The bathroom storage requirements are likely to be relatively low key – somewhere to keep toiletries and cleaning materials, for example. As such, the main storage requirements in a bathroom are for linen, towels, toiletries and cosmetics. The choice is likely to be between a floor-standing vanity unit and some wall-hung cupboards (cabinets), although if space permits, you might give some thought to the growing number of fully fitted bathroom furniture ranges. Where space is very limited, make use of the hidden space behind a removable bath panel to store small items such as children’s bath toys

A storage idea of a wall-hung cupboard here is a built-in cupboard with glass doors which encourages tidiness within. You can stack fluffy towels and bath sheets on the top shelves and relegate less pretty bathroom necessities to the closed lower cabinet.

For smaller bathroom, you could utilize the bathroom door which is full of unused storage space. What you could do is to paint the door with magnetic paint to create an attractive surface on which to hang towel hooks and metal disks. You can also install removable bins and towel bars to store extra towels, shampoo, and soap. The following picture shows how the storage solution can be done.

Another home storage solution for a small bathroom here is to choose small-scale case goods — such as the eight-drawer roller cart near the vanity here — for maximum flexibility. Taller pieces offer more cubic inches of storage in limited square footage than shorter ones.

If the hot-water tank is in the bathroom, then building an airing cupboard surrounding it, with slatted shelves to allow warm air to circulate around the towels, sheets, and so on, can be a great boon.

Some luxurious home storage solutions for bathroom here are a bifold doors conceal shelves full of bathroom must-haves, but also leave room for plenty of display space. Corral items with wicker baskets and boxes.

Nowadays, most modern bathrooms are not large, so there is usually relatively little scope for storage. However, in larger rooms you could include some freestanding furniture – perhaps a small freestanding shelf unit of a square design, or a number of wicker baskets for storing clean towels or dirty linen ready for washing.

Shown here is another storage idea for limited space bathroom. You can make use of corner space with a tall pot rack. Fill bowls with bathroom supplies and stacks of rolled bath towels for an attractive and functional display. It’s superb elegantly done storage idea.

If you have young children, you need to take care with medicines. You could readily build or buy a medicine cabinet, which should then be fixed high on a wall or fitted with a secure lock.

In conclusion, the design to your home storage for bathroom is countless where the sky is the limit. As some of the pictures shown above, you don’t really have to spend a fortune on the bathroom storage. It can be cheaply done. You just have to be creative.

In the living room, home storage needs are likely to be leisure-oriented. There has to be enough room for books, cassettes, compact discs and videotapes, not to mention display space for ornaments. The choice is again between free-standing and built-in furniture, and is much freer than in other part of the house such as kitchen because the looks of the living room are just as important as performance.

The best thing about custom-made storage cabinets or system is that they can make optimum use of alcoves and other recesses in the living room. A more radical option is a complete wall of storage units, which could include space for home-entertainment equipment as well as features such as a drinks cupboard (cabinet). While planning living-room home storage, pay particular attention to working requirements for power points (receptacles), especially if you have a lot of hi-fi (stereo) equipment, and for any concealed lighting in the unit.

Purpose-made cabinets to accommodate the typical types of home-entertainment equipment – such as televisions and video recorders – are readily available. Modular designs allow you to add on as necessary if you want your hi-fi systems in the same area of the room. Many, too, also allow you to extend the units upwards, with purpose-made units for tapes and CDs. By choosing the modular components with care, you should be able to put together just the right size and shape to fit into, say, the alcove created between the chimney breast and room wall. These units are often very simple to make, and you should have few problems in building your own if you wish.

The walls at the living room are often under-utilized for storage and display, especially hard-to-get-at areas above tables and sofas. Open shelves here may be the perfect place to display ornaments and photographs, since you will only want access to them occasionally. Where books are concerned, however, make sure that you build shelving in an easily accessible part of the room, or you may wish to build or buy freestanding bookshelves instead. With these you have the added flexibility of being able to change the arrangement of the furniture at will without destroying the room’s décor.

In conclusion, the living room is a mixed-activity room which encompasses activities such as reading, playing, entertainment such as watching movie or listening to music, napping and so on. Therefore, do make sure the home storage system caters to all of these activities when you are designing it.

In the kitchen, storage is a serious business, and what you need and how you provide it will depend on what kind of kitchen it is and how you use it. The fully fitted kitchen is popular because it packs the most storage into the least space, whereas the farmhouse-style kitchen, with free-standing furniture, reduces the amount of storage space. There is, however, one big advantage with free-standing furniture: you can take it along when you move house.

An example of a kitchen storage idea here is how the utensils can be easily stored in which they are hung on “S” hooks from a rod above the cooktop. You don’t have to buy an expensive storage system — a simple towel rack, tension rod, or dowel can be mounted near the food-prep area.

