Ask a Designer! - Home by Tim + Chris

I don’t have enough storage! What solutions can you recommend?

Cello Storage Bed from EQ3 available at Room by Tim + Chris

Design trends have us decluttering, organizing and purging at every turn. However, the reality is that many of us need more storage. Our Kawartha lifestyle has us living seasonally on and off lakes, farms and many other types of residential settings.  With this in mind, we know that from summer outdoor activity to shoulder season wardrobe, through to our time spent enjoying the Kawartha winter wonderland, the demands on our home and cottage spaces can be varied and often require multiple solutions. 

Here are a few solutions that can do double duty throughout all seasons to provide extra space for the seasonal wardrobe or décor items:

The Belmont sideboard from Room by Tim + Chris offers both open shelving storage and closed-door details

Storage Beds for Stylish Organization
Lift beds and beds with drawers are chic and stylish options for a clutter-free bedroom. Generally, platform storage beds in sleek upholstered designs can complement the modern and contemporary styles that are popular and suit all design tastes. Concealed drawers and lifting mechanisms mean home essentials can be stored away to make the most of your personal space without sacrificing a stylish look. 

The Branch – 2 Shelving Unit with Desk available at Room by Tim + Chris

Custom Built-Ins for a Touch of Luxury
Built-ins are a popular way to update a room and can be designed to match your style. Adding built-ins can add function and personality to your space. Symmetry and scale are key when considering a built-in solution. A designer can help with design elements to take advantage of the area you are considering. If it’s an awkward corner or an underutilized tall wall, built-ins can be created as a focal point and can create visual impact. You can consider a combination of open shelving for displaying decorative keepsakes along with closed shelving to hide clutter and utility driven items. Paint colour, electrical and drawers are all add-ons worth considering. Built-ins can transform your home by making it uniquely yours and will add a luxurious custom feel. 

Shelving as Functional Storage
If custom built-ins are not an option, then finding a stylish shelving solution can help organize and maximize space. Options to consider are modular stacking shelves or standalone shelving units, and because all are available in versatile materials like wood, metal and iron, you can truly customize the look as a functional way to elevate your space. You can still mix open shelving with closed door features to make things efficient and useful. 

The Belmont sideboard from Room by Tim + Chris offers both open shelving storage and closed-door details

Sideboards and Cabinets as Accent Pieces
An affordable and practical option for creating more storage are sideboards and cabinets. There are many contemporary options on the market and at the same time you get an extra surface to display decorative details that you can switch up anytime. Sideboards and cabinets are ideal for glasses and barware. Closed doors allow you to tuck away linens or extra vases. Function and form are something that we, at Tim + Chris encourage, it’s important to consider durability and how the piece can function to match your home décor and solve your storage challenges. 

Household storage helps create healthy, happy homes! Making our everyday more manageable is important for any sized home or cottage. We enjoyed talking storage in this issue and we look forward to answering more of your design questions!

If you have a design question you would like to submit for the next Town Crier issue, you can send it to the Home by Tim + Chris design team at: info@homebytc.ca

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Tim + Chris