Storage Ideas
Storage has always been a problem since mankind first began collecting possessions.
The only difference now is that our treasured possessions and homes have becomes much more hi-tech and sophisticated.
Clearing out clutter is a great way to let go of the past and move forward with your life.
Get a family or a friend to help as they will not have the emotional attachment to articles.
Start by having a purge of all your outdated items.
Check everything you have stashed away in cupboards, wardrobes or even under the bed.
When did you last use or wear them? The chances are, if the item is covered in dust and/or has not seen the light of day in a couple of years, it is never going to again.
Tackling one room at a time is the best solution.
It is easy to get disheartened trying to organise your whole house in full swoop and if you do you will probably find yourself moving junk from one room to another.
Next decide what you want to achieve with the room.
If you want it to double up, for example, using your spare room as an office, you will need to consider realistically how much time you use it as a bedroom and how much as an office.
You can then move on to dividing up the space and allocating it according to you needs.
If you can, section off each space, with a screen for instance.
In your office space create a filing system that will work in practice.
For example, use attractive, labelled boxes to store documents that are not in constant use.
Make good use of the walls with floor to ceiling shelving, keeping all the items that you use the least at the top and the closest shelf space for those bits and pieces you use the most.
A good filing system will make sure your desk space stays clear for everyday use.
*Kitchens and Bathrooms For storage purposes and in the case of a small kitchen you need to consider what you want and need in this room.
Are you a keen cook? Most seasoned cooks prefer a smaller kitchen where everything is conveniently to hand.
Take a look at the gadgets you have and what you are actually using.
Those that aren't in regular use should be given a new home.
Fitted units are great as they make the most use of the available space.
Regularly review space in your cupboard/larder and fridge so that foods do not sit there unnoticed for months on end until they grow legs and walk out by themselves! When tiling either a kitchen or bathroom the general rule of thumb is that the smaller the tile the larger the space appears to be - hence the popularity of mosaic style tiles in bathrooms.
Mirrors will make a room seem larger and opposite windows they reflect light back into the room.
*Halls and Stairways Your hall is the first place in your home to drop items like shoes and coats.
Where possible provide plenty of cupboard space to hide bulky pairs of shoes so there is less temptation to abandon them on the floor.
Shoe racks come in handy here as well.
Stairwells, if wide enough, make great display areas for large attractive items or breakables out of harm's way hung securely on the wall or on high glass shelving.
Spiral staircases are the space saving staircase ideal.
Open or cantilevered stairs give more of an appearance of space and stairs can also be adapted to provide storage space in pull out drawers under each step as well as under stairs storage or small office areas *Children's Rooms The younger the child is the simpler the room should be.
It is only as a child grows they will need more storage.
In children's rooms make storage ideas fun and at the right level to interest children in putting toys and books away for themselves.
Use plenty of colours on toy cupboards and shelving with child friendly paint, which you can get at any of the major DIY stores.
High shelves in cupboards or on walls can be used for linen.
Just re-arrange as they get bigger.
Coloured plastic boxes make ideal toy storage.
Not only are they cheap and readily available but also hard wearing and waterproof.
Fitting rollers on the bottom of the bins with a rope pulley that can be pulled out by a child and taken to wherever he/she playing to play with toys and then pulled back at the end of play hopefully with the toys back inside making it easier for children to take responsibility for their favourite toy especially the bitty ones like lego keeping them all together.
A pinboard is an excellent home for children's artwork so that each masterpiece can easily be substituted for the latest.
*Generally Use natural light and space.
Check what is beyond the window to increase feeling of space keep shrubs and plants at a low level and trees away from the house.
Putting a dado rail in at a lower height than normal will make a ceiling seem higher and using wider skirting will visually appear to lower the height of the ceiling.
Horizontal and vertical lines etc...
Increase space by being consistent with the flooring throughout different levels of the property.
*Finally Whatever space you are tackling make sure your wonderful new storage system works for you and is something you can keep up in years to come with minimum effort.
