Storage

Creative Living Room Storage Ideas

I like to keep my living room free of clutter. It is a place to relax, and when there are a ton of things lying around that is hard to do. Here are some creative living room storage ideas to help keep your space well organised.

The Art of Shelving

Getting Creative: Some creative ideas include using ladders to hang up blankets and magazines just like in picture (1) (Creative Magazine Storage Ideas: From Leather Rack Holders to Using Old Shutters). Or spread them apart and put planks of wood in-between the steps to create some funky shelves. Crates also make for chic shelving – and they can be stacked on top of each other (2). Look at my post here for more living room shelving ideas – like using leather straps to create wall storage.

Built in shelve units would be a good idea if you have limited space or want to create a well designed space. Because they are custom built to your room they make efficient use of the space (3). You can make use of the space above the door ways, the space in the corners, or high up (floor to ceiling shelves). Have display lights fitted in the storage cabinets to create a soft glow in the living room at night and to highlight special decor pieces.

Design Tips: Small Living Room Ideas

Hide It Away

If you have shelves with a lot of items on them that make the living room feel less relaxing, one way of closing them off is to add some curtains (or doors). If you want to divide up your living room into different spaces (like having a space for a home office, or gym) then hanging up a curtain would be a good way of dividing up the space and hiding the area when it is not in use. You can see more ideas for creating room dividers in my post here.

Hidden Storage Ideas: James Bond and Home Decor

Elegant Storage Solutions

Wicker baskets make for good looking storage. They can be used for throwing blankets in (4), as magazine holders, kids toy storage, fire place log storage, even as a coffee table. You can also find nesting ones that can be stacked up. IKEA has a lot of wicker basket containers that look good here.

Another elegant storage item is a trunk just like the one in picture (5). You can get these in all types of styles from vintage and rustic, to formal travel styles – or there are wicker trunks. These can be used as coffee tables, and end tables. You could even stack 2-3 of them to create a side table.

On The Side

A narrow side table console not only adds tabletop space for items but it helps frame and group together storage baskets that you can put underneath. Get a side table with a base – this means one with shelving or at least has bottom platform just like the one in picture (6). A side table with just legs and no bottom platform kind of makes putting baskets and containers underneath a bit messy.

Look to get matching storage baskets or containers to put underneath the side table – this creates a clean look (7). Also, a table lamp above will add nice ambiance lighting to the living room (Relaxing and Cozy Living Room Lighting Ideas).

For smaller side tables, take a look at nesting tables. They take up a small amount of floor space but are handy when you need more tables in the room.

In the Middle

Coffee tables also make for good storage. We mentioned above about using trunks and wicker baskets. You’ve also got coffee tables with shelves. Use baskets and trays to group together items on top and below the living room table for a more clutter free look. If you want to keep everything minimalist looking in the living room and have everything hidden away, then look for a coffee table that has draws underneath.

Have a look at my post here for more design ideas, DIY ideas, and styles for coffee tables. Or check out my post here to see coffee table decor ideas.

You can also find ottomans that have a flip up top for storage space inside. image credits: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

Crafty DIY ideas

Some crafty DIY ideas for creating your own living room storage furniture include:

Creating a corner shelf with an old door just like in picture (a) – by Linda.
Using a spool to create a side table with book storage (b) – Scrap Hacker
An old window upcycled into a chic coffee table (c) – by Oh Glory Vintage
Pallets can be used to create seating and benches with space underneath for storage (d) by In My House, or a coffee table with shelves (e). Check out my post here for more ideas on using pallets: Home Decor Ideas: Using Pallets.

January 10, 2014 in Living Room, Storage

Creative DIY Ideas for Living Room Shelves

A few planks of wood and a little creativity is all that you need to make some shelves. Check out what people have done to create their own living room shelves below.

Repurposing Magic

There are a few things you can repurpose to create budget friendly shelves. Crates make for great stackable living room shelving, just like in picture (3). If you want to get away from that rustic feel, paint them all in white (4). Or what about using a charming rustic ladder to shelve plants (5). Place a plank of wood between the steps to create a long mobile shelf unit – just like in picture (6).

For the corners of the room, take a page out of Linda’s DIY notebook and use and old door to create some corner shelves (7).

New Materials

How about getting creative and bringing in some new materials into the mix. Like leather. A plank of wood, a strap of leather, and two nail is all you need to make modern minimalist style shelves for a living room (8). Get a little bit more fancy and you can create hanging shadow box display shelves complete with leather hangers (9).

Using tree branches was a creative idea to create some living room wall shelves to hold some books. Keep them raw for a rustic feel or spray paint them to blend them in with the rest of your living room decor (10). If you really want customised built in shelving then head on over to the piping section of the hardware store. Combined with some planks of wood you can create your own industrial style living room shelves seen in picture (11).

Then there is the side table in picture (12), made from planks of wood and bricks.

