5 no-drill storage ideas for rental properties

Is there such a thing as too much storage? We don’t think so. When there’s a dedicated place for all of life’s accoutrements, a home will feel more orderly and calm.   

Adding extra storage to where you live – especially if it’s a rental property – doesn’t mean completing a complex DIY exercise. There are several no-drill options that will give you extra places to stash and store. Here are 5 easy fix, no-drill swaps:-  

1. Swap fitted wardrobes for hanging organisers: is your passion for fashion creating a ‘floordrobe’ – a situation where garments are on the floor as there’s no room left in the wardrobe? If you can relate, but acknowledge you can’t add fitted wardrobes to your bedroom, invest in some hanging organisers. These fabric compartments fix over the existing rail and drop down vertically to maximise any free space, practically doubling the quantity of clothes that can be stored.  

2. Swap floating shelves for suction mounts: floating shelves look amazing but their design means drilling deep into the wall for stability. If you need to add more shelf storage, the solution can lie in suction mounts. You can add small shelves, caddies and containers to smooth areas, such as glass, mirror or tile, by firmly pressing the suction cup to the surface. Simply pull gently on the cup to break the seal to remove or even reposition.

3. Swap towel rails for self-adhesive hooks: the technology behind self-adhesive pads has come on leaps and bounds, with products that are super tacky but can be removed without damaging the wall or leaving a residue. Self-adhesive hooks are a fantastic alternative to a towel rail that’s fixed permanently to the wall, with the capacity to hold up even the biggest bath sheet.

4. Swap built-in furniture for ottomans: built-in furniture is very much in fashion (social media is overrun with Ikea hacks for turning flatpack into fitted marvels) but drilling, nailing, sticking and fixing is frequently off limits for tenants. Ottomans, as well as storage footstools, sofas and beds are great double-function items that have the advantage of being portable, so they can be moved from home to home.  

5. Swap shoe racks for over-the-door organisers: wall mounted shoe racks make sense in a hallway or bedroom, as they keep the floor free of trainers, sandals, stilettos and slingbacks but the fixings required will leave you reaching for the drill. A great alternative is an over-the-door organiser – either made of fabric with a number of pockets to slip shoes into, or something more rigid that takes the form of horizontal bars. Over-the-door organisers usually use hooks that slip over the top of the door, so no screws are needed. 

If you are running out of storage space and are considering a move to a bigger property, get in touch. We can supply a list of available properties in your local area.