When it comes to storage, it is as equally important these days to be stylish as well as practical, in small apartment buildings much of your storage is likely to be on display. There’s no rule saying functionality can’t be pretty, so consider colourful boxes, pretty prints and sophisticated shelving to fulfil your storage needs.
Tip #1: Even the small stuff needs storing
Letters, old CDs, adapters, bank statements – they all take up extra space, and stuffing them altogether into a drawer is by no means the best option. Thankfully it’s relatively easy nowadays to find beautifully patterned and colourful boxes in all shapes and sizes (even hat boxes!) to store all those bits and pieces you have to keep but have nowhere to keep them.
However, make sure you’re not making life difficult for yourself by storing stuff you don’t want or need. Take this opportunity to de-clutter and removed unwanted items. Music Magpie is perfect for getting rid of your old CDs, DVDs and games and gaining some extra cash in the process.
So, where to place your pretty new storage box? I love to store mine on top of the wardrobe and on top of bookshelves. They draw the eye upwards making ceilings appear higher, which creates the illusion of extra space. They also bring nice pops of colour at random points throughout any room!
Tip #2: Recessed shelving
Recessed shelving is a brilliant way of adding extra storage without wasting valuable space. If you have a hollow wall, make the most of that extra room by building shelves into your wall rather than taking up room by putting a bookshelf against the wall.
Recessed shelves are also better than a bookshelf as they allow you to be fully in control of the size of the shelves, and you can have irregular shapes and sizes to suit what you want to store. Consider having a central square shelf as a centrepiece for display, and then rectangular shelves in varying widths and lengths to accommodate a range of books, ornaments and maybe even a few of those boxes mentioned in Tip #1!
Tip #3: Functional features
If you live in a house or flat that is a converted Victorian or Edwardian property, the chances are that you have a closed off fireplace in at least one room of your house. The mantelpiece is great as a display shelf and it adds a wonderful focal point to any room. However, aside from the odd vase of flowers people rarely think to use the space that was once occupied by fire to their advantage. Install shelving in the recess that was a fireplace and soon you will have a great little nook to hold extra bits and pieces, surrounded in the alcove made by your mantle piece.
