I love it when I receive emails from my readers letting me know how they have maximized space in their home by creating storage space where none use to exist. This idea submitted by Kate of ENUFFstuff is super clever and creative. In fact she is definitely deserving of one of my Storage Stars. I haven’t given out one of these babies in a long time 🙂 Continue to read on as she explains to us in her own words what and how she did it!
If you or someone you know is deserving of a coveted (okay not really coveted but it sounds good doesn’t it?) Storage Star then please don’t hesitate to send me an email with pictures to orgjunkie (at) hotmail (dot) com. Thanks!
Could you use some extra storage space? Who couldn’t!? Most bathrooms, in particular, have pitifully inadequate storage – especially the older ones that were built before big-box and warehouse stores made it more frugal to stock up on supplies than to buy them in small quantities.
Here’s a very simple solution for extra shelving in your bathroom in that unused space over the door. It’s great for homeowners, but also for renters because it does not require any holes in the wall. It also doesn’t require the use of any tools except perhaps something to cut the shelving to length.
This shelf works in any small bathroom no more than 5 feet wide (the width of a standard bath tub) or bathrooms with a closet just inside the door which makes the open span of the door area no more than 5 feet wide.
Simply position two 5-foot tension shower rods across the span at the height you want your shelf to be – which will more than likely be right above the door trim. The rods will both be at the same height, but one will be against the wall and one will be parallel to it the width of your shelving. The shelf itself will be the plastic-coated wire shelving sold at any home improvement store in the closet organization section.
In the yellow bathroom, the closet makes the open span just a couple of feet wide, so small curtain tension rods were used instead of shower rods.
Then just cut the shelf to length and set it down over the tension rods! In just a few minutes, you’ve created extra space for paper products, towels, or anything relatively lightweight that you didn’t have room to store before!
Now for the kitchen … where short spice bottles and other small things can take up valuable cabinet space designed to hold larger, taller items. Here’s another shelving solution that will not mar the surface of your walls in any way.
Any wooden shelf at least 3 or 4 inches thinner than the space between the cabinets over your sink will work. My shelf is 33″ wide and 22″ inches tall – and was purchased at a local thrift store for just $5.00. By attaching large shelf brackets to the sides of the shelf at the top with nuts and bolts, the shelf is able to be suspended on the cabinets without any other fasteners or supports!
This will also work if you’re lucky enough to have a window over your kitchen sink, and would be a great place for small herb plants or fresh fruits and vegetables that need to ripen.
And if you ever relocate, you can take your shelving with you and use it in your new home as well. Portable, simple, non-destructive, functional storage for a few dollars and very little time. Life doesn’t have to be complicated!
Kate Carpenter’s Bio: I became a big fan of simple living and minimalism in college (1972) when I read Living Poor with Style by Ernest Callenbach and it has influenced my entire life. I started writing about it in 1998 and left the rat race to write full time in 2010. My goal every day is to make something simpler, smaller, or more clearly understood. At www.enuffstuff.info, I blog about making life simpler, stress-free, and more satisfying.
Kaui @ Thrifty Military Mommy says
No way!! Those are some great solutions for people who don’t want to put holes in their walls. I’m pinning the heck out of this one! Thanks so much!!!
Kate says
I’m so glad you liked this! Since you’re military, you’re bound to be renting – at least at some point. We grew up Coast Guard brats and one sister (the one with the yellow bathroom pictured) is an Air Force wife!
Kate says
Hi Laura – Thanks so much for the Storage Star! 🙂
Gina says
This is such a great idea! I have been good about using vertical space with hooks in between cabinets and the wall, inside closets, etc. but I have several places (like my laundry room) where it would be great to store more up high like that.
Alistair Danes says
Great ideas Laura. This is very helpful, will keep referring your blog whenever my kitchen/room need some air. Please keep writing more, giving more ideas. Thanks much.
Maria Jones says
thanks admin for such good awareness. this would be really helpful for me in kitchen.
Andi-Roo (@theworld4realz) says
OMG luv the idea of tension rods above doors in the bathroom. We’re moving into an apt. soon so reading this was timely for me — glad I fell behind in my reading! Timing is everything — thanks for the awesome idea — can’t wait to implement! 🙂
Val says
Perfect for our office closet.
Thanks for your innovative storage tips!
Val