get rid of the ones you don't wear, don't like, too small, too big.

Have you seen those bed risers? It makes your bed taller which enables you to store things under your bed.

oh, and curtain off a corner of a room with a pretty drape~instant closet.

I will ask a dear friend of mine for some ideas for you, she is a professional organizer.

You had a vow of silence? Since when? Well, I'm honored. Thank you. And yes, Michie, I already have started throwing crap out that I don't need. Like I said, I can't stand clutter.

I knew I could get some great ideas here. I am on my way to Target in a few minutes. I will definitely look for the bed risers.

Sweet Angel, thanks. I will check out that site when I get back. That would be a great help.

Thanks everyone for the ideas and keep 'em coming.

 

[Sandcass]

I love the organizers that go on the back of doors. I have one in the kids' bathroom for all their toiletries, I have one on the back of each of their bedrooms doors for toys & stuff, I have one in the mud room for hats, gloves, etc. I think they're actually made for shoes, so I guess you could use them for that too!

 

[Michie]

Just thought of another one. You know those little round tables, you can buy them at Walmart and Target, the ones you put the glass top on? They make those now, with storage shelves. Also you can do the same thing with a trash can, buy a round one, and throw a table cloth over it, and put the glass top on it.

 

[Mysteria]

Check out Ikea's website as well. They have some great small space ideas.

Myst

 

[AmoDolphin]

Ikea has some inexpensive wardrobes.

Bookcases, too. In fact, DD12's bedroom is made out of bookcases blocking off a corner of our finished basement. Maybe you could divide the larger of your bedrooms for your girls to give each of you some privacy. Alternate the bookcases so that half are facing into each girl's part of the room.

Here's a $119 wardrobe:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stor...Id=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=56802

This is Barb D, posting about Amo's bedroom

 

[pjshaff]

I found this for you! small rooms

Also: Small space, big style - HGTV

Just started watching Small Space Big Style on HGTV. Love it. It's amazing what someone can do with a small amount of space for their home. The largest house they've shown that I've seen was 1200 sf. The show with the 2 New York roomies and their 350-ish sf loft apt was cool too.

Good luck.

Pam

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

If you have a patio or balcony buy a rubbermade storage shed for your vacuum, broom and cleaning supplies.

Wardrobes and armores make good storage for clothing as well as towels. Buffets are good for the kitchen (I found a good one at Ikea for lots of extra storage)

Coffee tables with drawers, nightstands with drawers.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Use a trunk for a coffee table - you can store anything in there. Use sheets to make floor to ceiling drapes. Hang these on rods suspended from the ceiling all the way across the room behind the bed about 2 1/2 feet out into the room. Then suspend another rod behind the curtain/wall to form a closet than spans the room. Go to a second hand shop and buy some old style hard sided suitcases. you can fill these with whatever and stack several to form end tables or nightstands. Run a wide shelf (a foot or more) about 18 inches down from the ceiling all the way across the room or even all the way around the room. Buy storage baskets or cubes, fill, and place on these high shelves. Buy or make a decorative folding screen. Screen off a corner and use for storage. I'm sure I know more, I'll post some more later if you need more ideas.
Penny

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 2 coffee tables in our front room and living room for storage. One is a chest-style which holds sports equipment and emergency essentials. The other is an open-style (table with shelf space underneath) and stores our books, magazines, and kids' toys.

I also have shelves in the bathrooms and I use some cupboard space for storing my stockpile of food and toiletries. Looking at cupboards and placing shelves in space you don't normally think of may help.

Ditto for wardrobe/armoire/chifferobe and over the door storage.

I read in another post why you are moving... good luck and best wishes!

 

[golfgal]

Get someone to make some book shelves for you. Take an entire wall in each room and make shelves. You could even to the cinder block/board bookshelves yourself. Make some at different heights. If one room allows, make some extra deep, deep enough to hold a large rubbermaid tote, and then hang some fabric to cover the shelves. You can get that airline cable and those wall anchor things that you can tighten the cable on so it looks nice. Use some curtain rings with clips to hang the fabric (you wouldn't even need to hem the edge, just fold it over). You will be amazed at how much stuff you can put on shelves like this.

You could even go as far as installing a closet poll, you can get it at any home store, Home Depot, etc. They will even cut it to size for you. Make a couple of the shelves higher so you can put your vacuum and such there, too.

Get an over the door hanger and put it on the back of a door to hang your mops/brooms, etc. Most of them have a hole in the handle you can use to hang it. If that doesn't work then just tie some string through the hole.

For the bathroom, get one of those cabinets that fit around the toilet for storage of bathroom stuff.