Vertical storage was a total game changer for me too. I remember when I first moved into my current place, I thought I'd nailed the layout—until I realized I had nowhere to put half my stuff. Ended up installing some floating shelves and a pegboard in the kitchen, and suddenly everything felt way more open and organized. Funny how just shifting your perspective upward can make such a difference.
I get what you're saying about mirrors feeling a bit cliché, but honestly, they're popular for good reason. I put one opposite my window, and the amount of extra light bouncing around is pretty amazing. Plus, it tricks my brain into thinking the room's bigger than it actually is, which is always nice.
Curious though—did you find yourself getting rid of stuff as you went vertical, or did you mostly just rearrange what you already had?
I actually ended up doing a bit of both. At first, I thought I'd just rearrange everything vertically and call it good, but once I started moving things around, it became pretty obvious that some stuff just didn't fit my lifestyle anymore. Like, I had this bulky blender I'd used maybe twice in three years—it was taking up prime real estate on my counter. Once I got serious about vertical storage, I realized how valuable every inch of space was, so the blender (and a few other rarely-used items) ended up donated or given away.
One thing I've noticed with clients is that vertical storage solutions often highlight what you truly use day-to-day versus what's just collecting dust. Floating shelves and pegboards are awesome because they keep your frequently used items accessible and visible, but they're also unforgiving if you're prone to clutter. If something's not getting regular use, it quickly becomes obvious when it's sitting out in the open.
On the mirror thing—I totally get the hesitation about feeling cliché. But honestly, mirrors are one of those design tricks that stick around because they genuinely work. Placement matters a lot though; opposite a window is perfect for bouncing natural light around, but even placing one near a darker corner can help brighten things up subtly without feeling too obvious.
Also, if you're still looking to tweak things further, consider playing around with lighting layers. Vertical storage can sometimes cast shadows or make certain areas feel darker than before. Adding small LED strips or under-shelf lighting can really enhance functionality and ambiance without much effort or expense.
Anyway, glad vertical storage worked out for you—it's always satisfying when a simple shift in perspective makes such a noticeable difference.
