Why your storage should double as decor
A handmade African basket is part-art / part-function, holding small household items. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Is there even such a thing as having enough closet space? Not in New York City! The quest to organize our homes is endless. Seasonal accessories, pet gear, piling subscription magazines… the fabric of our everyday lives is real and can be overwhelming.
More walk-in closets and pantries are not a practical answer for everyone in this town. But clever storage solutions that cut through clutter while adding considered design can be achieved with a bit of creativity.
Think of storage as a “shopportunity.” Every container, bin, tray, hook, and even open display is a chance to invite appealing design into your home, doing double duty as organization plus style. The more organized your space is, with a proper place for each loose item, the more you can relax in a serene environment. Read on for my tips for authentic, sustainable storage to keep your place both tidy and visually pleasing at the same time.
Handmade baskets can hold anything
Handmade baskets do wonders for storage. With their added bonus of all-natural decor, they’re perfect for piling magazines, throw blankets, remotes, and winter accessories to keep your space tidy. I especially love woven baskets from West Africa that often come with shapely lids or leather handles.
Storage & antique decor work together seamlessly in a Hamptons mudroom. Design: Glenn Ban / Photo: Weston Wells
A West African basket adds a textured touch to a Brooklyn brownstone’s laundry. Design: Elizabeth Roberts / Photo: Dustin Askland
Repurposed containers add character
Consider interesting antique containers and objects for repurposed, sustainable organization. Some ideas: a large ceramic urn as an umbrella stand in the entry; a vintage tin as a pen holder on your desk; an old chest to gather toys in the nursery; a silver tray to organize lotions and perfume bottles on your bedroom dresser.
An antique zinc umbrella & cane holder is equally pretty and useful in a Hudson Valley home’s entryway. Design: Amanda Pays / Photo: Rebecca Westby
A set of old library stairs is repurposed as a mini bookshelf. Design: Sheila Bouttier / Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson
Your passions make for personalized organization
Our hobbies can be our best decor. Musical instruments, sporting goods, and accessories displayed attractively on hooks or peg rails show off personal interests and effects within reach of regular use. When displayed in an elegantly pleasing way, they make a home feel lived-in and authentic.
The homeowner’s guitar collection adds layered style to a room’s eclectic patterns and colors. Design: Deborah Gleiberman / Photo: Jenna Peffley
An old camera and accessories displayed on stylish hooks. Design: Angela Medlin / Photo: Schoolhouse Electric
Open displays can be beautiful too
If tucking everything away isn’t possible, fear not: you can display belongings in artful tableaux. Books, toys, kitchen utensils, and other mundane household items can be gathered into groups, interspersed with decorative objects, on open shelves or even stacked neatly on the floor. This is design for real life.
A staircase ledge holds an overflow of books and artworks. Design: Hollie Bowden / Photo: Helenio Barbetta/Living Inside
Books piled up in stacks make for surfaces to hold artworks and lighting. Design: Scott Newkirk / Photo: Chris Edwards
Looking to upgrade your home’s look and function?
Time & Place Interiors specializes in authentic, sustainable design for everyday life. We can style your space with organization and character, making it reflect your personality. To discuss your design needs, use the button below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with founder Ksenya Malina:
