Here’s a quick list of products I’ve come to know & love over the past ~2 years that have helped us maximize our space and embrace our cape home living. You’ll notice a common theme below – storage, storage, storage!!
1. Collapsible Laundry Bin
Costco, ~$10
I like to keep my laundry baskets in the bedrooms near our laundry hampers, and I was having difficulty finding closet storage for the traditional sized laundry baskets. I initially purchased ours at Costco, but here is a similar body-contouring bin from Amazon. I’ve absolutely loved the collapsibility of this product (it fits in the closet!) and have had no issues with the durability of the sides. In addition, the body contouring feature makes it easier to carry once loaded. I’d highly recommend keeping one of these in each room there is a laundry hamper.
2. Universal Lid
When we were putting together our wedding registry, this universal lid was something Adam insisted we include, and I protested. “We don’t need this – we have plenty of lids!”, I proclaimed. Fast forward a year later and I’ve probably used this silly lid every time I’ve cooked dinner on the stove. If storage space in your kitchen is also at a premium, you could purchase 1 or 2 of these babies, donate all of your other lids, and free up some space for your other kitchen essentials . You’ll want to check the size of your pots and pans to be sure the universal lid you choose will fit (the one we have accommodates cookware 7 to 12 inches).
3. Beds with Storage
You most likely won’t have a huge walk in closet in the master bedroom of your cape, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t easy ways to expand your storage capabilities. One of the big purchases we made when we first moved in was a new bed, complete with storage. Its provided us with the capacity of a chest, without taking up our crucial floor space. You’ll most likely have to pay a little extra for the storage drawers, but its well worth the extra investment. We’ve had some issues with the actual bed we purchased, so I wouldn’t recommend our exact model, but if I was to buy another bed tomorrow, I wouldn’t even consider one without storage.
4. Over the Door Interior Closet Storage
I initially purchased one of these for storage in my bite-sized apartment during college, and I’ve never been able to live without one since. Even better, they’ve held up since then and I’ve never had to replace them (for those counting, thats +10 years). These are often labeled as ‘shoe organizers’, but depending on the room, I keep everything from cleaning products to hats and gloves to actual shoes. The one in our master bedroom is a mix of all three – shoes, stain remover, and running gear. If you’re investing in a new one, I’d recommend measuring the size of the door, and maximizing that space. Look for one with deep pockets vs. a high number of pockets to allow for versatility in terms of product storage. Here’s a great example of one I found from Staples for <$20 that looks similar to mine.
5. Annabelle hydrangea plants
The Tree Center, $30-80 depending on size
The first four product recommendations were very functional and practical, so I had to give the final recommendation to something purely aesthetic. Hydrangeas are a purely stunning flower, and are found all over Cape Cod, the birth place of cape style homes. They are absolutely beautiful plants and just look ‘right’ in the garden beds of capes. If you’ve had difficulty growing hydrangeas previously, the Annabelle varietal is going to be your new best friend. On the practical side, they can hold up in most climates (friendly for zones 3-9), they’re fairly easy to maintain, and they SPREAD.
Do you have a product you love for your cape? I’m always looking for new ways to improve ours, so please share it in the comments below!
