storage solutions Archives - Behind Closed Doors

Design Trend: Murphy Beds

Wall beds, or Murphy Beds, are not a new trend. In fact, they’ve been around for over a century! But they’ve recently made a resurgence in home design and for good reason—they’re the ultimate space-saving solution. Here are the top reasons we think you should add one to your home!

They make a room multi-functional

We love a dual purpose room, and Murphy Beds are the perfect way to make a space serve double duty. Why dedicate an entire room to guests who you only host a few times a year when you can add a Murphy Bed to your office, craft room or sun porch that tucks away when not in use? The most popular room to incorporate a Murphy Bed into is the home office. With the rise of working from home post-Covid, home offices are getting much more use. As these spaces become more coveted, they’re taking precedence over dedicated guest rooms. Hence why adding a Murphy Bed to the space just makes plain sense!

They’re stylish

The recent re-popularity of Murphy Beds has brought with it an increased focus on style, resulting in products that are far more attractive than wall beds of the past! Many of the units include built-in shelving and storage, which is especially fitting for a home office setting. There are also several options for how they operate—pull down (cabinet) or pull out (drawer). Either way, these beds will make a stylish addition to any room in your house!

They help de-clutter

There’s nothing more satisfying than a well organized home! Having things put away gives tremendous peace of mind. So the idea of being able to tuck away a bed that’s not in use is extremely gratifying. One less bed to keep made and straight—until you need it that is!

If you’re re-evaluating how well your primary residence or second home functions, contact us today to learn more about our wall bed options!

Five Questions to Ask Yourself when Redesigning your Bathroom

Like kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations can be intimidating. They involve plumbing and considerations about water-tolerant materials—lots of things that can cause headaches if not done right. And they’re one of the most used spaces in your house so you want to make sure the products you choose can hold up to constant use. So you might be asking yourself, where do I begin? Of course, we’re happy to help! Here are five questions to ask yourself before you start your bathroom renovation.

Can I work within the existing footprint?

If you feel like your footprint is large enough to accommodate everything you envision, then the next step is to plan out the design and fixtures. You’ll want to figure out if the current layout works for your new vision or if you need to rework the plumbing to accommodate a new location for the shower, sink or toilet. If your footprint isn’t large enough to accommodate your new vision, then you’ll need to figure out how to pick up extra space for your design and should consult a contractor.

Double or single vanity?

The size of your vanity will have a large impact on your renovation. For master bathrooms or shared children’s bathrooms, we recommend a double vanity for convenience. For powder rooms or bathrooms that don’t get daily use, a single vanity is the way to go! As an extension, you should think about whether you like the look of an undermount bathroom sink or one that sits atop the vanity.

How much tile do I want to use?

While some people opt for tile in the shower only, others like the look of tile on the floors and walls as well. If you’re pairing two tiles together, we recommend using different sizes—so maybe a larger floor tile with a smaller sized wall tile. Of course, you don’t have to use any tile if that’s not your preferred look. There are tons of water-resistant flooring and wall treatments that work well in bathrooms.

Do I need a shower or just a tub?

This is another question that will greatly impact the design of your space. A lot of people are currently opting for separate standing tubs and showers in their master bathrooms, which is a really nice look. It’s also a look that ages with you, as you don’t have to worry about climbing over a tub edge when showering.

How can I create enough storage?

Be sure to think about what you currently store in your bathroom and what (if any) additional items you’d like to store there. If you feel like your current bathroom has sufficient storage, then you’re basically just replacing what you have but making it prettier. If you don’t feel like your current bathroom has enough storage, then think about how much more you’ll need. You can create storage in the vanity cabinets and shelving.

Now that you’ve asked yourself the right questions, it’s time to contact us to talk about your cabinet and storage needs!

Our Favorite Space-Saving Solutions

If you’re anything like us, you’re constantly reevaluating how your home storage can work better for you! There’s nothing more satisfying than a high-functioning home, and you can’t get there without talking about storage. Enter our Top Five space-saving solutions for your home!

Murphy Beds

The best way to make a spare room multifunctional is to add a Murphy bed for out-of-town guests. This space-saving wall bed is one of the hottest trends in home design right now and for good reason. It’s an extremely cost-effective way to make the most of your space.

Garage Systems

Whether you’re looking to store taller items like rakes and ladders or smaller items like tools and nails, track and rail systems are a great choice! The best part? They’re interchangeable so they can evolve as your life (and stuff) does.

High and Low Vertical Space

Be sure to take full advantage of high and low storage opportunities in your closets, pantry, garage, kitchen and laundry room. Take your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling to maximize your high vertical space. Down low, think about custom drawers that can fit under beds for increased storage or baskets and bins that can fit under console tables and bookshelves add additional storage.

Optimizing Closet Space

The best way to optimize your closet space is with a custom closet design. This will allow you to make every inch of your space work the way you need it to! Some of our must-haves include an island to store jewelry and accessories—as well as functional add-ons like a laundry hamper and fold-out ironing board—and a mixture of open shelving, drawers, and cabinets.

Dual-purpose Rooms

We’re all about maximizing functionality at Behind Closed Doors, which is why we’re big fans of dual-purpose rooms. Why have a laundry room AND a mudroom when you can combine the two? Why dedicate an entire room to guests who only visit a few times a year when you can add a Murphy Bed to a home office? Dual-purpose rooms are one of our absolute favorite ways to maximize space in your home.

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Are you ready to make your home storage work for you? Contact us today!

How to Design a Closet that Will Age with You

One of the most important questions we ask clients during our closet design discussions is whether they’re in their forever home or their for-now home. You might be thinking, “Why does that matter? A closet’s a closet.” But we feel strongly that if you’re going to spend the money on a custom closet, it should be an investment that stands the test of time. Enter our top five tips for designing a closet that will age with you!

