Maximize Dead Space with Shelving

How much “dead space” do you have in your home? By dead space I mean that floor area that's too small or impractical to fill with furniture. One example would be a short hallway between the back door and the kitchen area. There's more than enough space to freely move around, but it's still too small to do anything practical with - unless you install some shelving.

With storage space at such a premium in European homes, shelving is a godsend if used to its full potential. Dead space is an open invitation to install shelving and increase storage capacity. That back hall, for example, is a prime location for one or two shelving units that could be used as a pantry. It's close to the kitchen and located by the common door rather than the guest entry.

In the conservatory you might have some dead space along a wall near an exterior door. You don't want to put a table or chair flat against the wall because it breaks up the warm and cosy atmosphere you're trying to create. Instead, install some elegant wood shelving and fill it with all those books you've had packed away. It will give our conservatory a new look of sophistication while making good use of the dead space.

Believe it or not, one of the worst areas of dead space is the closet. We get a single shelf above a hanging rail with very little room. On the other hand, a modular plastic shelving system with a built-in rod changes that dynamic.  You can add a shoe rack, additional shelving, and box compartments to take advantage of the unused space between the clothes and the floor.

There are plenty of ways to maximize dead space in your home. Just use your imagination.