From constructing your own built-in window seat to creating an outdoor bench that discreetly stores tools, This Old House provides comprehensive step-by-step instructions, shopping lists, and tool requirements to enable you to undertake these projects independently and achieve the additional storage space you desire.
Storage Bed
The bedroom frequently requires maximum storage capacity while offering minimal space for organization. This bed, recommended by a reader who encountered it in a recent issue of This Old House magazine, provides 23 cubic feet of storage without the risk of accumulating dust. This practical home storage solution is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.
Follow the step-by-step instructions and cut list to construct a Storage Bed that offers both a comfortable resting place and additional storage.
Storage Chest
Are plastic bins peeking out from beneath your bed? It is time to transition to a more sophisticated and stylish piece of furniture that offers ample storage while enhancing the room’s decor.
We have designed a storage chest that avoids the inexpensive appearance of sheet goods, opting instead for box-joint construction with alternating lengths of boards. This allows you to relocate those plastic bins to their appropriate storage areas.
Construct a Storage Chest to provide a dignified space for essential items.
Mudroom Bench
Messy, wet umbrellas and raincoats can damage hardwood floors and stain your finest rugs. A functional area just inside the entrance is essential for everyone to leave the elements behind.
This elegant built-in entry hall feature, constructed from plywood, shelf panels, and layered moldings, serves as an ideal catchall. It includes an open-top shelf, coat hooks, and flip-top bench storage, enhancing the welcoming nature of your home while safeguarding it from wear and tear.
Create a catchall by following the step-by-step instructions for Building a Mudroom Bench.
Storage Ottoman
The ottoman serves multiple purposes, functioning as extra seating, a footrest, or even a coffee table when topped with a tray. Versions equipped with under-lid storage, such as this attractive example, provide an excellent location for stowing blankets or books. Customize the upholstery to suit your household decor or requirements, whether it be stain-resistant for pets and children or suede for a more luxurious feel. Additionally, varying the height and style of the legs can complement existing furniture.
The possibilities for smart and customizable storage are limitless when you Build a Storage Ottoman.
Reclaimed Wine Rack
If you have searched for a small wine rack and found the options uninspiring, you are not alone. What is a wine enthusiast to do? Here, a reclaimed lumber beam has been transformed into a simple wine rack that encourages social interaction. Even better, it can be assembled in less than a day.
Construct a Reclaimed Wine Rack for an enjoyable addition to your home.
Wall-Hung TV Cabinet
Would you like to cleverly conceal that large flat-screen television you have prominently displayed? You can achieve this by hiding it behind an elegant cabinet fitted with bifold doors, as demonstrated here. With a straightforward frame and doors crafted from a single bifold closet door, this cabinet is easy to assemble and significantly more economical than its store-bought counterparts.
Safeguard your prized flat-screen television with a Wall-Hung TV Cabinet.
Garden Bench with Hidden Storage
An outdoor bench provides a convenient place to sit while removing muddy footwear. You will find additional peace of mind knowing it can also store a garden hose and other unsightly supplies.
Construct one from weather-resistant cedar or ipe. A lift-up seat with a floor made of galvanized metal screen allows water to escape, eliminating concerns about storing a hose before it drains. The angled backrest, featuring a decorative curve, enhances the inviting aesthetic of this functional piece.
Unsightly lawn and garden supplies can be neatly stored in this Bench with Hidden Storage.
Knee-Wall Dresser
Transform hidden, unused spaces into valuable storage areas. This project involves recessing a chest of drawers into the knee wall of an upstairs bedroom, allowing you to gain a full-size, eight-drawer chest without sacrificing any floor space.
Achieve ample dresser storage without compromising floor area by Installing Knee-Wall Storage.
Desk with Storage Cubbies
If you lack a designated area for managing bills and organizing miscellaneous items, a well-designed desk is essential. This desktop, constructed from plywood and topped with acrylic sheeting, is supported by turned legs. To create a free-floating hutch, repurpose a small cabinet laid on its side and utilize the door to form shelves. A cubby beneath the desktop accommodates a basket for additional storage and organization, making paperwork management more inviting.
Create a Desk with Storage Cubbies to establish a more organized workspace.
Coat Rack
Standing at 72 inches tall, this attractive entryway accessory provides ample height for hanging full-length coats and long scarves while enhancing the space’s decor even when unadorned. When designing and customizing your own, select a decorative finish, routered legs, or ornate hooks. This addition will keep your outerwear readily accessible as you leave and ensure a clutter-free foyer upon your return.
Construct a Coat Rack for stylish vertical storage.
Kid’s Toy Chest
Equipped with wheels and specialized lid supports, this toy chest facilitates easy cleanup for children after playtime. You can create a barn-shaped container like this one in a single afternoon using readily available tools and materials from your local home center. Once assembled, children will eagerly fill it with their cherished toys.
Refer to the instructions on How to Build a Toy Chest for a storage solution your children will appreciate.
