Does your house seem too small? Storage is a problem for many people. Try to think of different places to store wanted items.

One place I use is under my bed. Cale built our bed out of old barn beams, and it sits high up off of the floor. This was a slight miscalcualtion on my part, but now we like it. People always ask us if we need a ladder to get in bed!!

I have put this space to good use. I purchased 4 of those storage containers with the plastic lids. I use them to put Christams gifts in, wrapping supplies, fall decorations, and other stuff I want to keep. There is room for 4 more under there, but thus far I don't need them. Under the bed is a good, hidden storage area. They also make plastic containers that aren't very deep, for conventional beds.

Add your creative storage ideas on below.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 17, 2001

Answers

Ah, one of my favorite subjects! Being a book collector, as well as keeping food and other things stored, I am always looking for extra storage space!

We put cupboards or open shelves everywhere possible. A narrow bookcase behind the bedroom door, tall cupboards above the washer/dryer, a nice looking video cabinet doubles as an entry table, kitchen cupboards go all the way to the ceiling rather than having dead space above them (which generally collects dust), underbed storage units, a shelf or half-shelf above the clothes rods in the bedroom closets, floor to ceiling bookcases in the family room. Those see-through plastic, 3 drawer units on wheels (you can buy at WalMart, etc.) work well for storage for childrens toys, sewing/craft supplies, or hold socks, underwear and pjs for the kids. We turned a rather useless cubbyhole corner in the kitchen into a bill-paying desk with drawers below and put shelves above for my cookbooks. Think about using a trunk, either antique or just a decent looking new one, as end tables or a coffee table in the living room (cover with a nice tablecloth if needed), they are great for storing Christmas decorations, extra linens or even an emergency food stash. A smaller, lightweight trunk in the bedroom at the foot of your bed could be used to hold photo albums and vital papers - ready to grab and run in case of fire. You can take garbage cans, cut a plywood top for them and cover with a nice round tablecloth, and use as end tables, useful for storing extra blankets & pillows. I have used oak file cabinets as nightstands. We keep only one extra set of sheets for each bed, these can be stored between the mattress and spring (unless you have a waterbed like we do). Add shelves or cupboards in your garage or carport - depending on where you live and how secure you are, this can be anything from simple open shelves to enclosed cupboards strong enough to hold an elephant, with heavy duty padlocks of course. If you don't have an attic, you can still add flooring under the rafters, either in your house, garage or barn which makes great space for boxes of Christmas decorations or other infrequently used stuff. For your yard or patio, build a storage area for your BBQ and lawn chairs. I've seen some really nice (expensive!) plastic ones that have big doors that open in the front and the lid lifts up on hinges also. Too spendy for me, but dh is going to build one for a fraction of the cost. Well, that's all I can think of offhand.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), November 17, 2001.

If your going to remodel or build a new home a pantry is the way to go for more storage space. (I read in several magazines that it's cheaper than cabinets.) In my house plan there was to be an upstairs,but we could not afford it,so where the stairs were to be I made a pantry. We love it and it holds lots and you can see when you need more of a item if you always keep things in the same place.

-- Jo (farmerjo@kvalley.com), November 18, 2001.

I agree, Jo. A pantry is the only way to go for food storage, IF you have one or can add one to your home. My last 3 homes have had large pantries, and my current one also has a well insulated room (approx. 9x15?) with shelves along one long wall and one short one. Most of which are stocked with food and supplies! Rest of the room holds 2 huge antique trunks, one for Christmas dec., one for antique dishes and stuff. The rest of the room is filled with toys and clothes I've picked up at thrift stores and yard sales for my little granddaughter to grow into.

But I've had homes with no pantries, and no room anywhere for one. In which case you stuff extra food wherever it'll fit! :)

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), November 19, 2001.

If I were to redesign my house, I would definitely put built in book shelving in our hallways. A hall is just wasted space otherwise. Might as well use an addditional 12" deep space along the wall and make the space serve more purpose.

For kitchen cabinets, I always put cooking containers / implements into larger ones, especially if I don't need the small item very often. The only disadvantage I have seen is how to remember where I put what. Kind of like those dolls that open and there is a smaller version of the doll, which contains a smaller version etc.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), November 21, 2001.