Decorating
How to Smarten Up Your Storage
Find the right formula to accommodate your belongings without sacrificing your style
Have a look around your home with a critical eye, ready to zone in on problem areas. Poor storage solutions mean more mess and, often, a bubbling undercurrent of irritation.
If you’re ready to make changes, take a look at these simple solutions to see if there’s something in the mix that could lighten our daily load.
If you’re ready to make changes, take a look at these simple solutions to see if there’s something in the mix that could lighten our daily load.
Go bespoke
Built-in wardrobes work harder and take up less space than their freestanding equivalents – and they tend to look neater, too.
Create a bank of full-length cabinets and take them to the ceiling to avoid the dreaded dust trap. Although you’ll need a step to reach higher cupboards, the extra space is ideal for storing out-of-season clothes, holiday gear or bed linen.
These capacious closets feature oversized wooden handles to match the scale of the doors and provide easy opening. A mirror by the window lightens up the area and reduces any shadows created by the wardrobes.
Need a professional to help? Find joiners and carpenters near you.
Built-in wardrobes work harder and take up less space than their freestanding equivalents – and they tend to look neater, too.
Create a bank of full-length cabinets and take them to the ceiling to avoid the dreaded dust trap. Although you’ll need a step to reach higher cupboards, the extra space is ideal for storing out-of-season clothes, holiday gear or bed linen.
These capacious closets feature oversized wooden handles to match the scale of the doors and provide easy opening. A mirror by the window lightens up the area and reduces any shadows created by the wardrobes.
Need a professional to help? Find joiners and carpenters near you.
Find a slimline solution
Swerve problem shoe storage with a wall-mounted cabinet near the front door. Rather than a rack, which could become a dumping ground for hats and bags, this specially designed cupboard has compartments that pull out on a hinge for quick cramming and concealed mess.
Here’s how to get an organised hallway.
Swerve problem shoe storage with a wall-mounted cabinet near the front door. Rather than a rack, which could become a dumping ground for hats and bags, this specially designed cupboard has compartments that pull out on a hinge for quick cramming and concealed mess.
Here’s how to get an organised hallway.
Put your feet up
Rather than either a sofa and coffee table combo or a sofa with in-built chaise section, try a separate storage ottoman to kill two birds with one stone.
Designed with a hinged lid and one large interior compartment, a stool such as this can store a decent amount of stuff while still providing additional seating when needed.
To use it as a coffee table, simply top with a high-sided tray for extra stability.
Rather than either a sofa and coffee table combo or a sofa with in-built chaise section, try a separate storage ottoman to kill two birds with one stone.
Designed with a hinged lid and one large interior compartment, a stool such as this can store a decent amount of stuff while still providing additional seating when needed.
To use it as a coffee table, simply top with a high-sided tray for extra stability.
Consider a garden refresh
It may seem counterintuitive, but painting your outside storage in a dark colour can actually help it to fade into the background, as it acts as a foil for foliage.
Don’t fret that a black shed would require a matching fence – as this sharp space shows, you can combine a dark painted surface with natural wood for a pleasing mix of textures.
It may seem counterintuitive, but painting your outside storage in a dark colour can actually help it to fade into the background, as it acts as a foil for foliage.
Don’t fret that a black shed would require a matching fence – as this sharp space shows, you can combine a dark painted surface with natural wood for a pleasing mix of textures.
Add accent lighting
How a room is lit can make a massive difference to its overall feel and usability. Statement lighting beneath shelves will illuminate your belongings, making any display dazzle, as well as providing a soft, indirect glow for the rest of the room.
LED lighting strips can be fitted to existing shelves – providing you have a nearby power source – but the easiest thing to do is design shelves with a lip at the front to hide wiring.
How a room is lit can make a massive difference to its overall feel and usability. Statement lighting beneath shelves will illuminate your belongings, making any display dazzle, as well as providing a soft, indirect glow for the rest of the room.
LED lighting strips can be fitted to existing shelves – providing you have a nearby power source – but the easiest thing to do is design shelves with a lip at the front to hide wiring.
Rework your washroom
Bathrooms tend to suffer from a lack of planned storage, but this elegant space is proof that you can create organisational opportunities without compromising on style.
Rather than a crammed rail, choose a luggage-style rack to hang hand towels and stack fresh linens ready for use. Double up on mirrored medicine cabinets for barely there beauty storage and more reflected light. Or just keep it simple and swap your basin mirror for one with a handy shelf to stash a few essentials.
Bathrooms tend to suffer from a lack of planned storage, but this elegant space is proof that you can create organisational opportunities without compromising on style.
Rather than a crammed rail, choose a luggage-style rack to hang hand towels and stack fresh linens ready for use. Double up on mirrored medicine cabinets for barely there beauty storage and more reflected light. Or just keep it simple and swap your basin mirror for one with a handy shelf to stash a few essentials.
Shelve the TV cabinet
Don’t sacrifice a whole wall of potential storage for the sake of a tiny TV cabinet that will never hold more than a few dusty DVDs. It’s far more effective to design joinery that accommodates your screen (and hides cables), while at the same time providing a home for more attractive items.
This bespoke unit features shelves for displaying art and other objet, with drawers underneath for more substantial storage. Despite the final product being more conspicuous than a small cupboard, the effect is to take the focus away from the TV.
Tell us…
Which of these smart storage solutions would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Don’t sacrifice a whole wall of potential storage for the sake of a tiny TV cabinet that will never hold more than a few dusty DVDs. It’s far more effective to design joinery that accommodates your screen (and hides cables), while at the same time providing a home for more attractive items.
This bespoke unit features shelves for displaying art and other objet, with drawers underneath for more substantial storage. Despite the final product being more conspicuous than a small cupboard, the effect is to take the focus away from the TV.
Tell us…
Which of these smart storage solutions would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Snag a bit of extra storage above the sofa with a set of sleek shelves. This otherwise wasted space lends itself to displaying ornamental pieces, as well as neat stacks of books.
Floating shelves (like these) are hollow boxes supported on rods that screw securely into the wall. Opt for traditional brackets instead if your plasterwork winces at the sight of a drawing pin and requires more support.