Home Library and Reading Space Ideas Any Booklover Would Love

home library dark wood built-in cabinetry

In this increasingly tech-driven world, it may surprise you to learn that physical books still far outsell e-books.

50% of Canadian adults read or listened to at least one book in 2021, according to a BookNet Canada survey. Physical books were the format of choice for the vast majority of those readers.

Clearly, good ol’ fashioned paper books still have a place in the digital age.

Create a home library with form and function

Avid readers tend to own a large collection of already-read books that they hold onto for sentimental reasons and to loan to friends, as well as an ever-growing backlog of books they plan to read.  

Without a proper home library, it can be a challenge keeping large book collections organized. Most homeowners use storage systems like shelving and bookcases that are bought separately over the years as their book collection grows. Often, this variety of storage systems has a cobbled-together look that lacks any decorative cohesion and is more spread out in a room, instead of keeping the books in one place.

woman on ladder grabbing book off custom bookcase

The best solution to keep a large book collection more organized and also give your home a decorative boost is to create a home library featuring a custom built-in bookcase. And if you have the space, including a comfortable reading area where your books are kept is ultra-practical, too.

Do you envision a space where your books can be stored more efficiently and in stylish surroundings? And does having a cozy, quiet home space that lets you transport yourself to wherever the imaginations of your favourite authors takes you sound appealing? Then find out why you won’t regret your investment in a home library and reading space.

Aren’t home libraries outdated? No, and here’s why.

The concept of a home library nowadays may seem outdated to some, but lots of people don’t subscribe to the idea that their entire book collection should be stored on an iPad. Plenty of readers want their favourite books to occupy square footage in their home, not gigabytes of memory space on a tablet.

In fact, most readers prefer the tactile, more personal experience of holding a book, appreciating the cover art, turning the pages, placing and removing a bookmark, and that satisfying feeling when a completed book is closed for the final time. And no charging is required!

This Statista infographic, which unfortunately doesn’t include figures for Canada, shows how physical books continue to have enduring appeal around the world:

Research and infographic from Statista.

Another reason physical books still matter to people is the experience of book shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. Many music lovers (including myself) miss the unique anticipatory experience of visiting an HMV or Sam The Record Man store and leisurely browsing through the racks for the newest amazing CDs or records to add to our music libraries. Digitally shopping at the iTunes Store just ain’t the same in comparison.

The book shopping experience is very similar. For many bookworms, shopping in-person at an Indigo store or a favourite small bookstore and browsing their selection of titles is still an enjoyable, satisfying part of the book owning and reading experience.

And all of those physical books still being sold end up somewhere in people’s homes. So why not keep them somewhere that’s a cut above a cheap, self-assembled bookcase or in boxes or storage bins?

Avid readers and book collectors take their hobby seriously. It’s usually one of their main passions and a fundamental part of their daily life, so it only makes sense to store the things that give them so much joy with care.

The satisfying in-person book shopping experience is one of many reasons why physical books remain the medium’s dominant format.

Six more reasons to consider adding a home library

In addition to bookcases keeping a collection of books tidier, here are six more practical reasons to consider creating a home library:

  1. A custom-made built-in bookcase revamps the architecture of a room and transforms it into vastly different space.
  2. Bookcases allow your most cherished books to be displayed in an artful manner.
  3. A book-filled, personalized home library makes a room feel more lived-in.
  4. The books you own and display reflect your personality (as Walter Mosely wrote in his book The Long Fall, “A man’s bookcase will tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about him.”)
  5. An attractive bookcase can be a great conversation starter.
  6. Giving books a proper home is the best long-term storage solution to preserve them (as opposed to moving them around occasionally or storing them in less-than-deal conditions in a basement).

The benefits of keeping books in the home

It’s an age-old debate about whether or not it makes any sense to keep a book you’ve already read. Just like the e-book vs. physical book discussion, it’s all about someone’s preferences and taste.

book at bedside table

Ask anyone who chooses to hold onto most of the books they’ve read about why they do so and you’ll get a lot of different answers. Here are some of the reasons they might give:

  • Memorable books have deep, sentimental value.
  • Book collections add a sophisticated touch to a room and instantly make a statement that you’re literally a well-read person!
  • You can share an enjoyable literary experience with someone by gifting or loaning them books.
  • Just like paintings, drawings, and photographs, books are works of art that are equally worthy of displaying and being appreciated more than once.
  • Scientific research shows that book-filled homes have a positive impact on the academic development of kids.
  • The distinct smell of old books (which is caused by a book’s chemical compounds breaking down as it ages) provides a satisfying sensory experience.
  • The sight of rows of neatly organized books simply appeals to some people’s visual taste.