Pop of Color

I really like how the cabinet in picture (13) has a colored backdrop. It really makes the shelves stand out – creating a focal point in the room. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13

January 10, 2014 in DIY, Living Room, Storage

Closet Lighting Ideas: From Wireless to Walk In

The types of closet lighting ideas you use will depend on the type of closet you have. There are free standing closets (like the PAX closet from ikea), built in, tiny room with a door, or full on walk in closets. One thing is for sure, no matter what closet you have, is that you want the light to hit all of the shelves making it easier for you to find your things.

The FASTEST Way of Adding Closet Lighting – DIY Wireless and Battery Powered

The fastest way of adding lighting to the shelves in your closet is to use battery powered lights. Instead of having to drill holes and wire the lights, you can simply stick a wireless light in there. These lights have an adhesive on the back of them, so they simply stick to the sides of the closet just like in picture (1), to the top (2), or anywhere you want inside the closet.

There are two types of wireless closet lighting fixtures that you can get. You can get the magical motion sensor lights just like the ones below – when you open the closet these lights will automatically turn on. Another type is the tap pucks, you turn them on simply by tapping them.

The wireless motion light above and more like it can be bought on Amazon here

The good thing about these DIY wireless lights is that they are so quick and easy to install, and cheap. The downside is they are not permanent features – you have to replace the batteries/lights and they don’t add that luxurious touch to your closets.

Putting in Those Wires

Getting wired closet lights is a good way to go. You can even get them wired up to a door jamb, so that when you open the closet door, the lights will automatically come on.

Some ideas and solutions include using wired puck lights to light up individual shelves. Another option is to have lamps fitted to the top of closet pointing in as seen in picture (4), or track ceiling lights where you angle the individual lights to different areas of the room, one being into the closet (5).

IKEA has the BESTA shelving range that is made to have integrated lights fitted into them. There is also the PAX closet system, these too can have IKEA lights fitted into them – these lights will automatically come on when you open the closet door (6).

You can even find closet railings that have LED lights imbedded in them, just like in picture (7).

Walk In Closet Lighting Design

For walk in closets, you will also need the display lights to light up the shelves mentioned above – puck lights, directional lamps, or track lights. You can even get creative and fit lights behind the shelves, and add a soft glow – just like in picture (8).

Walk in closets will also need ambient lighting, so general ceiling lights (like recessed ones) (9), wall lights, or pendant lights (10). Solar tubes are great for day time lighting. These tubes are fitted into your ceiling and bring sunlight into your closet. You can even get tubes that have an LED ring, so they can be used at night.

If you have any countertops or an island, these would be good places to have a light. Like a table lamp, plugged into a electrical socket that is in the island. Or a pendant light that hangs down from the ceiling right above the island.

December 20, 2013 in Bedroom, Lighting, Storage

Home Decor Ideas: Using Vintage Glass Bottles

Going Green

One of the easiest and classiest things to do with vintage glass bottles is to use them as planters. Putting one stem in a bottle creates instant decor appeal. How about grouping together 3 of the same bottle in a wire basket just like the bottles in picture (2). Kristina attached vintage soda bottles to some salvaged shutters to create wall planters (3). And outdoors you can wrap some twine or wire around the head of the bottle to create hanging planters (4). For more garden ideas have a look here: Ideas for Vintage Garden Decor and Outdoor Accessories.

Adding Fire

Another simple decor idea is to use vintage bottles as candle stands. Use a bunch of different sizes to create a centre piece arrangement, like in picture (5). If you get larger bottles (more like jugs) then you can place votive candles inside (fill them up with water to have floating candles).

Liquids

The containers we get our liquids in today are not very pleasing to look at. So why not pour them into elegant vintage perfume bottles. This way you can put them up on display. Like the soaps, lotions, perfumes, and other liquids in the bathrooms of pictures (6) and (7). Do the same with liquids and detergent in a laundry room (Style Guide: Vintage Laundry Room Decor Ideas).

In the Kitchen

You can also pour your kitchen liquids into vintage bottles and have them out on display. If you go out and buy in bulk or large volumes, say hand soap or dish liquid, pour some into the glass bottles then store away the rest under the sink (8). For more kitchen storage ideas have a look at my post here Vintage Kitchen Storage Ideas: From Milk Baskets to Wicker Baskets.

Vintage milk bottles make for great cups. If you find vintage glass bottles with lids, or create cork lids for them, you can use them to store homemade drinks (9). Or you could use them as serving containers – like the vinegar bottle in picture (10).

The bottle above and more styles like it can be bought on Amazon here

Creating Vintage

One way to create that vintage look without having to buy vintage is to print out vintage style labels – which you can then paste onto more modern bottles. Head on over to Eat Drink Chic to find the labels in picture (11).

Mason Jars can also be used for a number of decor and storage ideas around the house. Check out my post here for pictures and ideas: Home Decor Ideas: Using Mason Jars. 2/4/5/6/7/8/9/10