When it comes to keeping your home neat and tidy, storage is often key. For those that don’t have a huge home and are perhaps limited on storage space though there are plenty of things you can do to make the most of what space you do have, maximising storage options and helping to keep your home neat and tidy in the process! Read on for our top tips for a tidier home.
1. Utilise storage space under your bed
Unless you have a divan bed, the space beneath your bed can often go underutilised, or worse, can end up a real mess with random items shoved under the bed to keep them out of the way.
One of the best ways to utilise this space is to get organised and inexpensive plastic storage boxes with lids that can even be stacked one on top of the other are a great way to make use of this space, helping to keep it tidy and organised at the same time!
2. Create more space inside kitchen cupboards
Spices, tins and even crockery can be stored more efficiently if you use cupboard organisers or risers. These are typically free-standing plastic or wire shelves that you can pop inside cupboards to create extra space. They are inexpensive to buy and allow you to stack items, making use of the full height of your cupboards!
3. Make use of vertical space
Tall bookshelves that make better use of the vertical space available in your home can provide valuable storage which doesn’t mean you’ll have to compromise on giving up floor space that might not have.
4. Use your doors to create extra hanging space
Over door hooks make it easy to add storage inside cupboards, wardrobes and of course behind the back of doors! Requiring no tools or fixings, they will simply slot over the top of your doors, providing hanging storage for things like coats and scarves. Smaller versions exist for kitchen cupboard doors too, making them ideal for things like tea towels.
5. Hang items on your kitchen wall
Instead of a kitchen counter top utensil holder, a hanging wall rack in your kitchen can help to save valuable counter space. Everything from magnetic knife holders to spice racks can be attached to kitchen walls to free up more space and keep things more organised.
6. Transfer irregular shaped kitchen essentials into reusable containers
The big benefit of transferring things like sugar, flour, tea, coffee and so on into reusable containers is that they are sturdy and stackable, so you’ll be able to store more in the same amount of space.
Choose square or rectangular-shaped storage canisters so they can be place side by side, with more stacked on top to make the best use of all available space inside your cupboards.
7. Organise craft and DIY supplies
For crafty types, it’s easy for collections of paint, yarn, fabric and so on to start taking over the house! The easiest way to get your craft supplies organised and to make them easier to find when you need them, is to get them stored away into suitable storage.
Portable plastic storage drawers, plastic containers with lids and even shelving units will help keep things need and tidy and for yarn hoarders, using a large zippered bag is a great way to keep all of your yarn in once place, along with your collection of knitting needles!
The same goes for DIY items which can quickly accumulate and grow into a vast collection of rarely used gadgets and gizmos, store them together out of the way in a cupboard, utility room, shed or garage.
8. Be ruthless and throw it out!
When it comes to clothing, did you know the average woman owns 7 pairs and jeans and the average man owns 6 pairs? When it comes to clothing, you’re probably guilty of having multiple items in your wardrobe that you just don’t wear.
As a general rule, if it’s not been worn in the past 12 months, then it’s likely to be taking up unnecessary space in your wardrobe. Be ruthless. Anything that doesn’t fit, that’s looking worn and tatty or that rarely gets worn should be thrown out.
Anything new or still in good condition should be taken to your local charity shop, or try your luck by selling it somewhere like eBay, but whatever you do, don’t keep clothes you don’t wear cluttering up your wardrobe.
9. Store seasonal items away
One of the easiest ways to create a bit more space is to make sure you only have items in your home that you need and use on a day to day basis. If you have a garage or shed, then rarely used items like step ladders, wallpaper pasting tables, decorating supplies, sporting accessories and so on, should be stored out the way.
The same applies for seasonal clothing, so in Autumn, move all of your summer clothing into a suitcase and up into the attic and come Spring, swap your winter wardrobe for your summer clothing.
If you don’t have a garage or shed, then relegate the things you don’t often use or seasonal clothing up into the attic or failing that, the spare room so they aren’t in your way and taking up space, but you’ll still know where to find them should you need them!
10. The floor is not storage!
We’ve all done it, taken clothes off after a shower or after a long and tiring day and simply dropped them on the floor, leaving future-you, or your spouse, with the task of tidying up after you.
Making sure you have a laundry basket in a strategic, logical place (for example in your en-suite bathroom or on the landing) will make it much easier and far less likely that you’ll be tempted to leave dirty laundry on the floor. Putting things into the laundry basket really does make life easier and if your kids are finding it a challenge, consider placing their own pop-up laundry hamper right in their bedroom. The same goes for toys too.
Get them into the habit from a young age of putting toys away after they are played with, a large plastic container makes the ideal toy box and means there’s no excuse for leaving (and potentially tripping over) clothing or toys strewn around on the floor!
Still in need of inspiration? Check out Marie Kondo’s 10 tips to make you more tidy now.
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