Some reading benefits you might not know

We’ve already listed a number of reasons reading and keeping books gives so many people pleasure. Reading has numerous positive health benefits you may be unaware of, too. Research has shown that reading regularly can:

  • reduce stress
  • help you sleep better
  • slow down age-related cognitive decline by keeping your brain more active and sharp
  • lessen the effects of depression
  • improve your ability to empathize with others
  • increase the likelihood of your kids adopting reading as one of their leisure activities

Invest in a custom bookcase for your home library

A new bookcase from Ikea or Amazon is where most people will turn when they’re looking for a home book storage solution. If you’re really serious about creating the perfect home library design, however, it’s worth it to spend a little more for a custom-made bookcase with a higher-end look.

It’s the bookcase, after all, that will define a home library space and commonly become the room’s focal point. No mass-produced, assemble-it-yourself bookcase product can match the quality of a customized cabinetry piece that is precisely designed, crafted, and professionally installed to fit your living space, storage needs, and design taste.

With a custom bookcase design, you’ll have infinitely more layout, finish, and style options to choose from to complement your décor. You’re not limited to just a few basic design options chosen by a large furniture manufacturer’s design team that are aimed at mass consumer appeal.

A bespoke home library bookcase can be designed to virtually any dimensions you want, whether it’s a large, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling size or something smaller. Customize the heights, widths, and depths of the shelving. Get creative and have your designer incorporate open spaces in specific areas so you can decorate with things like plants and candles. Add upper and/or lower cabinets if you desire.

Because a bookcase is holding a significant amount of weight, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship matters if you want the furniture piece to last a long time. Once again, a custom-built bookcase will be superior to the mass-produced products you’ll find from a big-box or online retailer.

home library bookcase

A custom-made bookcase is more attractive than a low-quality bookcase you assemble yourself. Built-in bookcases also look more like a part of a room’s architecture.

A built-in bookcase optimizes a room’s space

Built-in custom cabinetry is designed to make optimal use of a room’s space, which helps make the room feel bigger and provides a visually appealing architectural element.

Unlike a freestanding bookcase, a well-designed built-in bookcase looks more like a carefully considered part of a room’s architecture, not an afterthought.

By taking the existing architecture of a room into consideration in the design process, built-in cabinetry eliminates or reduces the amount of wasted space, particularly in awkward corners and nooks.

Compared to a freestanding, off-the-shelf bookcase product, this leaves you with more storage space for books and decorative items.

Choosing the right location for a home library

A home library can take on many different forms. If your book collection is large enough and you have the room, a home library can take up an entire room (typically a spare room).

Ideally, you’ll want to situate a library on the main or upper floor. Although the basement likely provides more privacy in your home (which is a significant consideration if you’re combining a home library with a reading space), its cooler temperatures and lack of natural light may feel too inhospitable.

Many home libraries work in tandem with a room’s other functions. Home offices are a natural fit for a paired library space. A home office bookcase can share space between your work-related books and the leisure reading books you own.

home office book library white built-in cabinetry

Maybe you have a home office, guest room, or hobby room that isn’t used regularly. Get more use out of them by adding a bookcase to maximize the room’s functionality. A wide hallway or a large stairway landing area are other areas you could potentially have a built-in bookcase or bookshelves installed. 

Limited home space? Create a book nook!

You don’t need an entire room or half of a room to create space to store books and even room to read. A book nook can be added in many areas of the home that are underutilized, specifically a small corner, recess, or alcove.

The corner of a large bedroom, home office, or any other room can be used. You could set up a small book storage and reading space around a window and have a comfortable built-in window seat added so you can enjoy your books in a cozy sunny setting.

Another option is to make better use of the space underneath a staircase, which is loaded with organizational and storage possibilities. Most staircases are near the front entryway, so remodelling this area with a book and reading nook is a great way to give the space a decorative upgrade.

home window seat and bookshelves

This built-in window seat provides a cozy home reading space. The flanking built-in bookshelves can be used for book storage and displaying decorative items.

Set up a cozy home reading space

According to a recent Indigo survey, Canadian adults spend an average of six hours per week reading as a leisure activity. If you’re in your happy place when you’re reading every day or just a few times per month, why not create a home space that is dedicated to one of your passions?

A home library and reading space that is set up for maximum comfort and minimal distractions will enhance your reading experience and inspire you to read more often. If possible, locate your reading area in a more secluded area of the home that is relatively quiet and private. 

