8 Clever Shelving Solutions for the Smallest of Spaces

Make Marie Kondo proud.

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Maybe it’s just one corner of your home that could be better utilized. Or maybe your whole space is smaller than small and clever storage solutions are a must to organize to the max. Sure, you could buy a bookshelf or wardrobe, but floor space is precious in small homes. You do not have room to give up 46 by 78 inches of invaluable real estate for some oak-stained storage unit—no matter how chic it is. Instead, invest in the ultimate solution: your walls. Vertical storage via shelves is the most incomparable space-saving tip. (Use your ceiling height to your advantage!) Here are eight solutions that will make going on the wall with your storage look very chic.

For Your Entryway

This slim-profile shelf (10 inches deep x 16 inches long) creates a charming hello for your entryway. Add a catchall on top for keys and wallets, and keep mail and magazines on the second shelf below for streamlined coming and going.

For All Your Beauty Products

If you think of yourself as a product connoisseur (ahem, hoarder), group everything together in one clever storage series. Stack these floating Lack shelves to mimic a Donald Judd moment. Nearly 12 inches deep, they’ll fit in even the narrowest of bathrooms.

For the Shelf That Doubles as Art

For those wanting a shelf that can be both storage and work of art, consider the Corolla from AC/AL Studio. It’s made of soldered steel wire and appears to defy logic with its curves, making this design a mesmerizing option for any room.

For Your Plants

Just because you’re short on storage space doesn’t mean you have to leave your greenery out of the mix. Quite the contrary, let it hang out—literally—on this bohemian macramé shelf. The mango wood platform can fit a handful of mini plants.

For Your Free Corners

To truly utilize every crevice of your home, try this corner shelf from the Scandinavian masters at Hay. Available in mint, nude, or gray, it’s a space-saving option that could pass for sculpture.

For the Bedroom

Traditionally, a shelf hides its brackets, which are then destined to a life of undetected servitude. But Ferm brings the bracket back into the spotlight with this powder-coated metal design. We love them for adding visual interest to an otherwise plain white wall.

For the Kitchen

If your cupboard storage is particularly tight in the kitchen, put your spices on display (and make them more accessible) with this magnetized rack, which can hold roughly five bottles. Or use it as your wellness rack, showcasing all those chic adaptogens, nootropics, and probiotics.

For the Minimalist

Want to get organized, Scandinavian-style? Turn to the brilliant Norway-based brand String, maker of the sleekest, most utilitarian shelving units. Not only do they look gorgeous, but they’re also highly functional.

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Kristin Limoges

Writer/Editor

Kristin can usually be found face, hair, and body masking simultaneously, while thinking-up clever DIYs for her small-space Chinatown apartment. She’s always on the search for the greatest and most life-changing beauty and wellness hacks (hello nootropics and adaptogens) and is happy to report she loves dogs and cats equally.

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