Alternatives to Cupboards

Kitchen cupboards are nice, but it always seems that there is not enough cupboard space. If you don't have cupboards, or you need more space than what your present cupboards provide, there are a few ideas you can apply that will provide the needed storage space and still look attractive.

One great idea is to build a set of shelves on the wall of a spare bedroom. You can cover the shelves with matching curtains, which will help to hide whatever is on the shelves and prevent the room from feeling like a storage room. If you are tight on apartment space, this is a great way to expand storage—just put the shelves in your master bedroom and add the curtains to camouflage the unit.

If you have a room that is a bit longer than normal, you could consider putting the shelves at the far end of the room and then place a set of Japanese paper screens in front of the shelves. They can be easily removed when you need to access the items stored on the shelves, and they look very attractive when extended and placed in front of the shelves.

Depending on the size of the room where you install the shelves, some people have had great success with installing a set of inexpensive bamboo or wooden roll-up blinds in front of the shelves. The blinds can be installed on the ceiling, just in front of the shelves. Purchase the right length, and the blinds will go to the floor and completely hide the shelves. When you need to access the shelves, just pull the draw string to raise the blinds.

The idea is that you can easily add additional storage space for those kitchen items that won't fit in your existing cupboards. You can use easy decorating ideas (curtains, blinds, or a screen) to camouflage the shelving and add to the decor of your living space.