How to Add More Storage Space to Your New Orleans Home

Rob Dunn • Nov 04, 2019

Do you have enough storage space in your New Orleans home? Whether you have lived in your home just a short period of time or you have been accumulating your belongings over the course of several decades, you might have some belongings that you just don’t have space for. Read on for some tips on adding storage space to your home no matter what your budget.

Pare Down Your Belongings

Many people don’t want to resort to this, but it’s difficult to organize items that you aren’t using and that you aren’t sure that you even want in your home. Before trying to find a way to expand your storage options, first think about whether there are items you can choose to get rid of rather than finding a place for them.

If you aren’t using an item regularly, it holds no sentimental value, or if it is broken or damaged (and you know you won’t be able to fix it), consider whether it is better to donate it or throw it away than to use up valuable storage real estate keeping it around. There are various strategies for doing this; you could try to go through one room at a time or organize by category (clothing one week, books the next, and so on). If it’s been a while since you have done this, take some time to clean out old items that you no longer need or want.

Assess Your Storage Potential

Depending on the style and age of your home, you might have closets galore or only a few places where you can strategically stash stuff. Without considering what you are currently storing in these areas, make a list of all of the potential storage spaces you have in each room. Don’t limit yourself to the obvious closets, cabinets, and attic. Also think about empty space under the beds, the potential for shelving under the staircase, and the space on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Keep in mind that not everything you store has to go in the room where you use it the most. That is the easiest way to store items, of course, but it isn’t strictly necessary. If you need to store extra pantry items under a bed or you keep books in a drawer because there is no room left on your bookshelves, that’s okay.

Look Into Wall-Based Storage

When you think about storage space, you might be focusing only on horizontal surfaces like shelves, drawers, counters, cabinets, and tables. Don’t forget about your vertical storage options, though! Walls can hold a wide variety of organizers and they can look nice, too.

Try pinning extra papers such as bills that need to be paid and children’s schoolwork on bulletin boards. Install a small shelving unit on a bathroom wall to hold toiletries. Hooks can hold all sorts of items, from scarves and purses in your closet to teacups in the kitchen and children’s items in the playroom or in their bedrooms. You might also try hanging a shoe organizer over the back of a door to hold just about anything: spices in the kitchen pantry, matchbox cars or Barbie clothes in the playroom, or hair accessories in the bathroom.

Invest in Custom Closets

If your budget is a bit larger, consider having custom closets installed in your New Orleans home to open up lots of storage potential. Any closet can be organized with a variety of hanging rods, hooks, storage racks, shelves, drawers, and other accessories. The master bedroom walk-in closet can hold the wardrobe essentials for both you and your spouse or partner. Your children’s closets can be outfitted with adjustable closet components that will help them keep all of their clothing, accessories, and treasures well-organized. Even your linen closets, the entryway closet, and various other storage spaces in your home can be turned into more efficient storage spaces.

Do you have an oddly shaped closet that you aren’t sure what to do with? Brian Holland, the owner of Impeccable Closets, recently published a blog post titled, "Creating a beautiful and functional custom closet" that we think you’ll find interesting and helpful!

If you are lacking closet space in a room or in several rooms, consider investing in a closet armoire. A custom armoire will introduce storage space to rooms that were not built with adequate closet space.