19 clever purchases that help you create extra storage out of thin air
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Dead spaces in your apartment are those underused pieces of real estate that often go unacknowledged, but they’re a great way to create storage space out of thin air.
You won’t need to designate any new area in the living room for a giant chest of drawers since you’ll just be updating the floor lamp with an almost identical model — just with added shelving space.
In the kitchen, you might decide to move the most used pots and pans to a rack on the ceiling or buy a floor-length mirror that doubles as a jewelry cabinet for your bedroom.
There are lots of places in our homes that we don’t use to their full capability (shower corners, to name one), and if we had the right thing, we might be able to declutter our homes without moving to a bigger apartment.
Below are 19 purchases that will help you optimize all the dead space in your home:
A hanging pot rack for your most-used pots and pans
Ceiling space is likely the least-developed real estate in your home. You can easily clear countertops, drying racks, and kitchen cabinets by freeing them of their pots and pans and hanging them from this rack instead. Plus, it looks really nice by adding some dimension to the kitchen.
Cuisinart Chef's Classic 36" Rectangular Wall-Mount Bookshelf Rack, available at Amazon, from $99.11
A magnetic knife holder to clear up counter space
Use your wall space especially for things that add to the aesthetic. Moving your nice knife set to the walls with a magnetic strip frees up counter space, puts them always within easy reach whilst cooking, and they're likely one of the more uniform, nice-looking kitchen utensils you own.
Easy Magnetic Knife Holder Wall Mount, available at Amazon, $15.97
A three-tier corner shower caddy
Instead of tripping over bottles and loofahs in tight quarters in your shower, you can move this tiered shower caddy into the somewhat-awkwardly-shaped corner and move about freely. It can also be great for tight corners elsewhere in the bathroom, where countertop and mirror cabinet space is at a premium.
Organize It All Bath Three-Tier Corner Shower Caddy, available at Amazon, $41.81
A two-tier shelf with added towel bars
Have you properly claimed the awkward space above your toilet? Probably not. A classic killing multiple birds with one little stone, this wall mount gives you the bathroom shelf space you need and utilizes the space underneath it for towels, letting you get more use out of the space you're already dedicating to storage so you can enjoy more room and not have towels build up on the back of the door.
A tension rod that will optimize your weird shower corners
If you've been heretofore perplexed by how to make use of the tight corners in your shower, a tension rod shower caddy is going to be very helpful. The tension will keep it in place, and it will adjust to fit your space without much work on your part.
Allzone Constant Tension Corner Shower Caddy, available at Amazon, $49.99
A shower caddy that keeps your shampoo bottles and soaps off the floor
This is one of the best ways to eliminate the amount of half-used shampoo bottles you trip over in a given shower. It's also convenient for soap (notably out of range for the water cascade, so they might even last longer, too) and you can hang your razors on the lower portion as well.
mDesign Handheld Hose Bathroom Shower Caddy, available at Amazon, $25.99
An outlet shelf that will mount speakers and minimize cord visibility
If you bought an Echo device on Black Friday and now have to clear off stacks of magazines from some forgotten coffee table for it to sit, this might be a better and more convenient solution.
You can minimize cords and position your speaker to both hear you and sound better in general.
ECHOGEAR Outlet Shelf, available at Amazon, $14.99
A bed frame high enough for storage underneath it
Under the bed storage is one of the all-time most convenient spots to throw things, which is at least one thing that hasn't changed since childhood. A raised bed frame means you can easily store luggage and pretty much anything else without adding clutter to your room or valuable space in your closet.
A bedframe with built-in storage
If you don't like the height of a raised bed frame or you want something more traditional, a bed frame with built-in storage is a nice way to maximize space you're already using up anyway.
Savoy Upholstered Storage Platform Bed, available at Joss and Main, from $714.99
Similar Pick: Black Full Mate's Platform Storage Bed with 6 Drawers, available at Amazon, $255.99
An organized, easily discernible system for under the bed storage
Grabbing storage containers that can inflate as needed are perfect for storing seasonal clothing out of the way. And if you need something thinner for underneath your bed frame, these might work better.
Misslo Zippered Storage Bag, available at Amazon, $11.99
A full-length mirror that doubles as a jewelry cabinet
You'll likely be investing in a full length mirror for your room, and this one doubles as a jewelry cabinet, so you can keep your valuables tucked away without having to compromise on space or organization.
SONGMICS 6 LEDs Jewelry Cabinet Lockable Standing Jewelry Armoire, available at Amazon, $129.99
Double your hanger space
Easily double the hanging space in your closet with this easy and affordable doubler rod. Life hack: jeans take up less room hanging than they do folded three times each and stacked on top of each other.
Richards Homewares Commercial Grade Closet Doubler Rod, available at Amazon, Set of 2, $29.99
A coffee table with storage space
Keep knick-knacks out of your way with a coffee table that allows you some added storage. Anything small and miscellaneous can be housed in here and out of company's way.
West Elm Industrial Storage Coffee Table (Small, 36"), $479-$699
A similar pick: Cerise Sandy Brown Wood Lift Top Storage Coffee Table, $179.99
A magnetic spice rack
Instead of keeping spices in a deep drawer that doesn't help you identify what you need immediately or in a rack on the counter, put them on the fridge. It looks nice, means you always know which spices are where, and frees up space you'll use by taking over the dead space you haven't been.
12 Tin Magnetic Spice Rack without Wall Plate, 30 Spice Labels, available at Amazon, $19.99
A mounted trash can to utilize limited leg room.
Mount your trash can so even in tight quarters you can feel like you've got ample leg room.
Sunbeam TrashRac 5-Gallon Trash Rack System, available at Amazon, $19.99
An under-cabinet paper roll holder
A further example of leaving no dead space unexamined, this towel holder is a cheap and easy way to get a big, bulky item off your counter and into somewhere ultimately more useful.
A wine glass rack
Let's be honest: They're an awkward shape. Stemware, which is so thin at the bottom and wide at the top, is logistically not a great use of space in a cabinet. By flipping them upside down and utilizing space under your cabinet, you can make your place look more polished as well as free up space in your cupboards to be used much more effectively.
A floor lamp with storage space
A floor lamp is easily one of the most convenient options for a home, but it doesn't really add much storage space for taking up a full corner of the living room. If you're looking for something similar for less, this option from Wayfair might be the next-best.
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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.
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