No Budget For Built-Ins? Find 40+ Freestanding Storage Ideas
A great alternative to pricey built-ins when budget and square-footage are at a premium, freestanding storage saves space and costs less, too.
A gold etagere next to the fireplace? Yes, please! A vintage console in the dining room? We’ll take it! Click through for fabulous freestanding storage ideas.
This renovated farmhouse‘s stone walls make it quite difficult to drill into, so Mjölk shop owners John Baker and Juli Daoust-Baker chose freestanding storage for their kitchen. An antique glass-fronted cabinet — imported from Tokyo — keeps culinary essentials within easy reach.
House & Home October 2019
This couple’s lounge area oozes Southern charm thanks to a beautifully distressed chest topped with colorful china and a pair of elegant lamps to bring the trad feeling home.
House & Home April 2019
A simple, grasscloth-covered dresser not only provides a place for the eye to rest in this principal bedroom (adorned with floral wallpaper) but also stylishly stores your garments.
House & Home April 2019
Highlight a piece of freestanding storage with eye-catching artwork. Homeowners (and avid antique collectors) Craig Pearce and Kendra Patton snagged this metal cabinet in Seattle and added the wooden top to make it more practical when working from home.
House & Home May 2020
In this sunset-hued seating area, a handsome wood console pairs perfectly with the curvy, rust-colored Etcetera chairs and suits their mid-century DNA.
House & Home July/August 2020
This rustic gray-blue hutch was the jumping off point for this Victorian farmhouse’s warm and inviting palette. Plus, the vintage-like wooden crate filled with curly willow adds even more country flavor.
House & Home October 2019
When you’ve got a collection of vintage china, tableware and glassware this impressive, they deserve to be on display. This handsome hutch has the historic chops to show off older finds.
House & Home July/August 2020
In this vibrant Montreal home office, a verdant banana leaf-printed wallpaper looks like a tropical holiday, while mid-century modern furniture — like the natural wood console — keeps the space grounded in reality.
House & Home June 2019
Don’t have much space in a quaint cottage bedroom? A small, scalloped-edge dresser between twin metal bed frames is big enough to stash summer reads, sunscreen and other vacay essentials.
House & Home July/August 2020
In this modern farmhouse‘s breezway, designer Cameron MacNeil opted for a gray-blue armoire instead of built-ins to store coats and other seasonal essentials. “The armoire isn’t an antique — it’s new and locally made to our specifications,” he says. “I thought it softened the area.”
House & Home May 2019
A Victrola cabinet original to this historical home makes the front entryway even more hardworking and pays homage to the original bones. The dark finish makes details like shapely turned legs really pop against the white walls.
House & Home March 2020
Moving into the dining room, designer Arren Williams layered a vintage credenza with art pieces and treasures from the family’s travels. Inside, it stores dishes, flatware and table linens, and outside, it resembles an art piece on its own.
House & Home March 2020
For a dose of visual interest and warmth, a vintage burled-maple credenza grounds the family room (and is a great place to hide board games, video game consoles and more).
House & Home March 2020
The butler’s pantry just off this Connecticut kitchen houses a storied hutch that’s big enough to store and display loads of china.
House & Home May 2019
A vintage heirloom dresser — topped with cheerful South African beaded dolls — takes center stage in this vibrant entryway.
House & Home February 2019
Freestanding storage isn’t just for housing essentials. In this Art Deco-inspired dining room, a vintage sideboard and bar cabinet compliment the metallic, geo-print chairs.
House & Home January 2019
This blue-green antique armoire mingles with the other cool-tones in this comfortable and inviting lower-level seating area. Its size and heft makes the space feel even more homey.
House & Home April 2020
Homeowner and blogger Alison Mazurek stores tech and cables in a 15-inch-deep console in her 600-square-foot family home. “At the end of the day, everything goes back in the console so there’s no visual reminder of work during family time,” says Alison.
