11 Smart Storage Ideas to Borrow from Irish Homes
Struggling to come up with innovative and stylish storage solutions? These gems tick all the boxes
Amy Maynard
8 April 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an interiors consultant and journalist and have completed some fabulous projects and worked on some the UK's best-selling mags. I am passionate about homes and interiors and once looked at 99 different properties before putting in an offer. For me, gaining a furtive glimpse into someone's brightly-lit and beautiful house as I walk past is like getting an unexpected present. I live deep in the Kent countryside in a village house that dates back to the 17th Century with an Arts and Crafts facade. See more about me at www.amy-maynard.com and www.amymaynardinteriors.com.
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an interiors consultant and journalist and have completed... More
Finding space for life’s gubbins presents a style dilemma all of its own. How can you bury that paperwork or stash your shoes while maximising space and making a statement? These inventive ideas from Irish properties show you how to make the most of every nook and cranny.
Flirt with a bold design
Alcove shelving is more often than not a run-of-the-mill set-up, with built-in cupboards below and shelving above. The owner of this Dublin house dared to do something a little different, with an asymmetrical design and L-shaped sections.
Paint any unusual shelving units in the same colour as the walls to avoid them standing out too much. This will also allow the items on display to share the limelight.
Learn some more ways to display and store your treasured objects in small spaces
Alcove shelving is more often than not a run-of-the-mill set-up, with built-in cupboards below and shelving above. The owner of this Dublin house dared to do something a little different, with an asymmetrical design and L-shaped sections.
Paint any unusual shelving units in the same colour as the walls to avoid them standing out too much. This will also allow the items on display to share the limelight.
Learn some more ways to display and store your treasured objects in small spaces
Dabble with a little upcycling
This Leixlip home features an inspired upcycled vintage suitcase doubling as a dressing table. Find a side table and fix a suitable-sized case on top; vintage designs work best, so look out for them in charity shops and at online auctions. Then simply stick a mirror to the inside of the lid, fill with cosmetics and pull up a stool.
If you’re a dab hand at DIY, wire some dressing-room style bare bulbs around it for a movie star touch.
This Leixlip home features an inspired upcycled vintage suitcase doubling as a dressing table. Find a side table and fix a suitable-sized case on top; vintage designs work best, so look out for them in charity shops and at online auctions. Then simply stick a mirror to the inside of the lid, fill with cosmetics and pull up a stool.
If you’re a dab hand at DIY, wire some dressing-room style bare bulbs around it for a movie star touch.
Contemplate a catch-all cupboard
If you don’t have room for a separate larder, copy the owners of this Dublin home and have a multi-tasking cupboard built that can offer a home to all your condiments and spices, and even house some of your wine collection.
This clever design includes bottle cubbyholes and nifty little slots from which to hang glasses. It also has a worktop housing a toaster and bread bin for speedy breakfasts. Choose slim shelving fitted to the doors, as here, so spices and herbs can be stored in rows for quick identification.
Find more contemporary larder ideas
If you don’t have room for a separate larder, copy the owners of this Dublin home and have a multi-tasking cupboard built that can offer a home to all your condiments and spices, and even house some of your wine collection.
This clever design includes bottle cubbyholes and nifty little slots from which to hang glasses. It also has a worktop housing a toaster and bread bin for speedy breakfasts. Choose slim shelving fitted to the doors, as here, so spices and herbs can be stored in rows for quick identification.
Find more contemporary larder ideas
Put your logs on display
If you have a wood-burning stove or open fire and you’re tired of having to refill your log basket every couple of days in colder months, consider getting custom-made shelving fitted into your fireplace alcoves.
The bespoke shelves in this Dublin house make a real style statement. Paint the shelving a dark colour to avoid the logs leaving marks as they’re stocked up and taken out.
If you have a wood-burning stove or open fire and you’re tired of having to refill your log basket every couple of days in colder months, consider getting custom-made shelving fitted into your fireplace alcoves.
The bespoke shelves in this Dublin house make a real style statement. Paint the shelving a dark colour to avoid the logs leaving marks as they’re stocked up and taken out.
Make the most of a small bathroom
Maximise the space under your basin by opting for a standalone unit rather than a pedestal – this antique cabinet, found on eBay, does the job beautifully. As here, you could then cover it with a fine slab of marble or composite worktop and secure your basin on top.
With a cupboard on legs like this, you could also slot baskets underneath for additional storage.
Wall-mounted taps are the best option for this type of project and you’ll need to cut holes in the wood and worktop for the plumbing. Bear in mind also that the under-basin fixtures will take up a bit of space in your cupboard.
