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Small Space Storage and Decorating

One of the biggest problems for people when "small space decorating" is storage. Even for collectors it can easily become a problem, no matter what size space they are working with. Feel free to share your small space storage and decorating tips with me! And for great frugal decorating tips, get my free ezine.

Back to some small space decorating and storage ideas that I am currently using. I try to do two things with my "stuff", especially my collections:

1. Use them in "new" ways to create storage

or

2. Store them in new ways to be able to use them as decorative accents AND for their original use.

Here are some things I have done to maximize storage in my spaces, and still be able to keep my collections AND all my stuff.

1. I use clothes as decorative accents - hats as lampshades, scarves as pillow covers. Even shirts rolleds up in a bowl as storage, plus colorful accents. I can still wear this stuff, but it takes up no room in closets or dressers.

2. Stacked books have become the legs to small tables, or the small table itself.

3. Wall space has been used to hang a collection of mailboxes that where then used for storage - keys, gloves,scaves, a small umbrella.

4. Platters and plates have been hung on the wall instead of artwork. These are hung using ribbon cradles so they can be removed and used, then re-hung. I also have a set of measuring cups hanging off cup hooks on the wall with a frame around them. They look like art but are easy to use when needed. 5. I do a lot of both repurposing of furniture AND using items to make "storage furniture". Dresser drawers had wheels put on them and stowed under the bed. A bookshelf became a lighted plant stand, a suitcase became a footstool with storage.

6. I am working on a kitchen island right now made from two bar stools with backs. I will lay boards across the leg slats on both set of rungs and make small shelves there for storage.

7. Clear or white glassware is my best friend. I use my cups, bowls, plates, jars etc. as the centerpiece for my table. I alternate the design about monthly, still having use of my stuff when wanted but not really "storing" it anywhere.

8. Humble chicken wire makes a great storage unit. I saw this last weekend, where a door was covered with chicken wire and then hooks were hung off the wire holding lots of things, including baskets holding stuff. This I will be doing myself soon. You might think this would only "work" in real primitive decor, but that wasn't true in this case. The baskets hanging off the wire were very contemporary making the end result look contemporary as well.

9. I am using a blanket chest as a coffee table and have filled the inside with all my gift wrapping supplies, so it doubles as my gift wrapping station.

10. And this last one is a little odd. I keep some of my Christmas trees up year around, decorated in themes that suit the decor of the rooms they are in. I don't have to store the ornaments, take down or set up the tree, and I, the Christmas Crazy that I am, get to "see" Christmas year round.

Hopefully this will stir some creative small-space storage ideas for you, beyond baskets and crates, although I really like THEM for storage as well. Have I shown you how I store my cookbooks? :)

For even more ideas, read my blog and ezine. I add ideas there often.

P.S. In true frugal style, this website design cost $5.00. If you'd like to get a reasonably-priced site design of your own, visit here.

P.S.S. Did you like this idea? Some of you have asked how you could thank me for easy designs like this. Feel free to contribute to my raw materials