Posted by
Emma Reddington
Friday, May 18, 2012 1:22 PM EDT
Believe me, I completely understand when homeowners and clients tell me they need
more household storage space. Their living situation is also my own: I
love my Victorian-era home but one thing it is sorely lacking is adequate
storage. We have a total of three closets in our house; that includes both upstairs and downstairs. Two of those closets are in the principal bedrooms and are so narrow, that without exaggeration, I can’t even hang a hanger in them perpendicularly. In my ongoing
quest for
creative storage ideas, I’ve come across some great
DIY solutions. Here are five of my favourites.
Cardboard Tube Wall Shelves 
Photos via Lesley Unruh/CountryLiving.com; MarthaStewart.com I
love the idea of using existing materials like cardboard tubes and PVC piping to create
storage that is as striking to look at as it is practical. These round tubes are great for storing hats, scarves,
dog leashes or even mail at the front door. They also
work in a bedroom, for sweaters, T-shirts or socks.
Here’s how to make DIY cardboard circular storage units. And just look at how attractive these wine bottles have become, contributing to the visual environment.
Here’s how to make a DIY wine rack.
Vintage Wooden Crate Shelves 
Photos by Emma Reddington I recently tried my hand at making some vintage wooden crate shelves for my son’s bedroom, which has absolutely no
storage — not even an inadequate closet. We needed to come up with a creative way to store
toys. We picked up wooden crates at a vintage store in my neighbourhood and nailed them to each other, then secured them to the wall. Simple, but still a statement.
Here’s the step-by-step for DIY vintage wooden crate shelves; I think the effect is perfect for a kid’s room
Pretty Things on Display 
Photos via Curbly.com; Per Kristiansen/HouseAndHome.com Living in a house with (practically) no
storage, I’ve come to appreciate making the most of the pretty things I own by keeping them out on display. Jewellery, kids’ clothes,
baby items — anything can look great if displayed in an attractive and unique way. Instead of hiding these items away in closets and drawers, put them out there in the room and make them a
feature. I
love the idea of
using an antique radiator grate and a frame to hang jewellery on (via Curbly.com). Meanwhile, at
chez Reddington,
we hang shirts out in plain view; sounds “radical,” looks great.
Ladders and Doors 
Photos via ApartmentTherapy.com; Mikkel Vang/RealSimple.com So many great DIY’s involve taking everyday household items, like old ladders or doors, and putting them to better (certainly, different) use. Who would have thought of
using an old porch door as a shelf/pot rack in the kitchen? (Well, ApartmentTherapy.com did.) And as RealSimple.com shows us (and countless others before and after),
a vintage ladder makes a great alternative bookshelf or magazine rack.
DIY Coat Rack 
Photo via Emma’s Designblogg
In any season, coat
storage often makes a cluttered mess of our home lives. How about a
DIY coat rack for the entrance way, or even each bedroom? A rack can be made from four simple materials: poles, screw, thread and hooks. While it might not hold a ton of items, it will make that little corner of your house a bit neater — and better-looking.
