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| Note the pantry next to the refrigerator |
I don't care where you live, or how much space you actually have, storage is always a problem in one way or another. In the 1980s, right after my graduation from college, my husband and I were lucky enough to buy a 400 square foot summer house in the Ramapo Mountain Range. The house looked more like Colorado than the Northeast. Within a couple of years we replaced the electrical systems, the heating systems, the septic tank, provided insulation, and ultimately built an addition This all occurred while simaltaneously having our first two children. The house was quite lovely when it sold at a significant profit, and freed us to move on to another state. Living in 400 square feet with two adults and two babies was no picnic. Storing diapers, toilet paper, canned goods, laundry detergent, and anything else was no picnic in such small space. We adapted by having shelves placed in between wall studs, and by using our attic for things that would not be adversely impacted by 30 degrees below zero.
The houses which have followed became larger and larger as our family grew and our interests began to include agricultural pursuits. More children require more storage space, and living farther from shopping requires more food stored for times when running out to the store is foolhardy or simply not possible. Animals also require storage, but barns can't always store medications or things which might be hurt by dust, freezing or extreme heat. Largely, even when we get more space, there is the human tendency to fill it, either with larger furniture, books, sporting equipment or items inherited from a beloved relative or two.
I would like to take a moment to encourage you to consider your home for a moment. Where can you squeeze out additional storage, perhaps hidden, or perhaps not ? Check out under your stairs. Can you put a closet there ? What would it take to make all of your attic useful for storage while still preserving its ventilation ability. What could you do with your basement to make it possible to store more things in it safely ? Is there a place where you could place shelves between studs, attractively, as if a builder had done this ? Could you add a lovely pantry to your kitchen ?
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| The owners of this house could not cut a closet underneath their staircase. They did find a way to store things in small space though. |
Most of us really can find more space, even if we are challenged by unusual architecture.
