We tend to have a complicated relationship with vertical space. Kids beg for bunk beds and then want them un-bunked. We want big houses on small lots but discover stairs aren't the best for young ones and older folks.

Have you looked into a closet, refrigerator, or cabinet and thought—there’s no room? The floor or shelf is covered with stuff so it appears full.

What you might be missing is the space hiding in plain sight. The space between the stuff and the next shelf or the ceiling above it. The space on the wall or behind a door. We undervalue our vertical space.

These Timely Tips highlight the versatile value of vertical space.

Timely Tips for vertical space

ADJUST YOUR SHELVES
If you're seeing a large gap between the stuff on your shelf and the shelf above it, adjust it.

Keep the space you need to comfortably retrieve and put back items and then close the gap by moving the next shelf down.
More shelves will be within reach as they are adjusted downward.
If you end up with a large gap at the top, add another shelf.

FREE-STANDING SHELVES
If your cabinet shelves don’t adjust, close the gap by adding free-standing shelf organizers.

Some are stackable.
Some expand for wide cabinets.
Great for kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, closets, etc.
Double the usable space without stacking items on top of each other.

MAXIMIZE STANDARD CLOSETS
If your current bedroom closet has one shelf above one rod, and a professional closet redo isn’t in the budget, maximize the vertical space.

Add an adjustable closet hanging rod that hooks to the current one to create two levels for hanging clothes.
Insert a tall narrow (second-hand) chest of drawers or shelving unit.
Install a DIY closet organizer system as pictured.

SHOE RACK
Use the vertical space between your clothes and the floor.

Place your shoes, purses, etc. on shoe racks, leaving the floor for its intended purpose--walking and standing.

MAGAZINE HOLDERS
Many items stored horizontally can be transferred to a magazine holder to maximize vertical space.

Attached one to the inside of a kitchen cabinet or pantry door to store plastic wrap, tin foil, wax paper, etc.
Corral small to medium size cutting boards.
Use them in your pantry for a breathable, space-saving way to store potatoes and onions.
Place one under the bathroom sink for curling irons and wands.
Choose an acrylic or decorative magazine holder to store extra school supplies like notebooks, and kids' papers and artwork that come home from school.

WALL MOUNT FILE HOLDER

Clear your horizontal surfaces--kitchen counter, table, and desk.
Place bills, invitations, menus, calendars, and other mail in folders and place them in wall mounted file holders.

BATHROOM STORAGE

Tall narrow cabinets or over-the-toilet units for bathroom supplies.
Wall mount acrylic holders for everyday items normally stored on the countertop.
Two-tier under sink drawers for lotions, sprays, etc.

WALL MOUNT SPICE RACK
Use the space behind a cabinet door, pantry door, or wall to store spices, sauces, and seasoning packs.

OVER THE DOOR POCKET ORGANIZER
Your imagination is the limit for what you can store behind a door when you hang an over the door pocket organizer. More than just shoes!