7 Designer-Recommended Storage Trends for 2027

a large kitchen with lots of cabinetry, a central island, and a ladder around the perimeter — (Image credit: Heather Talbert. Design: Emily Winters)

If there's one thing that every home absolutely needs – no matter the square footage or the design style – it's storage.

Whether store-bought or custom-made, the best storage ideas make homes feel organized with intention. As the year's design trends take a turn towards homes with personality, character, and collected aesthetics, storage trends follow. Rather than viewing storage as purely practical, something to be used but not seen, designers are making storage more interesting, more design-led, and more of a key feature in a room.

1. Antique Furniture Repurposed As Modern Storage

a dining room painted blue with a rustic blue cabinet to the right and a dining table with a bench and chairs in the middle — The best antique finds are the ones that do double duty – adding character to your home while organizing the space.

'2027 belongs to antique furniture doing the storing,' designer Hallie Malitsky tells Homes & Gardens. Using vintage pieces goes beyond just aesthetic details; pick the right pieces, and they can be practical additions too. Hallie recommends sourcing antiques that'll do 'double duty' – that is, furniture that brings both soul and increased storage to a space.

'The mistake I see most is treating an antique as decoration rather than putting it to work,' Hallie continues. 'A gorgeous armoire gets used as a piece that collects dust, when it could hold everything from your kitchen cabinets and pantry combined.'

In the room above, for example, designer Emily Winters reimagined this vintage hutch as both an object of desire and a work piece for the dining room. 'It serves as storage for everyday dishes, making table setting easy,' she explains.

This storage trend doesn't only apply to larger pieces of furniture. Vintage decor ideas can also be adapted for storage in modern homes. 'We are experiencing more and more of our clients requesting us to incorporate special family pieces in their overall design, including clever storage solutions,' designer Darci Hether remarks. 'We love using heirloom items that have been handed down for creative, thoughtful storage catchalls.' From antique trinket trays and glass jars to handmade pottery bowls, these vintage details can act as characterful and clever storage solutions for the home.

2. Clever Bespoke Designs to Make the Most of Every Inch

a white and wooden staircase with a warm wood home bar tucked beneath — If possible, opt for custom storage solutions that are tailored to your needs and the shape of your home. This way, your home will function just how you need it to.

Over the past year, there's been a growing appreciation for homes that feel personal and one-of-a-kind, and we're starting to see storage solutions that reflect that. Designer Alex Spielman of The Little Things brought this perspective to the small living room above. Rather than leaving the underside of the stairs vacant, she put it to use. 'Small footprints require us to leverage every inch. By transforming these challenging angles into custom storage, we free up breathing room in the primary living area. The main space stays uncluttered, while the client gets high functionality and a little bit of fun with a great spot to entertain,' she says.

Custom-built storage is inherently personal, and it can greatly enhance a home's organization. But you can create similar effects with store-bought storage – you just have to work a bit harder to make it look bespoke. IKEA has tons of flat-pack storage solutions that can be made to look custom – like the BILLY Bookcase or the PAX Wardrobe. With some paint, new hardware, and a creative mindset, these mass-made pieces will feel tailored to your home.

3. Surprise Storage that Works Hard Quietly

a dining nook with a white built in bench, a large table, wood walls, and a teal wallpapered ceiling — Storage is so much better when it's a surprise. Like the hidden seat storage in this breakfast nook, it's out of the way but endlessly helpful for organizing the space.

One of the best forms of storage is the kind that's quiet or hidden at first, and reveals itself as if it's a surprise. This kind of 'surprise' storage is a trend that designer Genna Jacobs Freeman expects to surge in popularity in 2027 – with people craving at-home organization that's not outwardly pronounced, but instead, invisible.

'Invisible storage protects the room’s visual calmness,' Genna explains. 'When clutter occurs, it quite literally becomes an action item, and when you hide it, the room breathes, feels finished, and less like a to-do list.' Invisible storage, then, becomes a surprise element – something unexpected that quietly keeps your home in check.

'Creating invisible storage in a kitchen allows for items to have a home and not live on the countertop or dinner table,' Genna continues. It can come in the form of hidden appliance garages, pull-out pantries, or, as shown above, breakfast nook seat storage.

