No closet, no problem

July 11, 2014

Your place is oozing with character--exposed brick, arched doorways and wood floors. You fell so deeply in love with these details that you were willing to ignore the fact that the closet and storage space is utterly lacking. Sarah Giller Nelson, owner of Less Is More Organizers, said there are easy tricks to maxing out your small space and creating storage where it doesn't already exist. To compensate for a missing closet, invest in an armoire that can be repurposed when you move again. "They are great because they store a lot of stuff," Nelson said. "But then, let's say you move and your place does have a closet ... you could use it to store linens and towels, or even kitchen stuff, or books," Nelson said. No matter what room is lacking--your kitchen, bedroom, living room or bathroom--consider furniture that doubles as storage space. A vintage trunk can act as a coffee table and a place to store extra bedding and blankets; a bed with an underbelly can hold your bulky winter sweaters. When all else fails, look up. Installing shelves above doors or on empty walls can give you more space to play. -Morgan Olsen