Storage ideas for small spaces on a budget

Easy tips on how to improve storage and space in the home

Improving storage and space in the home always helps to achieve a happier and more effective environment in which to live and work. Because with our busy lives and ever-evolving homes, it is understandable for us to sometimes feel overwhelmed by all our possessions and limited space.

Keeping it together

In my profession as an interior designer and stylist, I find that space is an issue for everyone I work with. Categorising like-with-like items makes tidying up and finding things a doddle, it also gives other members of the household no excuse in not putting things away properly! Transparent storage boxes are often a godsend when trying to find things quickly, and uniformed labelling gives a more aesthetically pleasing look. Obviously, these good intentions of having everything in its place can be go askew over time, so a few minutes spent keeping on top of this every now and again saves so much time in the long-run and avoids overspending. Buying because we forgot that we had it already wastes time, money and the planet’s resources.

Images courtesy of Pinterest

Get creative with space

Storage needn’t be expensive or mundane. A row of jam jars or adapted milk cartons can be just as satisfying as something you buy in the shops. Afterall, it’s your home for you to express your own personal style. Making it fun also encourages others within the home to keep things tidy… a win-win in my book.

Easy tips on how to improve storage and space in the homeImage courtesy of blog.makezine.com and Pinterest

Get personal

Give each person in the household a storage basket or a personalised cloth-bag hung near the stairs. Any loose odds and ends belonging to that person can be deposited there. Make it a regular weekly habit for each person to take responsibility in clearing it out and putting it away.

Storage ideas for small spaces on a budgetImage courtesy of www.prettymaison.co.uk Pinterest

Accessing all areas

Nothing benefits from being stuffed at the back of a cupboard, only to be forgotten. Good storage should be easy to access to avoid repeat purchases being made. Using transparent open boxes as drawers in low-level cupboards makes it easier to find those forgotten items that are usually stuffed in the back.

Smaller items are also often lost within standard cupboards and drawers. Hanging shoe organisers on the inside of cupboard doors for a multitude of small items makes clearing away a doddle. This is useful for small bathrooms, kitchen cleaning products, bedrooms…actually, ANYWHERE in the house can benefit from this! The beauty of it is that it easily accessible, discreet and helps create clutter-free surfaces. Stick to lighter-weight items on the back of doors to minimise stress on the hinges. You may need to reduce the depth of the shelves slightly inside the cupboard to allow room.

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Improving storage by optimising shelves

Standard sized bookcases are a prime example of how space is sometimes under-utilised. There is usually some untapped storage space inside wardrobes and cupboards. I tend to prefer bookcases with adaptable shelving heights, so that this can be customised specifically for the objects being stored.

Consider building shelves and/or cupboards right up to the ceiling. This takes full advantage of every part of the vertical space. Most tall bookcases are around 1.8 metres high, however adding storage right up to the ceiling can often make a room feel larger. Painting or wallpapering the back of the shelf unit in a different finish gives an added element of interest. Flat-pack units can be easily customised, for example by adding a wood trim to the top and/or sides.

Easy tips on how to improve storage and space in the homeImages courtesy of Pinterest

Bulldog clips and velcro

Is there anything these Bad Boys can’t do! Here is an ingenious way of using bulldog clips to organise office wires. I have also used bulldog clips to hold vinyl record covers as artwork on a living room wall. Velcro is a great way of keeping items/wires off the floor and maximising storage space on the side/bottom of a piece of furniture. Most hardware stores now sell Velcro and hooks on a glue-free, removable backing.

Image courtesy of wired.com

Use it, mend it or sell it

It’s said that we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. In my experience, this ratio can often be used throughout the home’s cupboards and dark corners. An item that no longer serves a purpose in the present or future becomes unnecessary clutter. Recognising that our tastes and lifestyle requirements can change over time allows us to let go of our attachment to certain items that no longer serve a purpose in our lives. I’m a big believer in mending repurposing, donating to re-selling unwanted items to make for a more enjoyable and effective interior.

Setting aside a short, pre-set amount of time with an alarm clock is a great way to make a start. Even just a few sessions can make a noticeable difference… so let’s get going!