Have a storage situation? We have solutions, including expert advice and creatively designed furnishings that double as stylish storage options.

Short on space? Join the club.

“Here in Hawaii, we never have enough storage space,” says Mike Mudgett, of Grand Construction LLC. If you’re looking to remodel or build new and you want to truly maximize the space you have, it starts with design.

“You have to look for every potential nook and cranny to utilize storage space,” Mudgett says. “You’d be surprised how rearranging your space can create storage where there wasn’t any before—all without making it look like storage.”

SITUATION: More stuff than seats to sit on SOLUTION: Maximize seating space with this classic, upholstered bench and then lift the lid to reveal a cedar-lined interior large enough to store extra pillows, blankets and more. Whole Home cedar-lined bench, $199.99, from Sears.

“Furnishings can do double duty as storage. Coffee tables and end tables with drawers, lift-up tops or doors, for example, are great places to stash the remotes, a deck of cards, games and more.”
-Tiare Noelani Cowan, of Archipelago Hawaii, refined island designs

Photo courtesy of HomeWorld SITUATION: You don’t have anywhere to put the placemats, much less have guests over for dinner. SOLUTION: Do both and more with the Truffle dining collection, $1,159, from HomeWorld. Beneath the table, which includes a self-storing leaf for expansion, is a subtle storage area for dining odds and ends, such as placemats and serveware. The set seats up to eight people comfortably with eight stools or six stools and a bench.

Photo by David Croxford SITUATION: Mountains of magazines on the coffee table SOLUTION: Use the box-bubble ottoman, $170, from Bali Boo, as a side or coffee table without having to clutter its surface. Inside, magazines and books can be stowed away, out of sight.

Creativity is key. Think display niches, shelving, cabinets and built-ins. Marshall Hickox, of Homeworks Construction Inc., suggests thinking outside of the box, or even under the staircase, when looking for extra space. “That’s all usable space that can be recouped,” Hickox says. Even though it can be a tricky spot to finish off, there is room to go back under the stairs to create extra storage space. Depending on the pitch of your roof, you may also have room for an attic truss, which would create more room for things like luggage and seasonal items, and be accessible with a pull-down ladder. “We have one in my house,” Hickox says. “It only gave us about 10 square feet of space, but it’s invaluable.”

Photo courtesy of Pacific Home SITUATION: There’s no room in the kitchen left for the wine glasses. SOLUTION: Create an instant bar. Store glasses and bottles in this attractive aqua wine cabinet, $1,995, from Pacific Home. The doors open to reveal a full bar with a marble top.

Photo by David Croxford SITUATION: You can store the DVD player in the cabinet, but the remote doesn’t work through the doors. SOLUTION: The slats on this two-door buffet cabinet, $810, from Bali Boo, are spaced just-so, allowing remote-control media equipment to work even with the doors shut.

Photos courtesy of Bali Pacific Trading SITUATION: A pile of shoes at the front door SOLUTION: This solid mahogany bench is an especially stylish seating and storing option near the front door. Hide anything from slippers and shoes to dog toys. Java bench, $345, from Bali Pacific Trading.

Photo courtesy of C. S. Wo SITUATION: An overflowing closet SOLUTION: Increase your storage space with a fashionable, functional armoire. The large cabinet space and drawers below look great and can accommodate loads of extra clothing or linens. Wedding cabinet, price upon request, from C. S. Wo.

Photo courtesy of Sears SITUATION: The garage is a mess. SOLUTION: Craftman’s new garage and tool storage units, from Sears, include all-steel construction wall and floor cabinets, a 6-foot workbench and five-drawer module. The line works in conjunction with Versatrack trackwall and Hooktite accessories to help you utilize wall space to build a total garage solution.

Photo courtesy of Rev-A-Shelf Invest in a closet system to maximize your space. Rev-A-Shelf closet system accessories, available from King & Zelko Hawaiian Woodworks, are designed to fit your storage needs. l

Another go-to solution for many designers? Professional closet and wall organization systems. Brent Potter, of Organized Hawaii, says investing in organization systems is well worth it. “A well-designed closet can usually give you at least 40 percent more room,” Potter says. A system can even eliminate the need for bulky furniture items in already cramped spaces, freeing up the entire wall width and height space to store items high up out of the way.

“Consult with a professional,” says Dave McKenna, of Graham Builders. They can come in during the design process to help you plan the elements and get you the best system for your space.
Today, the options are endless.

Adds Tiare Noelani Cowan, of Archipelago Hawaii, refined island designs, “If you build your closet system to your needs, you will be amazed how much you can fit in a small area.”