Storage

Mop, broom and cleaning supplies are stored in doors with built-in shelving and hooks.

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This broom closet offers order via vertical dividers that separate the ironing board from the broom and mop.

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Vacuum friendly. This broom closet solves a common storage problem: the unwieldy bulk of a vacuum with an extension wand. This closet is just under 2 feet wide, but its door contains a handy wire bracket that corrals the vacuum extension wand

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BEFORE 1920 cottage: The original refrigerator was not only blocking the flow, it was blocking a window.

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BEFORE 1920 Classic: 144 sq. ft.

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Add spacious under-seat storage. Bay windows look beautiful, but can be awkward to put to practical use. Transforming them into comfortable seating, with space for your favorite books just below, as seen here, is a good option. I like the open storage, rather than doors, as it makes this woodwork appear visually lighter.

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Fashion a shelf desk. If you work from home but have only a small room, or portion of a room, for your home office, consider this is clever but simple design idea. A built-in shelf desk is light and doesn’t take up much space at all. In this case, the desk-shelf is chunky, so the wall attachments are concealed. These eliminate the need for legs, allowing the maximum floor space underneath.

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Amending existing stairs wouldn’t be difficult for a skilled woodworker: You could simply have your first three steps removed and refitted with a drawer system.

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Fit drawers into the side of your staircase. One space-saving trick is to use the area under a staircase — including the steps themselves — as storage. This might not work in a traditional interior, or if you already have storage under the stairs, but if you’re building in a new staircase, or steps between levels in an open-plan space, consider this savvy idea.

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A storage unit like this one is something you may have room for in an existing bathroom, unless your bath butts up to a wall at the faucet end. If you’re installing a new bathroom, consider how you might make use of this area and position your bath — or choose the size of the tub — accordingly. This smart custom solution provides front-accessible shelves that simply slide out of sight when not in use (and a handy towel hook to boot). Before your cabinetmaker builds the shelves, consider what you’ll store on them to ensure that they have enough height.

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