Clever Built in Storage Ideas

I'm a big fan of built in storage ideas that make use of otherwise "dead" space. This is probably because our house has a complete and utter lack of any of these solutions (including a mudroom which I am in desperate need of). These images are completely inspiring and really display how every nook in a home can be functional with a bit of ingenuity.

They also make me realize how uninspired many of these big building companies who develop entire neighborhoods are. It seems like new houses suffer from a real lack of smart space utilization solutions like these. With just a few small tweaks to their house plans, they could be offering much smarter, more functional homes instead of just 4,000 square foot boxes.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. On to the pretty pictures!

We've all seen window seats with hinged tops for storage but I love these banquette seats with actual pull out drawers!! Plus I'm generally obsessed with banquettes as a whole.

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The bathroom is a great place to utilize some of these hidden storage solutions and keep counter surfaces clean. I've always wondered if I could be one of those "pedestal sink in the master bath" people. I love the look but I always get hung up on where everything gets stored. But with some thought and planning, I think you can make it work.

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Or you could just hide the whole sink. (???...wow!)

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Staircases take up a lot of room in a home, but they also create a lot of (usually) unused space in and around them. I love these ideas for taking that space and making it functional.

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What about when the stairs themselves turn into storage? What do you think of this idea? Brilliant or a safety hazard? I vote brilliant though I would probably leave the drawer open, forget, then fall on the way down.



Don't get me wrong, I love our pantry but you don't need a whole room in your house for pantry storage, just some thoughtful planning.

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In my opinion, 1 good drawer in the kitchen is worth 3 cabinets. I.LOVE.DRAWERS. Speaking of which, have you seen Martha's kitchen drawers? It's like lady porn, I swear.

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Move over lazy Susan!

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Do you have any built in storage areas or nooks in your home? If you like stuff like this, follow my Smart Storage Ideas pinboard on Pinterst where I'm saving all kinds of brilliant storage ideas as I come across them.