You do not want to cram every inch of your home with shelves and cupboards, but you will probably need more storage space than you have. If you want to keep your living space clear and uncluttered. Make the best possible use of wasted corners and unexplored angles, by investing in custom cabinetry.

What does your custom cabinetry need to house? At the very least, it will include clothes, shoes and a minimum of tableware and kitchen gadgets. On top of that you will have books, CDs, videos and any number of other personal possessions. Some more important than others, and some needing more regular access than others. Photographs and letters are precious but you will not need to get at them too often, so they can be hidden away in closed storage. While everyday tableware needs to be near at hand and easy to retrieve and replace.

Where to look

The first place to look is anywhere that provides a ready-made recess, as these slots can be fitted with custom-made cabinets without robbing the room of any useful space. Alcoves on either side of a chimney breast can be transformed into fitted bookcases, custom-made cupboards or fitted wardrobes and are deep enough to take chunky equipment like televisions, music systems. Shallower alcoves are perfect for fitted bookcases for books and CDs. Fireplaces themselves are useful spaces: if the fireplace is no longer functioning, or you are happy to forgo the idea of an open fire. You can remove the fittings and reline the space to provide a deep, practical recess.

It is up to you to decide whether you leave these storage spaces open or front them with cupboard doors. Doors can give the room a neater, more streamlined finish by continuing the line of the wall.

Remember the prioritizing process you went through earlier. You may have to make sacrifices to create effective storage for the things that really matter to you.

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