Instagram is full of brilliant storage ideas, only they usually involve ripping something out or making alterations that most renters would not easily agree to.
These changes are affordable, renter-friendly and, temporary – which means you can stay assured that you will get your security deposit back at the end of your lease.
Shelf-risers
Double up your storage space! Invest in an adjustable shelf-riser to load up your cabinets, store extra plates, bowls, glasses, and more. Make sure you get adjustable legs to customise height, and check if they have an anti-slip feet (useful to avoid accidents).
Flip a wine crate
Create instant shelving by flipping a wine crate or other sturdy wooden boxes. Put it on the end of a counter against a wall and you have a new, stylish spot to store your utilities. This allows you to add an extra layer to the countertop without taking too much space; it’s also perfect to set up a coffee or tea station. If you want to be extra creative, mount them on your walls to get yourself floating shelves.
Roll out a utility cart
Rarely do we eat in the kitchen – most of us take food wherever we happen to be working in or nesting. A little-wheeled utility cart can work wonders to give you a little more space and an unbelievable amount of clean mobility. You can tuck it under a countertop or hide it inside a lesser-used closet when you need the floor space more than the stuff.
Use adhesive hooks
Use adhesive wall-mount hooks (like Command Hooks) to hang up potholders, scrubbers, and other tools that would otherwise take up space on the counter or in a drawer, including shelves and crates (mentioned above)!
Place items on top of cabinets
It is easy to understand why most believe that this just creates a cluttered or messy result, but some creativity goes a long way to executing this wisely. A wine crate on top of a cabinet for storage (and another one for actual wine), is only one of few ways you can create a stylish, industrial effect.
Use lazy Susans
Most may call it lazy – we think it is genius. Keep your spices, herbs and any other small kitchen item you can think of on a big lazy Susan to maximise space. Don’t be afraid to scale up in a small kitchen, using a few large-scale pieces helps your space feel bigger and is always a better option than a cluster of small items which can make a room feel cluttered.
Do you have any other tips you’d like to share with us?