'The client requested a spot in the room to tuck away cloth napkins, placemats, and table linens specific to this space,' Emily Winters explains of the surprise under-seat storage in the image above. 'This became an easy spot to store these items.'

4. Storage That Makes a Sculptural Statement

a living room with a large open shelving unit with decorative objects and books on each shelf — Storage doesn't need to blend into the background. In 2027, opt for storage furniture that doubles as art.

According to designer Courtney Klinger, storage is becoming more of a talking point – a detail that's beautifully and thoughtfully integrated into its surroundings rather than an afterthought that's been dropped in. In the cozy living room above, she's incorporated a shelving unit that provides concealed storage below and space for a tasteful display above, but it also acts as a sculptural art piece in itself.

'This millwork piece was designed to not only conceal jarring-colored board games, fussy TV equipment, and entertaining essentials, but to act as an anchor in the space,' Courtney tells me. 'Allowing collected items to be tastefully shown while hiding the mess behind doors is key in providing a balance. Finish the piece off with some interesting hardware, and you have yourself a custom feature. No one needs to know the fuss behind the closed doors.'

Rather than settling on generic and dull storage, take Courtney's advice and look for something artful that can enhance your home's stylistic appeal and organization at the same time.

5. Open Storage to Add Character

a kitchen pantry with decorative objects, chinoiserie, and kitchen supplies on the shelves — Think of an open pantry as an opportunity to showcase some of your favorite vintage storage accessories – from little jars to woven baskets.

'The 'doors-off' decorative pantry has been a hot trend this year, and I don’t think its popularity is cooling down any time soon,' designer Diane Luna says. 'We’re obsessed with arranging copper jars, woven baskets, and Delft canisters along those once-boring shelves, while abandoning conventional storage cubes and builder-standard pantry doors,' she tells me. In a way, this turns the pantry into a stylized room of its own, rather than a chaotic jumble of kitchen necessities hidden behind a door.

An open pantry gives you the opportunity to bring your design eye to this normally concealed spot of the home. Diane sees it as an opportunity to show off family heirlooms – vintage serving trays, old-fashioned jars, or antique bowls. And if you are looking for the perfect decor to add some charm, check out Joanna Gaines' kitchen storage assortment at Magnolia. You're sure to find some heritage-inspired kitchen picks that blend clever storage with timeless style.

6. Baskets, Baskets, and More Baskets

a bedroom with a velvet yellow armchair, a floor lamp, a nightstand, and a woven basket beneath — Never underestimate the power of a storage basket. In any room, a basket can be a helpful detail to keep you organized and add texture to the scene.

Although storage baskets are not a new trend by any means, we tend to forget all of the ways in which they can enhance organization. Beyond holding blankets in a living room, baskets can benefit any corner of your home – from the kitchen to the dining room, the bathroom, the bedroom, and even the entryway – bringing texture, organic appeal, and clutter control to the scene.

'We don’t see an end to the basket trend!' designer Courtney B. Smith remarks. 'We use woven baskets and trays in every space to corral messes and display collections. Baskets used for storage are as pretty as they are functional. Rather than adding an eyesore to a room, baskets offer an organic layer that adds depth and warmth. They look good while working hard!'

7. Dopamine Storage

a room with green painted walls and a yellow credenza with gold handles on each of the doors — Anthropologie's Georgia Lacquered Buffet Cabinet can act as a form of dopamine storage – with its vivid yellow color, it'll bring a sense of freshness to any room.

You've probably heard of dopamine decor, but what about dopamine storage? According to designer Genna Jacobs Freeman, dopamine storage is all about blending fun with functionality. It refashions eyesore-adjacent storage ideas into exciting home features that enhance organization while bringing a smile to your face.

Like a bright yellow cabinet to store board games or playfully shaped wall hooks for hanging coats, dopamine storage makes ordinary storage objects so much more meaningful, personal, and fun. '[It's] organization that feels as good as it functions,' Genna explains. 'When storage is aesthetically pleasing, it's more enjoyable to use, so it's utilized more often.'

Clearly, boring storage is a fad of the past. In 2027, it's all about storage solutions that make at-home organization something worth celebrating.

Shop The Storage Trends for 2027

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Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.