Banana Web

Unlikely Areas

Do not waste high-level areas that can be used for storage without getting in the way of the room. Shelves fixed at picture-rail height and above doorways will probably need a stepladder to reach them, but can be used for effective display, or for books and other items that you do not need to assess very often. Usable space is often wasted behind doors, either because you don’t think of looking there or because the door itself blocks the space. There is probably enough available wall for a set of narrow bookshelves, or you consider rehanging the door from the other side to free up extra space.

At ground level, make use of spare space under beds and other large items of furniture baskets, crates, boxes and trays, perhaps on wheels, can be slotted underneath and pulled out like drawers.

An efficient way of providing extra storage is to create double-skin walls, with shelves and cupboards built into the hollow interior so that they can be assessed by doors on both sides of the wall. You can even build shallow bookshelves into doorframe, as this will be the same thickness as the wall into which it is fitted.

However, do not feel obliged to use every available space for storage. Larger pockets such as landings and the space under the stairs may be just big enough to create miniature rooms and take a desk, chair or even a small bed to accommodate overnight guests.