The 4 'Double-Duty' Buys Designers Actually Use for Small-Space Storage (And They Take Minutes to Add)
Chic small-space storage isn’t actually an oxymoron. These designer-approved picks prove that practical can still pack some personality
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Small space storage isn’t exactly a thrill category. Organizers rarely spark the same joy as, say, a new accent chair. Combine that aesthetic mediocrity with spatial compromise, and you’ve got one deeply unsexy problem.
Or at least, that’s what happens when ‘storage’ entails forking over hundreds for acrylic contraptions that promise minimalism, but somehow make everything look cheaper and only marginally more contained.
So Homes & Gardens asked designers who treat petite footprints not as a limitation, but as an invitation – approaching them with strategy, personality, and a bit of creative nerve. Whether you’re navigating a city apartment or refining a compact living room, ahead are four foolproof small space storage buys that don’t just make your home more usable – they make it better-looking, too.
1. Stylish Storage Benches
‘Storage’ might be in the name, but don't make it the moniker. Treat the bench like you would a statement chair. Flirt with a saturated velvet, a punchy stripe, or walk on the wild side with animal print.
Nowhere does multipurpose furniture work harder than in a small space, so when one of said purposes involves storage, designers say it’s an immediate yes. But topping Planner 5D’s Evelina Juzėnaitė’s small-space storage list specifically? Benches, all the way.
‘You can store shoes, bags, seasonal accessories, and other items that clutter up entryways and bedrooms,’ she says. ‘This solution is suitable for small spaces because it provides a place to sit and additional storage space’ – an obvious option for entryways, but increasingly, we’re seeing bedroom storage benches at the foot of the bed too, where linens and bulky off-season knits need a discreet home.
Ideally, the bench doubles (triples?) as a design moment. That could mean an open-concept style with shelves for a lightly curated display, or something more ornate, wrapped in on-trend verdure-style tapestry. ‘In today’s world, there are many beautiful options, not just boring wooden benches,’ Evelina continues. ‘You can choose from different designs and fabrics, making it a focal point in the room, not just storage space.’
And if it has a lift-top? According to Evelina, even better. Guests take a seat, none the wiser about what tote bags and children’s toys might be hiding underneath.
2. Multifunctional Utility Carts
Rolling utility carts are ideal, but if you already own a bar cart, consider liberating it from its liquor duties. The one above currently lives in a library, but give it a lift, and it could just as easily reside in a primary bath, corralling toiletries and towels.
The only phrase less seductive-sounding than 'small space storage' is ‘narrow utility cart.’ And yet, designers use them constantly. A bar cart, after all, is just a narrow utility cart with better PR and a bottle of vermouth on top.
‘Narrow mobile utility carts can be placed in areas that are often empty, such as in the corner of the kitchen, or as bathroom storage,’ notes Evelina Juzėnaitė. ‘They can be used to store various items, such as shoes, cleaning, or laundry supplies.’ In the spirit of any good utilitarian design, keep it clean and search for slim, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it profiles. (Yamazaki remains the gold standard here; if it works in a Tokyo apartment, it will work anywhere.)
And pro tip: if a renovation isn’t happening, a narrow cart can convincingly cosplay as custom storage, making a small kitchen look larger. ‘In small kitchens, the problem isn’t always lack of cabinets, it’s lack of efficient, usable storage,’ says Sacramento-based interior designer Yvonne Harty. This sort of tall pull-out pantry ‘works especially well in compact spaces because everything is visible and accessible, so you waste less space and buy fewer duplicates.’
Tuck one beside the fridge or slide it into an award gap, and suddenly, those oils, spices, snacks, and baking supplies have newfound order and accessibility.
3. Easy to Install Hooks and Rails
Dream beyond the prototypical peg. Opt for hooks that fundamentally shift a room's design.
Hooks are arguably the most obvious storage solution in existence – and yet, in small spaces, they’re routinely underutilized. Mounted to the wall, they claim zero floor space. Chosen well, they can rival your art.
‘Wall hooks that resemble works of art can be used to hang jackets, bags, hats, and more on them,’ explains Evelina Juzėnaitė. ‘This small storage solution makes use of empty wall space and frees up floor space. If you choose hooks in interesting shapes and colors, they will become a focal point on the wall.’
As bedroom storage, they could hold tomorrow’s outfit. In a bathroom, towels become texture. In an entryway, they keep your most-used essentials within reach. Even as kitchen storage, pots and pans can vacate overcrowded cabinets and live a more sculptural life on display.
2. Handy Hat Racks
Hats have a way of quietly colonizing an entire closet shelf. Let your walls take the pressure off – and in the process, create a slightly indulgent, department-store-style display.
There are two kinds of people: hat people and everyone else. Even if you’re not rotating newsboy caps like socks, designers wager you own at least one oversized straw for summer, and probably a baseball cap (or twelve).
‘Hat racks are another lifesaver when it comes to small mudrooms and closets,’ notes Lindsay Thornton, interior designer and founder of Toronto-based Cornerstone Design Build. They don’t necessarily have to be hat-specific (a thoughtfully placed coat rack can pull double duty), but giving headwear its own perch helps preserve shape and extend its life.
A vertical, wall-mounted rack claims zero floor space and is ‘specifically designed to store hats without damage,’ Lindsay explains. ‘This smart small storage solution will preserve that perfectly flat brim your teen cares about so much' – and might just free up an entire closet drawer in the process.
Most storage solutions promise order and deliver eyesores. These designer-approved small-space essentials, from sculptural rolling carts to stealth storage benches, do the opposite. Plus, none of these ideas require a reno, you can add each to your tiny spaces in a matter of minutes.
