Sometimes a house just doesn’t seem to have enough space.  Sometimes the people living in that home just need it to function differently.   It’s at times like these that a little bit of creative thinking comes in handy.  You may just need to think outside the box.  Or maybe think of the box in a different way.

We all know that closets are necessary for storage.  However, that closet may just be the extra room your house needs.  Occasionally, sacrificing storage for space might be just what your family craves.

My challenge to you, then, is to rethink the closet.

 

Example 1:  The house we previously lived in was located in the Northeast.  Anyone familiar with the area knows that having a mudroom is almost a necessity in that area of the country.  Long wet winters, followed by warm wet springs create mud and a lot of it.  Our little house was lacking a mudroom.  And boy, did we need one.  The answer to our dilemma came in the form of a rarely used closet located just inside the back door.

 

We created a mini-mudroom out of that closet by removing the door, framing it out, adding a built in bench with shoe storage beneath, and hooks for hanging coats.  That mini-mudroom was much more useful to our family than that closet ever could have been.

 

 

 

 

Example 2: With the increase of the work-from-home population, home offices are a much needed commodity.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated home office.  But converting a closet into an office is easier than you might think.

 

Again, start by removing the door(s).  Then add in a work surface.  Your surface need not be built in.  It can be a table you create with filing cabinets and a piece of MDF, or a small desk that happens to fit inside.  Just make sure to outfit your space with file storage (pretty boxes can do the trick), a comfortable chair, and extra lighting (even a lamp will do).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example 3: Sometimes kids (or grown-ups) just need a place to escape and read.  A small walk-in closet works well for this outside-the-box use.  In the case of the closet pictured, the children’s clothing remained, as did a small dresser.  All that was needed to convert this closet to a perfect study area was the addition of a small school desk and chair.

The next time you are feeling pressed for space, try looking at your closets with a different set of eyes.  By thinking outside the box, you may just find that the room you need is right there after all.