Cocktail Hutch
Eliminate the need to rummage through cupboards for cocktail ingredients just as guests arrive. Instead, consolidate all items in one convenient location. This tall and slender cocktail hutch offers an attractive space to hang glasses, store wine bottles, tuck away bottle openers and napkins, and display spirits. The effort invested will be rewarded at your next gathering as guests admire your craftsmanship.
Serving drinks at a large event becomes more manageable with a Cocktail Hutch.
Wood Laundry Hamper
Admittedly, a clothes hamper is not the most glamorous piece of furniture. However, this does not justify the use of an outdated canvas bag or an open-top basket for storing dirty laundry. Instead, opt for a hamper that is visually appealing enough to be placed in any necessary location, such as holding towels or storing equipment in a home gym. Construct a furniture-like piece similar to the one illustrated, with the top and sides made from stock beadboard plywood framed with 1x material.
Refer to the instructions on How to Build a Wood Hamper for an aesthetically pleasing solution for dirty laundry.
Convenient Wall Coatrack
A pile of coats and jackets near the front door is hardly an inviting sight, and finding a suitable storage solution can be challenging. Consider constructing a low-profile, cottage-inspired coatrack that occupies minimal wall space. Double coat hooks and wire baskets maximize storage capacity, while the board-and-batten-like design protects the underlying wall from damage.
Clear the entryway of coats by following the step-by-step instructions for How to Build a Wall-Mounted Coatrack.
Bath Towel Keeper
Position towels precisely where they are needed, utilizing bathroom-appropriate hooks. This towel rack is crafted from cross-handle faucet taps and salvaged barn siding, with an added shelf supported by ornate cast-iron brackets. This design allows for fresh bath towels to be stacked above while wet towels can be hung to dry from the taps below.
Utilize cherished finds to Create a Towel Rack with Vintage Taps.
On-The-Wall Pot Rack
To evoke a Victorian-era aesthetic—without the need for plumbing—consider displaying your pipes with a copper pot rack. This cookware holder can be assembled in just a few hours using standard plumbing components. Push-together tees and elbows eliminate the need for messy soldering, and brass polish will ensure the copper gleams like new.
Incorporate a touch of Victorian charm into your home with the step-by-step instructions for How to Make a Pot Rack from Copper Pipe.
Stylish Bath Cabinet
Few vanity styles complement a traditional bathroom design as effectively as a dresser profile, which seamlessly blends modern functionality with the classic wash-basin appearance prevalent before indoor plumbing. You can easily convert a beautiful antique dresser—or a modern one, depending on your preference—into a sink cabinet. It is advisable to select a chest with doors and minimal drawers to accommodate plumbing requirements more effectively.
Construct a Vintage-look Dresser Vanity to enhance your bathroom’s character while providing modern functionality.
Decorative Wall Niche
This pleasing and practical architectural accent has been utilized since ancient Rome. Today, you can achieve the same timeless appeal by purchasing a preformed niche made of dense foam from an online retailer and integrating it into an empty wall. Create an opening for the insert in the wall and secure it in place using adhesive caulk.
Install a Wall Niche to showcase cherished plants and trinkets.
Kid’s Toolbox
If your young builders have inherited the DIY spirit, they may be inclined to explore your tools. Consider providing them with their own set. This toolbox is ideal for holding smaller, basic items suitable for a young do-it-yourselfer, including a hammer, saws, pliers, and screwdrivers. Constructing it is straightforward, as the necessary tools are likely already in your possession, and the materials can be easily sourced from a home center or sporting goods store.
Encourage your little DIY enthusiast by Building a Toolbox.
Garden Tool Rack
Vintage gardening tools, such as outdoor spigot handles and spring clips, can often be found at flea markets, antique stores, and online for as little as $1 each. Utilize these items to organize your gardening tools with this fun and functional rack made from reclaimed wood molding, flea-market spring clips, and brightly colored outdoor spigot handles. All that is required is a free morning, basic tools, and a touch of creativity.
Construct a Spigot-Handle Garden Tool Rack for an engaging storage solution.
Garden Tools Shed
Even the most rust-resistant coating will not protect your garden tools if they are left outside continuously. Create a clean, dry, and accessible space for your pruners and shovels by building a handsome wood lean-to shed against your house, near the patio or garden. This shed can also serve as a suitable location for storing holiday decorations when they are not in use. Constructed from cedar, a naturally rot-resistant wood, this model will endure the elements while safeguarding your tools from moisture and pests. It can be completed in a weekend using readily available lumber.
Combat rust and maintain a tidy patio by Building a Garden Tools Shed.
Magazine Storage Rack
Are you reluctant to part with old issues of This Old House? While plastic magazine holders are affordable, they lack the character suitable for housing pages filled with design and remodeling inspiration. Instead, consider constructing a container that reflects the spirit of the magazines it is intended to hold. This model features brackets attached to a simple wood frame, creating a freestanding file with decorative scrollwork dividers.
