Storage Solutions That Double as Décor

Storage usually equals plastic bins crammed under beds or closets piled high with things you can’t quite see. Functional, perhaps, but not exactly pretty.

Your actual décor, however, just sits there, doing nothing more than looking attractive, while your belongings run amok everywhere else. The smarter solution considers storage as an integral part of your aesthetic, rather than hiding it behind, and utilizes pieces that corral your life, actually helping to determine how your space looks and feels.

When décor doubles as storage, you solve two issues at once—things have a destination, and their destinations add to your room rather than take away from it. The secret is selecting pieces with sufficient style that are both desirable to view and truly functional.

Pretty baskets that contain nothing useful serve only to clutter, while functionally useful, but plain bins, detract from your design, despite being functionally effective. The following are some of the most functional and beautiful storage containers available.

Highlight woven baskets on open shelves

Natural-fiber baskets, such as those made from wicker, rattan, or seagrass, look intentional when intentionally grouped and arranged on open shelves. They conceal mess within, while textured outside surfaces provide warmth and visual interest.

Grouping baskets of the same color but mixed sizes produces a gathered appearance that’s messy without being matchy-matchy. This comes in especially useful for living rooms to hold remotes and magazines, or bathrooms to hold toiletries and towels.

Use storage ottomans as coffee tables

A storage ottoman takes the place of your coffee table and provides a spot for board games, throw blankets, or whatever else is in danger of cluttering up your living room. Tufted or upholstered leather styles in solid colors become real pieces of furniture that no one would ever suspect have hidden storage.

Others hinge open at the top, others feature hinged-off tops that double as serving trays. Either design offers storage without losing surface area or aesthetic appeal.

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Employ picture ledges for tiered presentation

Thin floating shelves, perfect for leaning frames, also include little baskets, decorative boxes, or book piles. Stack things in front of one another to add depth without keeping everything inaccessible.

The relaxed look appears to be posed, not messy, and redecorating is a temporary affair, as nothing is set in stone for good. These ledges are ideal in entryways to keep keys and mail, or in bedrooms for jewelry and toiletries.

Choose decorative boxes that complement your palette

Storage containers that complement or contrast with your color scheme or materials are now part of your look rather than eyesores you’re trying to conceal. A tower of linen-wrapped containers on a shelf appears thoughtful décor when they hold paper documents, art materials, or seasonal items in a neat manner.

Brass-accented wooden containers are heavy and resemble furniture. The trick is to use them as design elements that serve a purpose rather than merely as functional organizers, which you’re merely accepting.

Install ladder shelves for vertical storage

Leaning ladder shelves offer a range of surfaces of display space without the rigidity of wall-mounted shelves. Decorate them with a combination of decorative items and adorable storage containers—a plant at the end, books on the middle rungs, and baskets at the bottom.

The open structure keeps things from feeling heavy, and the slanted profile provides architectural flair. These are particularly useful in cramped areas where conventional bookcases feel too massive.

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Add storage benches to entrance spaces

Storage beneath a storage bench provides a place to sit and put on shoes, as well as a place to store them once you’ve removed them. Upholstered ones that have lift-top seats look more furniture-like than storage.

Others use cubbies below rather than covered storage, which works great with coordinating baskets or bins pushed into the niches. Either solution, the bench is used three ways: as seating, storage, and a decorative piece for your entryway.

Decorate open shelving with pretty containers

When shelving is visible, whatever you put on shelves is your decor, whether you like it or not. Swap out haphazard boxes and bags with coordinating glass containers, ceramic vessels, or wicker bins that are visually appealing and keep items together.

This trick actually works in the kitchen, where items within the pantry can be transformed into decor when stacked in the same style container. The coordination and consistency have a soothing effect that also happens to be extremely functional.

Use decorative trunks as accent tables

Old- or new-style storage chests or trunks serve as side tables or coffee tables, holding everything from excess linens to winter clothing. The trunk is a design statement in and of itself—featuring metal hardware and leather for an industrial-chic decor, painted wood for a cottage style, and woven elements for bohemian styles.

Pile a few smaller trunks for storage and elevation, employing them as sculpture that happens to be functional.

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Select furniture with inbuilt storage

Drawered tables, cabineted TV consoles, and storage-bed frames keep things organized out of the way. It’s there when you require it but completely hidden when you don’t, keeping surfaces clean and lines uncluttered.

It makes sense when you select furniture you would want even without storage as a feature; it is just an added benefit rather than the primary attraction that sacrifices appearance.

Display objects in glass-fronted cabinets

Storage doesn’t have to be hidden if what you are storing is attractive. Glass-fronted cabinets allow you to display collections of dishes, glassware, or books while keeping them dust-free.

The clean arrangement is a matter of interest rather than something to hide. This only works if you are actually neatly storing attractive things; a random mess behind glass just draws the eye to the mess and does not hide it.

Use tiered stands to display

Multi-level food stands also serve the purpose of bringing the frequently needed items together. A three-level stand in a bathroom vanity keeps toiletries arranged at various levels, so that all of them are visible and within reach without occupying much space.

At the office, such stands pull pens, paper clips, and sticky notes together, making it appear to be a done thing as opposed to a messy arrangement. Vertical positioning creates visual interest while utilizing surface area.

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Hang wall-mounted organizers in style

Rail systems with hooks and containers keep things off surfaces while creating a designed look on your wall. Choose systems in materials that complement your space—brass and leather for warmth, matte black for a modern edge, and painted wood for a casual vibe.

What goes on them matters just as much as the system itself. Hang items that look good displayed—kitchen utensils, small plants, keys on attractive keychains—rather than random junk.

Organize similar items into cohesive groups

A cluster of a few storage items of the same type or color is perceived as intentional design, not sloppy organization. Three identical fabric baskets on a shelf appear to be set up.

Five various plastic bins of jarring hues appear haphazardly. The repetition itself is visually soothing even when you’re storing diverse items.

The rule applies room by room—coordinate all your baskets in the living room, unify your bedroom boxes, and group your bathroom containers.

Stack storage to form dimension

Level planes with single storage are flat and wasteful of space. Nesting baskets or decorative containers stack to create depth and visual interest, making the best use of storage space.

Vary slightly in size so stacked objects form a visually interesting silhouette rather than a uniform tower. Dimensional quality gives storage a sense that it is part of your styling and not an afterthought, particularly if objects in your stack have complementary colors or textures.

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Storage makes spaces function and feel

The difference between a messy house and one that is organized is usually all about having nice places to store things. The more attractive the storage is, the more likely you are to leave it out, rather than having a mess accumulate on surfaces.

Those homes that tend to look most harmonious always have storage seamlessly integrated into their appearance—baskets that match the color scheme, ottomans that complement the furniture, and containers that support rather than conflict. Nice storage doesn’t look like storage. It just makes your room work nicer while seeming to be precisely where it should have been all along.