7 Creative Ways to Increase Storage in Your Home

My partner and I just got back from visiting her parents in Atlanta where I was reminded that folks in other parts of the country commonly have a usable attic, basement, or both. Her parents have both. Their basement is the same size as the other floors of their home, and their attic is a whole additional floor with real stairs. Can you imagine having so much extra usable space? If more Californians had basements or full attics, we might actually park our cars in our garages. 

Since this is not the case, storage space continues to be a challenge for most of us. I am always looking for ways to increase storage in my home, so I thought I would share some of the ideas that have worked for me or that I have seen work in clients’ homes. 

Create an attic storage area with pull-down stairs. 
Check your attic space to see if it is possible to create a storage area. We discovered that there was enough space in the attic over our garage to install shelves with a walkway. We are now working on finishing a portion of the attic over our house and garage with plywood flooring, shelves, and a pull-down ladder. The finished project will create about 400 square feet of storage for holiday décor, camping gear, and other items we would like to get out of the garage. 

Install overhead storage racks. 
If you have a garage, consider installing overhead storage racks. I easily added 32 square feet of storage by adding one storage rack over a spot where I have a refrigerator and shelves in the garage. Next, I plan on installing one over the washer and dryer to get another 32 square feet of storage. 

Consider other ways to better use vertical space. 
Bookshelves over doorways, floor-to-ceiling cabinets, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are great for maximizing vertical space in almost any room. 

Add a storage shed to your backyard. 
If you have space for a storage shed, this is an easy way to add more storage for yard care tools, patio cushions, pool toys, or storage bins. This one is not very creative, but it works.

Maximize the storage space you already have. 
Maximize the space in your closets by installing closet systems with adjustable shelves, double hanging rods, or built-in drawers or baskets. To maximize the space in smaller linen closets or coat closets, consider adding a set of shelves at the back of the closet and a rolling shelving unit that can be stored in front of the installed shelves and rolled out when you need to access the back shelves. I use this system in one of my hall closets, which allows me to have gifts and gift-wrapping supplies on the back shelves and games and puzzles on the wheeled shelving unit. 

You can maximize cabinet space by installing pull-out shelves that allow you to easily access items stored in the back of the cabinets. When I did this for my lower cabinets in my kitchen, it was life changing.  

Look for furniture with integrated storage. 
For patio storage, look for a storage bench that serves as both a deck box and seating option.  For storing throw blankets in the living room, consider a coffee table with a removable lid. I know storage furniture is not always the most attractive option, but I have a round, hammered metal coffee table that is perfect for storing blankets and throw pillows, and I love the look of it.

Install toe-kick drawers. 
I don’t have these in my kitchen – yet – but I have seen this ingenious way to reclaim wasted space used in clients’ homes, and it is amazing. 

Finding more storage without sacrificing living space can be challenging, but if we get a bit creative, we can come up with workable solutions that can maximize the space we have.

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AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a member of The Davis Group and a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, and green living. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.