Short on Storage in Bedrooms?

Bed Risers. One of many tricks to get more space in bedrooms. Under the bed storage often goes unused because there is not enough space. Well, get some more space by lifting the bed up on risers. Here's how I used these to create more space in my children's room:

Clothes are in the rolling bin on the left, while baby dolls are in the clear bin on the right. Easy (and cheap) storage!

Don't have kids? Store your off season clothes, shoes, or those Costco size paper towels under your bed. The storage possibilities are endless!

A Simple Way to Pour Soup into Bags

My friend, CV and I cook in bulk once a month. It's cheaper, easier, and way more fun than cooking every night on my own. This is the soup we made. Delish. But, difficult to pour into bags for the freezer.

Enter the can:

This is one of those big Costco size cans of tomato sauce that we used a while back. CV had a great idea (she got the idea from another person she cooks with...see, good things come to those who bulk cook) of putting a gallon size freezer bag in the can (which is empty and clean of course) and pouring the soup in. Genius. I can now have both of my hands free to minimize spills.

So, find a friend to cook in bulk with and be sure to save a large can for pouring liquids.

One Way to Store Pot and Pan Lids

I recently got a new set of stainless steel pots and pans. And I love them. No more feeling terrible about the toxins that are given off of Teflon. No more nervousness about the flaking off of the non-stick stuff.

However, I did have a new problem. Every single one of my new pots and pans had it's own lid. Where the heck to store them all. Here was my solution: Store them separately from the pots and pans themselves. "Wait, wait!" I can hear you say. "I thought like items were supposed to be stored together? Doesn't it make sense to store the lids with the bottoms?" Well, no it didn't in my kitchen. It may in yours. When I put all those lids in the same cabinet as the bottoms, the result was chaos, clutter, and a huge headache in trying to get the pans out.

So I put them under my oven. I had to move out some things that I rarely use (my rule in the kitchen: if you don't use it more than once a year, don't keep it in the kitchen). I had to move some baking dishes to another cabinet that had space for them. And now my pots and pans sanity has returned.

Here is my new cookware and the clutter-free cabinet that it's in. What I love best about this solution: it didn't cost a thing.

Create More Space with Shoe Racks - Day 5 (Last One!)

Last idea for hanging shoe racks: Bathroom supplies: make up, hair brush, lotion ,etc. This is from Christy's Thrifty Decorating.

Just hang this on the back of your bathroom door and you've added tons of space for your supplies. This works really well if you have a small bathroom or with multiple people using one bathroom.

Create More Space with Shoe Racks - Day 4

Creative use number 4: Accessories like glasses, belts, scarves, etc.

I have this one in my coat closet for scarves, hats, and gloves. However, move it to the bedroom and you've got storage for belts, sunglasses, small purses, etc.

Create More Space with Shoe Racks - Day 3

Another idea for shoe racks: Office Supplies

Photo credit: The Posh Space

If you have a small office or don't have one at all, hang a shoe rack on back of a door and you can put office supplies in there. Stapler, tape, hole puncher, etc. Whatever you have sitting out that needs a home.

Create More Space with Shoe Racks - Day 2

Idea number two using shoe racks: Craft supplies.

Photo Credit: Budget Wise Home

Hang it on the back of a door (or on a window like the picture - so cute!) and you've got immediate organized storage for crafts. For you or the kids.