Clever Storage Solutions for Tricky Spots in Your Home

Living in the city often means dealing with a small space. You feel like you don't have enough room for your things. Your home can easily become cramped, messy, and stressful because of all that clutter.

But what if we tell you that your space actually has a lot of hidden storage potential? You just need to spot these often-overlooked areas and find their ideal storage solution.

Here are 4 areas in your home you can use for extra storage:

1. Walls

Walls aren't just for framed pictures and posters. These so-called “vertical spaces” can hold things, too! All you need to do is get sturdy and spacious shelving.

IKEA’s EKET Cabinets are a great option for this. Mount them on the wall in your living room for books or collectibles, near your desk to hold files and documents, in the dining area to display your pretty china and glassware, or use one as bedside storage.

You can stack them up, place them side by side, or even arrange them in a fun geometric pattern. They also come in many colorways so you can find one that fits your aesthetic.

Another cool idea is the MOSSJON Wall Cabinet, also from IKEA. It has an open bottom shelf for items you need easy access to, and shelving enclosed by a glass door for stuff you want to tuck away. Put it up in your bathroom for toiletries and bath essentials or in the kitchen for spices and specialty condiments.

With a width of 36 cm and a depth of 18 cm, this cabinet won’t take up a lot of space on the wall. Its reeded glass panels and anthracite gray steel frame make it a stylish piece, too.

2. Under the bed

Most beds, except for low-profile or solid platform designs, offer valuable storage space underneath. Why not take advantage of this underutilized real estate?

IKEA has a lot of under-the-bed storage solutions, such as the BRUKSVARA Storage Case. It has lots of room for seasonal clothes (that puffer jacket you wore abroad or those sweaters you only wear during the cooler months) or to store extra blankets, bedding, towels, and linens.

With a height of 19 cm, it will definitely fit underneath most beds. It also has a zip-up lid to keep your things dust-free and a handle so you can easily slide it out from under the bed.

3. Empty space inside cabinets

Think your cabinets and shelves can’t hold more items than they already have? Think again! You just need to organize them well and use storage solutions that can maximize every inch of space.

One nifty product to check out is IKEA’s VARIERA Shelf Insert. This steel contraption creates an additional shelf inside your cabinet, maximizing its vertical height. Use it to separately stack plates, food containers, or even glassware, and even to organize your pantry shelves. It also makes finding things easier since you can see items at a glance.

This shelf insert comes in different sizes, which means you can stack the smaller version on top of the bigger one. It’s a cool organizing hack for cabinets with large spaces in between shelves.

Speaking of shelves, the PALYCKE Clip-on Basket from IKEA offers convenient hanging storage. Use it as an extra shelf for cups and mugs in your kitchen cabinet, in your pantry to organize your snacks and other packaged food, or even under your desk as a cord organizer or an extra cubby for notebooks and pads. The options are practically endless.

Another brilliant thing about it is that it comes in various configurations—there’s even one you can hook behind a door cabinet. And since it’s made of steel, it’s quite sturdy, too.

4. Under the stairs

That awkward space under your stairs can also be considered wasted space. Because most staircases create an angled empty area underneath them, it's challenging to use this space efficiently.

IKEA's TROFAST offers a brilliant solution for this tricky space. Because of its modular design, you can configure this storage system to fit neatly under the stairs. It can turn this "dead zone" into an organized and easy-to-access hub for your kids' things—toys, books, puzzles, art materials, and even sports gear.

You can choose between two sizes for the pull-out storage boxes or combine them. The frame also comes in two finishes, while the boxes are available in multiple colorways, making TROFAST very customizable.

Ready to find more space in your home? Take some time to observe every nook and cranny! Look at your walls, under the furniture, and even inside your cabinets.

Once you’re ready to find smart, simple, and affordable storage solutions, just head to the IKEA store or browse its extensive collection online. Happy organizing!

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