35 Killer Ways to Use Your Empty Vertical Space | HuffPost Life

You probably don't even realize how much untapped vertical space you've got in your home and garden. All of that space can be used to add more storage, style or sophistication to your home! It's time to take on those unused walls and corners, with some amazing DIY ideas.

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You probably don't even realize how much untapped vertical space you've got in your home and garden. Think about those empty corners, the space above your stove or toilet, the exterior walls behind your flower beds, even the half-an-inch behind your furniture -- all of that space can be used to add more storage, style, or sophistication to your home! It's time to take on those unused walls and corners, with some amazing DIY ideas:

1. Organize your jewelry on an empty wall

Project via Vidya @What's Ur Home Story

See the full post here.

2. Add storage space behind your desk

Project via Thea @Time with Thea

See the full post here.

3. Fill an empty corner with a colorful gallery wall

Project via Jamie @C.R.A.F.T.

See the full post here.

4. Make your own hanging plant pockets

Project via Shelley @Sow & Dipity

See the full post here.

5. Turn a slanted surface into one huge decoration

Project via Angela @Blue i Style

See the full post here.

6. Save counter space with hanging spice racks

Project via Jodi @The Glittered Barn LLC

See the full post here.

7. Prop a door against an exterior wall for some dreamy outdoor lighting

Project via Kristi @Chatfield Court

See the full post here.

8. Bring some old ladders into your flower beds to add height and interest

Project via Carlene @Organized Clutter

See the full post here.

9. Add a row of wooden bins to your bathroom wall

Project via Lindsay @My Creative Days

See the full post here.

10. Hang huge decorative words in your kitchen

Project via Lisa @Concord Cottage

See the full post here.

11. Use an empty hallway corner to store sports gear

Project via Brittany @Pretty Handy Girl

See the full post here.

12. Put a cookbook rack on the side of your kitchen cabinets

Project via Jennifer @White Tulip Designs

See the full post here.

13. Utilize the space behind cabinet doors to stow cutting boards

Project via Nikki @Tikkido

See the full post here.

14. Use an old tray as a wall-mounted file box

Project via Becky @The Logbook

See the full post here.

15. Hang a chalkboard hall tree to add storage and a spot for notes

Project via Evey @Evey's Creations

See the full post here.

16. Stack appliances on top of crates or boxes, to slip in some extra storage

Project via Carol and Randi @FrugElegance

See the full post here.

17. Fill empty space with a cute organizer, like this memo ironing board

Project via Shannon @Shabby Paints

See the full post here.

18. Add a chalkboard wall to an unused corner

Project via Kathy @Vintage, Paint and More...

See the full post here.

19. Hang a vertical to-do list

Project via Kim @Hunt & Host

See the full post here.

20. Make a garage organizer by hanging IKEA units and pegboard

Project via Melissa @A Prudent Life

See the full post here.

21. Spray paint empty frames to fill a boring wall with easy art

Project via Kim @Exquisitely Unremarkable

See the full post here.

22. Build a slanted shelf to store paint bottles on the wall

Project via Jeanie @Create & Babble

See the full post here.

23. Dress up the side of your closet with a display

Project via Rita @Panoply

See the full post here.

24. Store fabric in a filing cabinet instead of big plastic bins

Project via Larissa @Prodigal Pieces

See the full post here.

25. Turn an abandoned drawer into a hanging organizer

Project via Stacy @Anastasia Vintage

See the full post here.

26. Cover your exterior walls in climbing vertical gardens

Project via Carrie @Making Lemonade

See the full post here.

27. Keep toy cars on shallow picture ledges

Project via Megan @C'mon, Get Crafty!

See the full post here.

28. Use the front on your fridge to hold magnetic spice shakers

Project via Jessica @Mom 4 Real

See the full post here.

29. Store purses against the back wall in your closet using hanging rods

Project via Ashley @Design Build Love

See the full post here.

30. Give your plain walls a paint-chip inspired ombre makeover

Project via Jamie @C.R.A.F.T.

