Minimalism, clean-looking homes, clutter-free living: these are all things that many a modern homeowner would appreciate. But a robot vacuum and a couple other purchases later, and you’ll quickly find yourself scrambling for storage solutions to keep these bulky items out of sight.
For those still scratching your heads trying to figure out how to keep large bulky items from cramping up your style, here are 7 storage solutions sourced from real homes that’ll inspire you.
Contents
- 1. Utilise under-stairs space for the storage of larger items
- 2. Create extra storage under your bed
- 3. Plan special compartments for your cleaning appliances
- 4. Carving out storage space in your kitchen island
- 5. Pull-out cabinets to store bulky appliance and cooking tools
- 6. Create a special hideaway for your robot vacuum
- 7. Create partitions to function as hidden full-length cupboards
- Bulky storage ideas for small HDBs and condos
1. Utilise under-stairs space for the storage of larger items
Image credit: @theinteriorlab
The biggest untapped advantage for homeowners living in HDB maisonettes, lofts or duplex condos is the dead space beneath staircases. Instead of having the whole area under your stairs boarded up or hacked away to create a floating effect, one way to maximise storage space for bulkier items is to configure a series of cabinets and drawers to stow all your larger items away.
An example of this would be the maisonette reno by The Interior Lab, where pull-out drawers are cleverly concealed by fluted panels giving you a whole lot of extra room for books, shows, toys or winter clothes.
Image credit: @ourkittenhome
Your under-stairs storage configuration doesn’t always have to be pull-out drawers either; consider creating your own little Harry Potter-esque closet with hinged doors, which makes for roomier real estate to hide larger items like foldable bicycles and sports equipment well.
2. Create extra storage under your bed
Image credit: Muji
This one’s for those who’ve always noticed the extra space under the beds, but have yet to consider how to use them: there are plenty of add-ons and storage that are designed to be slotted beneath the bed boards.
Muji sells solid wood storage bed frames with built-in drawers from $799 that will withstand the test of time, alternatively, IKEA’s MALM ottoman beds have flip-up slats that will let you hide anything from bulky duvets and suitcases within its depths from $799 as well.
You can get these bamboo storage bins with castor wheels on Amazon for $98.32.
Image credit: Amazon
In this way you can seamlessly marry form with function to keep the whole home looking clutter-free — and look good doing so. But if you’ve already got a regular bed frame on hand, you can still “hack” it with add-on under-bed storage compartments such as these Amazon bamboo bins and IKEA’s selection of under-bed storage containers.
3. Plan special compartments for your cleaning appliances
Image credit: Pinterest
If you want something a little more conventional, you can consider making plans to conceal your bulky appliances when you’re in the beginning stages of your reno. This will help you allocate spaces and create special compartments to accommodate the bulkier appliances you want to hide from sight.
Most homeowners try to plan for larger cabinet compartments close to the kitchen and service yard to store things like ironing boards, vacuum cleaners and cleaning buckets to hide in when not in use.
4. Carving out storage space in your kitchen island
Image credit: Patrick Lau
If a kitchen island is on your renovation checklist for your new home, you’ll want to take this opportunity to think up some ingenious methods to carve out more storage.
One example would be creating a hidden minibar for your spirits as well as wine glasses, as seen in this resale HDB in Pasir Ris, if you’re someone who loves to collect liquor and wine.
5. Pull-out cabinets to store bulky appliance and cooking tools
Image credit: thomasvillecabinetry
Kitchens usually have plenty of cabinet storage, but perhaps you can bring the utility of these cabinets to a whole new level. Think vertical pull-out cabinets for long items like baking trays, or even spice racks.
Image credit: Decorpad
Your contractor or ID should also be able to fabricate custom pull-out cabinets to store your cooking appliances. You should also plan for power sockets inside the cabinets as well to prevent the sight of cables along your countertops.
Image credit: Pinterest
Pull-out lower cabinets can also be made to store refuse bins, which can keep food waste out of sight, maintaining the carefully crafted aesthetic of your kitchen.
6. Create a special hideaway for your robot vacuum
@christinamariadesign Do you hate the sight of the roomba charging station as much as I do? Build it a house and call it a cabinet! Nobody is going to know! #roomba #hideitall #giveitahome #putitaway #dryerrack #laundryroominspo #laundryroomremodel #intentionaldesign #diyproject #hiddenstorage
Robot vacuums are wonderful little helpers that have been a blessing for households all over Singapore. The question though, is rather how to keep their glossy plastic charging docks hidden away from view to avoid visually clashing with your cream palette, wabi-sabi home.
This TikTok user has managed to create a hidden space with a false cabinet, inside of which is a nook for her handy little helper to return home. Besides just being in the kitchen, you can also consider creating your robot vacuum nooks in other locations too, such as entryway cabinets, kitchen cabinets, or even hidden in a nook at the service yard for total practicality.
If you have an open-concept home though, consider creating storage out of your partitions, like in this home at Joo Seng where a “wall” doubles up as a large storage cupboard for the homeowners to store all their barang.
In this way, you’re not only giving these usually decorative elements an element of functionality, you’re also providing yourself with full-length cupboards that allow you to conveniently store large bulky items for easy access.
Bulky storage ideas for small HDBs and condos
Granted, not everyone is looking for the spotlessly clean look, instead indulging in how having a bit of mess adds character to the home, as is the case with the Zakka style. But if you ever worry about how your large, bulky items would look out of place with your carefully curated home aesthetic, then hopefully these storage ideas would prove helpful for you.
There are also a good amount of homeowners who also utilise their bomb shelters for bulky storage, so here are some ideas of how to better utilise that space once you have planned for more bulky storage around the house.
For more shopping finds:
- Country Haven at Rail Mall sells affordable Indonesian teak furniture
- Budget Refrigerators In Singapore From $499
- 8 Home Decor & Furniture Shops In Bangkok
Cover image adapted from: @ourkittenhome, Pinterest
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