No matter how big or small your home might be, it can easily become overwhelming and stressful if your possessions have no set storage. Not everything is an object you necessarily want to display at all times, but if you are having trouble arranging your home, then clutter can quickly accumulate. This is far from unusual, but that doesn’t mean it is pleasant. If you live in a home that could benefit from a storage rethink, this room by room guide will help you make some positive changes around the house.
Kitchen
Some would consider the kitchen to be the most important part of a home. Since this is where food is prepared and often shared, this is understandable. However, it is difficult to enjoy the kitchen when it is cluttered with objects that haven’t been given their own homes. Figuring out the best way to store kitchen items depends on the category in question. Below are some of the main kitchen item categories and how you can store them better:
- How you store food is the most important storage consideration in the kitchen. This is because the temperature of the food will impact its hygiene and shelf life. Some foods should be kept in dark, dry places such as cupboards or pantries, while others must be refrigerated or frozen. Always follow the advice on the label.
- Small kitchen utensils and tools can easily spread themselves across various parts of the room, somehow finding hiding spots in the wrong drawers or being left on countertops. Set aside some time to clear out and rearrange your kitchen cabinets so that there are designated places for each item. This will make it easier to find when you need it.
- Items you use to serve food are sometimes decorative. You may have special dishes or a beautiful teapot that you don’t want to hide away in a cupboard. Find somewhere to display these items where they are both safe and accessible.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are just as important as kitchens but are rarely as full of objects. This is mostly because bathrooms tend to be smaller than kitchens and have less space for storage furniture. Installing shelves or cabinets on the walls of your bathroom can make the room more practical without taking up the floor space. Find somewhere to store your toiletries and bathroom cleaning products to avoid leaving them on surfaces that should be kept free from clutter. Objects that gather around the sink or in the shower are more likely to become moldy, but you can avoid this by storing your items away from moisture. Baskets and plastic bins are excellent for bathroom storage.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are usually where more sentimental and personal belongings are kept. A chest, trunk, or even a box can be the perfect way to safely store the items that mean a lot to you. If you choose a safe, make sure to have it attached to the wall or floor for maximum security. Most people also store their clothes in their bedrooms so that they can get dressed when they wake up. Keeping your clothes visible can make it more fun to get dressed in the morning. Hanging clothes on a rail or in a closet makes them easier to see and prevents creasing. You can find hangers at https://www.usa.mainetti.com/collections/plastic-hangers. If you prefer to keep your clothes in drawers, you can make the most of the space by rolling rather than folding the pieces so that they take up less room. Think about what storage furniture makes sense in the bedroom and take into consideration the layout and dimensions for the best results.
Living Room
The living room is usually where families congregate to relax together. It is also usually one of the bigger rooms in a home, meaning that there is more space for storage furniture. It’s important to find a balance between keeping your home free from excess clutter and making it feel too sterile to enjoy.
Children’s Rooms
If you have children, you will know just how impossible it is to maintain a completely tidy home when there are toys and games everywhere. You don’t need to restrict your child’s fun to find better storage solutions. Divide toys by type and give each category its own container. This will make it simpler for your kids to find the toys they want to play with. Encourage putting toys away when they are finished playing so that your home is tidier and the kids don’t grow bored of their belongings.
Garage
Homes with garages may appear tidier in the main rooms of the house, but the garage is often a secret cave of miscellaneous items with no designated home. While your exercise equipment, power tools, and car paraphernalia make sense in this environment, it still needs to be properly arranged. Perhaps you use your garage to store items that you don’t know whether to keep or get rid of, such as old toys or broken furniture that still has potential with just a bit of TLC and DIY. Take these into the house and make a decision. The initial effort is worth the freedom from clutter and the inability to use your garage for its intended purposes. You might find it gives you the motivation to upcycle that piece of furniture and give it an extra lease of life.
Office
Plenty of people now have home offices since working remotely has grown in popularity. If you use many devices for work, you might find yourself burdened by an excess of wires, chargers, and other technological clutter. Keeping categories separate is the key to maintaining a tidy office. Use plastic bins or drawers to store accessories for different devices so that you know exactly where to look when you need your camera charger or your external hard drive. If you want to take it to another level, use clips or tape to keep wires neat and orderly. The space will feel less distracting and cluttered once the various wires are tamed.
Not everyone has the same storage issues in their homes. This is a basic guide to help you come up with ideas about how to take full advantage of your storage options and make your home a more relaxing place to live.