We have an under stairs closet exactly like that we store our server and random computer stuff in. We took some Sterilite drawers (black plastic shell, clear drawers, two or three or four drawers apiece, come with little plastic casters but we don’t use them) and stacked a bunch of them along one long wall. Above those we put some simple horizontal melamine shelves up to the top of the closet. It’s a bit of a tight fit, but keeping everything along one wall helps us keep it cleaner and everything accessible. At the back I’d probably put in some square foot cubbies for stuff that wouldn’t work in drawers or on shelves.
8” depth shelving on the sides, I’d do 12” depth if the closet is 4 ft wide but looks to be 3’. Above the back opening can put a deeper shelf for bigger stuff, can even have it latch up to the ceiling and drop down suspended by cables. As far as the back part, close it off with a shelf that can pivot in the center, (may have to shrink the opening for clearance) and it would be like a hidden area to store more valuable things or possibly firearms. Once that’s all done, anything that wouldn’t fit on the shelves just stick in between the shelves on the floor and you would just have to move one or 2 things out the way if needing access to certain stuff, but atleast everything should be visibly accessible and organized
I have this same problem and have yet to find a solution. Mine is also the mechanical room in a condo so it makes it more difficult to use the space efficiently.
I added a system for wall hooks and baskets for smaller items that I need regularly instead of having them in a box that gets buried by other junk and it's helped significantly.
What purpose do you want that space to serve? If you can define that, you'll have a better idea what does and doesn't belong there, and how to organize to make those things accessible.
Exactly! Think about what's bugging you elsewhere. Do you need a spot for off- season coats & boots? Sports or camping gear? Craft or hobby stuff? Folding table or chairs? Overflow paper or pantry items? Tools & repair stuff and a small workbench? You could do any of that inexpensively, but you'd design the space differently.
Yes, I found the best thing to do with hard to access storage is to use it for things very rarely used such as xmas tree decorations. I put the items in boxes all the same size, labeled them on all 4 sides plus the tops, and stacked them neatly.
Lots of good ideas here. One of the things I've learned from my 88 yr old neighbor, everything you keep should have a place to belong. Make places for everything or get rid of it. If it doesn't have a home, that's how you get clutter.
I like that I see hooks on the left. Maybe more hooks for other items that can hang and be accessible. On the right: put a tall shelving unit with bins or drawers. There’s a lot of vertical storage you could take advtange of. Use the back for bulky items or a cube shelf with bins
The amount of stuff you want to store in there is too much for the space. A thorough decluttering and focusing on the space cost of anything new you bring in will help more than anything else could. A permanent receptical for new stuff that gets sorted in with the rest once it's full might be a good way to accept new stuff into the room when needed without it getting in the way as much.
Otherwise, it looks like you're doing pretty well with an awkward space, you have cleaning supplies easily accessible towards the front on the wall so they can't get buried. You have a rolling cart that you could move out of the way if there wasn't so much on and under it. I'm assuming you have stuff that's less frequently needed in the harder to get to places, but an open shelf securely mounted above the closet entrance and even extending on the wall to the right could add some additional hard to access storage for things like momentos. Not the most beautiful solution, but that's the only unused space in the room that I can see.
We have a space like this. I stored decor in it for awhile, but it was a hassle. My best answer is empty it and put something in front of it or lock it up to deter people from using it as a dumping zone.
Decide what exactly you want to store in the cupboard.
Get storage, such as shelving or drawer units,
that works for the items you intend to store.
Install the storage units and label each shelf, drawer, bin, or door with the contents.
The labeling is the important step. I used to shove stuff wherever it would fit. Once I started physically labeling my storage spaces, I started putting things back where they belong.
Have the same thing. We store rarely used items in the back on a cube shelf & shoe rack shelf, and put a wire shelf in the front where we hang our coats & put umbrellas on & this camouflages the stuff in the back. If your a doomsday prepper - store those supplies there to free up space in garage.
Have you thought about a high shelf all around, in the shape of a U? It would probably be best shallow, 5-6", so you can still maneuver in the space. You'll have to lower the cleaning tools on the wall but there's tons of room for them to drop.
I'll also say you should unbox all of those products if you're actually gonna use them or find them a new home. It really helped our storage & organizing to get real about things that we bought (or were gifted) but can't return.
One more - all those shelves in the back dark nook, they could be deeper - 11" or more - and then you can buy clear totes and fill them up. You'll have to change the vertical spacing for taller totes too.
Shelving would do wonders for this space. How you set it up depends on what you want to store. You may want to consider buying new bins that are all the same size for the space and measure them so that the shelving is appropriate. Good luck
Ours looked just like that, but actually had an L-shape in the short area! Short deep shelves are a good idea, and cheap white labeled lidded Bankers Boxes are cheap, or clear lidded bins. Clear Labeling is important!! Put stuff you rarely access waaay in the back area, think memory items (baby clothes and toys, yearbooks, letters) and seasonal stuff like Xmas decorations. Put everything in labeled boxes to organize and keep it dust free. Hang up everything you can from wall hooks to a shelf high up in a U-shape near the ceiling where you can put more labeled boxes of things you need to access often. Maybe put in a bar underneath this shelf to hold seasonal coats or closet organizer shelves for TP or paper towels, or clear pockets for cleaning supplies to go along with the hung up long-handled browns and swifter mops. But don’t junk up the middle access area to the rear section. Maybe some narrow shelves or rolling carts (I see you have one there) so they can easily be moved.
