Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

If you have a big family, and lots of people come and go around your house, it makes sense to keep your car and house keys someplace safe. No, tossing them on the ledge by the front door doesn’t count.

A key cabinet is an inexpensive investment, and it can boost your overall home security, since you always know where your keys are. It can also help out if you’re prone to leave your keys all over the house and lose them from time to time–having a set place to store them might save you some time in the mornings.

The First Alert 3060F Steel Key Cabinet is an inexpensive option (less than $20 at Amazon), and it should offer plenty of key storage space for the average family. Of course, you need a key to get into the unit. For a little more, you can buy one that you access through a combination code. An example is the GE AccessPoint TouchPoint 30-Key Cabinet.

Either would be a good investment and make for a safe place to store your keys.

Unless you live in a huge house with lots and lots of closets, chances are storage is an issue. Hey, you’re not alone. The entire self-storage industry was spawned because people just have too much stuff. If you’re not ready to get rid of everything, you could try adding storage to your home by making better use of space you already have, such as the cabinets beneath the bathroom and kitchen sinks.

Here are a few under-sink shelves and racks designed to work around clunky drain pipes and the like. They’re all inexpensive and easy to install.

Madesmart Expandable Under-sink Shelf Organizer

This modular system can be arranged to fit around any under-sink drain pipe. It features solid metal piping and twenty plastic shelves that can slide around for a custom configuration.

Lynk Professional Under Sink Storage Tray

This storage solution helps you make the most of hard-to-reach spaces under the sink. The system features commercial chrome-steel construction with industrial-grade ball-bearing slides, so it should last for years. The top shelf has a removable liner for storing damp brushes and sponges.

Rev-A-Shelf Roll-out Under-Sink Organizer

This under-sink caddy is designed to hold your cleaning supplies, and you can even roll it out and detach the caddy to carry it with you when it’s time to scrub floors. It’s designed to fit around most sink plumbing.

If you don’t have a garage (or you’re one of those weird families who actually uses the garage for housing cars), then you may need a little more storage space out back. Perhaps a little shed?

Most sheds are dark and dreary on the inside, but that’s not the case with this Lifetime 8′ x 10′ Outdoor Storage Shed. In addition to having shelves for all your stuff, it features windows and even skylights to keep things bright inside. Should you wander outside at night, there’s a battery-operated light too.

Alas, as is so often the case with things you order online, the $1,200 price tag doesn’t include assembly.

Fortunately, there are many ways to optimize the storage space in your home. From adding shelves to choosing multi-functional furnishings, you can conceals anything you want from books to pillows and children’s toys.

The Winsome Wood Mesa Storage Cube functions as an end table and a storage bin. It’s made from beech wood with a walnut finish, making it a rich accent that can complement any home decor. It features a unique, tapered cube shape, and the removable top enables you to store reading material, phone books, throw pillows and blankets.

If you’re tired of seeing your kid’s toys laying around the living room, reserve this end table for toy storage only. When you’re expecting guests, it will be easy for you or your child to clean up.

Carts and baskets are convenient for storage purposes. Plus, when you have a cart on wheels, you can always whisk it away to the pantry or a closet to keep odds and ends out of sight when guests arrive.

The Rubbermaid White Kitchen Utility Cart is perfect for entertaining, because you can use it to transport drinks and appetizers. However, you can also keep it as a semi-permanent fixture in the kitchen for housing bowls, small appliances and other things that you use frequently. Or, you can keep your pets food, dishes, treats and other accessories on it so you can have access to it more easily.

This cart has two shelves and a bottom cabinet to conceal supplies. Plus, it’s on wheels and has two handles for easy maneuverability.

Unless you’re a writer or a bookworm, a book shelf can look pretty plain and boring. Why not spice up your home or office book shelf with one that doesn’t make any apologies.

The Art Deco Shelves from Opulent Items feature a bright red swirling design, which attracts all eyes to it. These shelves are made in Austria, and they’re definitely a unique way to store your most beloved books, bottles, CDs or DVDs. Custom colors are even available, so don’t worry if red isn’t for you.

This impressive shelving unique can hold up to 70 bottles or 700 CDs/DVDs! This unit can help you get organized in no time. The shelf measures 49.5” high x 57.5” wide x 15” deep.

Not everybody has the space for a home wine cellar (too bad, I know!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t store lots of your favorite bottles.

We’ve looked at a couple of compact wine refrigerators before, but if all you have is some blank space on your walls, that can work just fine too. Sure, your bottles won’t be climate controlled, but they’ll be on display where you can admire them when you pass by.

Vintage View offers a variety of wine storage systems including wall-mounted units that display your bottles horizontally. This saves space, of course, while also making it easy to see the label. With a rack on the wall, you could turn any corner of your kitchen or pantry into a wine storage area, or, if you are lucky enough to have a cellar, you could add to its holding capacity.

A simple, clutter-free way to store your wine!

If you could use a little more storage in the bathroom (hey, who couldn’t?), but there isn’t a lot of room to work with, then it makes sense to use vertical (wall) space. For most of us, the area over the toilet isn’t used for anything special. Why not add storage there?

This over-toilet bathroom storage cabinet is a simple solution that doesn’t require the use of power tools to mount it against the wall. Other than a little assembly work, the free-standing space saver should be an easy add to the top of your commode.

The reviews at Amazon (where the unit sells for $140) are positive, and it looks like the cabinet on the top is large enough to store towels. The space-saver consists of poplar wood with a white painted finish.

Baking while drinking your favorite wine? These two activities sound like they go hand in hand, right? Well, know you can have the perfect storage system for your two favorite past times.

The Celtic Baker’s Rack features convenient wine storage. It’s able to hold up to 12 wine bottles and even your stemware. For smaller items, such as cork openers and measuring tools, use the two hand stained rattan baskets as storage. In addition, there are three shelves (two smaller ones above the baskets and one longer one).

This metal design has beautiful scrollwork, making it perfect for a rustic style kitchen. Between the hardy metal and durable rattan, this baker’s rack will endure. Enjoy baking and entertaining guests during cocktail hour with functional kitchen accents such as this one.

Jewelry storage systems can be invasive, and if you have a smaller closet or bedroom where you want to keep these treasures, you definitely need an all-in-one unit.

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The Powell Antique Black Cheval Jewelry Wardrobe is a full length adjustable mirror and a line storage compartment. Open up the mirror, and you can store rings, earrings, bracelets, broaches and other accessories conveniently. This unit measures 26” x 19” x 59.75”, and it has antique brass finished hooks and chrome exterior mirror knobs. The inside features brown lined interior with compartments.

Although there are wall-mounted units for storing jewelry, this model can be moved, which is nice if you ever want to change your bedroom setup. You can always move the mirror from your walk-in closet to the bedroom or to a guest bedroom when you need a change of scenery or simply lack space.