From mansion to studio apartment, no matter what the size of your home is, finding a place for every single thing is a dilemma we all face. However, the solution isn’t always to Mari Kondo every item you own, purchase an extra dresser or even rent an off-site storage unit. But rather, it can be choosing smartly designed furniture to hide away everything from off-season clothing to ten-year-old tax records. Here are eight unique pieces to help maximize every inch of space.
Langely Street Linden Wood Storage Bench
Storage with style.WAYFAIR
Most storage benches have a traditional or contemporary look. But this one from Wayfair has a true mid-century modern design featuring leather and wood accents. The cushion pops up and has two divided sections, great for shoes or dog leashes. There’s also a small drawer you can use to store keys. It’s so sleek that you’d want this bench in your entryway even if it didn’t have storage.
Home Decorator’s Collection Adalyn French Market Stripe Tufted Corner Storage Bench
Say oui to a secret compartment.HOME DEPOT
Fitting perfectly in a corner or nook, this chair is just the right size for small guest rooms or extra seating in the living room. With a simple French design, you’d never know the cushion comes up. This compartment is ideal for storing extra bed linens or towels.
Doorman Designs Octavia Coffee Table
A table with a story.DOORMAN DESIGNS
The problem with a lot of storage furniture is that it looks like storage furniture—but not this coffee table. The base is crafted from reclaimed Louisiana sinker cypress wood. The story of how the logs are harvested is such an interesting process that it was even filmed for a National Geographic documentary.
The tables also feature mirrored tops, which are handmade to have a smoky antique look.
Furniture of America Espresso Joels Modern Shoe Cabinet
A shoe cabinet can make all the difference.SEARS
If you live in a “shoes off” home, a big pile can often end up outside or in the entryway. This cabinet creates order by holding up to 20 pairs of shoes. So, everything from sneakers to stilettos have a place. It also has additional cubbies and drawers, great for storing mail and keys.
Lulu And Georgia Trenton Expandable Ladder
Think vertical.LULU AND GEORGIA
This versatile ladder can raise your storage and style. Use it to bring beautiful textiles into the room—like the throw that is too warm to sleep with, but too pretty not to display. Or keep it simple and use the ladder to neatly contain the pile of clothing that inevitably ends up on a chair or regrettably on the floor.
Teknion Desking Systems Accessories
No drawers. No problem.TEKNION
Having an organized workspace and maintaining a clean aesthetic don’t often go hand and hand. This can especially be a problem if your desk lacks drawers. But the tn Storage & Accessories Collection, designed by Toan Nguyen with Teknion, makes this possible with a variety of pieces that coordinate the desktop and under desk areas. Create a space for everything you need to store from writing instruments to your bag.
Slim Furniture Sofas
The furniture is Slim. The storage is not.SLIM FURNITURE
Other than perhaps our beds, sofas are the largest pieces of furniture we have in our homes. The epitome of practical, Slim Furniture’s sofa cushions pop up to reveal a hidden storage area. With a modular design that requires no tools to assemble, you can arrange your sofa however you would like and even add pieces to expand it, if need be. The 100% solid, sustainable wood frames are available in black and white. All the covers are machine washable with eight colors to choose from.
South Shore Furniture Fusion Ottoman Storage Bed
Effortless storage under the bed.OVERSTOCK
Storing things under the bed is easy in theory, but difficult in practice. However, this bed can be a true game changer for people who don’t have quite enough room in their closets. Hydraulic lifts pop up the mattress, making the space easily accessible. Straps ensure everything stays in place. The beige wood frame easily fits into mid-century modern as well as modern aesthetics.
Edit And Display
A beautiful condo at 10 Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.DEVIN CAMPBELL
While using storage furniture is a great way to hide away things you don’t want to see, it’s equally challenging to find space to display things you do, such as picture frames and collectibles. Interior designer Alexis Rogers of At Home With Alexis thinks built-in bookcases around the doorway can be a great solution to displaying what you love. “[These are] a beautiful way to enhance the architectural details of a space and breathe life into the walls with color, depth and texture. People have a lot of interesting things hiding in cabinets that they wish to display but either don’t know how or don’t have enough space to do it.”
However, she stresses the importance of choosing wisely. “You have to be a ruthless editor of the objects in the running. Don’t pick tiny items that end up looking like small piles of clutter, and instead opt for beautiful larger items that fill out the cubbies or shelves nicely.”