9 Hidden Storage Ideas for Small Living Spaces

How much of your life can you fit into a tiny space? If you’re a student, up-and-coming professional, or other resident of a small space like a one-bedroom or studio apartment, this is a relevant question to ask yourself. Even if you’re trying to live as minimalistic a lifestyle as possible in your tiny residence, you may still end up with a lot of important items that need to be put away—and few viable storage options that won’t take up additional space themselves.

What’s the secret to making good use of such limited space while still making sure that everything you need is immediately accessible to you? Part of it has to do with hidden storage. Multifunctional furniture pieces with built-in storage compartments, for example, will help you get creative with vertical space and keep household items like books, keys, toys, and groceries properly organized.

To that end, here’s a list of nifty ideas for incorporating more hidden storage into your home décor. You’ll be able to find many of the pieces mentioned below on a platform like LookingFour, where you can buy and sell online from any locality in the Philippines.

Ottomans with Removable Seat Covers

Among the handiest and most compact options for living room furniture with storage are ottomans with removable covers. Despite their short height, ottomans with removable seats can be used to store a variety of small items, like books and toys, when they’re not being used as chairs. Leather-upholstered, velvet, or rattan ottomans with removable covers are all good choices for a small living space; it’s just a matter of choosing which type goes best with your décor plan.

A Coffee Table with a Hinged Lid

Another type of furniture with built-in storage that you’ll want to explore for your home’s living area is a coffee table with a hinged lid. Items like coasters, tablecloths, and runners can all be tucked away under the surface of the coffee table when they’re not being used. Simply bring them out when it’s actually time to use them, like if you’re due to entertain guests.

A TV Console with Built-In Shelves and Drawers

If you’re the type that can’t do without a TV and want to make it the star of your living room, make the best out of both the vertical and horizontal space around it by placing it on a multifunctional console. Invest in the type with built-in shelves and drawers so that you can display your favorite books, figurines, or memorabilia around your TV and put away other items, like wires and gaming controllers, for safekeeping.

A Hidden Slide-Out Pantry

It’s also possible to get creative with your storage using the narrow space between your refrigerator and the wall. One hidden storage option you may not have considered yet—but may get a lot of mileage from—is the slide-out pantry, or a slim shelf on wheels that you can draw out and push back into the crevice that separates the wall from your fridge. Use this nifty furniture option to store small pantry items like spices or condiment bottles.

A Hidden Roll-Out Shelf

The same rationale can be used for a hidden roll-out shelf or a hidden set of slim rolling drawers near your washing machine and dryer. Buy one to use for laundry and cleaning essentials like detergent bars, detergent capsules, and small bottles of fabric conditioner, among others.

A Hidden Key Cabinet

A wall-mounted key cabinet will be a useful piece of furniture for any small and tightly constrained space. But if you want to make your storage space for keys and other valuable trinkets even more discreet, you can buy the type whose door doubles as a picture frame. It’s also possible to DIY and get a key cabinet with a glass door and then put photos or printed artwork under the glass surface. To an outsider, your key cabinet will look like simple wall décor and not bring any undue attention to itself—which you’ll want if you’re looking out for your safety.

A Hidden Shoe Cabinet with Flip Drawers

For all the pairs of shoes that you and the other residents of your home have ended up acquiring over the course of your stay, it’s a good idea to invest in a shoe cabinet with hidden-away flip drawers. Not only will it keep your shoes organized and easy to find when you need them, but it will also prevent the mess that comes with pulling one shoe away from a tall pile of stacked-up footwear, only for everything to come falling to the floor.

A Platform Bed with Built-In Storage

One of the most useful pieces of bedroom furniture you can spend on, especially if you live in a small unit, is a platform bed with built-in storage under the mattress area. Use hidden drawers to store clothing items like socks and underwear, or other items like electronics.

A Loft Bed with a Built-In Desk and Shelf

If you’d like your home to serve as a study space or as a well-outfitted home office, it’s also worth installing a loft bed whose lower area can double as shelving and desk space. You can stow items like books, computer accessories, school supplies, and the like in the loft bed’s hidden shelves and desk surface. Having both the space and your items cordoned off under the bed can also help you compartmentalize your work and leisure areas, thus making it easier to get things done when it’s time to work and relax when it’s time to unwind.

In the market for hidden treasures that you can utilize in a small living space? For high-quality and affordably priced furniture with hidden storage built in, scour LookingFour for both brand new and secondhand items!