See the full post here.

31. Turn a vintage crate into the perfect spice storage rack

Project via Karen @Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

See the full post here.

32. Put up a full-sized pegboard wall to tame garage clutter

Project via Angie @Postcards from the Ridge

See the full post here.

33. Assemble a thin makeshift shelf to squeeze storage into a tight bathroom

Project via Donna @Funky Junk Interiors

See the full post here.

34. Hang trim along your closet walls to hold hard-to-stow heels

Project via Stephanie @Sandpaper & Glue

See the full post here.

35. Fill the awkward space above your cabinets with stylish storage boxes

Project via Isabelle @Engineer Your Space

See the full post here.

For more amazing ways to fill that empty vertical space in your home and garden, check out our Vertical Space page here.

Also on HuffPost:

99 Cheap Decorating Ideas

Start With Clutter (01 of50)

Clear clutter and get organized. It's the first step to achieving a beautiful home.

Look At Expenses (02 of50)

When decorating, set a budget and stick to it.

Focus On Your Floor (03 of50)

Vacuuming and washing the floors of your home may not be the most pleasurable way to decorate, but we guarantee it will make your home sparkle.

Clear The Dust (04 of50)

Getting rid of that film of dust coating your existing home appliances and furniture will help to breathe new life into tired spaces.

Get Extra Eyes (05 of50)

Sometimes all you need is an extra set of eyes to gain some perspective about how to redecorate a room. When you’ve been living in a space for a long time, sometimes simple things can remain obscured. Get a friend, whose taste you admire, to lend a critical eye and a helping hand.

Move Things Around (06 of50)

Move decor items to different places around a room or to a different room altogether. Rotating your existing décor accessories will help breathe new life into rooms without spending a dime.

Hello, Sunshine! (07 of50)

Let the sun shine in. Give your home a new outlook by washing your windows both inside and out.

Have A Plan(08 of50)

Concentrate your redecorating attention on one room or area in the house at a time.

Fix A Musty Basement (09 of50)

Place odour sponges or volcano rocks in musty basements to absorb unpleasant smells.

You Don't Have All The Time In The World (10 of50)

Set a time limit. This way you can avoid going over budget by limiting the time you spend redecorating.

Create A Focal Point (11 of50)

Create a focal point in a room. It can be a singular item displayed proudly or a collection of items grouped together.

Groups Of Three (12 of50)

Work with odd number groupings when decorating ledges and mantles. Combine objects of varying heights and leave a little space between each object to create the perfect look.

Do You Really Need That? (13 of50)

Don’t buy stuff just to fill empty space. Think about your purchases and buy only what you really love.

What Can You Remove? (14 of50)

After you think you’re done decorating a room, step back and take away a few pieces.

Focus On The Fan(15 of50)

Clean and repaint the blades of your ceiling fan.

Don't Go Overboard With Themes (16 of50)

When decorating around a theme, don’t go overboard. Include just one or two pieces that act as focal points and allude to your theme.

Give Your Garage A Sweep (17 of50)

Clean out the garage, paint the walls and create an organizing system to make extra space.

Don't Hoard (18 of50)

Don't feel obligated to display items you don't like. If there’s a decor item hanging around that holds little value (sentimental or otherwise), get rid of it or pack it away.

Use Labels (19 of50)

Clear up existing displays of accessories by packing up, labelling and storing items and then pulling them out when you feel it’s time for a change.

Move Things Around(20 of50)

Rearrange your existing furniture; move pieces like a chair or side table to a different place in your house.

Hold A Garage Sale (21 of50)

Give old and unused items a new lease on life either by giving them away, selling them or transforming them into something new.

Reuse Old Glass Bottles (22 of50)

Line the kitchen counter with repurposed glass bottles filled with water. This makes a beautiful display on its own or as ready-to-use vases.

Add Paintings To Every Room (23 of50)

Painting can do wonders when it comes to refreshing your home. If you can’t do the whole house, pick just one room.