You don’t need much space to set up a cozy reading area. It only requires room for a chair that is comfortable enough for those extended reading sessions, a lamp, a side table, and perhaps an ottoman if you like to stretch out while reading. If you enjoy mixing in listening to audiobooks or podcasts with your book reading, consider choosing a chair that can be reclined for more comfort.

Augment the room’s ambient and task lighting (which should be warm and soft) with accent lighting on the bookcase that showcases the beautiful cabinetry. Consider giving the room even more of a true library look by installing a rolling ladder for the bookcase. The ladder adds a sophisticated decorative touch and helpful functionality for accessing the upper bookshelves.

Decorate by styling your bookshelves

There are many ways to display a book collection. Sorting them by genre, author, or alphabetically makes the most sense from an organizational point of view.

Lots of people, however, like to get creative and prioritize giving their home library some extra visual appeal by storing their books in a variety of artful, interesting ways. Here are a few examples of how books can be playfully arranged to add visual interest to a room:

  • organize them by colour to create a rainbow look
  • arrange the books by height
  • display your favourite books by turning the covers outwards
  • mix in stacks of horizontally arranged books with your vertically stored books
  • display books with the spines turned inward (we don’t get it, but this understandably divisive trend is apparently a thing)

A home library’s bookcase shelves have more uses than just storing books. Bookshelf styling is an art all by itself and has become more popular in recent years. It allows you to create an infinite number of interesting looks by using decorative items like photos, plants, vases, candles, and other knick-knacks to express your decorating style.

home library bookcase

Bookshelf styling has become a popular way to decorate.

Create your bespoke home library and reading space

If that vision of having your own home library and reading space just won’t go away, there’s no time like the present to turn that dream into reality.

Organized Interiors specializes in providing beautifully designed custom cabinetry solutions for your home. Let’s collaborate on a bookcase design that is fully customized just for your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with one of our designers today.

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A Wall Bed With Desk: The Practical Study & Work From Home Solution

wall bed with desk hero

We’ve had to get more creative with how our condos and houses were used over the past couple of years.

Our homes have been not just a living space, but a fully-encompassing life space during the majority of that time. Most of us have done virtually everything in them including working, sleeping, relaxing, eating, exercising, entertaining ourselves, and socializing virtually.

Optimizing our homes for maximum functionality has taken on new importance. Furniture designs that saved space and offered more than one function – especially as everyone pivoted to studying and working from home – have been in higher demand.

A wall bed with desk setup turned out to be the perfect way for some families to study and work from home, without sacrificing too much functionality in one of their rooms.

What exactly is a wall bed with desk?

A wall bed with a desk comes in a couple of design styles. In this article, we’re mostly looking at the type that includes a wall bed with a side desk (and surrounding storage if desired) that is built-in to look like one large, integrated furniture piece.

The other type of wall bed with desk design is the kind that has the desk built right into the bed. The desk is attached to the bottom of the bed. When the bed is raised, the work surface is available to use. When the bed is lowered, the desk remains in a horizontal position and drops underneath the bed.

Depending on the manufacturer, the beds in both of these types of designs can be positioned horizontally or vertically. The biggest benefit of these beds is the significant amount of space they save in a room because they can be folded up into the wall during the daytime.

Some wall bed with desk models use genuine Murphy wall beds and hardware. The Murphy bed has stood the test of time since being introduced a little over a century ago. The highly respected “Murphy” name is as synonymous with wall beds as “Kleenex” is with facial tissues and as “Q-tip” is with cotton swabs.

Inventive furniture designers have improved on the classic, already-great Murphy wall bed concept by incorporating features in addition to built-in desks. You can even buy a wall bed that converts into a comfortable sofa!

A wall bed with desk saves space

Space-saving furniture designs have always been practical. When you’ve been confined to our homes for as much time as we have been during 2020 and 2021, our living spaces started to feel more and more cramped as each month passed. That’s made space-saving furniture even more practical and essential.

Built-in custom cabinetry like a Murphy wall bed and desk saves more space than freestanding store-bought furniture. It’s specifically built to the room’s dimensions, providing the highest level of space optimization.

Furniture like a wall bed with a desk is ideal for guest rooms, small bedrooms, condos, and any type of small living space.

Improve a room’s functionality

By making the most of a room’s space, you can upgrade its functionality and let one of your rooms work a little harder.

Wall beds are commonly used in guest rooms. Most of us only have guests stay overnight once or twice a year, however. Unless you live in a 30-room mansion and can afford to have one room in your home that will get used relatively infrequently, a single-purpose guest room may not be the most practical usage of your square footage.

