19 replies to this topic

[cookiejar]

Spaces in the walls

Behind your drywall and panelling lie countless hidden spaces nestled between the two-by-four studs. While some are filled with pipes, wiring, and sheet metal duct work, others are wide open and ready to be put to use. If your home is new or under construction you may already know where these spaces are. If not it’s just a matter of taking the time to do a little investigation to find out where you can re-open these spaces. Once you know where they are you can open them up into space saving shelves or convert them into storage cupboards.

Disguised storage spaces

There are all kinds of ways that you can disguise storage spaces. For example, think about putting a floor length table cloth over a small table. Not only will this create a trendy skirted table that is attractive to look at, and functional, you can also use underneath the table as storage space. The same applies to ottomans, blanket boxes and benches with hinged seats, these are all attractive and functional and each makes a great storage space.

Choose functional space

When you are buying new furniture, always think about its function as well as how it will look when you get it home. How it will work for you practically is often more important. For example, when you buy bookcases or other types of furnishing with shelves; make sure these items have five or six shelves. Two or three shelves per item are just wasted space. And don’t forget to reach upwards. You have all that space between the floor and ceiling. Why waste it with a couple of long horizontal shelves when you can fill it with a taller row of shelves and use your space more economically.

Furniture that hides

Murphy beds, chairs, tables, cots - anything that folds up and can be stored away, hung on a hook or slid under a bed saves space. From a low-tech drop-leaf table to a high-end, built-in, pop-up countertop that conceals small appliances in a kitchen island; your imagination and budget are the only limits to creating double-duty furnishings. But do remember that if you choose fold out furnishings like a Murphy bed that you will need to keep the floor space empty for when it is in use.

New house space

After choosing both your home plan and builder, carefully review your home plan with your builder. Keep an eye out for hidden space that can be utilized. Some of the most common places you’ll find hidden space are under staircases, among unusual curves or angled walls, and inside walls that hold recessed fireplaces or cabinetry. If you can’t find enough hidden space to create a shallow closet, there might be just enough space for a niche to display a favourite collectible, artwork or mirror.



Ceiling space

Two important lessons can be learned from pot, pan and wine racks. Firstly, things can be stored right out in the open, and secondly, items can be hung from ceilings. Incorporating the same basic methodology; make use of decorative hanging racks; you’ll work down from the top of the ceiling, cleverly disguising storage as display space.


Roof space

Don’t forget attic space is great for storing things. But do remember with all the insulation up there, to take into account the year round temperature and how this will effect whatever you are storing.

http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/workshop/hiddenstorage.htm

[cookiejar]

An example of a bit of *hiding in plain sight*

Nice use of a office closet


and a little more

[waiting]

Since I don't use my ice chest very often, I store items in it. Threw a cloth over it and used as a side table.

Another idea would be to stack buckets with your rice, etc. in them, put a board over the top and a cloth over it. Use as a side table, long couch table, etc.

Can't think of anything else right now.

[Deb2of9]

When I think that when I was younger I did this sort of thing all the time. Only it wasn't to find a place to store things or even to hide my supplies or other things. No, it was I had no furniture and so I would take boxes or crates and put a board over them and a cloth and I would have a table or end table. Crates on their sides became my bookcases and dressers. Now I use that same method to store supplies in my house, out of the way. It becomes useful instead of a pile of boxes.

[cookiejar]

Look at the second picture again...

See the trap door? It's soon to be painted white with *spray* popcorn ceiling added. It's a drop ceiling so it has about 7 inches deep x...oh what is the regular length of a closet?

How's that for hidden storage.
I did not say this was my house

not bad huh? What O' What could you hide in a space that sized?
Nowwww get your mind thinking.

[Deb2of9]

Not bad...I can think of a few things to put in that space. Not things I need easy access for sure or heavy stuff. I am too short to put heavy things up like that, but I certainly can use that space. Oh, I decided today that I have to get my daughter more involved in storing stuff. I went to the store today and had trouble putting stuff away. She rearranged the cupboards in the kitchen and now I have extra space. I need to put her on to arranging the real storage. I bet she can find me lots of extra space.

[PureCajunSunshine]

EMERGENCY PREP COVER-UP

If you are in the process of moving, sorting, or rotating your stuff, and the doorbell rings...Oh, what to do? There's your stuff, out in the wide open...

You can quickly hide it all, if you have your camoflage props handy: ladder, old sheets, can of paint (preferably of a color that matches your existing wall or ceiling color), and a paint brush.

Throw the sheets over your exposed preps, and on the floor nearby, and maybe over some of the furniture in that part of the room (for added realism). Set up the ladder, open the can of paint, dip the brush into it, smear a small dab of paint on your cheek. With brush in hand, answer the door in a hurried manner to indicate that you are very busy...

If the person needs to come in, your stuff is covered...

[cookiejar]

Are you ready?

