Storage Solutions for Rented Homes

Living in a rented house often comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to storage. With limitations on drilling walls or making extensive alterations, finding ways to stay organised can feel daunting. However, with a touch of creativity and a few ingenious ideas, you can transform your rented house into your personal, customised home. 

Going Vertical

One of the best strategies for maximising storage in a rented home is to go vertical. This can be accomplished through a variety of furniture and organisational tools.

• Shelving Units: Freestanding shelving units are a great choice for creating additional storage space and fit into most rooms. Look for units that suit your aesthetic and meet your storage or space-division needs. Tall bookshelves can act as room dividers while providing ample space for books, decorative items, or plants.

• Over-the-Door Organisers: These come in various designs and are perfect for storing everything from shoes to cleaning supplies. This simple addition can free up precious floor space while keeping your items easily accessible. They’re very useful in bathrooms and kids’ rooms or inside wardrobes.

Multi-Functional Furniture

You can get more out of the available space by investing in multi-purpose furniture pieces that offer hidden storage options:

• Storage Ottomans: Storage ottomans serve as stylish accessories while providing a discreet place to keep blankets, magazines, or other items. These handy pieces can be placed in living areas or bedrooms, adding extra occasional seating and storage in one.

• Beds with Drawers: If you’re in the market for a new bed, consider getting a bed frame or divan with built-in drawers. It’s a neat way to cram in additional storage without the obvious boxes under the bed. They’re great for linens, shoes, clothes or toys in kids’ rooms. 

• Coffee Tables with Storage: Choose a coffee table that includes shelves or hidden compartments. This can keep magazines, remote controls, or books within easy reach while keeping the living room looking neat. Some side tables have drawers too, so they’re a useful addition.

Container Solutions

Using various containers can help keep your belongings organised without the need for extensive storage systems.

• Baskets and Bins: Decorative baskets or bins can be placed on shelves, under tables, inside cabinets and on worktops. Choose a decorative design that matches your aesthetic for a lovely but practical way to control clutter.

• Plastic Storage Containers: Always useful and readily available, stackable plastic containers are fantastic for making the most of closet or existing under-bed storage. Use them to keep seasonal clothes, shoes, or other items organised and out of sight.

• Cardboard Boxes: Sometimes we lose sight of the simple but practical. Sturdy cardboard boxes are hard to beat when you need to keep items together. Stackable and strong, use them for storage in the loft or garage, for paperwork or magazine collections, in kids’ rooms for toys, or anytime you need storage that’s not also on display.

Smart Use of Closet Space

Wardrobes often become a black hole for clutter, but there are a few ways to get more out of the space. 

• Double-Decker Hangers: Double-decker hangers allow you to hang clothes in tiers, effectively doubling the available space on a single rail. This is particularly useful for small wardrobes.

• Shoe Racks: Invest in a freestanding shoe rack or vertical stackable shelves to organise shoes and free up floor space in your closet. Keep your footwear neatly displayed and easy to access.

• Extra Rails: Use an extension rod if the wardrobe comes with the house, or get a rail kit you can screw in. Having two rails for shorter garments doubles your hanging space. There are loads more uses for extension rods here.

• Hooks behind doors: Pop a few hooks inside the wardrobe door to store small accessories from hair ties to light scarves.

If your clothes collection is more extensive and there’s still no space even after trying these solutions, consider cheap self storage to help. Seasonally rotating clothing and shoes for all the family into and out of storage not only keeps ‘resting’ items in good condition, it extends their life since they tend to feel new and fresh again when you bring them home.

Other ways to customise spaces you can’t really alter include using tension rods and removable adhesive hooks. Tension rods can hold shower curtains, light window dressings, and even heavier curtains if you’re able to give them some support. Removable Adhesive Hooks are great for holding keys, tea towels, oven gloves and pot holders, as well as lighter art works or photos.

Just because you’re renting your home doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own while still leaving it as you found it when you move. It just takes a little more creative manoeuvring.