A wall bed turns any room into a hospitable space in your home for guests in mere seconds. There’s no fussing around making up a rollaway bed, futon, or sofa bed that don’t provide a comfortable sleeping experience. Simply lower the bed from the wall and the fresh sheets put on the bed from the last time it was used make everything good to go.

For the vast majority of the time when the room isn’t hosting guests, it can be used as a home office and study space by having a desk included in the custom cabinetry design.

It’s a smart solution if you don’t have the square footage to dedicate an entire room for use as a home office and want to get everyday functionality from a spare room. Organized Interiors can design a highly functional home workstation that accommodates your family’s work and study needs.

bed pulled down and workspace

A wall bed with a side desk can be used in a guest room, bedroom, or small living space.

A dedicated workspace helps with productivity

Not having a stable work from home setup can hurt your productivity. It’s harder to focus and produce a good workflow when your work area is the dining room table one day and at the kitchen table the following day.

A permanent work setup with a proper desk, enough space, ample storage, and some privacy just may be your ticket back to better work productivity at home.

A wall bed with desk setup also creates a better study from home environment. Even if your kids resume in-class learning, a well-designed home study space provides them with an area that can be used for doing homework.

Triple-up on a room’s functionality

A spare room can do even more than function as a guest room with a home office, especially if it’s larger. Don’t just double-up on the room’s functionality by using it as a guest room and home office – triple-up!

Because a wall bed with desk takes up so little space, the room could be utilized in any number of additional useful ways. Here are a few ideas:

  • yoga room
  • exercise space
  • reading room
  • home library
  • music room
  • home entertainment room

The integrated furniture design featuring a wall bed and desk can be customized to include lots of surrounding open and closed storage for things like office supplies, bedding, books, and personal items.

Instead of a traditional wall bed, you could add a dual-purpose wall bed with a sofa and include a small entertainment centre in the room. Now you have the perfect home space to work, relax, and rest!

wall bed lowered

This room features a home office and sofa that converts into a wall bed.

The multi-purpose room provides the perfect space to work, relax, and rest.

4 drawbacks of a wall bed with a built-in desk

Wall beds with a built-in desk undeniably save space. They do have a few notable limitations, however. Here are some of them:

1. A small work area

The concept of a built-in desk and wall bed combo sounds great in theory, but take a look at any photos of them and you’ll immediately see one of their most glaring limitations – they have a very small work surface.

The tiny work area of a built-in desk consists of a single flat surface. There’s little surface space for a computer, printer, scanner, papers, office supplies, a desk lamp, and snacks and drinks. Forget about personalizing the desk with things like photos or plants.

2. A lack of storage and overall functionality

You’re not getting anything close to the “fully functional desk” that you’re being promised with virtually any desk that’s part of a wall bed. The furniture’s design simply can’t accommodate it.

The only functionality provided with a built-in desk is whatever you can do on the bare-bones work surface. We’d call that pretty one-dimensional.

There are no desk drawers and you can’t store things above the desk in overhead cabinets or on shelving. Extra storage would have to be added to the side of the bed/desk.

The wall bed’s bottom provides the backing of the desk and has a faux front that looks like cabinetry. The handles, which look like they’re meant to open cabinet doors, actually work as pulls to lower the bed.

3. Impracticality

One of the selling points of some bed/desk models is that you don’t even have to remove anything from the desk surface when you lower the bed. That’s because the desk stays in a horizontal position just off the floor below the lowered bed.

When you read the fine print on some product descriptions, however, they can say things like the lowered desk can’t have items taller than four inches left on it. With a clearance that low, you’d be forced to use a laptop instead of a desktop computer and have to be regularly clearing things off the desk when your workday is done (like you’re right back at the kitchen or dining room table).

Some furniture retailers even boast that you can leave a cup of coffee or glass of water on the desk when the bed is lowered. We’ll take a pass on drinking from either of them the next day, thanks.

4. Low weight capacities

The basic nature of built-in desks means they usually have fairly low weight capacities. Some models we looked at online had a weight limit of just 20 lbs. This is another example of the lack of practicality of using a built-in desk for a home workspace.

Be especially leery of buying add-on desk kits that can be attached to standard wall beds. They’ll likely underperform in the weight limit category for your workspace as well.

guest room with office

Even a small work setup like this is more practical and functional than what you’ll get from a wall bed with a built-in desk.

Get your home workspace design started

Talk to Organized Interiors about upgrading your home’s functionality with a custom-designed Murphy wall bed with desk and surrounding storage.