1. Make sure all of your clothes and accessories fit into the space.

While you may not mind transitioning out your wardrobe seasonally right now, as you get older, you’re going to want to simplify things. So it’s important to design a space that can store all of your clothes and accessories for all seasons. You may still want to move your winter clothes to the back of the closet when spring comes, but at least you won’t have to move them to a completely different space.

2. Incorporate pull-down closet rods.

Regardless of your age, we think pull-down closet rods are an upgrade everyone should add to their closet design. Why not make your clothes easier to reach? But if you’re designing an age in place closet, pull-down closet rods are an absolutely necessity to ensure you can safely reach your clothes as you get older. Issues with balance or the addition of a walker or wheelchair to your everyday routine can greatly affect how high you’re able to reach down the road.

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3. Opt for more open shelving versus doors and drawers.

Keeping your belongings in view means you don’t have to fumble through drawers and cabinets to find what you’re looking for—helping you to expedite your getting ready process. It also alleviates a lot of unnecessary stress associated with time spent looking for an item that you “know you put right here.” We’ve all been there, regardless of our age! If you prefer to keep more of your belongings behind closed doors for aesthetic purposes, think about adding pull-out drawers instead. They’ll solve the problem just as easily!

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4. Make sure you have sufficient lighting.

If you have the ability to add a window into your closet design, we highly recommend it. Natural lighting trumps artificial lighting every time! Not only does it give you a more authentic view of your wardrobe colors but it makes the space so much more cheery. Regardless of whether you’re able to add a window or not, you do not want to skimp on the lighting when designing an age in place closet. Skip the decorative lighting and instead opt for recessed lighting in the ceiling, ribbon lighting above closet rods, and recessed puck lighting so you can actually see what’s on your shelves and in your cabinets.

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5. Don’t forget to add seating.

Again, a no-brainer for any closet, but one that’s instrumental if you’re designing an age in place closet. Benches, ottomans, and small upholstered chairs are all great options to give you a comfortable place to sit when putting on your socks, shoes, and accessories.

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Learn more about our custom closet design process on our Services page.

Design Trend: Dual-Purpose Rooms

At Behind Closed Doors we’re all about maximizing functionality, which is why we’re big fans of dual-purpose rooms. Why have a laundry room AND a mudroom when you can combine the two? Why dedicate an entire room to guests who only visit a few times a year when you can add a Murphy Bed to a home office? As the preeminent leader in storage solutions in Coastal Maryland and Delaware, we offer tons of creative solutions to take advantage of one of the hottest trends in home design right now: dual-purpose rooms. See our top tips below to start making the most of every room in your home!

Laundry + Mudrooms

Typically located off the garage or a side entrance, lots of people are opting for a combined laundry and mudroom rather than dedicating a separate space to each. If you think about it, it makes sense. Both rooms require similar materials—durable, water-resistant flooring and cabinet or cubby storage—and both serve as a dumping place (whether it be dirty clothes in the laundry room or jackets, shoes, backpacks, etc., in the mudroom). When combining the two rooms, most clients opt for a combination of cabinets, cubbies, lockers, hooks, and benches to accommodate all those dropped items and to store all your typical laundry room necessities.

Office + Guest Room

This one is a no-brainer. Home offices were once a neglected, sterile space used only sparingly, but they’re now a worthwhile addition thanks to the increase of people working from home part or full-time. As home offices become more coveted, it only makes sense to double up these spaces as guest rooms with the help of a Murphy Bed. The great thing about wall beds is they’re the ultimate space-saving solution. When not in use, they fold back and out of the way. Plus the lines we carry are so much more attractive than the Murphy Beds of past!

Closet + Bathroom

There’s something so luxurious about a master bathroom that flows into a master closet. We love when clients choose to blend these spaces together for a smooth transition throughout the master suite. It gives you easy access to all the things you need while getting ready—clothes, shoes, accessories, hair products, makeup, and more! And it makes you feel like you have your own little apartment inside your house. Who wouldn’t love that?!

Are you planning a new home build or renovation? Let us help make the most of every room in your house! Contact us today to get started!

Is Your Garage Summer-Ready?

Summer means surfboards, kayaks and fishing gear; bikes, coolers and golf clubs—all of the things that can clutter up your garage if you don’t have proper storage. Enter our innovative and attractive space-saving solutions that will turn your cluttered garage into an organized paradise! Not only are our garage cabinets and storage solutions attractive, but our material options are specifically engineered to withstand moisture and heat to protect against the coastal climate of the Delaware and Maryland beaches. As the leader in custom cabinetry and storage solutions in the area, here are our top tips for planning your garage makeover!

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

One of the biggest drawbacks of standing shelves is that they fail to capitalize on vertical space. Our garage cabinets and storage systems can be customized to the height you need so that you aren’t wasting valuable space up high!

Utilize Track and Rail Systems

Coat Your Floors

We highly recommend coating your garage floors so that they stand the test of time. Epoxy finishes are popular, but we recommend a polyaspartic floor coating. It’s super resilient and makes your garage floor look better longer.

Think Outside the Garage

Don’t forget to plan for extras like refrigerators and freezers—things you may not necessarily need but that are great for overflow from inside. They can help expedite all your summer necessities—popsicles for the kids and whatever your beverage of choice is for adults!

Let’s start planning storage solutions for your garage today! Learn more.

Design Trend: Murphy Beds

Five Questions to Ask Yourself when Redesigning your Bathroom

Our Favorite Space-Saving Solutions

How to Design a Closet that Will Age with You

Design Trend: Dual-Purpose Rooms

Is Your Garage Summer-Ready?

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