Another storage idea is a built-in tall, wide stainless-steel backsplash, a roomy shelf and a row of utensil hooks provide on-location storage that doesn’t block ventilation.

In deciding what you want, analyze your storage needs thoroughly. Think about food, cooking utensils and small appliances for a start; all need a place close to cooking and food-preparation areas. Move on to items such as china, cutlery and glassware; do they need to be in the kitchen at all, or would the dining room be a better place to keep them? Then consider non-culinary items – cleaning materials, table linen and so on – and make sure that there is enough space for them.

Smaller utensils such as silverware and cutlery can be stored in a drawer which has divided storage.

A storage adapted from restaurant-style equipment to keep everyday utensils handy and organized.

Always make the best possible use of cupboards (closet) space. In the kitchen, built-in base and eye-level cupboards are an effective way of keeping things out of sight until they are needed. The range of modern materials, surface finishes and colors available is extraordinarily large, allowing your imagination wide rein. Other things which you can do is fit extra shelves where necessary, use wire baskets for ventilated storage, hang small racks on the back of doors and use swing-out carousels to gain access to corner cupboards.

The following picture shows a deep pullout drawers which ensure the right serving pieces, linens, and flatware are never out of arm’s reach. This drawer includes a modified pegboard approach that uses oversize pegs to keep dishes from sliding and chipping.

Another storage idea here is to use designated drawers for different kitchen tasks so unrelated items don’t have to share space. Frequently used baking supplies, such as sugar and flour, coexist with measuring spoons and cups in a drawer close to the baking station. You can use canisters with tight lids to keep previously opened ingredients airtight.

However, ideas from the past should not be overlooked. In a large family kitchen, or a country-style room, why not consider a traditional dresser? Dressers in traditional designs are still made today and most offer you a combination of open shelving, on which to display your best and most attractive crockery and ornaments, as well as closed cupboards beneath for all those less eye-catching items that you don’t want on permanent show. Perhaps the answer to your kitchen storage problem may be a mixture of the old and the new – in the food-preparation area, built-in, easy-clean units may be best, while in the eating area you may favor the friendly charm of a dresser or a set of open wall shelves.

A picture shows a tall, slim pullout unit next to the oven maximizes a small space by bringing larger items to the cook, then blending back into the bank of cabinets.

Another one shows a Rev-A-Shelf’s Slim Double Soft-Close Pullout Pantry which add plenty of food storage within a tall bank of cabinets or near the refrigerator. The storage system fits inside a 5-inch space and comes with six adjustable baskets and door-mounting brackets.

In short, do analyze your kitchen storage needs first before deciding on what to do. If you are a heavy user of the kitchen, do consider spending more on the storage so that you won’t regret later. If you are a light user, a free standing home storage system is probably enough to take care of the tasks.

]]> http://modernhomestorage.com/home-storage/home-storage-solutions-for-kitchen/feed/ 5 http://modernhomestorage.com/home-storage/are-you-looking-for-home-storage-solutions/ http://modernhomestorage.com/home-storage/are-you-looking-for-home-storage-solutions/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:34:09 +0000 Kenny http://modernhomestorage.com/?p=3 Finding a suitable home storage solution around the house for all the personal and household belongings every family accumulates can be quite a challenge. One difficulty is making a sensible balance between tidiness and accessibility; it is no good having a place for everything if that means spending hours each day laboriously taking things out and putting them back again.

The best home storage solution is to tailor-make storage to suit its purpose. Some things need a temporary storage space where they remain readily accessible. Others need long-term storage solution, perhaps being retrieved and used only occasionally. And there is a third storage category, that of display – simply to show things off.

In a typical home, possessions are stored in one of three main ways: on shelves, in cupboards (closet) or in drawers. These may be combined in a variety of storage or display units, and the amount of each type of space that is required will vary from house to house. For example, the avid bookworm will have miles of shelves lining the walls, while the clothes horse will need more wardrobe space.

The home storage solution that is needed can be provided in one of two ways. One is to buy or make pieces of free-standing furniture that match the required storage function. The other is to use raw materials such as wood and manufactured boards plus the appropriate hardware to create built-in storage space – arrays of shelving, cupboards in alcoves and so on. The former is the best solution for those who value furniture more than function, since the pieces can be moved from one house to another. However, built-in storage is generally more effective in providing the most space for the least money, since the house walls can often be used as part of the structure.

In short, the types of home storage solution that are required varies from house to house. They also depends on the owners’ needs and requirements. Some may find that the readily-made storage systems useful while others may require the built-in storage types. In the end, it’s your call to make the decision. Just give it a thought carefully so as not being regret later.

For more home storage solution, please visit the following pages which talks about some of the home storage ideas available.

• Home Storage Solutions for Kitchen
• Home Storage Ideas for Living Room
• Bathroom Home Storage Solutions
  

]]> http://modernhomestorage.com/home-storage/are-you-looking-for-home-storage-solutions/feed/ 1