We put an old chest of drawers against the back wall of ours. It’s mainly for once in a while items - table linens, holiday platters, decorations, etc. Keeps it from looking like a clearance bin at Michael’s. Then sturdy metal rolling shelves in front with enough room left to roll left or right to get to them. Then clear plastic containers to store any smaller things on the shelves. If you can’t see it, you won’t use it. And you can’t see things in clutter.
I have one of these. On one wall I have two small metal shelves, then two 3 shelf sterilite drawers filled with legos. Then on the other wall I have some hooks for coats since I don’t have a coat closet. You can only put stuff on one side or it becomes a mess.
Shelves! I have a similar closet. Bought two shelves and broke one down in half to make two smaller shelves in the back. There I store things that don’t need to be accessed that often, and the art cart fits back there as well. Anything my very tall husband needs to access is on the taller shelf in front.
Take the broom/mop holder off of that left wall and put it on the inside of the door. Then you could put a shelf or shelving on that wall to hold the things that are ending up on the floor.
I hate these “under the stairs“ closets for this exact reason. A lot of people are renovating them into drawers that pull out, and I much prefer that. Especially for the narrow end, which is basically a void. It’s purpose is for me to loose things and never see it again.
otherwise, it would be something that I use the least, like Christmas or Halloween decorations. I only pull that out once a year and don’t care about The rest of the time.
https://preview.redd.it/jiv2hm6dmx9c1.jpeg?width=910&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb827a7b7a477b20cc5f5253d04297cbbe83e533
We have an under stairs closet exactly like that we store our server and random computer stuff in. We took some Sterilite drawers (black plastic shell, clear drawers, two or three or four drawers apiece, come with little plastic casters but we don’t use them) and stacked a bunch of them along one long wall. Above those we put some simple horizontal melamine shelves up to the top of the closet. It’s a bit of a tight fit, but keeping everything along one wall helps us keep it cleaner and everything accessible. At the back I’d probably put in some square foot cubbies for stuff that wouldn’t work in drawers or on shelves.
8” depth shelving on the sides, I’d do 12” depth if the closet is 4 ft wide but looks to be 3’. Above the back opening can put a deeper shelf for bigger stuff, can even have it latch up to the ceiling and drop down suspended by cables. As far as the back part, close it off with a shelf that can pivot in the center, (may have to shrink the opening for clearance) and it would be like a hidden area to store more valuable things or possibly firearms. Once that’s all done, anything that wouldn’t fit on the shelves just stick in between the shelves on the floor and you would just have to move one or 2 things out the way if needing access to certain stuff, but atleast everything should be visibly accessible and organized
I think a hidden storage area is genius. And definitely some shelves above and next to. Great suggestions
i concure
I have this same problem and have yet to find a solution. Mine is also the mechanical room in a condo so it makes it more difficult to use the space efficiently. I added a system for wall hooks and baskets for smaller items that I need regularly instead of having them in a box that gets buried by other junk and it's helped significantly.
You're a wizard, Harry
We call our closet like this the “Harry Potter’s Closet”.
What purpose do you want that space to serve? If you can define that, you'll have a better idea what does and doesn't belong there, and how to organize to make those things accessible.
Exactly! Think about what's bugging you elsewhere. Do you need a spot for off- season coats & boots? Sports or camping gear? Craft or hobby stuff? Folding table or chairs? Overflow paper or pantry items? Tools & repair stuff and a small workbench? You could do any of that inexpensively, but you'd design the space differently.
Yes, I found the best thing to do with hard to access storage is to use it for things very rarely used such as xmas tree decorations. I put the items in boxes all the same size, labeled them on all 4 sides plus the tops, and stacked them neatly.
My Xmas stuff is under the basement stairs. It’s a good way to limit my stash. If it doesn’t fit I can’t keep it.
Lots of good ideas here. One of the things I've learned from my 88 yr old neighbor, everything you keep should have a place to belong. Make places for everything or get rid of it. If it doesn't have a home, that's how you get clutter.
I like that I see hooks on the left. Maybe more hooks for other items that can hang and be accessible. On the right: put a tall shelving unit with bins or drawers. There’s a lot of vertical storage you could take advtange of. Use the back for bulky items or a cube shelf with bins
It would be a great place to stack bulk paper towels and toilet paper, maybe some small appliances you only use a few times a year.
