5 Creative Ways to Maximize Space with Custom Carpentry

Custom carpentry maximizes your space while enhancing the beauty of your home, adding value to it. It usually involves woodwork designs that are too complicated to DIY, requiring the handiwork of professional craftsmen. Whether DIY or hiring a pro, getting creative in maximizing your space at home is essential. Here are some custom carpentry ideas you might need for your home:

1. Built-in bookshelves and storage nooks for living rooms

Built-in bookshelves and storage nooks are versatile and fit into any living room style. They add to your home’s aesthetic appeal and functionality. Adding built-in bookshelves to your home will reduce clutter in your living space. Instead of piling up your books everywhere you want to read, you can stay organized with built-in bookshelves and storage nooks. Books displayed on a built-in bookshelf can add beauty and character to your living room, showcasing your best interests. Storage nooks are small dedicated spaces designed as hidden storage or display areas, adding charm to your home while serving functional purposes. Storage nooks offer storage solutions while adding a unique design element to your home.

Built-in bookshelves and storage nooks can be done DIY or by hiring a contractor. Whether you plan to pull off the project solo or hire a pro, follow these steps to maximize the beauty of your living room by adding built-in bookshelves and storage nooks:

a. Understand your living room space.

When you determine the purpose of your living room, it is easier to decide on the placement and design of the built-in bookshelf and storage nook.

b. Decide on its placement.

When choosing the location where to install your built-in bookshelf and storage nook, consider the room’s layout and overall aesthetic. Its placement, whether full-wall coverage, upper-wall only, or half-wall installations, significantly affects the living room’s beauty and functionality. 

c. Define the ambiance you want to create.

 What atmosphere do you want to create in your living room? Describe your vision for the built-in bookshelves and storage nooks of your dreams. Suppose you want a cozy modern look or a vintage-style living space. In that case, detailed framing for your built-in bookshelf and storage nook can be customized to create the ambiance you want.

d. Choose the right materials.

Wood is generally the best choice for built-in bookshelves and storage nooks due to its unique versatility. Hardwood plywood or engineered wood are the most common wooden materials used since they are more affordable than solid wood. Consider choosing the right color and texture of your material to match your living room style; offering added warmth and character to your living space.

e. Plan the details.

Plan how to highlight decorative items in your built-in bookshelf and the items you want to organize in your storage nook. Incorporate details, such as lighting, handles, and hinges, in your built-in bookshelf or storage nook to uniquely complement your living room style and increase its functional space. 

2. Custom kitchen cabinets to optimize small spaces

Custom cabinets are great solutions for tackling clutter in your kitchen space. They offer a level of personalization tailored to fit your needs, boosting your kitchen’s functionality and storage. Customizing your cabinets is especially crucial in small kitchens, where maximizing storage and functionality is key. Here are some custom kitchen cabinet ideas to help you optimize your kitchen space:

a. Floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets

A tall storage cabinet from floor to ceiling maximizes vertical space, providing storage without sacrificing valuable floor space in your kitchen. It is commonly used for storing less frequently used items, such as extra utensils, holiday dishes, or large pots. Keep the lower shelves and drawers reserved for items you frequently use for easier access.

Fig. 1. Floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinets in Tennessee home

b. Built-in alcove

Built-in alcoves go well with petite kitchen designs. Stylish alcoves help improve the function of your kitchen while also creating depth and character in the space. Built-in shelves on the sides of a stove alcove make cooking easier by keeping common items within reach. They maximize counter space and frame the work area. 

Fig. 2. Built-in stove alcove for a kitchen remodel by Modern Handymen & Remodel

c. Open shelving

 You can level up your kitchen walls by installing a stylish storage zone for dishware, cookbooks, pantry ingredients, and more. You can also add hooks along the bottom of the open shelves where you can hang mugs or utensils. This creates the illusion of more space, making your kitchen look larger and open.

d. Fold-away shelving

Fold-away shelves offer ample open-air storage for everyday essentials in your kitchen. They are easier to tuck away when not in use, offering versatile storage options. This creates an unrestricted workspace in your small kitchen.

e. Pullout shelves or drawers

Incorporate custom features into your kitchen cabinet spaces by adding pull-out drawers and shelves to utilize awkward cabinet spaces. Its main goal is to add cabinet functionality without clutter in your kitchen.

3. Multipurpose furniture: Desks that double as shelving units

As furniture takes up significant space in every home, each piece of furniture should balance style and practicality. Custom carpentry allows multipurpose furniture design, such as desks, which also serve as shelves. When floor space is limited, shelving can be integrated into your desk to create a workspace while benefiting from practical storage space. This multipurpose desk can be uniquely designed to suit your style and available space while allowing easy access to your organized workspace needs for a more productive environment.

4. Closet organizers and shoe racks for efficient storage

Shoe racks efficiently use vertical space by storing a maximum number of pairs while taking up as little as one square foot of floor space. Stash your favorite footwear out of the way but still within easy reach, storing the most frequently used shoes on the lower decks. With customized shoe racks, you can avoid piling up shoes in front and back doors, hallways, or other conspicuous spaces. Shoe racks can be freestanding, hanging, under-bed, or revolving type. While these racks are for shoes, organizers can be customized for closet spaces to store items such as socks, underwear, belts, accessories, and many more. Keep your closet tidy and accessible with a customized design to fit your closet spaces. In small home spaces, shoe racks and closet organizers can significantly reduce clutter while adding value to your home.

Fig. 3. Vertical racks in Tennessee home by Modern Handymen & Remodel

5. Under-stair storage solutions for unused spaces

 The often unused space beneath the lower end of your staircase can be used as storage by adding drawers, closets, cabinets, and shelves. It’s a clever storage that showcases your creative home style while maximizing the functionality of every available space in your home. Here are some recommended designs for under-stairs storage solutions:

a. Custom Shelving

b. Kitchen Cabinets

c. Coat Closet

d. Pantry Closet

e. Wine Stash

f. Shoe Rack

g. Utility Closet for Tools

h. Pull-out Fabric Bins

Custom carpentry reflects your unique style while optimizing space and increasing the functionality of your space. It contributes to your home’s overall appeal and resale value. Hiring a pro for your personalized designs for your space is key to a high-quality, precise, and efficient masterpiece for your home. Modern Handymen & Remodel is a team of skillful and creative craftsmen with an eye for detail that will help you achieve your dream custom-made designs. Call 615-200-8071 and let us bring your vision to life—talk to our carpentry experts today!