Theresa Cho on 'Stack 'em Space Savers'

Whether living at home, an apartment, or the dorms—space is limited. From watching some of my favorite shows on HGTV, I’ve learned thrifty tricks to maximize space on a tight budget.

Bathroom tower, right. Etagere, left.

Bathroom “towers”

These are approximately 12” (length of basket) x 4” (width of basket) x 24” (height of unit). These bathroom towers easily fit onto countertops, dressers, desks…etc. They are super versatile because they come in a variety of finishes which look great in a variety of spaces! Additionally, some are made to fit right into corners (see Figure 1, below). These bathroom “towers” build up—saving you coveted surface area. Approximately $30. I purchased mine from Target.

Figure 1: Bathroom tower on right (corner model). Ètagére on left, above commode.

Figure 2: Bathroom tower used in my bedroom and features a different finish from the one in Figure 1.

Bathroom tower in bedroom.

Wooden Cubbies

Wooden cubbies above dresser.

Mine are approximately 36” x 12” x 36”, are easy to put together, and super cheap! Everything I needed to assemble the unit was provided. I would say these units work best for lighter items than heavy textbooks. However, if you fix yours to a wall (with the provided bracket) it may be able to support heavier items. I purchased mine at Fred Meyer for under $40, and it serves me extremely well as an extra dresser.

Figure 3: Wooden cubbies above my dresser.

Wire Cubbies

Wire cubbies

These are about the same dimensions as the wooden cubbies but are slightly larger. The process of putting these together is easy—but takes strength. Each side needs to be pushed into a corner which can be difficult especially, if you create one similar to the photo I’ve provided. These are more expensive and less stable than the wooden cubbies in bullet two. As you can see, I store my stock of unused binders in these wire cubbies due to stability issues with this unit. Additionally, if you plan on storing clothing in these units, the wires tend to snag onto fibers.

Figure 4: Wire cubbies.

Toilet Ètagére / Over the toilet space saver

These are super helpful for all my toiletries! It fits right behind my porcelain throne. Make sure to measure the height and width of and space behind your commode before shopping for an étagére. Also note the placement of the cross beams on the étagére you want to purchase because hoses on your commode may impede a proper fit. These vary in price from $17-$100. I would just shop around. I found mine on Craigslist for $20.

For more information about any of the stack em’ space savers above, do an internet search of the unit names I’ve provided. It will be a good place to start. Good luck, and thrifty space-saving!