House & Home September 2020
Bright coral walls bring out the warm tones in this guest room‘s spacious dresser, which scores even more style points topped with a vignette of fresh blooms, artwork and books.
House & Home September 2019
Consider customizing freestanding storage to give it a built-in feel. Designer Sarah Hartill topped a rosewood console with a slab of marble for a more substantial look.
House & Home August 2014
Shoes seem to pile up in entryways and can easily add clutter. Designer Erika Floysvik custom-designed this double console (which is mounted on casters) to keep hers in order.
House & Home August 2015
To make up for any lost storage in an open-concept kitchen, consider adding a glass-fronted hutch. To make the look cohesive, choose one in a similar style and color to your cabinetry.
House & Home June 2017
In designer Jean Stéphane Beauchamp’s home office, he created a visual focal point out of a vintage hutch. The back is painted a vibrant turquoise, while the exterior is a milky white — practical and pretty.
House & Home August 2014
In this Vancouver apartment, a tall cabinet with wallpaper-backed glass doors strikes a feminine note. The mix of open and closed storage beneath the bed is a smart way to keep things from looking too busy.
House & Home September 2015
Antique furniture is a great way to elevate everyday storage, as exemplified by this antique Biedermeier secretary. Layering in modern artworks and little mementos add to the visual charm.
House & Home September 2016
Bathrooms are a fresh and unexpected place to incorporate freestanding storage. A vintage armoire artfully stores towels, baskets and other bathroom essentials.
House & Home June 2016
A 30-year-old Ikea buffet got a new lease on life thanks to matte black paint and modern hardware. The tall height of this chest of drawers makes it the perfect resting spot for a bedroom mirror.
House & Home September 2016
A contemporary sideboard with modern pulls is the perfect supporting act for a statement piece of art.
House & Home August 2014
Repurpose vintage pieces, like this small chest that doubles as a bar, for a stylish take on freestanding storage.
House & Home February 2015
If you have a statement wallpaper, why not pair it with an equally bold hutch? This one was painted in millennial pink and displays a varied collection of crockery and containers that complements the eclectic look of the space.
House & Home September 2017
In this small Montreal rental condo, the dining room sideboard hides not only serving pieces, but also out-of-season clothing and sports equipment.
House & Home September 2015
A large Art Deco credenza is the perfect statement piece for this sleek dining room.
House & Home September 2016
In this rural New Brunswick home, the home office makes the most of freestanding storage, with a tall grey-green armoire and a low-slung cabinet with white locker doors.
House & Home July 2017
The creative geniuses behind design firm Les Ensembliers created an intimate dressing nook in their Montreal home. The striking antique chest is a handsome focal point.
House & Home October 2015
A mirror-backed cabinet reflects light around this black and white living room — a nice balance to the piece’s dark and moody black frame.
House & Home September 2017
A pair of matching storage consoles anchor the area beneath the stairs in this Toronto condo. Freestanding storage is a clever way to maximize awkward or underused spaces without breaking the bank.
House & Home July 2017
The cane-backed doors of this cabinet have an open and airy feel while still keeping the contents safely hidden away inside. Open weaves are a a great way to straddle the line between open and closed storage.
House & Home August 2017
Designer Jay Hodgins uses open metal shelving units in his walk-in pantry, meaning his ingredients and dishes are never far from reach. It’s also an easy-to-use system for when he’s entertaining guests — they can immediately see where the cereal and bowls are!
House & Home March 2015
Designer Frank Muytjens, former head of J.Crew menswear, tucked a vintage filing cabinet under the eaves in his upstate New York getaway. A piece with this many drawers makes categorizing and organizing a breeze.
House & Home June 2016
A stately vintage wardrobe in an entryway is the perfect place to stash jackets and coats. The deep drawer and interior shelves also make a great spot for stowing hats, mitts and shoes.
House & Home March 2017
In the kitchen, a freestanding cupboard is the perfect alternative to a pantry. The deep shelves and shelf-backed doors means there’s enough room for all the kitchen bits and bobs.
House & Home October 2017