Have An Accent Wall (24 of50)

An accent or feature wall is an easy starting point when decorating. Pick one blank wall, preferably in a fairly visible location like at the end of a hall, and paint it a stand-out shade.

Make Use Of Space (25 of50)

Add shelving behind the toilet to create storage and display space. (credit:Pinterest )

Paint Old Furniture (26 of50)

Paint or sand and stain old furniture. You’ll be pleasantly surprised what a few new coats of paint and a little elbow grease can do!

Get Colourful (27 of50)

Use ceramic paint to create unique designs on the tile of your kitchen backsplash.

Stick To Neutrals (28 of50)

Using a neutral colour palette to give your home a timeless feel and make it a sophisticated space.

Mix And Match (29 of50)

Rather than one complete tablesetting, mix and match pieces from different sets that work well together.

Use Fabrics (30 of50)

Display scarves, tapestries or large pieces of beautiful fabric from wooden dowels to create an instant piece of art for a large space.

Remember, Glass Loves Wood (31 of50)

Play with contrasting materials to create a unique look, like setting a glass vase on a wooden table.

Make A Good First Impression (32 of50)

Make a great first impression by adding a fresh coat of paint, a new knocker or a shiny door knob to your front door.

Old Is Gold (33 of50)

If you don’t have money to spend on a sleek new media unit use an old, antique armoire.

Reuse Old Pillows (34 of50)

Use old pillows and sheets to make new decorative cushions.

Play With Fabrics (35 of50)

Old sheets or unused bolts of fabric can easily be made into window treatments or a new shower curtain.

Dig Up Old Wallpaper (36 of50)

Use a great wallpaper to punch up an old shelving unit by papering the inside back section.

Stain Your Wood (37 of50)

Repurpose old furniture with simple DIY weekend projects. For example, turn an old table into an ottoman for extra seating.

Make Your Own Stencils (38 of50)

If you don’t want to use wall decals or wallpaper to accentuate a space, stencils are a wonderful way to add a little creativity and personality to a wall or door. Best of all, making your own stencil is a breeze. All you need is cardboard, paint and an exacto knife.

Host A Furniture Swap (39 of50)

Get together with friends and neighbours and hold a swap meet where each person brings household items they no longer need or want and trade away. At the end, donate all the unwanted items to charity. This is a great to way clear clutter in your home and to collect potentially precious decor items to refresh your home.

Add Accent Walls (40 of50)

Add an accent without having to commit to painting the entire room. Paint the trim, doorjambs, windowsills, baseboards and around fireplaces in a complementary but contrasting colour.

Update Your Cabinets (41 of50)

Update your kitchen by having the cabinets professionally refaced, or sand, prime and then give them a new coat of melamine or oil paint yourself.

Buy A Rug(42 of50)

A large area rug or hallway runner can hide scuffs and worn hardwood and costs a lot less than having your floors refinished.

Bring The Cafe Home(43 of50)

Cafe curtains give privacy, let in light and are easy to create yourself.

Make Use Of Gift Wrap (44 of50)

Cover old boxes of varying sizes with pretty paper such as leftover wrapping or wallpaper to make lovely storage containers.

Add Colour With Fruit (45 of50)

A woven vintage basket or big bowl filled with seasonal fruits, vegetables or greenery makes a cheap and chic centerpiece for the dining table.

Make Time For Wood (46 of50)

Wood moldings salvaged from the lumber yard can add architectural details to a room not just around the baseboards or ceiling but around window frames and in doorways too.

Get In The Mood (47 of50)

Install dimmers in the living room and bathroom to help create instant mood lighting.

Think Groups (48 of50)

Group together small framed pictures and art for maximum impact.

Update Lampshades (49 of50)

Update lampshades by adding hand-stitched accents or by gluing flat braided or tasseled fringes along the edges.

Get The Right Frame (50 of50)

When framing artwork, use an oversized matte and frame for a sophisticated and stylish gallery look.

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