Under - Stairs Storage Ideas

For an average house, the lack of space is a worrisome due to some things you want to keep or have. Most people coveted homes with so much room for all their personal effects and other possessions. But, guess what, this shouldn't be a big deal if you know where to tap additional spaces. You just have to look around and see vacant areas in your home that you can transform into something that you can maximize its use. More often than not, the under-stairs is the most neglected space in the home without even realizing its potential that it can give you another extra room for your things. There's a lot you can do on the empty spaces around the stairs; not just under it but almost the whole of it. You just have to identify what type of extra space you need. Is it for the books you collected over the years, other collections, wine storage, shoes and other stuffs you need to store neatly. 

Various ideas can be done to maximize the use of the under-stairs; depending of course on how you want to do with it. Installation of bookshelves is one of the many ideas you can do to those empty spaces. Constructing the shelves need not be done in a uniform pattern as books come in different sizes. It is, therefore, important to get the measurement of your biggest and smallest book so your bookshelf can accommodate them all. The two images on the upper right hand shows you different ideas on how to install the bookshelves.

If there is not enough room for your shoes in your bedroom, here is another idea where to store your shoes. Who would think that you can actually have drawers in between the steps? Isn't this a great way to hide your shoes and that of the family members'? At the same time so accessible to everyone? Not to mention the fact that those drawers can keep your shoes from accumulating dusts on the skins. But of course, do not limit yourself to thinking that the drawers can just be for your shoes. You can store other things as well.

 So much more can be done. You can create extra storage on the flight of steps. The functional space can help you organize frequently used items. You can even use it to display decorative items, memorabilia, trophies and other collectible things you have. If you are so enticed with these storage ideas and would want to work on something similar, let the location of your stairs help you determine what would fit best. If the stairs are near the entry way, you could use the storage for your coats and umbrellas. If it's somewhere in the kitchen, a good idea would be additional cabinets or a pantry perhaps. If location is in the basement, you could convert it into a storage of seasonal items or clothes.

With a bit of imagination and creativity and depending on the size of  how much space you have under-stairs, you can even transform that bit of an area to a modern bar or a work area. All you need is a small cabinet or shelves and a desk for your personal computer. Instead of leaving the dead space unused and empty, create something useful for the family. Measure the size of the space and think about what you want to do with that space. In case you dream to have another bathroom or toilet, you can do so, just make sure there's enough room for the basic needs of one.

Bedroom - Decorating And Organizing Ideas

Having an organized and a clutter free bedroom can also relieve you from stress. After all, it's the only place at home where you can indulge yourself to relax and sleep. For most, keeping the bedroom organized is all important. It is the first place you see in the morning and the last place you see before you sleep. Wouldn't it be nice to come home after a day's work to rest in a quiet and pleasant atmosphere? 

For small bedrooms, refreshing shades of paints are very stimulating to the eyes and can draw a sense of a larger space in comparison to dark colors. Elegant in colors such as white and cream or paints in pastel shades provide a spacious feeling. Lighting fixtures installed near your bed are not just easier to maintain but can give you an illusion of a spacious area. Selecting the type of bed is also important in consideration of the limited space you have. 

Ideally, bedrooms should not be used apart from relaxing and sleeping. However, in most cases,  bedrooms are used for a large amount of other activities such as listening to music, watching T.V., exercising, doing office work, or spending time with children just to name a few. It's out of choice and most often than not, out of necessity. For an average family, there's just no room for activities like these anywhere else. Therefore, the first step to consider is to decide what activities will be done in that room. 

Plan your place. Make a sketch of the room and plan how the furniture will be laid out. Try rearranging your pieces of furniture until you are satisfied. Start sorting your items.  Decide what items you want to keep and get rid of others you don't need anymore. The lesser you have the more room for you to move around. Keep your decorative items to a minimum. Organize your closet and sort items that go together. Get storage boxes or wicker baskets to store extra things you get in your bedroom. Use organizers for you accessories, hats and shoes. Explore potential areas where you can store those boxes. Under-bed storage is a good idea. You may want to start using a hamper to contain your dirty clothes; make sure it does not overflow. This would make your  laundry day easier because you don't have to take the time to decide what is clean or dirty.

Since the bed is the focal point of the room, its bedding would play an integral part of decorating and choosing a color scheme. For small rooms, you may use printed ones but make sure the prints are small in pattern. Prints may have the color of your walls or patterned with your window treatments. It's all up to you just follow the simple guides I have discussed in the  previous post on Choosing Interior Color Combinations. I would suggest a light color bed framing so as not to cramp the room with it.

If you are the type of person who cannot do without books and you wouldn't want to get rid of them but you don't have anywhere else to place it, you may install 2 layers of wooden shelves one and a half feet from the ceiling around the walls. Shelves maybe varnished in natural color or have it painted with the same color as the walls to camouflage it. Pile the books neatly according to its height and size or you can organize your collectibles up there too! For a chic touch, I would suggest that you put a small pot of plant with leaves that run down like a vine. That's gonna be awesome!

You are probably thinking what window treatment would best fit that wee room.. Small prints is always the best. Choose the kind of fabric that is light in weight. Avoid bold dark colors as this would surely make the room more smaller. Blinds are an option with its color patterned probably with your bedding to give it a unified appearance.