Ample storage space is the feature most likely to create envy amongst friends and family, according to research by housebuilder Redrow. Almost a third of homeowners say ample storage space is a ‘must have’ feature if they were purchasing a new home.
Redrow has teamed up with organisational expert and author Vicky Silverthorn to refresh tricky spaces and ‘hack’ your current storage.
Vicky said: “A change in seasons is the perfect opportunity to organise, clearing yourself of unwanted items and ensuring those kept are stored sufficiently to avoid making your home feel cluttered. The most common mistake people make when reorganising their home is buying too much storage – specifically smaller items which make countertops cluttered or make large spaces look small.
"Consider which areas help maximise the space and think about how to utilise the space you do have in a smarter way. It may seem easy to organise your home by adding more storage items but it’s important to look at the space you already have and make use of unused areas.”
Vicky's Tips for Hacking Your Storage Space
- Unpack and stay put: Make sure when you move home that you are never putting things away and saying you’ll come back and do it properly later, it never happens and five years later the items are still in the wrong place. It’s so hard to find that time again. Use your time to unpack properly so that there isn’t any rushing around and you don’t have to do it again doubling up in work.
- Get creative with your wall space: One of the most underutilised storage spaces in a home is wall space, for space saving it is understandable that homeowners don’t want to close in the space by adding too many cupboards but by thinking vertically you can keep a light and spacious feel whilst still incorporating sensible storage. This is particularly beneficial to new build homes with high ceilings and larger windows that allow for light to flood in and floating shelves or open shelving can be a great help.
- Embrace your utility room: Utility rooms are the crème de la crème of storage spaces, offering a dedicated space for organisation and with some small additions can double as a mudroom that benefits the whole family. Adding hooks at two different heights to allow children to hang coats and bags themselves helps reinforce tidiness from a young age and makes use of the vertical space available. Purchasing a bench that has a cubby holes for shoes can really elevate the space and offer a mixed-use piece of furniture that will stop shoes piling up by the front door. These areas always need decluttering seasonally.
- Choose smart furniture: When purchasing furniture, it’s very easy to only think about the aesthetic however, this is a vital moment to take a step back and think about the overall design and make sure it is practical as well as beautiful. Be clever with the furniture you choose and opt for items that will maximise the space on hand. In a bedroom opting for an ottoman bed allows you to utilise the floor space as a dual-purpose area and switching out bedside tables for two small chests of drawers will be both aesthetically pleasing whilst also delivering significantly more storage space.
- Before you do anything, declutter: Even if you decluttered before moving whilst packing, view unpacking as a secondary opportunity to declutter and take a hard view as to whether you really need it. If you need the space ask yourself the question Can I live without this in my life? Often it makes the decision more obvious.
