No matter how spacious your apartment, chances are, you could always use more storage. This is especially true during the holidays, when adding festive decorations feels right — until you’re left with nowhere to put ’em come January. Whether you’re moving into a Boston rental or an apartment in Nashville, TN, here are 10 surprising storage solutions to carve out more space for stuff in every room of your home.

Divide rooms strategically
Partitioning off an open floor plan might seem beside the point. But when you add shelves and cubbies, the right room divider can actually make a space feel bigger while also giving you more places to rein in clutter.

Kit out your coffee table
Coffee tables can quickly become catchalls for unopened mail, magazines, and other clutter. That’s why we love this DIY by A Beautiful Mess, with elegant compartments beneath a lift-up, translucent acrylic top. Such a cool way to show off colorful knickknacks while keeping them out of the way.

Boost your bed
Squeeze even more storage out of that prime space under the bed with an inexpensive set of bed risers. You’ll get a full 6 extra inches of height, enough room to stack up two layers of boxes if you play your cards right.

DIY a narrow pantry
While a wall-mounted spice rack works wonders in a small apartment kitchen, this DIY organizer on wheels by Classy Clutter is life-changing! If you have even a 6-inch gap between the fridge and the adjacent wall, you could swing this project and gain a ton of extra space for nonperishables. Roll it out when you need it and slide it back into place (and out of the way) when you’re done.

Exploit the ceiling
Perhaps the most underused space in any home is the closet ceiling, which is exactly where one clever homeowner found space to stow rolls of wrapping paper. A few carefully placed wires keep ’em corralled and out of view. This is a genius trick for the holiday season, of course, but we can picture similar suspended storage working for extra linens and handbags too.

Stack some boxes
Here’s a supersimple way from A Beautiful Mess to squeeze in extra storage in practically any nook, cranny, or corner: Cover small boxes (any size works) with patterned paper or fabric and stack them up. Inside, stash remotes, extra linens, shoes, sweaters, or basically anything you want to keep out of plain sight.

Build a breakfast nook
This deceptively simple breakfast nook designed by Arkin Tilt Architects (photo by Ed Caldwell) beautifully combines hidden storage with open shelving. Dishes and stemware go above the seats, silverware drawers pull out from the seat backs, and the benches flip up to reveal even more storage. If you can find (or build) a similar banquette to fit your apartment’s dining room or kitchen, you’ll be all set for storing culinary wares.
Stuff your stairs
From the “why didn’t we think of this?!” file, handy pullout drawers built into steps make the most of that often overlooked space under the staircase. It could be just the thing you need in a split-level rental (but even if you think your landlord will love the end result, get their signoff before hiring a carpenter).

Put up a pop-up
Does your building or rental home have outdoor or basement space? Take full advantage of it with a pop-up tent to house bikes, skis, or other sports equipment that might not fit inside. (Just be sure to clear it with your landlord before setting up.)

When in doubt, look up
Almost every apartment has vertical wall space prime for the taking. Whether you stack towels atop a wall-mounted cabinet or maximize the area above the toilet like My Fabuless Life, the possibilities for adding creative high-up storage are endless.

Original Article: http://www.trulia.com/blog/10-storage-solutions-to-gain-more-space/?ecampaign=con_wek_rentals_lifestyle_mk&eurl=www.trulia.com%2Fblog%2F10-storage-solutions-to-gain-more-space%2F

Author: Jill Russell

Many of us who have done some city living have been there: You’ve moved into a new apartment only to find that your upstairs stiletto-wearing neighbor (and her terrier, with the claws) like to stomp around after your bedtime or the hot dog man on the corner outside your window sings falsetto.
But before you start looking at new apartment, try these tips to combat how much your neighbors can hear and make your space as quiet as can be. We talked to interior designers, contractors, and real estate brokers for the best advice on how to soundproof a room and turn down the volume for your neighbors.
With that in mind, here’s some of the best advice we got.

​1. An empty apartment is a noisy apartment
This one’s a no-brainer: Filling up your space will help absorb sound. Placement can be strategic, so if the noise is coming from the folks next door who share a wall, Brianna Weymouth, interior designer and principal of Weymouth I+D suggests placing large items such as armoires, bookshelves, or dressers against said wall or hanging sound-absorbing wall hangings such as macramé, if that can fit into your style.
2. It’s all about the acoustics
The thought of lining a ceiling with acoustic tiles doesn’t scream style, but color architect Richard Prime tipped us off to the superhandsome Baux line. The Sweden-based brand makes panels and tiles, each in a variety of shapes, constructed from wood wool, cement, and water. Simple materials with a practical, pared-down design make for a beautiful way to line your walls in sound-canceling harmony.
Kyndra Georgeson, principal designer for Platinum Design Studio, recommends a similar product from Mio, which blends recycled paper and cardboard in acoustic tiles that look sleek and are also environmentally sound. “They’re great because you can paint them,” she says, “and take them with you when you go!”
3. Try out a magic carpet
Though it’s not a rule of law, some residential lease terms in noisy New York will add a clause requiring a certain percentage of carpeting in a unit to keep traveling sound (read: footsteps, pets, and completely bizarre and inexplicable nighttime activities) to a minimum. Whether or not you’re obligated by your lease, it’s a good rule of thumb to cushion those floors to soften the pitter-patter of paws and feet.
4. Add a window dressing
Windows are a big culprit when it comes to letting sound come and go. Georgeson and Weymouth both sing the praises of heavy drapes — especially, says Weymouth, in older homes that haven’t been properly made airtight or have lost their caulking. Georgeson recommends fabrics such as elegant heavy velvet or a more utilitarian duck cloth to maximize the insulation no matter what decor vibe you’re going for.
5. Ask your landlord for an upgrade
Getting to the root of the issue starts with the window itself. New windows can help keep energy costs low while also offering soundproofing and curb-appeal benefits.
Denver-based home repair company 5280 Exteriors specializes in home installations that will withstand the Colorado climate — and what blocks cold and snow can often translate to blocking outside noise. If your landlord is replacing your windows, co-founder and owner Mick Lindquist recommends laminated glass with a wider distance between panes (standard is ⅝ inch and superdeluxe options come in at 1 inch thick). But, he adds, windows have to be pretty crummy to be replaced, so if you’re getting new ones of any kind, you’ll probably notice a difference.
But all of these benefits might not matter to your budget-conscious landlord. So even if you’re not in a position to get new windows, there are still things you can do. “Noise can also get through around the outside of the window if the window is not properly sealed,” says Lindquist. “It’s best to use spray-foam insulation around windows to prevent sound (and air and water) from getting in. Caulking around the outside of the window can also help.” Just be sure tocheck your lease before tackling any repairs.
6. Don’t discount nighttime sleep aids
With the advent of smartphones comes an abundance plethora of ambient noise samples to choose from, whether you prefer a croaking frog in the rainforest or the din of white-noise static. Sound-canceling headphones work well on an airplane and in your living room during a neighbor’s monster-truck-rally binge-watch.
The cheapest solution? Earplugs. They’re right around the corner at the drugstore and can make all the difference when you need a good night’s sleep and you live near the railroad tracks.


Author: Kelly O'Reilly
Original Article: ​http://www.trulia.com/blog/how-to-soundproof-a-room/?ecampaign=con_wek_rentals_lifestyle_mk&eurl=www.trulia.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-soundproof-a-room%2F