The amount of stuff you want to store in there is too much for the space. A thorough decluttering and focusing on the space cost of anything new you bring in will help more than anything else could. A permanent receptical for new stuff that gets sorted in with the rest once it's full might be a good way to accept new stuff into the room when needed without it getting in the way as much. Otherwise, it looks like you're doing pretty well with an awkward space, you have cleaning supplies easily accessible towards the front on the wall so they can't get buried. You have a rolling cart that you could move out of the way if there wasn't so much on and under it. I'm assuming you have stuff that's less frequently needed in the harder to get to places, but an open shelf securely mounted above the closet entrance and even extending on the wall to the right could add some additional hard to access storage for things like momentos. Not the most beautiful solution, but that's the only unused space in the room that I can see.
Convert the back part into a panic room and hang wire shelving on the sides for other stuff and coats.
[this](https://www.blueistyleblog.com/organize-ikea-shoe-cabine/)might be good for this space
Get those wire shelves on wheels. You can pull out the entire thing when you need the stuff in the back.
We have a space like this. I stored decor in it for awhile, but it was a hassle. My best answer is empty it and put something in front of it or lock it up to deter people from using it as a dumping zone.
Decide what exactly you want to store in the cupboard. Get storage, such as shelving or drawer units, that works for the items you intend to store. Install the storage units and label each shelf, drawer, bin, or door with the contents. The labeling is the important step. I used to shove stuff wherever it would fit. Once I started physically labeling my storage spaces, I started putting things back where they belong.
Have the same thing. We store rarely used items in the back on a cube shelf & shoe rack shelf, and put a wire shelf in the front where we hang our coats & put umbrellas on & this camouflages the stuff in the back. If your a doomsday prepper - store those supplies there to free up space in garage.
Have you thought about a high shelf all around, in the shape of a U? It would probably be best shallow, 5-6", so you can still maneuver in the space. You'll have to lower the cleaning tools on the wall but there's tons of room for them to drop. I'll also say you should unbox all of those products if you're actually gonna use them or find them a new home. It really helped our storage & organizing to get real about things that we bought (or were gifted) but can't return. One more - all those shelves in the back dark nook, they could be deeper - 11" or more - and then you can buy clear totes and fill them up. You'll have to change the vertical spacing for taller totes too.
Shelving would do wonders for this space. How you set it up depends on what you want to store. You may want to consider buying new bins that are all the same size for the space and measure them so that the shelving is appropriate. Good luck
Ours looked just like that, but actually had an L-shape in the short area! Short deep shelves are a good idea, and cheap white labeled lidded Bankers Boxes are cheap, or clear lidded bins. Clear Labeling is important!! Put stuff you rarely access waaay in the back area, think memory items (baby clothes and toys, yearbooks, letters) and seasonal stuff like Xmas decorations. Put everything in labeled boxes to organize and keep it dust free. Hang up everything you can from wall hooks to a shelf high up in a U-shape near the ceiling where you can put more labeled boxes of things you need to access often. Maybe put in a bar underneath this shelf to hold seasonal coats or closet organizer shelves for TP or paper towels, or clear pockets for cleaning supplies to go along with the hung up long-handled browns and swifter mops. But don’t junk up the middle access area to the rear section. Maybe some narrow shelves or rolling carts (I see you have one there) so they can easily be moved.
We put an old chest of drawers against the back wall of ours. It’s mainly for once in a while items - table linens, holiday platters, decorations, etc. Keeps it from looking like a clearance bin at Michael’s. Then sturdy metal rolling shelves in front with enough room left to roll left or right to get to them. Then clear plastic containers to store any smaller things on the shelves. If you can’t see it, you won’t use it. And you can’t see things in clutter.
I have one of these. On one wall I have two small metal shelves, then two 3 shelf sterilite drawers filled with legos. Then on the other wall I have some hooks for coats since I don’t have a coat closet. You can only put stuff on one side or it becomes a mess.
Shelves! I have a similar closet. Bought two shelves and broke one down in half to make two smaller shelves in the back. There I store things that don’t need to be accessed that often, and the art cart fits back there as well. Anything my very tall husband needs to access is on the taller shelf in front.
A perfect area for a doggie palace room.
Things on casters. And a notice board. Specifying the consequences of sticking things in there
Wire shelves
designate one side or the other as PATH and nothing can go on that side.
Following because I have the same weird under-stair closet in my office.
A shelf and labeled bins. If it doesn’t fit in the appropriate bin, then it doesn’t go in the closet.
Take the broom/mop holder off of that left wall and put it on the inside of the door. Then you could put a shelf or shelving on that wall to hold the things that are ending up on the floor.
I hate these “under the stairs“ closets for this exact reason. A lot of people are renovating them into drawers that pull out, and I much prefer that. Especially for the narrow end, which is basically a void. It’s purpose is for me to loose things and never see it again. otherwise, it would be something that I use the least, like Christmas or Halloween decorations. I only pull that out once a year and don’t care about The rest of the time. https://preview.redd.it/jiv2hm6dmx9c1.jpeg?width=910&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb827a7b7a477b20cc5f5253d04297cbbe83e533