Ever found yourself wondering how someone could fit so much into so little space after wandering into a Wong Chuk Hang apartment? One basic idea has helped residents here to transform clutter into an art form: think vertically. More info!
The peculiarities of daily living include towering stacks of boxes, motorcycles packed beneath beds, winter coats peeping out from the rear of cabinets. But hanging shelves over the doorframes has become a neighborhood trademark for storage. No, it has nothing to do with trendy furnishings or expensive custom units. It’s about turning every inch of wall space into a working tool.
You find these over-the-door shelves all around. You will find anything from tennis balls and spare toothpaste just above the entryway to cartons of crackers and paperback books. For items like out-of-season shoes or single-use kitchen tools we all know we own but hardly use, residents utilize plastic boxes with snap closures. Though it’s not luxurious, it’s efficient—which is all that counts in flats where every square inch counts.
Maximizing what you already have is the secret; chasing perfection is not a good idea. Some people arrange slender shelves right under the ceiling, transforming otherwise useless dust-collecting area into storage treasure. Others use window sills cleverly to create mini-platforms for baskets or plants. One imaginative mind even changed her living room with picture ledges doubling as shelving for everything from colorful candles to periodicals.
There are, of course, misses as well. One neighbor proudly displayed a shelf over the bathroom door for towels, only to have the same towels falling on her head twice daily. Her answer: Changing to hooks inside cupboard doors is a little adjustment but a major benefit for everyday comfort.
People in this section of Hong Kong do not dream about large houses or walk-in closets late at night. Their dreams center on spotless counters, open tabletops, and an opportunity to cook free from clutter everywhere.
Wong Chin Hang creativity also has fun value. While another neighbor installed a pulley basket from her fifth-floor window for simple shopping transportation, one person created a “mezzanine” shelf for her cat. nonetheless they often have an interesting narrative, solutions are not necessarily beautiful. They are efficient nonetheless.
The lesson is this. Not ignore a single square inch. Prime real estate for keeping the odds and ends that life presents are blank areas, uncomfortable nooks above doors, the top of your refrigerator. You just need a little imagination and openness to explore; you do not need costly devices or frequent shopping visits.
If you ever need ideas, just look about your building. Someone’s sure has discovered a way to squeeze a box of photo albums above their bedroom doorway or a toolbox beneath their sofa. The secret is immediately above your head, where Wong Chuk Hang people have silently perfected the skill of living big in the smallest of places. It is not buried in a magazine.