When we are moving into spaces that are getting smaller and smaller we need to either get rid of our prized possessions, which if you are sentimental, can be difficult. The other option is to keep everything and store it away safely.
With a distinct lack of horizontal space, we now need to be creative and start looking at the vertical spaces instead. Imagine covering your 8 feet by 8 feet bedroom with 2-foot square, 1 foot high boxes. Oh my god! You cry, where will I put anything else?
Now imagine those boxes arranged vertically along one wall. You have only lost 8 square feet of floor space (1 foot by 8 feet) by putting them all vertically instead of 64. Cool right?
So how can I make vertical storage? By using your vertical wall spaces instead of your horizontal floor space. Using storage racks or adding shelves, mesh walls, and suspended storage can increase your storage space without taking up valuable floor space
Storage Racks
Storage racks can be an impressively easy way to save space and use up that valuable vertical real estate without making you feel penned in.
There are many kinds of these units available, made in a variety of materials so you can find one that will fit your aesthetic needs as well as your functional ones.
Steel racks are very versatile and strong. You can create quite a modern feel to your space with some of these racks. Also with the adjustable clips and multi-holed uprights, it means you can tailor-make your units to suit your exact needs.
Wooden storage units are the second most popular type and are more commonly used in the home as they have a softer, less industrial look to them. I particularly love wooden storage units, especially the modular units, which allow you to add and remove units to create unique environments.
I also love using storage units as wardrobes, room dividers, and also as a small but functional desk as well. They are so versatile when you stop to consider all the possible uses for them.
Shelves
A tried and tested winner here. For many years we have been using shelves as a way of keeping things off the ground and our spaces uncluttered.
The humble shelves have been long overlooked but are still one of the most popular methods of adding vertical storage. Using long brackets with many holes to allow many shelves and multiple adjustments is one way to really maximize your high wall spaces without losing any floor space if floor space really is at a premium.
Again shelves can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes and from various materials. The most commonly used materials are wood, metal, and glass.
Wooden shelves have always been, in the past, a single fixed shelf but with the modernization of manufacturing techniques, adjustable wooden shelves are now commonplace.
Metal shelving with adjustable brackets has been around for many years due to their ease of use, strength, and speed of which they can be fixed to a wall. Metal shelves have always seemed a bit too office-y for my taste but they really do get the job done well for a low cost too.
Lastly, glass is making an appearance now too as better techniques are being found to temper glass into stronger and stronger forms. Using a mixture of metal and glass looks quite pleasing to the eye and quite modern.
Care must be taken as glass is by far one of the heaviest materials you can use for shelving so think hard about what you are going to put on those shelves before making your choice.
Mesh Wall
Mesh walls are gaining popularity now as we are seeing more and more people finding many different ways to use them and they look really cool and unusual as well.
Mesh walls can be used in many different ways to create funky designs as well as solve your storage needs. Incredibly modular you can store just about anything on one of these.
Storage bins can easily be hung on these mesh walls with a couple of hooks or brackets fixed to the back. The boxes cannot be really deep though as this runs the risk of something heavy being placed at the front of the box which creates stress against the hinges or hooks.
Shelves can also be suspended from a mesh wall but you need a few fixings for that but it’s very easy. Firstly, you need hooks or brackets fixed to the back of the shelf and then hooks fixed to the front of the shelf connected to a rope or chain that can be hooked into the mesh at a higher point to support the weight of the shelf.
Lastly, you can you S type hooks to hang a multitude of things from your mesh wall.
If your wall is in your kitchen you can hang pots and pans, large utensils, bags of spices, or food.
If your wall is in your hallway you could hang shoe racks, gym bags, coats, key holders, etc. You get the idea.
Versatile and narrow, a mesh wall is a must if you have very limited horizontal space. Building upwards rather than outwards is a sensible second choice.
Suspended Storage
Finally, we come to suspended storage. You can opt for this when you have used up all of your floors and walls and you really have nowhere else to store anything. A simple elegant solution that does not compromise your floor or wall space at all.
One of the main drawbacks of suspended storage is that it can often be difficult to access.
To compensate for this you would need either a folding set of steps which you could stow away safety when not needed or you could use hooks and pulleys so you can lower your storage by hand whenever you needed it.
The cheapest option would be to have a fixed unit on your ceiling as it will be cheap to buy and install but the access issue would still remain unless you are either very tall or have very low ceilings (in which case this may not be the best option)
A more elegant but costly solution is to suspend your storage unit to your ceiling using a series of ropes or cables, hooks, and pulleys. The big advantage of this is that you can access your storage often and can stow it away safely and easily keep your valuable floor space free.
Some ingenious people living in micro-apartments have even gone to the trouble of suspending their beds from the ceiling as the space they have is needed as both a lounge area and a bedroom as well.
Conclusion
With a little bit of thought, some inspiration (which I hope this was), and some ingenuity, you can create amazing storage solutions for just about any space you have. After you have created something unique and useful you will be so pleased with your results you will feel more of a connection to that space too.