Decorating
10 Smart Built-in Solutions to Streamline Your Home
From clever cupboards to bespoke bedside tables, get extra bang for your buck with built-in storage
Unless you’re one of the talented few who have perfected the art of minimalism, finding space to store the unrelenting stuff that keeps accumulating can be an ongoing battle. As it starts to take up more space, often the furniture we buy to store it can become almost as problematic as the contents. Perhaps the secret lies in purpose-built storage solutions created to fit seamlessly into the bones of our houses – both unobtrusive and beautiful. But is going bespoke worth the often extra cost? Here are 10 elegant storage ideas to help you decide.
Nix awkward alcoves
Assign a role to those awkward alcoves next to the chimney breast by building in floating shelves and cupboards. If you’re a fan of Scandi-style clean lines and pale woods, follow this example and fit a low-level cabinet with a recess for rustic log storage and space that would fit a TV above.
Assign a role to those awkward alcoves next to the chimney breast by building in floating shelves and cupboards. If you’re a fan of Scandi-style clean lines and pale woods, follow this example and fit a low-level cabinet with a recess for rustic log storage and space that would fit a TV above.
Go full scale
If you choose the right style, fitting a whole wall of storage can be less obtrusive than several smaller pieces of furniture. Taking these cupboards almost to the ceiling also minimises dead space, while slab-front doors in a tonal colour help them to blend into the background. Consider handleless push doors or hidden handles for the ultimate in a streamlined look.
If you choose the right style, fitting a whole wall of storage can be less obtrusive than several smaller pieces of furniture. Taking these cupboards almost to the ceiling also minimises dead space, while slab-front doors in a tonal colour help them to blend into the background. Consider handleless push doors or hidden handles for the ultimate in a streamlined look.
Make it multi-functional
A headboard with integrated bedside cabinet might sound like a throwback from the 1950s, but this neat design oozes contemporary style. This potentially tricky bedside area is further streamlined by the addition of a hanging bare bulb light rather than a table lamp, meaning no trailing wires.
Discover more designs and ideas for multi-functional headboards
A headboard with integrated bedside cabinet might sound like a throwback from the 1950s, but this neat design oozes contemporary style. This potentially tricky bedside area is further streamlined by the addition of a hanging bare bulb light rather than a table lamp, meaning no trailing wires.
Discover more designs and ideas for multi-functional headboards
Get a better layout
In the bathroom, built-in storage can give you extra options in terms of layout. Here, positioning the toilet in front of a wall that has been framed out and tiled means the cistern is hidden and a shelf created above. The remaining wall under the eaves is home to a sleek cabinet that uses every scrap of space.
In the bathroom, built-in storage can give you extra options in terms of layout. Here, positioning the toilet in front of a wall that has been framed out and tiled means the cistern is hidden and a shelf created above. The remaining wall under the eaves is home to a sleek cabinet that uses every scrap of space.
Speed up your clear-up
While it might seem wasteful to pay for custom cabinetry in a room where the main occupants almost certainly won’t appreciate it, kitting out your children’s play area with masses of easy-to-access storage could mean less time spent tidying up after them. This colourful room features huge pull-out drawers for quickly stashing toys and games out of the way after a busy day’s play.
While it might seem wasteful to pay for custom cabinetry in a room where the main occupants almost certainly won’t appreciate it, kitting out your children’s play area with masses of easy-to-access storage could mean less time spent tidying up after them. This colourful room features huge pull-out drawers for quickly stashing toys and games out of the way after a busy day’s play.
Design a dream dressing room
When your wardrobe doors won’t shut and your shoe collection is out of control, exploit an under-used corner and build the bespoke dressing room of your dreams. There are companies dedicated to helping you stay organised – just choose the configuration of drawers, cupboards and shelves that best suits your requirements and they will tailor their designs to fit.
When your wardrobe doors won’t shut and your shoe collection is out of control, exploit an under-used corner and build the bespoke dressing room of your dreams. There are companies dedicated to helping you stay organised – just choose the configuration of drawers, cupboards and shelves that best suits your requirements and they will tailor their designs to fit.
Stake out a study space
Turn a too-tiny boxroom into a bijou office, complete with a custom-built desk, shelves and a handy reading nook for when you need to take a screen break. Ask your carpenter to incorporate drawers into the bench seat to house extra files and paperwork (far easier to access than a perhaps more obvious flip-top opening).
Explore ideas for making the most of a compact home office space
Turn a too-tiny boxroom into a bijou office, complete with a custom-built desk, shelves and a handy reading nook for when you need to take a screen break. Ask your carpenter to incorporate drawers into the bench seat to house extra files and paperwork (far easier to access than a perhaps more obvious flip-top opening).
Explore ideas for making the most of a compact home office space
Don’t lose focus
The bedroom in this 19th century dairy is a lesson in soothing neutrals and unobtrusive storage. The side wall features subtle built-in cupboards with flat-fronted, handleless doors that allow the sumptuous linens and buttoned upholstery to remain the focal point of the room.
The bedroom in this 19th century dairy is a lesson in soothing neutrals and unobtrusive storage. The side wall features subtle built-in cupboards with flat-fronted, handleless doors that allow the sumptuous linens and buttoned upholstery to remain the focal point of the room.
Go underground
For the home that has everything… an integrated wine cellar. While this canny basement conversion may be beyond the realms of possibility for the majority of us, it’s a good example of how planning and prioritising what you want from your building works can reap lasting rewards when it comes to elegant storage solutions.
TELL US…
What clever built-in storage have you incorporated into your home… or which of these solutions is your favourite? We’d love to hear your ideas and see your photos in the Comments below.
For the home that has everything… an integrated wine cellar. While this canny basement conversion may be beyond the realms of possibility for the majority of us, it’s a good example of how planning and prioritising what you want from your building works can reap lasting rewards when it comes to elegant storage solutions.
TELL US…
What clever built-in storage have you incorporated into your home… or which of these solutions is your favourite? We’d love to hear your ideas and see your photos in the Comments below.
Make every element in a small kitchen earn its keep with tightly packed storage and appliances. The custom cabinetry in this room fits neatly around the fridge-freezer, even utilising the sliver of space next to the window.
Open shelving and glass-fronted upper cabinets keep the scheme feeling light and, being beautiful in their own right, help integrate the kitchen with the open-plan apartment.