Home Organization and Storage
If you haven’t heard of Marie Kondo, then you’ve been living under a home-organization rock. Her philosophy of discarding all possessions that fail to give you joy is a very marketable ideal, but for most of us, life isn’t quite that easy. We’re reasonably certain that there are plenty of things in closets, cupboards, nooks, and crannies around your home that may give your child/spouse/partner joy, but do absolutely nothing for you! Unfortunately, tossing somebody else’s joy junk into the donation pile and joyfully hauling it away may not be an option.
Storage to the Rescue!
That’s right. You can’t toss someone else’s joy, but you can stow it. And do it with as much style as possible. Let’s see how we can maximize the usable space and reduce clutter with storage solutions room by room.
The Bedroom
Storage Beds
Simple. Brilliant. Take all that space under your bed that’s collecting dust bunnies and fill it with drawers! Storage beds originated on sailing ships and were called “captain's beds.” On ships, space was a very precious commodity. Combining the bed with the dresser was a clever way to save space. We leverage that same cleverness today in the modern storage bed.
Storage beds come in many styles and finishes, from traditional to contemporary, farmhouse to transitional, and in all sizes from twin to king. Consider using these subtle, but very generous storage drawers to stow away seasonal clothing or bedding that might otherwise be in the way.
Nightstands
Pretty much all nightstands have some drawer storage capacity, but if you find yours running over, you might want to consider cabinet nightstands. Cabinet nightstands will accommodate taller items, such as lotions or bottles, that might otherwise end up on the floor or cluttering the top and getting in the way, or worse, knocked over.
Dressers & Chests
Dressers come in more sizes and configurations than ever before. From the number of drawers to a range of styles, your dresser deserves a fresh look if you’re trying to maximize your storage options.
Chests have a narrower footprint and leave more space in the room. They can supplement or replace a standard dresser depending on your needs and space. They come in standard 4- or 5-drawer models, all the way up to 7-drawer chests with built-in shelving or closets and other features like swivel bases and hidden mirrors.
Stelsie Dresser in Dark Charcoal
Kid's Bedroom
The same storage solutions that work for your bedroom will work in your kid’s room as well. There are even storage bunk beds!
Young Pioneer Sideways Captain Bed w/ 4 Drawer Storage in Natural
The Living Room
Media Cabinets & Credenzas
Our media cabinets, which range from 32 to 60 inches wide and around 32 inches high, are a great way to store all sorts of things and can serve as a TV console as well. So, while the need to store a library of DVDs or other media may increasingly be a thing of the past, our media cabinets are great for storing dishes or board games, not to mention wine and spirits!
Small media cabinets are great for entryways as well. Pop a bowl on top and have a handy place to drop keys, loose change, sunglasses, and other small items that you’ll want to grab as you dash out the door.
Essex Media Console in Black & Whiskey, 66 Inch
Astral 3 Door Accent Cabinet in Gray
Shelves
Another easy way to get things off the floor is with shelves. Yes, they hold books, but there are also plenty of colorful cube storage bins that will brighten the room and keep building blocks off the floor.
Storage Coffee Table
The coffee table can very stylishly serve as a place to store all those things you love to have in your living room, but don’t want to see all the time. Have coasters, board games, books, and magazines at your fingertips without unsightly clutter. (If Marie Kondo stops by, she’ll be none the wiser!)
Storage End Table
Stylishly bookending your sofa, end tables have long served as impromptu storage devices catching all manner of objects – the perfect way to keep a deck of cards or a ball of yarn at your fingertips, but out of sight. Some even have built-in USB chargers, which won’t help with storage, but will definitely keep your phone from running out of juice.
Americana Chairside Table in Gray
Bolanburg Chairside Table in Tan
Bookshelves
Once again, bookshelves come to the rescue. Personalize your room with a thoughtful display of books, collectibles, media, artwork, and even favorite toys (we’re looking at you, nerds) that are meaningful to you. Tuck small odds and ends into decorative boxes, and voilà – what was once chaos is now artful and organized.
Natures Edge 5-Shelf Bookcase in Brown
Tybee 2 Door Bookcase in Black
And there you have it. We can’t all joyfully discard all the stuff that surrounds us, but we can find stylish and subtle ways to store it. Let us know about your storage stories. We’d love to hear them.