The only difference now is that our treasured possessions and homes have becomes much more hi-tech and sophisticated.
Clearing out clutter is a great way to let go of the past and move forward with your life.
Get a family or a friend to help as they will not have the emotional attachment to articles.
Start by having a purge of all your outdated items.
Check everything you have stashed away in cupboards, wardrobes or even under the bed.
When did you last use or wear them? The chances are, if the item is covered in dust and/or has not seen the light of day in a couple of years, it is never going to again.
Tackling one room at a time is the best solution.
It is easy to get disheartened trying to organise your whole house in full swoop and if you do you will probably find yourself moving junk from one room to another.
Next decide what you want to achieve with the room.
If you want it to double up, for example, using your spare room as an office, you will need to consider realistically how much time you use it as a bedroom and how much as an office.
You can then move on to dividing up the space and allocating it according to you needs.
If you can, section off each space, with a screen for instance.
In your office space create a filing system that will work in practice.
For example, use attractive, labelled boxes to store documents that are not in constant use.
Make good use of the walls with floor to ceiling shelving, keeping all the items that you use the least at the top and the closest shelf space for those bits and pieces you use the most.
A good filing system will make sure your desk space stays clear for everyday use.
*Kitchens and Bathrooms For storage purposes and in the case of a small kitchen you need to consider what you want and need in this room.
Are you a keen cook? Most seasoned cooks prefer a smaller kitchen where everything is conveniently to hand.
Take a look at the gadgets you have and what you are actually using.
Those that aren't in regular use should be given a new home.
Fitted units are great as they make the most use of the available space.
Regularly review space in your cupboard/larder and fridge so that foods do not sit there unnoticed for months on end until they grow legs and walk out by themselves! When tiling either a kitchen or bathroom the general rule of thumb is that the smaller the tile the larger the space appears to be - hence the popularity of mosaic style tiles in bathrooms.
Mirrors will make a room seem larger and opposite windows they reflect light back into the room.
*Halls and Stairways Your hall is the first place in your home to drop items like shoes and coats.
Where possible provide plenty of cupboard space to hide bulky pairs of shoes so there is less temptation to abandon them on the floor.
Shoe racks come in handy here as well.
Stairwells, if wide enough, make great display areas for large attractive items or breakables out of harm's way hung securely on the wall or on high glass shelving.
Spiral staircases are the space saving staircase ideal.
Open or cantilevered stairs give more of an appearance of space and stairs can also be adapted to provide storage space in pull out drawers under each step as well as under stairs storage or small office areas *Children's Rooms The younger the child is the simpler the room should be.
It is only as a child grows they will need more storage.
In children's rooms make storage ideas fun and at the right level to interest children in putting toys and books away for themselves.
Use plenty of colours on toy cupboards and shelving with child friendly paint, which you can get at any of the major DIY stores.
High shelves in cupboards or on walls can be used for linen.
Just re-arrange as they get bigger.
Coloured plastic boxes make ideal toy storage.
Not only are they cheap and readily available but also hard wearing and waterproof.
Fitting rollers on the bottom of the bins with a rope pulley that can be pulled out by a child and taken to wherever he/she playing to play with toys and then pulled back at the end of play hopefully with the toys back inside making it easier for children to take responsibility for their favourite toy especially the bitty ones like lego keeping them all together.
A pinboard is an excellent home for children's artwork so that each masterpiece can easily be substituted for the latest.
*Generally Use natural light and space.
Check what is beyond the window to increase feeling of space keep shrubs and plants at a low level and trees away from the house.
Putting a dado rail in at a lower height than normal will make a ceiling seem higher and using wider skirting will visually appear to lower the height of the ceiling.
Horizontal and vertical lines etc...
Increase space by being consistent with the flooring throughout different levels of the property.
*Finally Whatever space you are tackling make sure your wonderful new storage system works for you and is something you can keep up in years to come with minimum effort.