14 Inspirational Storage Ideas From Best of Houzz Design Winners
We need storage space in every room, but can it be both practical and attractive? Winning pros show you how it's done
If there’s one thing the world’s homeowners can agree on, it’s that smart storage solutions are game-changers in everyday life. These examples from the 2023 Best of Houzz Design winners around the globe show just how clever and beautiful they can be.
2. Space-savvy design for a kid’s room, Kirsten Johnstone Architecture, Australia
Speaking of window seats, this one has storage drawers underneath and flows seamlessly into a desk with overhead cupboards. Floor-to-ceiling built-in wardrobes include double-height hanging space, drawers, shoe storage and shelves, ensuring there is a place for everything in this kid’s room.
Keen to increase your home’s storage? Find joinery and cabinet makers near you and browse their previous projects
Speaking of window seats, this one has storage drawers underneath and flows seamlessly into a desk with overhead cupboards. Floor-to-ceiling built-in wardrobes include double-height hanging space, drawers, shoe storage and shelves, ensuring there is a place for everything in this kid’s room.
Keen to increase your home’s storage? Find joinery and cabinet makers near you and browse their previous projects
3. Outdoor fireplace with built-in storage, Quill, NZ
A single outdoor fireplace or a fire pit is a lovely addition to an alfresco area. But this space shows the potential for adding extra convenience, including a handy storage spot for firewood and open shelving for the inevitable blankets one needs for a NZ winter. The top shelf also allows for decoration, tying the interior aesthetic to the adjacent outdoor area.
A single outdoor fireplace or a fire pit is a lovely addition to an alfresco area. But this space shows the potential for adding extra convenience, including a handy storage spot for firewood and open shelving for the inevitable blankets one needs for a NZ winter. The top shelf also allows for decoration, tying the interior aesthetic to the adjacent outdoor area.
4. Hiding the dressing-table mess, All & Nxthing, UK
In this UK bedroom, bespoke wardrobes are fitted on either side of a chimney breast, while the shallow central area hosts a neat vanity complete with shelves, a stool and mirror. And as a big plus, the outer folding doors hide all the odds and ends when not in use.
In this UK bedroom, bespoke wardrobes are fitted on either side of a chimney breast, while the shallow central area hosts a neat vanity complete with shelves, a stool and mirror. And as a big plus, the outer folding doors hide all the odds and ends when not in use.
5. Efficient laundry set-up, Mooney Furniture & Design, Ireland
This practical laundry features raised appliances for easy access, with hamper drawers underneath and a handy pull-out platform to place the basket on or use as a folding station. Genius!
This practical laundry features raised appliances for easy access, with hamper drawers underneath and a handy pull-out platform to place the basket on or use as a folding station. Genius!
6. A small storage unit sets the scene, A-Typic, France
Sometimes, there is no room for a dedicated hall and coat cupboard. In this French apartment in Dijon, Chloé Vallot instead used colour to define a tiny dressing area with angled shelves and a storage box to hold the essentials.
Sometimes, there is no room for a dedicated hall and coat cupboard. In this French apartment in Dijon, Chloé Vallot instead used colour to define a tiny dressing area with angled shelves and a storage box to hold the essentials.
7. Unity through colour, Bachmann Interior Design, France
This corner of a boy’s room in a Parisian apartment cleverly incorporates a built-in desk with shelves and drawers. And visually, the whole scheme is tied together by a dusty green that’s accented by leather cabinet pulls.
This corner of a boy’s room in a Parisian apartment cleverly incorporates a built-in desk with shelves and drawers. And visually, the whole scheme is tied together by a dusty green that’s accented by leather cabinet pulls.
14. Staircase cupboard, Mon Concept Habitation, France
These pull-out cupboards maximise the use of storage space under the staircase by allowing easy access to the full depth of the cupboard while maintaining a clear view of stored items. It’s stylish storage at its practical best.
These pull-out cupboards maximise the use of storage space under the staircase by allowing easy access to the full depth of the cupboard while maintaining a clear view of stored items. It’s stylish storage at its practical best.
9. Maximising storage under the roof, design: Heger & Cie – Die Häusermanufaktur, construction: Made By Mayr, Germany
In an attic with sloping walls, it can be difficult to create enough storage space. To help, this wardrobe uses the basic principles of an apothecary cabinet to create clothes storage. The angled units are easy to roll out as they’re on castors, and when closed they present a minimalist design.
Browse more wardrobe designs and clothes-storage ideas
In an attic with sloping walls, it can be difficult to create enough storage space. To help, this wardrobe uses the basic principles of an apothecary cabinet to create clothes storage. The angled units are easy to roll out as they’re on castors, and when closed they present a minimalist design.
Browse more wardrobe designs and clothes-storage ideas
10. Three-in-one solution, FV2 Architektur, Germany
The built-in furniture here not only provides storage space for books and a cosy reading nook, it also serves as a room divider that can be closed with sliding elements. In this way, the bedroom can be completely sealed off when needed.
The built-in furniture here not only provides storage space for books and a cosy reading nook, it also serves as a room divider that can be closed with sliding elements. In this way, the bedroom can be completely sealed off when needed.
11. Functional appliance hideout, Tandem Studio, Germany
This bespoke corner cupboard elegantly conceals the washing machine and dryer in a contemporary bathroom. It also provides space stretching right up to the ceiling to store towels and other bathroom items. And the oak-slat construction – closed at the top and bottom, but with gaps in the middle – allows sufficient ventilation for the appliances.
This bespoke corner cupboard elegantly conceals the washing machine and dryer in a contemporary bathroom. It also provides space stretching right up to the ceiling to store towels and other bathroom items. And the oak-slat construction – closed at the top and bottom, but with gaps in the middle – allows sufficient ventilation for the appliances.
12. Hidden walk-in wardrobe, Cicerone Group, Spain
When closed, this looks like an ordinary wardrobe. But when opened, the large wooden folding doors reveal a spacious and warm walk-in wardrobe and dressing area with plenty of storage space.
When closed, this looks like an ordinary wardrobe. But when opened, the large wooden folding doors reveal a spacious and warm walk-in wardrobe and dressing area with plenty of storage space.
13. Secret door bookcase, M&B Design Srls, Italy
These secret doors add a magical element to the room – what looks like a classic bookcase opens in the middle to reveal a secret space. The frameless pivot doors rotate on an axis instead of hanging on classic hinges.
These secret doors add a magical element to the room – what looks like a classic bookcase opens in the middle to reveal a secret space. The frameless pivot doors rotate on an axis instead of hanging on classic hinges.
14. Multipurpose kitchen island with laptop storage, Rogue Home Interiors, USA
This walnut-clad kitchen island doubles as the homeowners’ home office and workstation, so designer Melinda Woodruff added a slim shelf under the quartz benchtop for storing a laptop and other work materials. Power points at the back allow the owners to discreetly charge their devices, while drawers on one end of the island hold papers and other supplies.
Your turn
Which of these 14 storage hacks could work in your home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Thinking of renovating? Read this first – Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
This walnut-clad kitchen island doubles as the homeowners’ home office and workstation, so designer Melinda Woodruff added a slim shelf under the quartz benchtop for storing a laptop and other work materials. Power points at the back allow the owners to discreetly charge their devices, while drawers on one end of the island hold papers and other supplies.
Your turn
Which of these 14 storage hacks could work in your home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Thinking of renovating? Read this first – Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
Storage that has an additional function is a double win, especially for a family with four children, as in this example. The window seat and storage combination is just one of several built-in solutions in this aptly named Peekaboo House.