7 Eye-Catching Custom Storage Ideas
Need more space to stash your stuff? Get inspired by these clever ideas for built-in storage
Amanda Pollard
September 5, 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
You may think that you’ve run out of room for your stuff, but with a little expert know-how, you can get custom storage solutions that utilize your space more effectively and look beautiful to boot.
1. Corral Entryway Clutter
If there’s one area in the home that’s hard to keep tidy, it’s the entry hall. That longed-for calm place of welcome can often become an obstacle course of shoes, bags and umbrellas. To conquer the clutter, think about installing cabinets to hide your outerwear from sight.
Lisette Voûte Designs came up with this cabinet wall, which has plenty of space for all sorts of paraphernalia. At the center, the team even put in a seat and hooks, which provide a handy perch and easy access to frequently used items.
Uncover Hidden Storage Space in Your Hallway
If there’s one area in the home that’s hard to keep tidy, it’s the entry hall. That longed-for calm place of welcome can often become an obstacle course of shoes, bags and umbrellas. To conquer the clutter, think about installing cabinets to hide your outerwear from sight.
Lisette Voûte Designs came up with this cabinet wall, which has plenty of space for all sorts of paraphernalia. At the center, the team even put in a seat and hooks, which provide a handy perch and easy access to frequently used items.
Uncover Hidden Storage Space in Your Hallway
2. Hide Laundry Appliances
In this family-friendly kitchen, storage was carefully thought out by Ian Dunn Woodwork and Design. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets provide a space for food and utility items, and include a slot for an ironing board, a drying rack and lots of hooks for hanging the wash.
The washer and dryer are stacked on top of each other behind closed doors. The really clever bit? The section between the two appliances pulls out to provide a folding surface.
In this family-friendly kitchen, storage was carefully thought out by Ian Dunn Woodwork and Design. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets provide a space for food and utility items, and include a slot for an ironing board, a drying rack and lots of hooks for hanging the wash.
The washer and dryer are stacked on top of each other behind closed doors. The really clever bit? The section between the two appliances pulls out to provide a folding surface.
3. Tell a Story
After the staircase in this Victorian home got moved to create more space, the cabinetmakers at Shape London created a storage wall with push-open doors to hide cleaning products, outdoor gear, toys and more. As a nod to the home’s past, they marked where the staircase used to be with an engineered wood known as Valchromat.
See more of this London row house
After the staircase in this Victorian home got moved to create more space, the cabinetmakers at Shape London created a storage wall with push-open doors to hide cleaning products, outdoor gear, toys and more. As a nod to the home’s past, they marked where the staircase used to be with an engineered wood known as Valchromat.
See more of this London row house
4. Frame a TV
It’s not always easy to make a TV look elegant and attractive, but that’s what Finch London did with these built-ins. Simple white wall-hung cabinets and shelves form a symmetrical frame around the sleek black screen.
To ensure that the cabinetry looks anchored to the white space, the team topped the base cabinet with a 1½-inch layer of American black walnut.
It’s not always easy to make a TV look elegant and attractive, but that’s what Finch London did with these built-ins. Simple white wall-hung cabinets and shelves form a symmetrical frame around the sleek black screen.
To ensure that the cabinetry looks anchored to the white space, the team topped the base cabinet with a 1½-inch layer of American black walnut.
5. Squeeze in a Pantry
How’s this for a neat piece of storage? A narrow space beside an integrated fridge-freezer contains a pullout pantry.
And that’s not all.
How’s this for a neat piece of storage? A narrow space beside an integrated fridge-freezer contains a pullout pantry.
And that’s not all.
Along the side wall, Murray & Ball Furniture hid more storage behind a sliding barn door.
5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
6. Conceal an Exhaust Fan
An exhaust fan often poses a challenge, particularly if you’re eager to conceal it, which is what the owners of this kitchen wanted to do. The builders worked with the architects at Archea to adapt the wall cabinet to accommodate both the ducting and small spice jars.
An exhaust fan often poses a challenge, particularly if you’re eager to conceal it, which is what the owners of this kitchen wanted to do. The builders worked with the architects at Archea to adapt the wall cabinet to accommodate both the ducting and small spice jars.
7. Use Wasted Space
The windows in this gorgeous apartment are wonderfully big, leaving not much space below. However, there’s room for custom storage.
The designers at Bambù used pine plywood to make wide storage boxes that double as seating. The budget-friendly material is a good choice if you want to keep costs down, and its warm tones add a cozy feel to the room.
See more of this French apartment
Your turn: In the Comments, show us or tell us about your most creative storage solution.
More
Read other stories about storage
Find a cabinetmaker for your project
Browse storage and organization products
The windows in this gorgeous apartment are wonderfully big, leaving not much space below. However, there’s room for custom storage.
The designers at Bambù used pine plywood to make wide storage boxes that double as seating. The budget-friendly material is a good choice if you want to keep costs down, and its warm tones add a cozy feel to the room.
See more of this French apartment
Your turn: In the Comments, show us or tell us about your most creative storage solution.
More
Read other stories about storage
Find a cabinetmaker for your project
Browse storage and organization products
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Charlotte: The US versions of stackable washer/dryer units have the controls in the middle where we normal sized people can reach them. However, they are usually smaller capacity & obviously if one part goes bad the whole thing needs to be tossed. I never understood having the full sized units stacked as I wouldn't be able to put the laundry in, no less turn it on. To make the single units that can be stacked easier to use the manufacturer would have to make 2 versions and they won't cos it would cost them more money I assume.
Example #1 is so beautiful! You'll want to look at the entire project link to see the whole home.
and behind door #4 is.............................?