The Stars Of Good Bones' Best Storage And Organization Tips For Your Home

The show "Good Bones" is living proof that you can enhance your organization game without spending a fortune. Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk, a mother-daughter team, have designed several creative storage solutions for their small home renovations. Operating within a tight budget, they have transformed countless abandoned homes into convenient and clever living spaces, showcasing the potential of any space. Their unique ability, highlighted in more than a handful of episodes, can serve as a source of motivation for your own home motivation.

From storage solutions to organization ideas, Laine and Starsiak Hawk have conquered it all. If it seems like you have exhausted all of your storage options, sometimes you have to think out of the box. Borrowing inspiration from renovation pros like these HGTV stars can give you a fresh perspective on your space. If you're looking for a few tricks on how to keep your home organized without sacrificing style, choose your favorite tips from the stars of "Good Bones."

In Season 3, Episode 11, Laine and Starsiak Hawk helped their friend Josh turn a dilapidated property into a cozy home full of creative touches. Due to some unexpected surprises — like a snake infestation — the renovation ended up costing a whopping $200,000. However, the innovative upgrades and clever uses of space helped create a potential $130,000 profit. One of the most imaginative storage ideas was undoubtedly the wine storage space under the stairs.

If you have an unused closet or nook, creating a miniature wine cellar is a great way to give your home an unexpected touch of luxury. While wine storage might seem like something reserved for large, lavish properties, this episode is proof that you can indulge in extravagance while using the space you have. HGTV's Jasmine Roth is a big fan of DIY wine storage racks, as well. If you don't have an area under the stairs that's prime for conversion, you can also turn a narrow hallway closet or any unused basement space. After all, a wine cellar is really just a basement with wine bottles!

In another difficult, yet rewarding, renovation, Starsiak Hawk and Laine transformed an old townhome in Season 3, Episode 4. While the original purchase price was fairly low at $25,000, they dealt with everything from dry rot to termites, bringing their renovation cost to $150,000. Besides the structural issues, one of the problems they encountered was that the HVAC was eating into a lot of the closet in the main bedroom. In a space-saving technique, Laine suggested installing a shoe carousel. This added storage without taking up much closet space.

The takeaway from this hack is to utilize vertical space. While you might not have much floor space in a narrow closet, store as much as you can from floor to ceiling. If you want a similar shoe storage, consider this 7-tier shoe carousel from Amazon for $175.98. If you're looking for something a little more budget-conscious, there are several affordable shoe storage DIYs to try. For example, you can use a gridded wire panel or even floating shelves.

Instead of designing someone else's space, Laine and Starsiak Hawk tackled Laine's own barn house in Season 3, Episode 9. They turned the second level into a guest space for her children to come visit. However, they had to create a more compact floor plan after the city told them they could only have 720 square feet of living space. Because of the limited area to work with, Laine chose to install smaller kitchen appliances to allow for more cabinets and storage.

In American kitchens, we are used to oversized cooking appliances. However, cutting a few inches from your fridge, oven, or dishwasher can open up a whole new world of storage space. Search for "apartment-sized" appliances to find more condensed options. For example, consider this 20-inch range from Home Depot ($603), which is 10 inches narrower than the standard 30-inch option. You can also choose a smaller refrigerator, like this option from Lowe's ($679), which is made to fit a typical counter depth.

In Season 3, Episode 1, Starsiak Hawk and Laine took on another sentimental project. They chose to remodel a shotgun-style home for their good friend who owns a wedding dress studio. The duo turned an upstairs loft space into a makeshift office for their creative companion, complete with everything she needed to plan her designs. A key component of this space was the fold-out desk disguised as a painting. The wall-mounted desk folded down to reveal hidden organization.

Fold-out storage is an excellent way to add furniture without taking up floor space. You can also create a fold-down desk that looks like a cabinet, similar to this piece from Wayfair ($180). Instead of an art piece like Starsiak Hawk and Laine's desk, try gluing chalkboard paper to the bottom for a creative place to write your to-do list. Alternatively, you can attach a corkboard and use it to display your vision or mood board.

For the first time in history, Starsiak Hawk and Laine were unable to salvage a home, which was featured in Season 3, Episode 2. However, they were able to build an entire home from scratch for just $200,000. Because they designed it for a close friend, there were several personalized details throughout the home. One of the most unique elements was the exposed shelving made from raw maple wood. This provided the perfect space to store miscellaneous kitchen items, while creating an organic appearance.

If you have wood left over from another renovation project, shelving is an easy way to use the scraps. You can also usually request wood scraps from contractors working on a commercial project. Another great resource for raw wood is Facebook Marketplace. Even Amazon sells bags of scrapped lumber. Finally, don't forget about approaching your local recycling center. While Laine and Starsiak Hawk chose not to stain the natural maple, you can always re-stain your reclaimed wood if you prefer a different shade. You can even add DIY storage to your wooden shelf if needed.

Many of Starsiak Hawk and Laine's renovations require them to get creative in a cozy space, and Season 3, Episode 5 was no exception. This small home needed as much storage as possible, so they added two-tier cabinets in the galley kitchen. These are also known as double upper cabinets, and create an additional level of storage in between the main upper cabinets and the ceiling. This is a great way to squeeze in more places to keep dishes.

There are several things to consider before opting for double-stacked upper cabinets. They are mostly intended to store pieces you don't use often, as it can be difficult to reach the top row. For example, you can use the top cabinets to hold seasonal dishes and appliances. If you want to store more precious items while keeping them out of reach from children or animals, try installing glass cabinet doors. That way, you can still see your valuable pieces while stashing them away from prying hands or paws.

In Season 3, Episode 6, Starsiak Hawk and Laine took a chance on their most expensive house purchase yet. Although it wasn't large, the location was prime. In order to attract high-paying buyers, every detail mattered. In the bathroom, they added sneaky storage that didn't take up any additional space. Specifically, next to the bathtub, they installed custom shelving to make use of the unused portion of the room.

If your bathtub doesn't stretch the entire length of the wall, you can use the awkward gap to build a shelving nook for textiles and toiletries. The foot of your bathtub is the perfect depth to store extra bath mats or rolled-up towels. If you don't like the look of exposed storage in your bathroom, you can turn the shelving into drawers. IKEA offers storage drawers in several sizes, and you can easily use IKEA drawers to give your shelves a high-end, cabinet-style look.