We caught up with Mel Carruthers, from More Organised, for her top storage and organisation tips and her advice on how to maximise storage in every room of your home.
Mel’s top tips on how to maximise storage
First things first – declutter! Don’t waste valuable real estate in your home by storing things you don’t need. Be clear about the purpose of each room in your home, which will help you see what makes sense to keep in each one. Don’t keep different items from the same category in different places, as you’ll end up with more than you need, as well as wasting space.
Flexibility is also key. Just because a room has been designated for a particular use, doesn’t mean that you have to stick with that. If you want to install a pantry under the stairs or use the master bedroom and its built-in wardrobes for the children, go for it!
Don’t forget to look up! Use the vertical space in your home by adding shelving, using shelf-risers in existing cupboards, and choosing tall storage furniture.
Storage ideas to maximise your kitchen
For many, kitchens are the heart of the home, but they can be busy spaces, so it really pays to be ruthless when it comes to kitchen gadgets. Try and choose multi-functional cookware and appliances as much as possible.
Create more space in your cupboards by adding shelf-risers, and clear bins and baskets to categorise and contain your food and kitchenware.
Don’t be afraid to use rails and hooks to hang kitchen implements on the wall, over a cupboard door or on the back of doors. There are so many different combinations available from retailers to help you manage kitchen storage and organisation.
Keep frequently used items in the most accessible places and save the tops of kitchen cupboards or the back of the corner cupboards for items you don’t tend to use very often, it will make your life easier.
A final space-saving tip for your kitchen is to make sure you’re honest with yourself about the amount of space you have for food and utility items, although it’s tempting to stock up on sale items, don’t get carried away with bulk buying and special offers.
Adding storage to a bathroom
Bathrooms tend to have a lot of wasted space so take a good look at your bathroom (take photos if it helps) to work out where these areas are and to help you maximise space as much as possible. A popular bathroom storage idea is adding a cabinet underneath your pedestal sink, either by simply buying one that fits from a store or going bespoke and ask a joiner to make one for you.
Make sure your bathroom cabinet is working as hard as it can. Add extra shelving or small stacked containers to use all available vertical space. Remember you don’t need to store all your beauty and self-care items in the bathroom. Keep a ‘backstock’ somewhere where you have more space such as a linen closet or utility room. It helps you replace products only when they run out – again, no bulk buying unless you have to!
Maximising more storage in your bedroom
Your bedroom should be a relaxing haven, not just a storage space, so this is one room that is really worthwhile taking the time to declutter.
If clothes storage is a problem, be totally honest about what you actually wear and the storage space you have available. A session with a professional organiser can help you to focus on the clothes that make you look (and feel) fabulous and declutter the rest.
You can also pack up your out of season clothing and store it under the bed, on top of the wardrobe or even in a guest room. Use moth-proof storage options such as vacuum bags or lidded boxes and don’t forget to label them so you know what is in each. Storage under the bed is useful, but don’t forget about over the bed too. Shelving above the bed can be an attractive design feature, as well as the perfect place to keep books, favourite artwork and keepsakes.
In kids’ rooms, which can be smaller, consider bunk beds or cabin beds to make the most of the vertical space.
Space solutions for living rooms
There are plenty of options to maximise the space in your living room or lounge. Shelving is easy and inexpensive; you can shelf alcoves, install tall bookcases as design features or built-in window seats can also offer lots of storage.
Choose footstools, coffee tables and side tables that also double up as storage. These work particularly well for toys, magazines and paperwork. Out of season cushions and throws can also be stored away when not needed.
Living rooms can quickly be taken over by personal items such as music, film collections and books; but remember to declutter and think about whether or not you need them. Most of our favourite films and TV programmes are available digitally these days – so do you actually need the physical copy too?
Hallway and understairs storage ideas
The hallway is another room which can become easily cluttered. Mountains of coats and shoes which are not the most calming or inviting sight for guests when they first enter your home. Use baskets to separate each family member’s things. If you have the room, you could even add the on-trend ‘mudroom’ look with a freestanding rack or bench for space for everyone – and don’t forget the dog!
Narrow console tables and radiator covers provide a dedicated space for keys, as well as somewhere to display favourite plants, frames or ornaments, even in the narrowest hallway.
Utilise the space under your stairs by adding shelving and coat hooks to maximise the space for what you want to store. Understairs cupboards often come last on the DIY list, but properly planning how you use this space can solve many of your storage challenges throughout the home.
Mel has also shared her top Spring cleaning tips, perfect for anyone who has settled into a new home or downsized and needs to declutter. It’s not just helpful at spring time…
Tag us on Instagram @calahomes if you try out any of these tips!
