To keep vases, dishes, and small appliances handy but off the countertop, architect Tamira Sawatzky designed two niches within a wall of deep cabinets. Inset outlets supply power; butcher blocks lines all sides; and Plexiglas doors provide hits of bright orange. Plastic World, a local dealer, custom-cut the Plexiglas for the storage cubby which sits beneath a photo by artist Chris Curreri.

The upstairs loft is an office-cum-craft room. Evidence of the family’s DIY nature is omnipresent. Hale built a planter box and art-supply cubbies with leftover plywood. The space is equipped with plumbing hookups in case—or more likely, when—the family chooses to convert the area into a third bedroom and bathroom.

Jacobson lowers a panel of the CSS to expose a series of neatly-kept cubbyholes. The orange piece in the corner is a Lagardo Tackett design for Architectural Pottery.

Residents would strip their condo or house down to its skeleton, then add new features from the real estate agent’s online “tool box” of choices. For instance, those who value their daily me-time might want to add a rolling study cubby like this one.

Now, cubbies are built into the wall to provide storage.

Clever cubby storage is incorporated into the base of the interior stairs, while the extra-deep stair treads provide flexible "stadium-style" seating for the kids.

Davor (with his wife, Abbe, and son, August) designed the main living and dining pavilion as a double-height space to increase its perceived volume, and added high cubbies for extra storage.

Visiting a Manhattan apartment designed by Tim Seggerman is like sitting inside one of Nakashima’s cabinets, a metaphor realized most fully in an ingenious "library"—really a glorified cubby with a banded maple ceiling, conjured from a free space adjacent to the loft bed.

Shoe cubbies are built into the custom millwork shelving in the entryway.

Situated above the bed is a catwalk and cubby with steps.

A wall in the living room was retrofitted to create a minimal fireplace cubby.

The built-in headboard doubles as storage with cubbies on either side.

Inside each cubby, are woven baskets that keep miscellanous items out of view.

A nook between two walls or two closets can be the perfect spot to squeeze in an office cubby. Look for a small-sized desk or have one custom-built to fit the exact measurements of your space.

Joshua drew inspiration from the storage cubbies on ships for the shipping container home’s cabinetry.

Built-in shoe cubbies provide necessary storage in the new walk-through laundry space.

A slatted screen at the entrance helps create a moment of arrival. A shoe cubby helps keep clutter out of sight.

A sliding mesh screen glides over the fireplace, which features a built-in cubby for a stockpile of wood.

The entry hall is another snapshot of design experimentation with wood built-ins, open cubbies, and simple brass hooks.

A glimpse inside the limestone-clad steam shower in the master suite. The walnut slat walls hide storage with cubbies for towels.

When it’s time to eat or do homework, the adults lower the tabletop, revealing a dozen book cubbies.

Within the hut, the architects have utilized every inch of available space, including incorporating secret cubby holes into the children's bunkbeds.

The treads of the staircase lift to reveal storage cubbies, where Emma keeps Isla and Ivy’s toys and books.

FGR Architects designed an open, spacious home for a family to grow into in Victoria, Australia. Bloomfield House features an al fresco area and even a dedicated kids’ area. “Today, the family enjoys living in the space—we've seen a physical change in their lifestyle and wellbeing since moving in,” says director Feras Raffoul. “A novelty cubby house at the back also provides endless fun for children of the house.”

Their carpenter Proedl built a lot of the storage and furniture in the apartment, including these concealed cubbies beneath the stairs—with room for a dry bar, of course.

The sleeping cubbies lie beneath the walkway connecting front and back units. Cedar decking and soffit add warmth and texture to the transitional space.

The interior is furnished with Lubi Daybeds from CB2, which Howell and Porter designed to include hidden cubbies behind and beneath the cushions.

"Under my bed, I have storage cubbies that hold clothing and art and cleaning supplies," Mariah says. "The picture ledge above my bed is a storage and display area for books and small art pieces."

A seamless glass shower screen and matte black fixtures are contemporary additions to this sleek and simple bath. Custom wood cubbies and penny tile on both the walls and floor add a sense of playfulness and texture to the rehabbed bathroom.

The "rumpus" and craft rooms hide a range of secrets—pin-boards, blackboards, sliding doors, cubby holes, and toy storage. A ladder in the study leads to extra storage space or a place for the kids to hide.

The living room is outfitted with a plush, built-in sofa with storage cubbies underneath. "It’s difficult to find ready-made pieces with storage that fit a unique space, so we built-in the desk, bed, and sofa," says Amy.

For the most efficient use of space, the three bedrooms feature built-in beds and wardrobes. The family’s two young daughters share custom Baltic birch built-in beds with integrated cubbies.

Here's another view of the entry screen. We love the cubby just at shoulder level, perfect for storing your keys and such.

The portion of the bench that’s closer to the entryway has cubbies that were originally designed to store firewood, but now the homeowners use them to store baby toys adding yet more flexibility.

A bicycle rack for the design-conscious cyclist—the Pedal Pod looks good with or without your bicycle. The multifunctional piece offers ample cubby space to stash odds and ends, and frees up floor space by storing your bike as well.

Adequate work space is a must for the entrepreneurial duo. Bench seating and a swivel table provide a compact solution. Overhead cubbies and bench storage provide space for the couple's cameras and equipment. A curtain provides privacy when focus time is needed.