Our wall bed designs use genuine Murphy bed hardware for its superior quality and ease of use. The hardware is backed by a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Schedule a free consultation with us to start planning the design for your space for studying or working from home.

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3 Savvy Condo Storage Ideas Worth Stealing for Your Home

Condo living has its benefits. Things like not having to mow a lawn, living in the heart of the city, and being able to easily access amenities such as a gym or pool in your building are convenient and practical.

One area where condos present a challenge, however, is space. Living space. Private space. And storage space, of course.

A lack of condo storage space is becoming an even bigger problem when you look at the shrinking sizes of Toronto condos.

Some new 3-bedroom condos in Toronto range anywhere from 740 square feet to 825 square feet. The average size of new condos and apartments in Toronto is only 647 square feet.

That’s well down from the average of 1,070 square feet for new condo and apartment developments built in the city between 1981 and 1990.

condo storage ideas hero

The condo owner loved their bed and wanted us to build storage around it.

We got creative with these condo storage ideas

A condo storage locker can only hold so many things. So how can you do more with your condo storage space when the unit you live in has a much smaller scale than a house?

It turns out there’s plenty you can do.

Join us on a walkthrough of a project we did in a modern Toronto condo, with solutions in a variety of areas.

You’ll see different looks and styles for different rooms. In the end, all of these condo storage ideas and designs work together in harmony to create a home design that is elegant and practical. Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration for your own home.

All three areas of the home feature different colours, different hardware, and even different lines in the cabinet designs, but everything works well in the space.

This was a new condo location for the client, but the approach we took can also work nicely for you if you live in a house, whether it’s new or you’ve lived there for many years.

Use dual-purpose furniture in smaller living spaces

Finding space for enough condo bedroom storage may be one of the biggest tests for anyone new to condo living.

Using dual-purpose furniture to consolidate tasks is the way to go, which is what we did with this remodel.

The main showpiece in the condo remodel was the bedroom piece pictured in the top photo. In this case, the clients had a wonderful bed already and the task was to create a storage solution that went around it and worked with it.

This type of custom bedroom cabinetry is sometimes referred to as a bed surround. Beds that just have drawers for storage below the mattress without storage incorporated into the sides and top of the furniture are also known as storage beds and captains beds.

A space for storage, sleeping, and work

Our designer, Christopher, came up with a concept that looks great. It provides a useful condo storage solution, as well as a space for sleeping and working.

To the left of the bed, we built a tall, narrow cabinet for enclosed storage. The base of it protrudes and acts as a night table, so there’s a convenient space for a book, an alarm clock, a cell phone, etc.

On the right-hand side, a desk was created for a work space. It’s open at the bottom for more legroom and has convenient cubby hole storage space directly above it.

Across the top and bridging the two sides, we built a series of creative open and enclosed storage spaces. Using this design allows the client to use the appropriate space to either display things or conceal items they may not want to be left out in the open, such as extra bedding.

cabinetry condo storage ideas

Open and closed storage and display spaces above the bed give the condo owner more storage versatility.

Keeping things bright and light, we built the bulk of the structure using white melamine and added exterior trims and facing with a high-gloss white finish, giving the piece a popular, modern touch.

White melamine was also used for the closet peeking through the door to the right of the bed

The framed glass doors may look like aluminum, but they’re actually board and framed using a thermo laminate called Stainless. The doors then had the same white laminated glass we use for our sliding doors inserted for a great look.

For hardware, we used the ever-popular “towel bar” style of handle in stainless steel. We added a pair of LED puck lights above the sleeping area to provide more light for reading in bed.

undercabinet lighting above bed

Elevated undercabinet lighting provides reading light for the bed.

Built-in storage for the den

In addition to the work in the bedroom, we also designed and installed built-in cabinetry for the den.

This solution is a wall unit for general storage and the design required drawer storage for smaller, loose items that don’t stay put as well on the shelves.

To preserve the clean, vertical lines of the doors, we placed the drawers behind them so they’re hidden. The drawer boxes are the same size as they otherwise would be, but without the addition of a face or extra handles.

cabinet condo storage ideas

This built-in wall unit has hidden drawers to preserve the clean, vertical lines of the doors.

On the outside, you can see a series of flat doors with consistent handles. Inside, however, it varies.

This cabinet was built using melamine in Cayenne Maple. You might have thought that a crown moulding doesn’t go with flat fronts, but as you can see here, it works quite nicely and finishes off the cabinet.

open wall unit with drawer pulled out

Hidden, easy-to-access drawers keep things well-organized.

