Optimising your space with smarter home storage
Keeping on top of clutter is a full-time job. It has a habit of multiplying almost without our knowing, growing and spreading through the house until the day you turn around and ask ‘just where did this all come from?’
Sometimes ordinary storage won’t make the cut, and in these situations, you need options that do more and do it smarter, too. Clever storage solutions can completely transform the look and feel of interiors, banishing mess and bringing in a new atmosphere of calm.
The secret lies in looking for all those small, forgotten corners of your home which are often brimming with potential. It could be overhead wall space that isn’t being utilised, or perhaps a tricky alcove that conventional freestanding furniture wouldn’t fit into. But do you know what always fits without fail? Fitted storage.
In this guide, we’re taking a look at how to work smarter storage into your spaces and some of the most effective options you can add into your rooms. Let’s get started.
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How to make the most of your home storage
While there are lots of storage hacks to discover on the internet, it’s well worth taking the time to sit down and have a think about what could benefit your space most. Take a look at the spaces you’re working with and what will give you the results you’re looking for.
Here are some key points to consider…
1. Declutter first, then see what’s left
If you feel like the amount of stuff gathering around you is almost overwhelming, this is a surefire sign that you need to declutter before even starting to look at storage.
Try to pare down the things in your home until you’ve got only the essentials or the objects you love the most.
Once you’ve got a more manageable list of items to work with, you can then start thinking about how they will fit into any new storage. It’s a tough process but you’ll ultimately be making your life easier in the long run. And you can even get your whole family in on the activity!
2. Think about how you use your room
Consider how you use your rooms before investing in any new storage because it’ll help you choose solutions that support you in a more meaningful way.
For example, if you like doing paperwork in the dining room because the light’s better and you get more peace and quiet, you’ll get more out of adding a desk there than in other rooms in the house.
Or if your study is where you work and do crafts, it’s good to consider storage options that support both uses.
3. Find your overlooked spaces
It’s those awkward spaces around the house that often have the most potential.
Look high, look low. It could be that stretch of wall beneath your window, the space above a door frame or over your bed.
Once you start making note of these underused spaces, you’ll see them everywhere, and it’s in these gaps that you can create the biggest wins.
4. Invest in multi-purpose furniture
Why choose furniture that just serves one purpose when it could offer two or more?
Multi-purpose furniture is the key to maximising your storage in a clever way.
If you’re refurbishing your home, think about how the items in your room can meet as many needs as possible.
5. Make your design a delight
Having better storage is great but it means nothing if you don’t love how it looks!
Form and function should go together to uplift your space because it will boost your wellbeing and make your day-to-day life that much more enjoyable.
Your home is your castle, after all.
The cleverest home storage solutions
Ready to get started transforming your space? Here are some fantastic ideas to take your home storage to the next level…
Bedroom idea: a hidden tv unit
Finding a space for your bedroom TV is an age-old problem. And in smaller spaces or rooms with awkward geometry, every free bit of wall space has to be dedicated to storage. So, what to do?
The answer is to make your storage work harder. Integrating a TV unit into your fitted wardrobe means you can watch your favourite shows from the comfort of your bed - just open the doors and get settled in. The great thing about this setup is how easy it is to hide away again. Fantastic if you don’t want your tech to break up the look of your bedroom.
Bedroom: corner wardrobes for tricky spaces
Not every room is that perfect box shape. When you’re contending with outcrops, partitions and other tricky features, you need storage that’s going to fit into every nook and cranny.
Corner wardrobes are so useful in these situations that they can make you completely rethink how you see your space.
They make fantastic use of your room layout, maximising every millimetre so that even hard-to-style spaces can enjoy the storage they deserve.
Bedroom: overbed storage maximises potential
Vertical spaces are all too often overlooked but especially in bedrooms where valuable potential often goes to waste.
Overbed cabinets offer clever storage that doesn’t take up any extra space. So that means more room for blankets, pillows and other large items that can be hard to find a place for.
Did we also mention that this kind of storage can look super stylish as well? This is storage that’s not just practical - it’s so elegant it can complete the look of your space.
Bedroom: fitted wardrobes for sloped ceilings
It can be hard to work storage into a loft space when you’re having to work around sloping ceilings. And in some cases, freestanding wardrobes can be completely out of the question. So do you just have to make do with lowline drawers and hope for the best?
No - there’s a much better way to max out your storage space. Made-to-measure fitted wardrobes for sloping ceilings will hug every contour of the space to give you storage that fits like a glove. And there’s plenty of scope to customise them on the inside, too. Just like with an ordinary fitted wardrobe, you can add rails, drawers, cubbyholes or anything else you can think of to make them convenient to use.
Living room: media units do it all
Perhaps one of the most stunning pieces of clever storage you can invest in, media units tick so many boxes. First and foremost, they serve as a centrepiece for your television to give you a viewing experience like no other, a gathering place for the whole family. Secondly, with so much storage in the base, it's fantastic for keeping your floor space clear of toys, games and any other bits and pieces.
Last but certainly not least, it’s a phenomenal display cabinet, ready to shine the spotlight on all your favourite ornaments with in-built downlights. Elegant. Functional. Sophisticated. The media unit is one smart storage solution that won’t disappoint.
Home Offices: Hidden desking with a cloffice
If you’ve got no room for a dedicated office space, this just might be the answer to your working from home woes. Looking like an ordinary set of fitted wardrobes at first, these cloffice doors open to reveal a hidden desk so you can get on with your 9-5 in total comfort.
When you’re done for the day and you want to hide away the working world, just close the doors and it will blend back into the rest of your bedroom design. Perfect for helping you to disconnect after long hours of being productive.
It doesn’t always have to be your workspace, either. It could be a mini dressing table or a small craft area - a handy space that definitely lets you do more.
Living area: bay windows for seating and storage
Who can argue with this classic bit of multipurpose furniture? Bay window seats take what would be an unused space and then change it into a convenient and elegant piece of storage.
Not only do they give you extra room for throws or scatter cushions, they also give you space to curl up with a good book by the window. And you can even style them up to create an extra cosy feel. Throw in some plush fabrics and maybe even some lighting and you’ve made yourself a little reading nook for some extra ‘me time’.
Landing: unlock under stair spaces
Once you see what you can do with understair spaces, you won’t look at them in the same way ever again! They can be so much more than a place to kick off your trainers.
If you need some brilliant storage cupboard ideas, you can’t go wrong with a mix of sleek cabinets, fitted shelving or pull-out shoe racks.
Or in larger spaces, why not let your imagination run wild and create a casual home office space? Say no to the untidy mess of coats and bags and say yes to neatly organised hallways.
Living: make use of alcoves with shelving and cupboards
Ah, alcoves - the source of much frustration for some home renovation enthusiasts. But these too can be stunning room features if you invest in the right solutions.
Fitted shelving, display cabinets or bookcases will maximise the storage potential of alcoves beautifully, transforming them into the striking showpiece you’ve always wanted.
To make them stand out, go for a bold finish like our Midnight Blue or Willow Green, which adds a dynamic pop of colour into your room design.
And for extra dramatic emphasis, add in integrated downlighting or our Vega shelf lights to make your alcove storage design really shine.
With fitted storage, you can also take your alcove furniture right up to the ceiling if you want, so none of that valuable vertical space gets lost. Practical and elegant design that elevates your decor with ease.
Discover clever storage solutions at Sharps
Cramped corners, small spaces or unusual room layouts? We’ve seen it all at Sharps. If you need help maximising your space or finding smarter storage, our team can create a completely bespoke solution tailor-made for your home. Book a Free Design Visit and your designer will work with you to realise your dreams of becoming beautifully organised.