Maximise the space under your basin by opting for a standalone unit rather than a pedestal – this antique cabinet, found on eBay, does the job beautifully. As here, you could then cover it with a fine slab of marble or composite worktop and secure your basin on top.
With a cupboard on legs like this, you could also slot baskets underneath for additional storage.
Wall-mounted taps are the best option for this type of project and you’ll need to cut holes in the wood and worktop for the plumbing. Bear in mind also that the under-basin fixtures will take up a bit of space in your cupboard.
Opt for office style
This Dublin dining room is the perfect example of how to use shelving with a workplace feel to add a sleek, no-nonsense vibe to your room.
The mix of open and closed units gives a pleasing symmetry, while the items stored, from wine bottles to books, are balanced nicely with each other. Look for flat-pack storage cube kits that allow you to make your own combinations.
This Dublin dining room is the perfect example of how to use shelving with a workplace feel to add a sleek, no-nonsense vibe to your room.
The mix of open and closed units gives a pleasing symmetry, while the items stored, from wine bottles to books, are balanced nicely with each other. Look for flat-pack storage cube kits that allow you to make your own combinations.
Tick two boxes at once
Window seats are a brilliant way of using redundant space and can double up as nifty storage, too.
The owners of this Dublin house have shunned a standard set-up and instead opted for a built-in wine rack in their window seat – within stretching distance of the sofa!
This is a great idea, but you could equally fill it with baskets for toys or computer games paraphernalia, use it for books or your collection of vinyl, or fit drawers to hide anything from spare light bulbs to a selection of candles.
Window seats are a brilliant way of using redundant space and can double up as nifty storage, too.
The owners of this Dublin house have shunned a standard set-up and instead opted for a built-in wine rack in their window seat – within stretching distance of the sofa!
This is a great idea, but you could equally fill it with baskets for toys or computer games paraphernalia, use it for books or your collection of vinyl, or fit drawers to hide anything from spare light bulbs to a selection of candles.
Exploit slim shelving
If your child’s bedroom is overrun with books and there’s a lack of space for standard shelving, take inspiration from this Dublin property and use narrow photo ledges instead.
These can be fitted in more unusual areas, such as below a window, as here, where standard shelves would protrude too much. In addition, books displayed cover forwards, which a narrow shelf will demand, will be attractive and easy to grab for your little one.
If your child’s bedroom is overrun with books and there’s a lack of space for standard shelving, take inspiration from this Dublin property and use narrow photo ledges instead.
These can be fitted in more unusual areas, such as below a window, as here, where standard shelves would protrude too much. In addition, books displayed cover forwards, which a narrow shelf will demand, will be attractive and easy to grab for your little one.
Think practically
This cleverly designed kitchen features a whizzy little pull-out drawer built into the chimney breast. Making use of unusual little spaces like this can really boost storage capacity.
Using a cupboard facade with drawers behind is a great way of hiding lots of condiments while retaining simple lines, and will avoid you having to hunt around in the back of a sticky cupboard.
This cleverly designed kitchen features a whizzy little pull-out drawer built into the chimney breast. Making use of unusual little spaces like this can really boost storage capacity.
Using a cupboard facade with drawers behind is a great way of hiding lots of condiments while retaining simple lines, and will avoid you having to hunt around in the back of a sticky cupboard.
Create stairway heaven
These shelves set into a stairway wall are a brilliant bit of space saving. Building inset shelves in this way brings a staircase to life, turning what would otherwise be simply a transitory space into another room – a library. What’s more, there’s plenty of space to perch for a browse.
These shelves set into a stairway wall are a brilliant bit of space saving. Building inset shelves in this way brings a staircase to life, turning what would otherwise be simply a transitory space into another room – a library. What’s more, there’s plenty of space to perch for a browse.
Maximise the eaves
Building storage into the eaves of a loft bedroom is nothing new, but push the style boundaries with an interesting configuration, as in this Dublin cottage. Opt for a combination of drawers, open shelves and cupboards and take advantage of your roof angles to create an interesting slant.
TELL US…
What do you think of these storage ideas? Can you add to the list of clever tricks? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Building storage into the eaves of a loft bedroom is nothing new, but push the style boundaries with an interesting configuration, as in this Dublin cottage. Opt for a combination of drawers, open shelves and cupboards and take advantage of your roof angles to create an interesting slant.
TELL US…
What do you think of these storage ideas? Can you add to the list of clever tricks? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Lots of colourful ideas but seeing the display shelves in the Dublin child's bedroom under the window had alarm bells ringing that the owner might hear in .... Dublin ?
Shelving in the kitchen space is a really good idea. The book shelves on the stairwell are a fantastic idea.
Best Irish storage - under the stairs press and hot press. Can't beat them.