Small Space Storage and Decorating
by Nancy, the Frugal Decorating Diva
Description: Tips for decorating small spaces by organizing your collections.
One of the biggest problems for people when "small space
decorating" is storage. Even for collectors it can easily
become a problem, no matter what size space they are working
with. I try to do two things with collections:
Use them in "new" ways to create storage
or
Store them in new ways to be able to use them as decorative
accents AND for their original use.
Here are some things I have done to maximize storage in my
spaces, and still be able to keep my collections.
1. I use clothes as decorative accents - hats as lampshades,
scarves as pillow covers. Even shirts rolleds up in a bowl as
storage and colorful accents. I can still wear this stuff, but
it takes up no room in closests or dressers.
2. Stacked books have become the legs to small tables, or the
small table itself.
3. Wall space has been used to hang a collection of mailboxes
that where then used for storage.
4. Hung platters and plates on the wall instead of artwork.
These are hung using ribbon cradles so they can be removed and
used, then rehung. I also have a set of measuring cups hanging
off cup hooks on the wall with a frame around them. They look
like art but are easy to use when needed.
5. I do a lot of both repurposing of furniture AND using items
to make "storage furniture". Dresser drawers were put in wheels
and stowed under the bed. A bookshelf became a lighted plant
stand, a suitcase became a footstool with storage.
6. I am working on a kitchen island right now made from two bar
stools with backs. I will lay boards across the leg slats on
both set of rungs and make small shelves there for storage.
7. Clear or white glassware is my best friend. I use my cups,
bowls, plates, jars etc. as the centerpiece for my table. I
alternate the design about monthly, still having use of my
stuff when wanted but not really "storing" it anywhere.
8. Humble chicken wire makes a great storage unit. I saw this
last weekend, where a door was covered with chicken wire and
then hooks were hung off the wire holding lots of things,
including baskets holding stuff. This I will be doing myself
soon. You might think this would only "work" in real primative
decor, but that wasn't true in this case. The baskets hanging
off the wire were very contemporary making the end result look
this way as well.
9. I am using a blanket chest as a coffee table and have
filled the inside with all my gift wrapping supplies, so it
doubles as my gift wrapping station.
10. And this last one is a little odd. I keep some of my
Christmas trees up year around, decorated in themes that suit
the decor of the rooms they are in. I don't have to store the
ornaments, take down or set up the tree, and I, the Christmas
Crazy that I am, get to "see" Christmas year round.
Hopefully this will stir some creative small-space storage
ideas beyond baskets and crates, although I really like THEM
for storage as well. Have I shown you how I store my cookbooks?
:)
Nancy, the Frugal Decorating Diva, substitutes creativity for
money - and comes up with a better result. Read more about how
to do that at http://www.FrugalByDesign.com or email Nancy at
nancy@frugalbydesign.com