Laundry

I've grabbed laundry and tossed it over things and answered a door folding a sheet for the UPS guy. He didn't blink twice. He saw what he wanted to see, nice lady folding clothes.

Something else to think about, do you have a nosy Mail person?
All those packages from esssential Preps coming in? Just food for thought.

[Deb2of9]

I like the painting idea, and I have used the laundry one. Here is another one we have used to hide things at my house. We have taken boxes and made a "wall" and then appologized because we were packing stuff up to get ready for a move, or to take things to storage or even holding stuff for a family member who is moving. No one thinks to go past the boxes as long as you can come up with a good reason for the boxes they see, they don't see what is behind them.

[cookiejar]

I stacked stuff in the living room (till I could catalog and put away) behind boxes of donations I had gathered from my spiritual group. I even asked people if they had anything to go if they came to the door. This was good for two weeks of the donation run.

[cookiejar]

Okay, I did the inexpensive walmart full length curtains and do-it-yourself rods and covered a closet. El cheapo coverage.
Simple but effective enough to make the casual observer's eyes slide past.

I mean, it usually means you've got linens, or storage boxes or bland things like that there.

Here's some ideas of using curtain rods I got off the internet:
snip:
Sara and April make curtains to disguise a bank of closets in the room. The curtains consist of simple panels with a rod pocket sewn at the top of each to hold the rod that will secure the panel over each door (a rod pocket is a casing sewn at the top of a curtain panel to accommodate the curtain rod).



They used similar fabric in the room to make it less obvious.



Ottoman cubes to hide more goodies

[cookiejar]

Okay, we know I'm a nut for hidden spaces...

and yes, I realize almost none of us could afford this, but click below and then run your mouse cursor over the pic. Very very cool.

http://www.hidden-spaces.com/compartments

[ol'momma]

Some years ago my MIL decided that the eldest child 'needed' a playhouse and contracted my favorite handyman to make her one. Well...he's cheap. He HATES wastefulness to the point of being down-right nutty about it (think 2 ply tp split to get 2ce as mcuh from a roll..)and he's very creative.
He made the play house from lumber he salvaged from various jobs and the local dump, so it was all odd lengths. He made the dearest little 8x10 shed, with a darling little overhanging roof over a sweet little front porch. I came to find out later that he had rigged a hidden drop ladder and hatch in the ceiling and my daughter had a little 4x8' hidden room up over her from porch!!!

[GirlNextDoor]

No one uses the dead space under kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Magnets make great attachment points.

[Cat]

Use each stairstep as storage... Do it yourself drawers!

http://www.decorrepo...m/?l=en&a=25296

http://www.gizmo-cen...your-staircase/

[dogmom4]

bump

[Jeepers]

We rented a house once that had a small secret hiding place. It's sort of hard to explain but I'll try.

In one upstairs closet, at one end was a little hiding place that I suppose was between the rafters. Or whatever you call the place between the subfloor and the downstairs ceiling. The builder just laid a piece of the sub floor on top of the joists without nailing it down. The closet was carpeted like the rest of the room so when he laid the carpet he made sure it was cut all around and fastened onto the piece of sub floor that covered the hole. That way all you had to do was raise the carpet and the entire 'lid' came off. If you put anything at all on top of it, you couldn't see it.

It was however deep the closet was, by about two feet. And however deep the area from the downstairs ceiling was to the top of the closet floor. I'd guess about a foot.

We didn't use it because we didn't really have any valuables. But it was a great place for hiding important documents or money. Or blackmail photos.

[arby]

I was just thinking a couple more ottomans would be nice, the small square type as I have one that is hollow for storage already. You can get them at the family dollar store in town. They would be terrific for my sock and current sport yarn usage and needles would fit too. Heavy enough and leather covered so Miss Macy, my cat, would just enjoy sitting on them and walking over them if they are under the window in my bedroom or beside the bed. Thus the yarn would be safe and out of sight too, lol.
I really like the stair drawers! If I ever get to build a house and its two stories or with a loft, I will implement such an idea!

[Deb2of9]

That sounds like a great little spot to put things. My problem is that I live not only in a rental, but it is a single wide trailer without a foundation. I suppose there might be a way to hide stuff under the trailer, but it wouldn't be very secure. There isn't wall space in the trailer to utilize, nor is their space between the roof and the ceiling. I am trying to find places just to put my preps, let alone hide them. My best bet is to utilize "furniture" to store them. I have been using the boxes covered with a cloth as a table since long beore I started to prep. Back when I was going to school on a fixed income with a toddler at home. I had t make use of boxes and crates to use as end tables and stuff. I just use some of those ideas to store my preps, but since I moved here, that is even more of a challenge as it is small enough I have to have furniture that can be moved out of the way quickly to make room for the grandkids visiting or other things that need space. That has led to a bigger challenge when it comes to where to put my preps.

[arby]

bump