Downsizing Help: Shelve Your Storage Woes

Take a look at your new, smaller rooms. Is there wall space that can be put to good use? Shelving — whether for books or collectibles, or to hold necessities like bathroom and office supplies — can make the difference between ongoing frustration or complete satisfaction with your small home.

The first time Mike and I saw what would become our little bungalow, it was a design disaster. A huge, awful sectional dominated the living room, and a console TV the size of a small barn took up what remained of the room.

I could go on and on about its flaws, but bottom line: We fell in love. It wasn’t just the old-California feel and the beamed ceilings; it was that fabulous built-in bookcase. “Aha!” we thought. “There is actually someplace to display our goodies and get some storage.”


A floating wall system like this one provides low-impact but highly effective display space, while the hanging drawers contribute needed storage. (And since they float off the floor, the room looks larger.) Depending on the size and weight of your TV, you might be able to mount it on shelving like this, so it doesn’t eat up any space in your small room.


I am always drawn to the idea of building shelving around and over the sofa. In a small room, it creates practical storage and display space. And it is possible to build it in a manner that effectively eliminates the need for side tables. Leaving enough room over the sofa for artwork also guarantees that nobody will bang a head on the shelves.

You can paint the shelves a contrasting color, as was done here, to give them emphasis. Or choose a tone similar to your wall color if you want them to recede.


The same idea works very well in a small bedroom. This bed has a cozy built-in feel, thanks to the recess created by the shelving, and the side and top units provide lots and lots of storage.


Floor-to-ceiling shelving acts as a room divider and brings personality and interest to this space, while providing a lovely home for that large collection of books. This is a stellar and creative use of a wall.


A TV uses up a foot or so of depth; flanking it with shelving built to the same depth makes productive use of that space. The pony wall that surrounds the desk and hides all the cords here is a stroke of genius.


Don’t think your shelving must always cover an entire wall. Just a couple of shelves placed artfully can make an impressive statement.


Simple stand-alone shelves are inexpensive and highly decorative, as well as useful. Their range of sizes makes them perfect for customizing your small space.

Find similar shelves


Freestanding shelves are a intriguing option as well. The sky’s the limit, designwise, and they have the added benefit of flexibility. Since they are freestanding, consider anchoring them to the wall to mitigate damage in the event of earthquakes or other natural disasters (like small grandchildren trying to climb them).


If your bathroom has dead space beside the tub, make use of it! These cubbies were created out of the space between studs and provide storage without any loss of space, while looking great.


Here the dead area over the tub is put to work in another creative way. This is a minimalistic approach, but it would be equally attractive stuffed with towels and baskets, or even candles and books for basking on bath night.


This demonstrates a fabulous use of the space over the john. Propping a smaller piece of art against the larger hanging one makes for a powerful composition.


The bathroom in our bungalow is so tiny as to be almost ludicrous, so this small-scale, rusty iron shelf has been a lifesaver. But you know what? We are discovering that there is just enough room to do everything necessary, and nothing more, which is proving to be all we need!

More: Downsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff

URL: Downsizing Help: Shelve Your Storage Woes http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22653.html