Condos have a variety of benefits, including the absence of outdoor maintenance, but one prevailing challenge is space. It can be a hassle to figure out how to store holiday decorations during the offseason, winter clothing in the summer. At a minimum, the owner of a two-bedroom condo unit typically has a standard set of storage amenities, according to Jason Skipworth, a real estate agent with D.C. Living. That list includes a walk-in closet in a master bedroom, a smaller closet in a second bedroom, a linen closet and a coat closet. “Most of the contemporary spaces do not have a lot of storage space,” Skipworth said. “They’re designed for minimalist living.”
Local real estate consultant Justin Nielsen of DC Living in Washington said storage space can vary widely from one development to the next. Developments built from the ground up typically offer more space than older buildings that have been converted into a condo complex, he said
“Really, it’s all over the board,” Nielsen said. “Buyers need to be thinking about this when they are looking.”
Nielsen said he has a step-by-step process for walking prospective condo buyers through their options. The list of wants and don’t-wants touches on the amount of space a buyer needs.
“My system is a little intricate, but it’s good,” Nielsen said. “It’s much easier to narrow it down and go from there. This way, you can dig into what it is you need.”
Skipworth said some condo developments include additional storage with the purchase price, while others offer the amenity as an add-on. Features such as fenced space in the basement might be available, and off-site storage is another possibility that can be explored during a condo search.
The types of furnishings within a condo also can help alleviate storage issues. Furniture that doubles as storage space is an excellent way to clear away clutter and maximize the space in a room.
Washington’s Vastu Design Services is among the local retailers specializing in furnishings that alleviate space constraints. It sells a variety of benches, tables, ottomans, chairs and shelving designed to help.
“It’s all about trying to get things off the floor,” said co-owner Jason Claire. “The fewer things there are on the floor, the more it will look like there is greater space within a room.”
There is a variety of furniture pieces, some more obvious than others, that can help out. “One of the best places to store items is under the bed,” Claire said. “But people don’t always think about this. It’s one of the most underutilized spaces in a bedroom.”
Vastu offers custom services to people who want to make the most of their condo space.
“If they come in with a drawing, we can help build it for them,” Claire said. “We’re able to do this because we have custom deals with a number of suppliers, including companies outside the country.”
