Have you ever found yourself watching video after video of someone restocking their fridge or organising their home storage, all the while knowing your own home needs more storage space and a good old clear out?
In recent years a popular trend on social media platforms, like TikTok, has emerged; videos clips of people restocking cupboards, micro-organising spaces and optimising storage solutions.
From refilling snack boxes and containers of cotton wool to whole-home storage makeovers – everyone is obsessed with ways to power up the home organisation.
What are the best solutions for creating extra storage space and making your home super organised?
As experts in storage solutions, we know a thing or two about optimising space efficiently. From shelf space, hidden storage and counter space to space-saving storage ideas to increase floor space, we have you covered.
Here are our top tips for organising the home and making any space in your home tip-top.
Before you start going crazy with the labelling gun and throwing everything into neat piles of chaos, have a quick look around the accessible storage space you already have in rooms like your dining room, laundry room and home office. If you are limited on built-in units or square footage, manage your limitations of how much you can fit into your home.
Learning how to create maximum storage space at home involves careful consideration of the hidden storage you already have available – including what boxes, units and cupboards are already in use.
A quick audit of what spaces you have for built-in storage can also identify new spaces that could be freed up with a little move around.
Working one room at a time, separate things into piles of short and long-term storage requirements; this is vital to know what things can be tucked away in the loft and what you will need regular access to.
· Stationery
· DIY tools
· Batteries
· Hobby equipment
· Sentimental yet surplus items – such as old photo albums or heirlooms
· Collectable items
· Seasonal clothing (like heavy winter coats)
· Christmas decorations
Once you have identified things that can be stored for longer periods of time, you can either hide them away in the loft or garage, or you consider other storage solutions find a local self-storage unit to get them out of the home safely.
How do you organise home storage in those hard to tidy areas of your home? We all have that one area where everything’s gets thrown at the end of the day.
Rather than constantly fighting with your clutter and moving things like keys and post from room to room, a great home organisation tip is to create systems for the things you do regularly and make a permanent home for them.
Find those areas which have miscellaneous piles and acknowledge that there may be a reason you and your family use these spots for these items. For example, the dining table is close to the door when you get home with keys in hand.
By using storage boxes, baskets and labels for these regular clutter areas, you can create a system that works with your existing habits.
Popular Netflix show ‘Watch tidying up with Marie Kondo’ is renowned for promoting the ruthless method of decluttering to optimise home storage. She is an advocate for reflecting on each item to decide if something either:
1) Has a purpose
2) Sparks a sense of joy
If it does neither. It’s a goner! This may seem obvious, but it is surprising how many items we hold onto ‘just in case' we need it.
Another way to dramatically create storage space at home is to have a 2:1 rule of keeping 2 things for every 1 you say goodbye to.
You’ll be surprised how much extra storage space you can make when you bunch things together. Optimising home storage may be as simple as categorising items together – regardless of which room they currently live in – and creating storage solutions for them as a category.
This works particularly well when making organisation and storage solutions for things like stationery, packing and art items which often find their way into many drawers and boxes in the home.
Once you have put these items together, you can sub categorise them further. For example, placing art items into a storage box, but using helpful draw dividers or smaller storage boxes to separate the paint from brushes, and paper from pens.
Every item has a place, and every place has the right storage solution! Before you run out and buy £300 worth of 60L storage boxes and throw all your home clutter out of sight, make a note of what type of storage solutions you need.
Home storage and organisation could include:
· Clear Perspex storage boxes
· Stacking containers
· Drawer organisers
· Tubs and containers
· Storage baskets
· Airlock bags
· Storage drawers
You might find that a combination of both works best to organise your home effectively. It is also worth measuring storage solutions in advance so you can be sure they can be stacked, stored and contained where you intend to put them.
Now the fun part!! Label guns are by far the most exciting invention to storage experts like us. Efficient labelling is vital – especially on items intended for long-term storage.
Optimise your home storage by ensuring everything you tuck away, especially in opaque boxes, is labelled well for easy identification. You don’t have to invest in a fancy label machine, sticky packing labels or even a pen will do the trick!
Here we come back full circle to those popular TikTok videos: restocking!
Whether you’ve created a great storage solution for your snack draw, optimised your bathroom cabinet or created extra storage for your golf club collection, don’t forget to check in often and make sure it’s all in order!
This is especially important for things you use regularly, including:
· Batteries
· Sellotape
· Napkins
· Toilet roll
· Cotton buds
· Envelopes
If you don’t have a garage or suitable attic space, why not consider storing them with us? We have storage spaces suitable for all your seasonal needs, and also have our handy accessory shop where you can get boxes, tape and more.
