Go vertical or go home Use the wall to store it all

Clearing clutter and putting everything away can be a challenge when you don’t have enough storage space. You’ve got to be creative in finding new places to store things, because closets and furniture will only get you so far. Take advantage of your condo’s height. Use the wall to store it all, and make a statement with decorative shelving and storage possibilities. Go vertical or go home. When you’ve run out of storage space, lie on the floor and look up. There is a limited amount of horizontal space (countertops, desks, tables and the floor) but vertical space is abundant and often overlooked. Consider putting shelves above door frames or around the perimeter of the room, like a border. Hang things from the ceiling in the kitchen. When purchasing armoires, bookcases or shelving units, choose the tallest you can find and put baskets on top of them. Clear up valuable tabletop space. We all have a limited amount of counter and tabletop space, but our wall space is often under-utilized. By hanging photos and framing special mementos in shadow boxes on the wall, you’ll free up space on your tabletops and create a less-cluttered, more-spacious look. Running out of kitchen-cabinet space? If your kitchen supplies exceed your cabinet space, consider mounting a metal rail to your wall. Use hooks (usually included with a rail) to hang everything from utensils to hand towels. This attractive storage solution gives you easy access to your items and utilizes previously unused wall space. Make the most of ceiling space. Rather than putting up a wallpaper border, install shelves a foot or so below the ceiling around the perimeter of your children’s rooms. On them, display prized belongings and collectables. This gets your treasures out of the closet where they take up valuable space, yet still allows the kids to enjoy them. Adjust your storage systems. A common misconception is that once you have organized your entire home, you’re done. However, organizing is a process, not a destination. As your interests change, so will your organizing systems. Put some time aside to tweak existing systems on a regular basis – especially when you experience a lifestyle change. Avoid shampoo overload in the bath. For a more streamlined look in your bath or shower, consider attaching wall-mounted soap and shampoo dispensers. This will eliminate the sticky mess of shampoos, soaps and lotions crowding the bath or shower, contributing to a more serene, spa-like space. Store magazines creatively. When looking for interesting ways to store magazines, think outside the box. As a creative alternative to a magazine stand, consider using a ladder. Propped up against a wall, a ladder is an interesting way to display magazines and make use of otherwise wasted vertical space.