Renovation with Organization in Mind: Storage and Use Solutions

As you consider ideas for remodeling your kitchen, bathroom, home office, or other spaces in your home, you want to ensure that the room not only looks stunning but also that it is designed to function optimally for your lifestyle. One key element that helps accomplish both objectives is having adequate and stylish workspaces and storage solutions.

We all use multiple products and devices throughout our homes all day and night. When you plan ahead to ensure that you have places to store everything with easy access and clean sightlines, you will find that you enjoy living in your renovated space or home addition just that much more. Here are some tips for incorporating the right organization into your renovation project from the very start.

You Need a Custom Design

It will be much easier to integrate organizational solutions seamlessly into your new home space when you work with a luxury home contractor who tailors designs to your specific goals. Rather than trying to shoehorn storage options into a one-size-fits-all design, it is best to design your project from scratch taking all of your needs and goals into consideration. 

If you like to bake, for instance, your kitchen renovation could include dedicated spaces for using and storing your standup mixer and other baking equipment such as scales, cooling racks, and specialty pans. Or, for a bathroom renovation, you could tell your designer the space you would like to have for easy access to products for hair styling, makeup, and skincare, and your designer could provide slide-outs or options for storage that allow you to use tools without creating clutter.

When you tailor your design to your needs instead of trying to fit your needs into an existing plan, you end up with a space that will work better in the short and long-term and one that brings you joy and serenity rather than frustration and regret. So, to ensure that your space is properly organized right from the start, work with a contractor that either has an architecturally-trained designer on staff or that is willing to work with a design prepared for you by an outside designer. A custom design is the best way to get what you need in a way that looks as good as it functions.

Think About How You Want to Use Your Space

To incorporate the right storage solutions into your design, the first step is to consider both how you use the space currently and how you would like to use the space in the future. If your kids have desks in their rooms, for instance, but they always end up doing their homework in the kitchen, then incorporating space for work and storage of homework supplies into your kitchen design will make it easier to accommodate that use going forward.

As you review the uses of the room, consider tasks that you undertake regularly, like paying bills or ironing, as well as occasional tasks that require specialized equipment, such as wrapping presents or doing projects. Make lists of tasks and their frequency, the items you need to store for those tasks, and the workspace needed. Items you need most often can then be given priority in design placement, whereas other items can be placed somewhere that may be a little less convenient to reach.

Remember that you need to consider not only your use of the space but also those of others who live in your home—including your pets. You should also consider needs that could arise in the future as household dynamics change.

Built-In Components vs. Furniture

Storage options can be broken down into two main categories—components that are built into your home and those that stand alone as separate pieces of furniture. Built-in components generally take up less space and can be designed to fade seamlessly into the background, while furniture pieces can be changed with greater ease.

If you have a beloved family heirloom or other piece of furniture that you enjoy, let your designer know how you would like it to be used. It could be incorporated into the construction, such as using an antique dresser to serve as a bathroom vanity or part of a built-in home entertainment system. Or, the design could allow a place for the piece to be used in a free standing capacity. For instance, if you’re adding or expanding a window, the height and width of the glass could be designed to fit over a designer table or in between two pieces of artwork.

Built-in components can take advantage of space that might otherwise go unused, such as odd corners or space under the stairs. Working with a qualified designer can help you ensure that you allow the right amount of open space for both aesthetic and functional purposes.

Options for built-in components include:

• Window seats with storage benches
• Kitchen drawers equipped with knife blocks
• Electrical outlets concealed in cabinets or drawers for charging or using equipment
• Deep bathroom drawers with organizational grids for storing bottles
• Cabinets in the family room for storing electronics and seasonal décor
• Shelving that is positioned to allow plants to get just the right light
• Kennels or crates to create a welcoming retreat for pets
• An information and logistics center for items that need to be seen or that need to be taken out
• Hidden or display cabinets designed to protect valuables

Your designer can work with you to ensure that your renovation or addition will include not only space for adequate storage and work surfaces but also tools for keeping the spaces organized.

Call for a Free Design Consultation to Discuss Organization Options with Marcela Montoya Remodeling

Marcela Montoya Remodeling was founded by a designer trained as an architect, and all of our custom home remodeling and addition projects are designed individually to meet our client’s needs. This enables us to incorporate the ideal organizational systems into your home right from the start of your project. We take tremendous pride in producing home spaces that our clients love to use, and we guarantee satisfaction with our work in the South Florida area. We invite you to schedule a complimentary design consultation with Marcela to learn about the ways we create the home of your dreams. Just call us at 954-900-9992 or contact us online now to get started.