Condo storage for the dining room

The last of the condo storage ideas we looked at for the project involved the dining room. We designed and installed a simple built-in cabinet here. This cabinet features a combination of solid doors for concealed storage, as well as doors with clear glass inserts for display.

Again, we added LED lighting to the cabinet for illuminating their display items and further used glass for the shelves so that the light can pass through.

This cabinet was built using a combination of melamine and thermo laminates in Chocolate Pear, with shaker-style solid doors.

dining room cabinet

This built-in dining room cabinet has a simple design, but still adds a stylish, elegant aesthetic to the condo.

Customize your condo storage

Even a small or modestly-sized living space can be designed for comfort and optimal storage efficiency.

Blending traditional design details with fresh, modern lines is always exciting and effective and we can help implement these condo storage ideas in your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with Organized Interiors to discuss what condo storage solutions can work best in your living space.

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This Tiny Space Is Carefully Customized For Comfort

All Brian Care cared about was having a home base in Canada that was comfortable and maintenance-free.

Brian’s occupation as a designer involves international travel that can have him away from home for months at a time.

tiny space living room

Owning a condo or house wasn’t practical, considering how little time Brian would get to spend in his home during the year. Brian didn’t need much space, nor did he want much. A tiny space was all he required.

Brian shared a home with good friends for many years. When they moved, they made sure that a dedicated space was available for him. On the lower level of their new house, Brian was offered an area that was just shy of 274 square feet.

What Brian needed for his tiny space

Brian’s tiny space just had to be functional and include certain essential components that made it feel like home.

With the help of Organized Interiors design consultant Micheline Young, the two embarked on transforming an unfinished space in a new townhouse into a safe, comfortable place for him to land each year.

The finished space had to accommodate Brian when he came back to Canada for a few months, which included making space for his most cherished possessions.

Downsizing for a small living space

To start with, Brian had to get rid of a lifetime of possessions. Large, antique, pine furniture pieces went to friends. He pared back his wardrobe to just the basics.

“I sorted everything and didn’t bring anything that I questioned about ever needing or using again,” says Brian.

“At some point, I came to realize that if I was to put anything in storage, I might as well get rid of it. I’ll never remember where it is or never bother to pull it out again. It was actually very liberating.”

small pine bench coffee table

Brian decided to keep some mirrors, a pine bench, a chaise, and an easy chair.

Bringing Brian’s design to life

From day one, creating the tiny space design was a collaborative effort. “Since Brian is a designer, he was able to convey his ideas very clearly,” says Micheline. “My job as a designer for Organized Interiors was to interpret his thoughts into reality.”

Lots of sketches of possible layouts were drawn up before exact measurements helped to determine the best possible options.

custom bathroom cabinetry

Custom bathroom cabinetry provides all the room needed for storing toiletries and supplies.

“Often, architects and designers don’t know how a space needs to function for a client,” says Brian. “Functionality was the key to creating a totally livable and workable space under 274 square feet.”

Good communication was key

For much of the project, Brian was in Mexico and he and Micheline connected on a regular basis.

“Not knowing the engineering aspects of custom cabinetry, it was really helpful to have Micheline troubleshoot,” says Brian. “Communicating with her was easy and I always felt that she had my best interests at heart.”

There were lots of back-and-forth emails, many site visits, and numerous changes, according to Micheline.

One example of adjustments that were made involved a wardrobe. A standard wardrobe is 24 inches in depth, but the placement of the pot lights was 22 inches from the back wall. Micheline was able to alter its positioning to solve this dilemma.

She was also able to size the drawer depths and cabinets to Brian’s specifications to accommodate specific items.

Getting the kitchen space ready

Brian pre-ordered a refrigerator and a sink so that they had the tangible items and measurements to work around.

Panels were added, adjustments were made, and unexpected solutions actually provided more space in the food prep area.

tiny kitchen space

He got rid of his blender and food processor and bought a Magic Bullet®, which does both functions and takes up little space.

kitchen sink and induction stove top

Brian uses a single induction cooktop, which also saves space and slides out of the way easily. A combination microwave/convection/broiler/air fryer oven covers the rest of Brian’s cooking needs.

Customizing the storage cabinetry for a small living space

The custom overhead cabinets were perfect for storing items that weren’t required on a daily basis.

Baskets and wooden boxes were included in open spaces above the bed and under the television for easy access.

custom overhead-cabinetry

“The advantage of custom cabinetry is that you can customize each piece for what you want it to contain,” says Brian.

