Bonava Interior Designer Shares Tips on How to Create a Functional Storage Room from an Apartment Pantry

Before moving to a new home, it's common to review and sort through your belongings. This gives you the opportunity to take only the items to your new home that will actually be used. Whether we like it or not, we need to find space for larger or seasonal items that we don't use daily. This is why we often store things like ski equipment, suitcases, and similar items haphazardly in a storage room. Since Bonava apartments each have their own storage room, which makes storing items more functional, our interior architect Grete Martha Laan shares some simple tips on how to furnish this space as efficiently as possible.

Think through what you want to store

Since storage rooms are usually located separately from the apartment, it can happen that a considerable amount of items accumulates there over time. So at some point, we may discover that it's almost impossible to find a specific item. "Before furnishing the storage room, it's important to think through what you want to keep there — how many large items like suitcases, winter equipment, balcony furniture, bikes, tires, etc.," explained Laan. Therefore, it's wise to look at the room before buying shelves or cabinets so you know how to best organize it for yourself. To make it easier for you to find inspiration on how to furnish your storage room intelligently when moving to a new home, Bonava has furnished not only a sample apartment but also a sample storage room.

Use the existing space to its maximum

Usually, storage rooms are rather narrow, but have quite high ceilings — this is a good opportunity to use the entire height of the room. You don't necessarily have to cover all walls with identical shelves. For example, perforated shelf sides can be used to store tools, extension cords, and similar items. By creating narrower shelf gaps, you can place pull-out drawers on them where you can systematically arrange smaller items. Free wall space is perfect for hooks. You can hang things like helmets there, which would otherwise take up more room on shelves. Interior architect Grete Martha Laan recommends using a collapsible step stool, as this small tool helps you place items on shelves near the ceiling of the storage room and makes them easily accessible.

Storing car tires

When seasons change, tire storage is often a question. However, before placing tires in your storage room, it's worth checking what the storage regulations are for your home. While tires typically stand on top of each other and take up quite a bit of space, with careful storage room planning, you can actually place spare tires there without them taking up too much room. One option for correct and convenient storage of car spare tires is to place a special tire rack on the lowest wall shelf area, from which you can easily retrieve them if needed.

Place larger and heavier items cleverly

Often the question arises of where and how to store larger items, such as car tires, seasonal items (skis, scooters, etc.). "New buildings usually also have bike rooms where you can safely store your bicycle, children's sleds, or scooters," commented the interior architect. "If you want to keep your bike in your personal storage room, it's worth thinking through practical solutions so that besides the bike, there's room for other items as well, since hanging a bike from the ceiling isn't always feasible for everyone," added Laan. In older apartment buildings, separate storage rooms are generally not available, so bicycles or other large items are often stored on the balcony instead. The presence of a personal storage room, however, gives you the opportunity to use your home's balcony as an extension of your living space and create a comfortable rest area there.

Since storage rooms are generally located separately from living areas, it's easy to forget that in this extra space it's actually possible to store quite a lot of things, from travel suitcases and winter clothes to ski equipment or car tires. By exploring a few additional possibilities and doing a bit of preparation, you can maximize your storage room for yourself while maintaining order and convenience.