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Organizing the Home Design Dilemma Storage & Closet

Storage Delema, Help!

4 years ago

I live in my childhood home. Bought it from my parents in 2017.. they did a slight remodel on it but nothing drastic. The house was built in 1890.. it has absolutely NO storage space and it's been really hard trying to create storage space in the dead spaces. I am racking my brain on how to get my home in order so it doesn't always look so disarray. I have placed shelving units in the dead spaces but I still cannot get the every day items that are touched to look organized or off my counter top in my kitchen.

Anyone have any ideas? I can try and add photos a bit later.. but if anyone knows how OLD houses have no storage... you may have some great ideas for me.

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PRO

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

4 years ago

Can you be more specific about the kind of storage you need? Kitchen/pantry storage? Closet space? Bookshelves?

Before you do anything, start purging all the stuff you really don't use anymore and give it away to charity. Then, I'd highly recommend taking the closets that you do have and putting in closet organizers that will likely double your hanging space, as well as use the available height for additional shelving to put stuff away. Do the same thing in your garage: get lots of shelving to put away tools, sporting equipment, gardening gear, and seasonal stuff you don't use year-round.

After that, think about where it might make sense to do built-ins: a hutch in the dining room, perhaps for formal glassware and china. A bench seat in an eat-in kitchen that has drawers to store table linens or serving ware. Shelving/cabinets on either side of a fireplace to house your TV and other audio/visual equipment. Or captain's beds with drawers for extra blankets or to put away seasonal clothing.

Good luck!

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Comments (8)

njmomma
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Post pictures when you get a chance.
K R
4 years ago
Whenever I watch Love it and List it and Hilary is forever trying to create space in old houses which is what everyone seems to ask for...I notice she always goes UP. She does so many mud rooms/laundry rooms and always takes storage units right up to the ceiling. Not saying it’s a DIY but definitely a possibility!
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njmomma
4 years ago
Not quite sure what your looking for, but here is some inspiration:

Bramfield Road · More Info
apple_pie_order
4 years ago
Start with one room at a time. Please add photos of your kitchen or your first choice of other rooms.

Did your parents clear out the whole house when you bought it? Or are there things left behind?
wednesday morning
4 years ago
As you probably already know, since you have lived in that house, is the fact that the closets in those old houses were small, if there were any at all. People used to depend on stand alone units.

Your question is a bit too general to offer much specific advise.

I firmly agree with the idea to purge as much as possible. That is always the best starting point, in my opinion.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
Honestly without pictures and more info how can we really help.
HU-339274938
4 years ago
Hi everyone, after months of bootstrapping and development, we have just launched our new app, WIZT, a home inventory app that allows one to record, search, and locate their items fast without the hassle. Users can customize their floor plan to the layout of their house, add a digital AR sticker to know the exact location of the item, and share the information with friends, family and roommates (with subscription plan). Create unlimited tags for your labels to know what is in the storage location recorded. WIZT is free for use for the first three labels so have a go at it!

Beta Test Links:

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wizt
Apple Testflight: https://apple.co/2GTb8ub

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