Ever wished that your house felt a little more open and spacious? One of the best ways to create space isn’t actually to create it at all – it’s all about removing clutter and clearing out excess in order to allow your home’s existing areas to shine. But depending on how much stuff you have, adding additional furniture to store your odds and ends may just change the look of the problem.
So how to uncomplicate your home’s organization situation? Enter the built-in. Built-in amenities have been a trendy home feature for years, from bookcases to drawers, and they’re a great option for salvaging the all-important openness of your home without sacrificing floor space for additional cabinets, wardrobes, and dressers. So today we’re taking a look at some clever built-in options that can blend into any room in your house and give you the space you need to celebrate your dream home.
Old Faithful: Built-in Bookshelves
One of the classic hallmarks of the built-in trend has always been shelving. It’s a time-tested fact that a wall of inset shelves can do wonders for the storage capacity and openness of any large room. And paired with contemporary design features and some tasteful décor, these new ledges don’t need to be all about function – they can be a great asset to the style and flair of your room, giving you a place to showcase artwork, trophies, collections of rare antiquities and more.
For an added bonus, consider using creative options like mirrored shelving – shelves with no “back” – to segregate functional spaces with an open floor plan. As an example, a sparingly decorated floor-to-ceiling mirrored shelving unit can make a great decorative asset when installed between the dining area and living area of a great room, without sacrificing the open sight-lines that made the space attractive in the first place.
Rock-a-bye Built-In
From the master bedroom to the guest room, built-in beds can be a great way to double down on the space of anyone’s quarters while creating a luxurious lift in the sleeping arrangements of the room’s inhabitant(s). Consider a built-in bed with drawers and shelves below – and perhaps to either side – in order to bolster the available storage without compromising on the size or positioning of your other furniture.
Consider Concealment
Do you have a bonus room, man cave, or family room that’s just begging to be home to a dry bar and entertainment area? Built-in ceiling-height panels can slide or swing to reveal the latest and greatest in TV or projection equipment, along with a fully stocked liquor cabinet and wine cooler. And when you’re done for the evening? You can simply close the panels, concealing the contents and restore the façade of a stylish wall.