Some ideas for storage that promise to add a zing to small homes.

Not all of us are lucky enough to live in sprawling houses with abundant storage space. City life comes with its limitations and closet space is a major challenge. For those of us living in small apartments and tiny rental pads, keeping clothes, cosmetics and other knick-knacks organised is an everyday nightmare. We are not suggesting you cut down or stop hoarding (we know how much you love those scarves, belts and bags) but there are clever ways to put them away neatly so that you don't have to rummage through a pile of stuff when you need something.
If you do not have ceiling to floor built-in cupboards, don't fret. While you may still need a basic cupboard or two for your essentials, turn to baskets and boxes for all else, especially stoles, leggings, toys and jewellery - things one never seems to have enough of.
If you thought baskets were boring, think again.  Today, you have a plethora of options to choose from without compromising on aesthetics as they come in beautiful shapes, colours and materials such as cane, wicker, reed, straw, woolen crochet and woven fabrics.
Baskets and boxes are not only functional, they also add a zing to any corner of your house. While bigger baskets stand out on their own, small baskets and boxes can be creatively lined up on a wall shelf.  Yes, storage boxes do make decor statements.
Lifestyle stores such as Home Centre and Westside have plenty of baskets and boxes to choose from. You can also check out crafts fairs in your city for more variety (look out for Chettinad baskets and baskets made from wild river grass and banana fibre.). Similar looking boxes can be labelled for easy access. You can always tuck them under the cot when not in use.
Online stores such as Zansaar, Fabfurnish and Pepperfry and retailers such as Fab India have an interesting array of wall brackets and shelves made from mango wood, MDF and wrought iron. You do not necessarily have to fill them up with curios and accents alone. Stock your perfume and body lotion bottles in them to give your bedroom or powder room the much needed verve. These wall brackets can even take books, toys and stationery. How about using a ladder to hang extra bath towels?
If your cot does not have storage underneath to store home linen, grandma's old trunk box will do the trick.
Antique heirlooms are not only useful to hide extra pillows and blankets, but they can also multi-task as coffee tables and extra seating. Just pep it up with a bright coat of paint, metallic embellishments or tiles.
The kitchen is another space which always seems it can do with more storage space. But not everything has to be neatly arranged behind modular kitchen doors. So don't hide those beautiful copper pans and pots. Instead, hang them on hooks and rods for everyone to admire. You could even fashion a peg board with hooks to display coffee mugs and ladles.
Bring out your stylish bags and colorful jholas from the closet. Display them proudly on knobs and hooks again. Hooks today come in different materials such as iron, ceramic and wood. Pick from Kya Cheez Hai's quirky over-the-door hooks or animal hooks from Infonauts to bring in a dose of kitsch and humour to your Plain Jane walls.
If you still want to invest in wardrobes but do not want to burn a hole in your pockets, collapsible hanging organisers and foldable wardrobes (check out online retailers for good deals) are smart space saving options. Made of canvas or non-woven fabrics, they may not look as great as wooden fixtures, but they are not bulky (hence can be moved around easily) and serve your storage needs adequately.
Final tip: If you are building a house, make sure you take advantage of areas such as bay windows and staircases to accommodate storage spaces.
Wall brackets can take books, toys and stationary, use a ladder for extra bath towels and hang your pots and pans on hooks and rods