Does the thought of home storage make you want to run for the hills? If the closets are packed, the basement is bursting and you’re still wondering where to store this year’s holiday decorations, you’re not alone! With a few creative uses of space, a great product and a little ingenuity your home will be transformed into a simple storage mecca.
Smart Storage
Assessing your storage options is an important way to maximize your space. Start with the most obvious place…your closets! Make the most of the space in your closet by doubling up on clothes rods. Place double rods at different heights so that skirts and trousers can go on the lower rod while lighter items like blouses and sweaters can stay on the top. Place all similar items together and add some lighting to ensure that you can see all the brilliant outfit possibilities. Customize shoe racks and shelves to make sure that like items are grouped together, so that when you need that special scarf or belt you’ll know where to look.
Old wooden hangers make great display options for scarves and keep them wrinkle free. Just loop them over the crossbar and make sure that there is enough space to see them all. The same can be done with belts. If you keep your shoes in shoe boxes, maximize ease of access by sticking descriptive post-its on the front of the boxes so that you always know which pair is inside.
Better Under the Bed
The space underneath your bed is a veritable oasis of storage potential – as long as you know how to keep it organized!
Invest in Ziploc® brand Big Bags to help consolidate the amount of space your items take up. Especially good for storing seasonal items, these handy bags are flexible and can fit into smaller spaces than clunky tubs can. In addition to putting these under the bed they make excellent attic or basement space savers.
Another solution for the under-the-bed blues is to create a customized system. An easy, inexpensive way to do this is to buy a drawer kit. Make sure that the depth of the drawers will fit your space under the bed and then add on an extra 6 centimetres. Once you have assembled the draws, mount some caster wheels on the bottom of the drawers so that they will roll out easily.
Creative Concepts
A common misconception when it comes to storage is that it has to come in the form of bins or shelves. Quite to the contrary, there are lots of items you probably already have around the house that can be excellent storage solutions. All you need is a little imagination! For kid’s toys and colourful odds and ends like yarn try using hanging wire baskets that you might normally use for fruit or veggies.
Store holiday decorations in a cardboard wine box or egg carton. For the smaller, more delicate ornaments be sure to stick them in a Ziploc® brand Container first.
Small colourful fingerbowls or porcelain tea cups can make delightfully decorative holders for jewellery that you wear on a regular basis. Place one on your bedside table so that you’ll have a place to rest those diamond studs while you’re snoozing.
Ingenuity and imagination are the best way to make your home storage, simple, stylish and smart! Remember these three “s” and you’ll be good to go.
