When it comes to having enough storage in our homes—there is just never enough! And it seems that the problem of not enough storage has gotten worse since the pandemic. Apparently, Americans have become too good at ordering “stuff” on Amazon or other online retailers and not as good at throwing “stuff” away. These super-fast, convenient shopping experiences appear to be contributing to storage challenges. So the question becomes, where do you put all this stuff?
Holiday Décor
Finding places for holiday decorations used to be easy—limited to a couple of boxes for tree ornaments and outdoor lights. Not anymore! Decorating for Christmas has become a competitive sport! It’s all about who in the neighborhood has the best décor. But wait—competitive outdoor décor isn’t just limited to Christmas. Many folks go all out for Halloween too. Again, this adds to our storage dilemma.
Self-Storage Units
According to Yardi Matrix, there has been tremendous growth in the self-storage business since 2020. There are now more than 14.5 million people utilizing self-storage—which is up by close to a million in two years. Some believe the demand for self-storage is increasing because of housing affordability issues—especially in urban areas. Another factor is downsizing. The 55+ market is famous for wanting a smaller house but failing to adequately downsize the amount of stuff they keep.
It’s clear to me that our storage needs are only growing—so where can we expand our storage in the home?
Kitchen
Ever since we fell in love with the open concept floor plan, finding adequate upper cabinet storage in the kitchen has been more challenging. During the lockdown, the number of kitchen gadgets we “needed” increased. The result—we quickly ran out of storage and our kitchens became a disorganized mess. The once adequate corner pantry no longer provides enough storage. Large walk-in pantries are a better solution. Be sure to consider this if you plan to remodel your kitchen or are in the process of designing a new home.
Should space permit, the addition of the Messy Kitchen is another great storage solution. This area is especially helpful for our favorite kitchen gadgets like the juicer, blender, coffee maker, and toaster oven.
I also love the tall upper cabinets with the glass cabinets above the uppers. What a great place for the display of collectables that is safe and relatively dust free.
Primary Closet
Ask most folks about an adequate primary closet, and they will respond “it can’t be big enough.” While that’s not always feasible, oversized closets have great appeal. Nonetheless, a built-in closet system can go a long way in terms of storage space even in an average-sized walk-in closet.
Garage
For many, including my household, the garage becomes the catch-all for stuff. However, without a well-planned organization system, this space gets unruly and overcrowded. Eventually, disarray prevails. Capitalize on this space with wall hooks to hang bikes, fishing poles, etc. and cabinets/shelves to keep stuff organized.
Attic Storage
If you have attic space, easy access is imperative to make it practical. If you are subject to pull-down stairs, it can be dangerous when trying to retrieve big boxes. It generally requires 2 people, and all I can say is, be careful. If you are building a home, be sure to incorporate a walk-in attic area or one that offers a permanent staircase for ease of access. And if you want to make the most of this storage area, opt for spray-foam insulation so this space doesn’t experience extreme heat in the summer or get incredibly cold in the winter.
Under the Stairs Storage
Move over Harry Potter. This valuable, albeit small, storage space should not be overlooked as every inch of storage counts. Perhaps you can add an access door in your home to take advantage of this
space.
Yes – We have a problem!
So, is it a lack of storage that is the problem or too much stuff that is the problem? The reality is, most of us aren’t as organized as we’d like to be—why do you think Tidying Up with Marie Kondo was such a hit on HGTV? Even if we take her lessons to heart, we will have to be diligent about purging and keeping things organized.
Have you taken full advantage of storage possibilities in your home? If not, try mastering the art of organization—it is highly rewarding!
Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog