Tales from outta space

Hide unsightly clutter and stash those out-of-season items by adding some beautiful built-in storage

- JEN JONES

Even for minimalists some amount of storage is still required in the home – especially if your home is built before 1940 and has an absence of wardrobes. The trick is to look for areas storage could be added and integrate it into your home’s existing footprint, no matter the age and design of your home. Closed storage will always feel neater than open storage as you can hide items away so it is worth building it in when renovating.

Wardrobes and cupboards

When it comes to adding wardrobes to bedrooms, I recommend built-in and full height. Loose furniture or clothing racks doesn’t optimise space, but utilising the floor-to-ceiling space does. This especially applies to older homes with higher ceilings. It might seem counter-intuitive to add storage in above 2-2.4 metres, but it’s perfect for things like off-season clothing, travel gear, luggage and other bits and pieces you don’t use on a daily basis.

Apply this same mentality to linen or hallway cupboards, too. It’s impractical to access shelves behind a nib wall, so why not have a second higher cupboard to store less frequently used items instead?

Alcoves and eaves