Spring cleaning feels easier in a home that’s designed to stay organized. Built-in storage solutions are one of the most effective ways to keep your home clean and functional year-round. From kitchens and foyers to bedrooms and bathrooms, Drees makes home organization simple with thoughtfully designed floor plans that incorporate built-in storage throughout the home. Here are some of our favorite storage solutions and home organization ideas to inspire your next home project or custom build.

Go bold with built-ins

Built-ins in the family room, home office, gameroom or media room create a beautiful focal point, while also adding valuable home storage space. Open shelves are perfect for displaying books and knickknacks, or for decorative baskets to organize office supplies, TV remotes and games. Add lower cabinets for hidden storage to create a room that feels effortlessly clean, yet functional.

For example, the home office at our Marabelle model in Nashville features beautiful arched built-ins with fluted wood detail backing and white cabinetry.

Built-ins at the Durbin II model in Jacksonville encase the TV, creating a focal point in the family room while adding extra storage space to the custom home.

Organizational cubbies and cabinets

Upgrade your family foyer, mudroom or laundry room with extra cubbies and cabinet storage. Keep cleaning supplies, pet gear, school bags and more organized, and easily accessible.

The Elliot model in Houston boasts extra home storage in its family foyer:

• Bench with open lower cubbies for shoes
• Hooks for every day bags or jackets
• Locker-style tall cabinets to tuck away coats, brooms and other long items
• Upper cabinets for seasonal items such as swim gear, hats and gloves

Your family ready room is the best place to store pet gear. In addition to basic cabinet storage, Drees homes are customizable with convenient pet friendly designs, such as built-in dog beds, dog washes or water bowl fillers. For example, the Elmsdale model in Nashville includes a spacious family ready room, complete with an island and built-in dog bed.

Even our dog washing stations are customizable. Select a spacious, zero-entry dog wash for large and giant breeds, or a smaller, lifted dog wash for small and medium-sized dogs. And just like any other space in your home, you can fully customize the look of your best friend's bath—down to the tile and fixtures. 

Utilize vertical space in bathrooms

Use vertical space in your bathroom to maximize storage. Customize your vanity with cabinets that go to the ceiling, like the Sydney model in Houston, for extra bathroom storage.

Apart from the traditional linen closet, explore these built-in bathroom storage solutions:

• The Berkley model in Dallas has a unique nook inside the super shower with built-in cubbies, towel hooks and a bench.
• The Bedford by Elevate by Drees Cincinnati features a wall opening by the bath, creating a built-in storage solution for towels, or the perfect display shelf for a relaxing ambiance. 
• Add a corner bench to your shower or an oversized niche to hold soaps and shampoos like in the Brookdale II model in Dallas.

Bedroom storage solutions

In addition to your closet, add extra storage to your bedroom with built-in shelves, cabinets or a window seat bench. The Marabelle model in Nashville is a great example of a home with built-in bedroom storage.

Many Drees floor plans include or can be customized with a private sitting room in the primary suite. Make your sitting room multipurpose with built-in shelves for organization, like the Rowan model in Washington, D.C.

Continue to add function to your primary suite with a coffee bar. Dedicate coffee stations aren’t just found in the kitchen, many Drees floor plans can be customized with a coffee bar in the primary suite, complete with shelving and cabinet storage.

Kitchen organization solutions

Maximize your kitchen storage with a walk-in pantry, working pantry or butler’s pantry. It’s the perfect place to tuck away slow cookers, mixers, and other small appliances that you may not use every day.

Get creative with your cabinetry to maximize kitchen organization and storage. Consider floor to ceiling cabinets, like the Neilson townhome model in Nashville.

The Sebastian model in Raleigh showcases a unique kitchen storage solution with a beautiful built-in china hutch, complete with glass-front cabinets and rich wood drawers for organization.

Extend cabinetry into the dining room

Extend kitchen storage into the dining room with a built-in buffet or bar, a popular Drees floor plan feature. Not only does it take your entertaining to the next level, the extra cabinet space comes in handy for organizing dishware, glasses or utensils you might not use every day.

Stylize it with attractive open shelving, like the Kaitlyn model in Raleigh, or keep it classic with upper and lower cabinetry, like the Overlook model in Houston.

Reclaim space under the stairs

Put the space under your staircase to work. We’ve customized this space with built-in dog kennels, closet expansions or most popularly, built-in bars.

Add a stylish under-the-steps bar to your open family room, like the Wilshire model in Nashville, with a wine rack, wine fridge, open shelving and cabinetry.

Add a functional wet bar or kitchenette into your finished basement, like the lower level of the Brandwine II townhome model in Northern Kentucky, which makes use of the space under the stairs.

Put landings and hallways to work

Reclaim space under the stairs and at the top. Sneak slim storage solutions in hallways or the landing at the top of the stairs.

For example, the Blackwell model in Nashville adds extra storage space with built-in cabinets at the top of the staircase, while the Sydney model in Houston adds valuable home organization with a built-in bench, cubbies and baskets, flanked by open shelves.

Make the most of your loft

Make your loft space functional by converting it into a home office, reading nook or cozy alcove. We love the extra home storage and organization built into the Grantley model in Dallas: 

• Built-in desk and countertop space
• Cabinet and drawer organization
• Open shelving storage for books or organizational baskets
• Built-in bench with cabinets or cubbies underneath (or add hinges or hidden storage inside!)

The Dakota model in Austin makes use of its loft's wide hallways by lining the wall with desks, creating a pocket office. Rather than a full home office, many Drees floor plans can be customized with a built-in pocket office near the gameroom, loft, family foyer or kitchen. The family ready room of the Elmsdale model in Dallas includes a command center with abundant desk storage and even a built-in wrapping paper station.

Closet organization solutions

Closets are the obvious choice for home storage, but are you using the space wisely? Built-in closet systems ensure your closet is organized and maximizes functionality with:

• Built-in dresser drawers
• Built-in shelves of various sizes
• Space-saving retractable clothes hanging systems
• Shoe racks
• Islands and benches
• Accessory storage for purses, belts, jewelry and more

The primary suite's walk-in closet in the Lynmar II model in Austin has plenty of shelves, rods and drawers to organize clothing, shoes and accessories alike.

Ready to start designing your dream home?

From Instagram inspiration and Pinterest pins to your final floor plan, Drees makes it easy to bring it all together. We know your home is more than a dwelling. It’s an expression of who you are and what you value. Designing a custom home is a very personal endeavor, and we want to be here to help you every step of the way. To get started, click here.