DIY Small Space Storage For Narrow Spaces

Most of you know that my family and I move very frequently, and we live in a lot of lovely but temporary housing.  So, everytime we move, I have to figure out temporary storage solutions for our temporary housing, and that can get expensive. So, I’ve started DIY’ing my storage solutions.  Today, I’m sharing my DIY small space storage for narrow spaces. Specifically, I created this solution for our pantry.  It’s just a little larger than 6 inches wide, only slightly wider than a box of cereal.

This project took about an hour. I completed the smaller two boxes during my son’s naptime, and I finished the third box during the kids’ lunch. So, if you have small storage spaces or need some ideas for your narrow storage space, keep reading.  Here are the supplies I used.

Supplies

I used the following supplies to create these narrow space storage.

1. one old narrow box and one large box.
2. clear packing tape (totally didn’t make the picture)
3. box cutter
4. measuring tape
5. pen
6. contact paper (I had patterned contact paper at home already.)

Step 1.  Measure Your Boxes To Size

So, for the first two smaller storage boxes, I had an old narrow box.  It was the perfect depth for my little pantry off the kitchen.  I had 6.25 inches of depth to work with and my box was 4 inches deep. So, to make two boxes, I just measured the height of the box (not including the top and bottom flaps). It was 8 inches tall. So, I made two 4-inch tall boxes. Yes, I could have just made one taller storage box, but I didn’t want to be wasteful. So two small space storage boxes for my narrow space, it is.

Step 2. Cut The Boxes

Now that you know what size to cut your boxes, you need to go ahead and cut them.  It’s a bit scary but just do it. If you screw it up, find a new box.

Pause: This is what your boxes should look like

Woot Woot! These will be your small space storage boxes for narrow spaces. But we still have work to do.  So, let’s get back to work.

Step 3. Cut your contact paper or wrapping paper.

Ok, so here’s my honest transparent moment. I’m not a big fan of measurements. It takes too long and I can generally eye-ball things faster. So, my contact paper has that great little grid on the back.  So, what I laid the contact paper upside down (grid up) on my box, and I marked where to cut the paper for each part of my box.  That’s it.  It wasn’t complicated and it wasn’t a bunch of measurements.  I just eye-balled it. Now whether you measure or eye-ball, it’s up to you.

Step 4. Wrap your box with the contact paper (or wrapping paper)

So, my contact paper is amazing. You just peel and stick. I did not line up the patterns. I just tried to keep the paper bubbles off of my project. So, just peel and smooth.

Step 5. Reassemble Your Box

You may have noticed that up to this point, my box is flat.  Now it’s time to stand the box up and tape down the bottom to make an actual storage box. Just take your clear packing tape and run piece of tape from one side of the box to the other, taping down the box seam.

Step 6.  Close the contact paper seams

Once the contact paper is on the box and you’ve assembled the box again, you’ll notice that you probably have a little overhang on your storage box.  Take your clear packing tape and just bend that paper over the lip of the box and seal with tape.  Repeat this step for all four sides.

Finally, look inside of the box and tape the bottom of the box so that the flaps lay flat. No one will see it, but it’s the type of thing that irks me. So, if it would bother you, make sure to tape the bottom of the box.

Enjoy Your Narrow Space Storage Box.

So, sure, you could buy a storage box but when you move as much as we do or if you’re into reusing and recycling, this is a great fast little project organize your small space. Take a look at my before and after photos.

Before

I had a chaotic mess constantly made worse because our fuse box is directly behind this closet.

After

My little pantry is actually helpful. It makes sense and I can move everything quickly to access the fuse box if need be.

 

Creating a DIY project for this little problem was the best idea. Having a narrow space in a home is one thing, but when you move often or if you’re living in a temporary residence, you just need a quick cheap solution.  Solving this narrow space storage issue made my week!  I hope my little project helps you conquer your small space narrow storage space dilemma.