Today is a little bonus post. It’s a guest post from Drew from Big Yellow Storage. He is sharing some ideas and advice on how to declutter your home! Over to you Drew.
Storage Secrets For A Better, Smarter Home
After watching property, home or lifestyle programmes on TV, we could all be forgiven for feeling we fall short of the ideal. All those neat and clean spaces, arranged just so, with the latest gadgets and decor styles can leave you feeling a bit lacking.
There are tricks of the trade though, that make it easier to stay on top of clutter and give every room a more spacious, airy feeling.
Outsource What You’re Not Using
Unless you live in a mansion, there’s likely lots of stuff you don’t want to part with, but that you’re not actually using. Things like out of season clothes or sports equipment that only gets used at certain times of year. Even furniture can clutter up rooms when it’s rarely used, like big dining tables you only sit round at Christmas or for kid’s birthday parties, or spare beds that hardly ever get slept in.
These are things you can’t do without when you need them, but most of the time you could use the space in better ways. One way to keep them but not have them taking up space at home is by putting them into self storage.
There’s a huge range of storage room sizes, whether you just have one or two items to store or could fill a warehouse. The terms are short (from just a week), so you’re not tied into a long contract, and the locations are handy, mostly on main routes into town.
Hide the Clutter
Those things that clutter up rooms the most, like kid’s toys, game gadgets and TV remotes or all the charging cables we have lying around, can be rounded up and tucked away in storage furniture. Coffee tables or end tables with drawers built in or shelves beneath are ideal. They keep often-used things handy, but they’re not always on show.
Other useful storage furniture includes divan or ottoman beds, where you can tuck spare pillows, sheets and towels. In kid’s rooms, they’re also handy for toy storage, especially those larger items that don’t necessarily get played with every day but are particular favourites.
Vertical Thinking
If everything in your rooms is at eye level or lower, it’s time to look up for additional storage. Shelving at picture rail height is a good alternative to vertical book shelves, or a safe place to stow valuable collectables or ornaments so small children can’t reach them. Floating shelves look neat in alcoves, especially with LED lighting to accent the area.
In kids rooms, low shelves makes cosy library corners, or handy places to store transparent tubs of small toys. If you have trouble getting kids to tidy up, a bespoke play area might give a bit of extra motivation.
There are opportunities all over the house for shelving (for recipe books in the kitchen, or lotions and potions in the bathroom), but one often-neglected area is under the stairs that can soon become a muddled dumping ground. Putting some shelves up in there can help create a more organised storage area.
Messes and muddles are still going to happen, but at least tidy ups will be quicker and less of a challenge.
Drew is based in London and writes for Big Yellow Storage
Thanks for the tips! I’m an organizing fiend and am always happy to read more suggestions.
I need to get organised – I hate clutter yet always seem to have it!
Yes to hiding the clutter! I have drawers everywhere including under beds to do this. I think the vertical notion also really helps because that upwards wall space is often a missed opportunity.
Vertical is something I hadn’t even considered, but it’s a great way of using space 🙂
I’m a bot obsessed with storage. I have some great storage solutions in the home but agree it’s good to store somethings away from home if you can afford it. We are about to lay some carpet and could do with sending some items to storage for a week or two, especially the big furniture and bulky items.
I seriously need storage for my ever growing book collection!
These are great tips. I seem to be constantly tidying up in my house. I need storage and to declutter.
I definitely could do with sorting out of our understairs cupboard and putting shelving in. We have outgrown our house but not ready to move yet, all the baby bits need storing. I must admit I wouldn’t have naturally thought of using a storage company but since our loft is full that might not be a bad idea!
I love storage solutions, I am a little addicted to them. I also have a cupboard and strategic boxes that are places to hide clutter in a ‘quick someone is at the door’ emergency!
Haha loving the strategic storage!
Great article, thank you! I’ve been considering renting storage lately.