subject: Storage Solutions for a Cluttered Home [print this page] Storage Solutions for a Cluttered Home Storage Solutions for a Cluttered Home
First, toss the items that are pointless. If clothing has not seen daylight in four years, give it away. It is merely taking up room in the closet. Once you remove useless items and unwearable clothing, it is time to think about what to do with everything else. There are many possible storage solutions.
Start with the garage or storage shed. Simple steel wall shelves and brackets for shelving are easy to install. For the best quality, purchase these from a reputable dealer. Another possibility is longspan racking and shelving. For instance, a medium duty, wide-span shelving starter bay, with four chipboard shelves. Mount pegboard on the walls for easy hanging of tools. Recycle other containers for storage use. Small jars can be washed and used for nails or screws. A simple two by four nailed to the wall can be a great place to hang tools. Metal racking and industrial racking are good options for a garage or shed.
Now it will be time to organize the house. The kitchen area is a good place to begin. Install a pull-out shelf or a lazy susan to make kitchen tools or spices more accessible in deep cabinets. Maximize drawer space by moving some utensils to a decorative container on the counter. Also, drawer organizers can help separate the various items in a drawer, saving room. Try putting racks under the cabinets to store attractive cups. One way to increase cabinet space is to install pot racks for pots and pans. A pull-out trash can will reduce clutter and free up floor space. Also, mount wire racks inside the top of cabinets or on doors to increase storage capacity. If everything has a specific place, the kitchen will look cleaner and brighter.
Next, tackle the home office area. If bills and correspondence are scattered about all over the house, a well-planned work zone will make life easier. There are many ways to increase office space. If the area is limited, try a corner desk. Desk area can also be increased with a desk hutch. Get books off of the desk and into the hutch. Wall shelves free up floor space and also reduce clutter. An attractive wardrobe can be modified to hold office equipment, which is convenient because the doors can be closed. This can also be a good way to hide the computer and printer if the room is not primarily an office. A filing cabinet is a must, or else the desk and the floor will become the resting place of files and papers. Do away with waste paper. Use a paper shredder to dispose of obsolete paper work. Storage solutions also include a variety of plastic containers for office or home. Containers of all shapes, sizes and prices can be found at www.esedirect.co.uk. These can help create order out of chaos, and ensure that everything has somewhere to go.
The bedrooms and living rooms will also need to be organized. There are many shelving possibilities for the home. Magazines and books should be in shelves, not on the floor or stacked on tables. Try buying furniture with more than one use. For instance, some coffee tables have drawers, shelves, or even baskets beneath the table top. Benches can often open to provide extra space for throws, blankets, or other items. Some beds come with drawers underneath, or headboards equipped with shelves and cabinets. If a "storage" bed is not feasible, purchase large containers that will slide under the bed. Remember that hanging shoe bags are useful for more than just shoes. Toys, make-up, toiletry items, or even jewelry can be placed in a plastic or canvas hanging shoe bag.
Lastly, the bathroom can be a nightmare to organize. So many tiny containers take up room in the cabinets and on the counter. As in the bedroom, a hanging shoe bag can be useful here. Also, try some tall corner shelves or shelves above the toilet. Mount a magazine rack to the side of the tank to keep magazines off of the floor and counter. Also, a hanging storage bag or mesh pocket, perhaps places over the shower curtain, is a good place to store shampoo and conditioner. Storage racks attached to the inside of cabinets can provide room for small bottles and other articles. Use clear or decorative canisters to store hair accessories. Be creative; many household containers can be used to attractively store items in the bathroom.
It is important for living space to be clean and attractive. A well organized home is a more relaxed and attractive place. Good storage and racking systemscan solve the problem of a cluttered, disheveled house or flat.
