The main thing to remember when designing your closet, pantry crawlspace or storage is organization. Staying organized will help you maximize your available space. Practicality is more important than esthetics when designing these spaces. You should consider proper shelving, flooring, and lighting when setting up these rooms.

Closets - Closets are an area in which you can become very creative. The first step is to asses the space you have to work with. If you have ample amount of space you can install built-in shelving and drawers. Whether you intend this closet to be for clothes or linens, built-in shelves and drawers are a wonderful addition to stay organized. The custom built shelves and drawers can be made out of anything from wood to metal, as long as the material you choose is durable it will do the job beautifully.

Lighting - Lighting is also an important factor. These spaces typically do not have windows, so installing ample amount of lighting to help find what you are looking for is necessary. Halogen lighting works best because it offers the cleanest lighting with energy efficiency performance. The placement of your lighting should be installed as an overhead fixture to utilize the light and prevent blocking. Also installing a light switch close to the entry door is useful and convenient.

Pantry - A pantry is generally a place you use to store non-perishable foods. It is usually a small closet or room right next to the kitchen. When considering shelving for this space, keep in mind to choose a material that is easy to clean. Also, look for shelving that allows you to see the most items as possible and to place items where it is most practical for you. For example, storing your small spice jars in high to reach space which you may overlook is not practical; instead, keep more frequently used items on easy to reach shelves at eye level. Again, use strong bright lighting here.

Crawlspace - A crawlspace is an area below your house that has a ceiling too low for a living space, but just high enough to use for storage. Crawl spaces are known to have moisture control issues because they are built in the ground. Mold and moisture damage is common in a crawl space. So to keep the moisture away from your storage items in this area, keep boxes and bags up off the ground. You can accomplish this by using low shelving found at any hardware store. Milk crates also work well because they are structured to avoid moisture damage when contacting the ground for long periods. You can also consider using concrete or cement as a foundation for your crawlspace to prevent moisture issues on the ground.

Storage is an important thing in any house. Because as life goes on, and it is inevitable that you will collect things that will need to be stored away for a part of the year. Keeping in mind proper shelving and lighting will help you to stay the most organized in these spaces. Remember this is not an area of your house you have to concern yourself with matching colors and flowing patterns, keep it practical and useful and you will be happy with these helpful spaces.