1. Storage on the circulation path โ never make things travel
The first principle: storage sits where you use the thing. Coats by the entrance, vacuum next to the lounge, books under the stairs. We map the family's movement and minimise the carry distance.
2. Genkan storage โ dirty floor, clean house
A luxury home includes a 2โ4 jo genkan storage (shoes-in cloakroom). Shoes, strollers, golf bags, suitcases, disaster supplies all live here. Nothing tracks dust into the home.
3. Family closet
Skip per-bedroom closets. Drop a single 4โ6 jo family closet on the laundry path. Wash โ dry โ put away, three steps total. The standard pattern for dual-income families.
4. Oshiire, attics, and under-floor
Depth-storage for seasonal items and memories. Oshiire is 80 cm deep โ fits futons, cushions, large appliances stood vertically. Attics and crawl spaces under 1.4 m clear height don't count toward floor area โ useful for FAR-tight plots.
5. Hidden storage vs. display storage
Combine hotel-style hidden storage (flat doors, handle-less) with intentional display shelves. Keeping hidden storage above 80% of cabinetry creates calm, low-noise interiors.
6. Pantry and refrigerator placement
A 2โ3 jo pantry sits at the intersection of the shopping path (garage โ entrance โ pantry) and the cooking path. The fridge tucks into a built-in or sits inside the pantry, keeping the kitchen face clean.
7. Standard dimensions worth remembering
| Coat hanging rail | 60 cm depth ร 180 cm height |
| Shirt hanging rails | 55 cm depth ร 100 cm ร two tiers |
| Book shelving | 25โ30 cm depth |
| Futon storage (oshiire) | 80 cm depth ร 80 cm height |
| Vacuum / robot vacuum | 45 cm depth ร 60 cm width |
Storage isn't about volume; it's about optimising for circulation and dimensions. "Just make it big" loses to "design for the actual inventory along the actual path."