Refining the tiny living space’s décor and lighting

New rugs were purchased to complement the furniture that Brian decided to keep. He only kept photos and mementos that he couldn’t bear to part with.

Instead of a backsplash in the kitchen, he plans to incorporate cherished pottery pieces.

Remote-controlled downlights were added above the bed, as well as on the cabinets to light Brian’s workspace at night.

remote-controlled lighting and upper builtin cabinets

Remote-controlled downlights and upper cabinets above the bed keep the small space functional.

Because Brian chose to limit his wardrobe to a black palette, he needed excellent lighting in his closet. As Brian says, “Nothing looks good under poor lighting.”

The finished space is really comfortable and cozy, according to Brian. “Everything has its place. My things fit perfectly into the cabinetry. I couldn’t be more pleased with the overall functionality and how it all turned out.”

5 crucial tiny space custom design considerations

Brian’s experience with Organized Interiors taught him that there are five things anyone looking at having a tiny living space designed should consider:

  1. Design: When working with a knowledgeable designer, a plan will naturally evolve, and ultimately reflect the client’s tendencies towards a specific style.
  2. Function: When dealing with limited square footage, consider how a space is to be used and adapt all design sensibilities towards that outcome.
  3. Materials: When choosing materials and finishes, considerations like functionality, cost, availability, and personal preferences will all come into play. Assess all pros and cons before making a final decision.
  4. Plumbing and electricity: It’s ideal to work with your existing infrastructure. If your utilities aren’t conducive to your design plan or add to the aesthetics of the overall space, it’s best to have them modified by a professional.
  5. Trust your designer: Brian’s last piece of advice is, “Carefully choose your professionals. Check references and reviews. Be open to suggestions. Be clear about your expectations. Be patient and be appreciative.”

Get started on your tiny space design

Just like Brian, Canadians are increasingly embracing small space living.

Brian is happy he worked with Organized Interiors on his tiny space design and you’ll love what we can do for you, too.

From concept to completion, we can reconfigure your tiny space for maximum efficiency. Schedule a free design consultation with us.

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A Storage Bed Has It All: Comfort, Functionality & Style!

Storage bed with bedroom cabinetry

What if you could instantly gain more valuable storage space in your bedroom that was easily accessible?

And what if the solution to finding more bedroom storage space lay directly below the spot where you lie down every night?

The solution we’re talking about is a storage bed – the bedroom storage solution that is hiding in plain sight.

A bed with storage goes beyond being just a useful dual-purpose piece of furniture that provides a comfortable space to sleep and additional room to store items. It becomes a triple-purpose asset in the bedroom. That’s because modern storage bed designs update a room’s look with stylish décor.

Why the storage bed concept makes so much sense

A bed is the single largest object in most bedrooms. Therefore, taking advantage of the space it occupies for an extra task is very practical.

Queen-sized mattresses are the most popular size for a bed and take up about 32 square feet.

You won’t gain a full 32 square feet of extra storage space with a queen-sized storage bed, mind you. Some of that square footage will be lost when you factor in the space taken up by the bed’s design (including the bed and drawer frames). Regardless, that still leaves a lot of handy storage space you can make use of.

Not only can more bedroom storage space lighten the load of your closet, you’ll also have more room to stash those assorted items that end up on dressers, side tables, or the floor.

By incorporating surrounding built-in cabinetry pieces into the bed’s design (such as bedside tables or wardrobe closets), your bedroom’s storage capabilities can expand even further.

Let’s dig a little deeper into why a storage bed makes a great addition to any bedroom.

How comfortable is a storage bed?

The idea of having drawers underneath your sleeping surface may have you asking one question: how comfortable is a storage bed?

Instead of a box spring, storage beds (which are also known as platform beds and captains beds) have a support system made from slats or solid panels. The mattress sits on this support system and the drawers are located below the supports.

The biggest factor that determines the comfort level of a bed is the mattress. As long as you have a supportive mattress that feels comfortable, you’ll still get a satisfying sleeping experience on a storage bed.

bed surround storage

Storage beds have a support system made from slats or solid panels that is just as comfortable to sleep on as a box spring.

What’s the best way to use the bed drawer storage space?

A bed with storage is ideal for storing a wide variety of items. If your closet is bursting, you can get some relief by moving some of your less frequently worn things to the bed drawers. You might even be able to get rid of a dresser altogether by moving everything to your underbed storage space.

Items like comforters, extra pillows, pillowcases, and other linens are perfect for storing beneath a bed. Out-of-season clothing can also be kept in the drawers to ease the burden on your closets. Shoes and toys are also ideal for underbed storage.

Not everything going into a bed drawer has to fit into the “not often used” category. Your everyday clothes can be stored there. If you don’t have or want a night table, the drawers can hold items you’d like to be easily accessible, such as books, magazines, or a tablet.

Update your bedroom’s décor

Most people use their bed frames for many years. Mattresses will usually get replaced several times before a new bed is purchased.

Old bed frames might clash with any decorative upgrades you’ve done over the years simply by looking, well, old.

Because the bed is the focal point in a bedroom, updating its look with a more contemporary design can give a room a welcome décor refresh.

There are different design approaches you can take. One is to have your bed designed to complement your existing décor. Another approach is to go with a bolder design that makes the bed stand out as an accent furniture piece.

One reason to have a custom cabinetry specialist like Organized Interiors handle your storage bed’s design is that you’ll have many options to choose the finishes, trims, and types of decorative hardware you want.

Add more storage and functionality around your bed

Your bedroom furniture can have even more of an impact on the room’s look by building surrounding cabinetry around the bed.

Side tables, wardrobe closets, overhead cabinets, open shelving above the headboard, and a desk can all be incorporated into a custom bed’s design. Overhead reading lights or LED accent lighting can be included as well.

These additional furniture pieces add even more storage and functionality to the room. And because everything is being designed and manufactured at once, each piece of built-in furniture integrates seamlessly with one another and has a clean, consistent look.

bed surround cabinetry

Everything from storage cabinets to a wardrobe closet to a desk can be incorporated into a storage bed’s design.

Free up more bedroom space for other things

Here’s another reason that built-in bed storage is so practical – it allows you to save space in the bedroom for other things.

Using the space under a bed more efficiently can eliminate the need for a dresser, wardrobe, or storage bins as a supplemental storage space for your closet. That makes it perfect for small bedrooms or bedrooms where you want to have space for a:

Keep your bedroom cleaner

We’ve established that a bed with built-in storage helps you get more storage space in a bedroom.

That’s important because having too much clutter in a bedroom can negatively impact your sleep quality. Studies have shown that excess clutter in a space slows down our ability to focus.

Cluttered office spaces contribute to less productivity. Messy bedrooms have a similar effect on our brains. Both consciously and subconsciously, too much clutter registers in our brain as something that will eventually need to be dealt with. That can make it harder to get a good night’s sleep.

Another benefit of not having a large open space below your bed is that it leaves less space for dust to collect. How often does the area under most beds get a thorough cleaning? Not often enough, we’d guess.

Replacing that open space with drawers will keep your belongings cleaner, give you less floor space to vacuum, and eliminate those nasty dust bunnies that lower the air quality in your bedroom.

The benefits of bed storage drawers

The open space underneath beds is commonly filled up with rollout underbed storage containers made with plastic or fabric. Bed storage boxes and baskets are also often used, as are vacuum-sealed clothing storage bags.

Proper bed storage drawers are a much better option than these cheap underbed storage products (and certainly better than stashing loose items that don’t have a home below the bed).

If you’re planning to buy a bed with storage, make sure that the drawers are mounted on tracks. Cheaper beds advertise that they have drawers, but they may be “loose” drawers that only roll on the floor. Talk about a bait and switch!

Storage bed drawers typically open on either side or at the foot of the bed (or a combination of both). Another reason to buy a made-to-order bed is that it can be customized to fit your space and needs.

For example, if you wanted to have the bed up against a wall, it can be designed to have extra deep drawers that open on only one side. Other drawer dimensions like the width and height can also be customized.

open storage bed drawer

Storage bed drawers are better than using rollout underbed storage containers. Your belongings are more accessible…and there’s no dust bunnies, either!

A storage bed will transform your bedroom

A bed with storage underneath gives you everything you could want from a furniture piece: convenient functionality, visual appeal, and comfort.

Hopefully, the storage bed ideas presented here have shown you that storage beds aren’t just for kids. Anyone can always use more storage space in the bedroom, regardless of their age.

Here’s a testimonial left on HomeStars by one of our satisfied customers who ordered custom bedroom cabinetry:

Bedroom cabinets HomeStars review

Just as this client did, transform your bedroom with our storage bed designs that are customized to suit all of your needs.

And don’t worry about the hassle of assembling and installing your bed. Organized Interiors takes care of your entire project, from the initial design consultation right through to the installation.

Schedule your free design consultation and we’ll contact you shortly to begin crafting a plan to help you get more out of your bedroom space.

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