A clean space does wonders for your emotional and physical health as well as for productivity. However, life gets busy, we accumulate things and it can be difficult to keep things organized (especially if you are living in a smaller home with limited space).
There are several effective home storage strategies, that can help you maximize the space you have, minimize clutter, and create a neat and organized environment that fosters peace and tranquility.
No matter what size space you live in, mastering the art of home storage is the key to simplifying your life and creating a space you love to live in.
Below are a number of practical and creative storage solutions that will help you streamline your space.
Assess Your Needs:
The very first step in organizing your home is to identify which areas of your space have accumulated clutter, what you would be prepared to donate, what you absolutely need (or want) to keep, and what could potentially go into storage.
The best thing to do is to take a comprehensive inventory of your belongings, considering items that are frequently used, seasonal, or rarely accessed. Determine which items can be stored together based on function or usage patterns and prioritize spaces that tend to accumulate clutter, such as closets, cabinets, and countertops.
Declutter and Purge:
After you’ve assessed your needs, it’s time to get rid of those things that you identified. Let Marie Kondo inspire you – if it doesn’t spark joy or serve a practical purpose in your life, it’s time to let it go!
Donate or discard items that no longer bring you joy or serve a purpose and, we know it’s hard, but be ruthless! Remember, less is often more when it comes to home storage, so embrace the opportunity to simplify your surroundings and create space for what truly matters.
Maximize Vertical Space:
Never overlook vertical space in your home, it is underrated and could help solve your storage issues. Maximize your wall space by installing shelves, cabinets, or floating shelves to store books, decorative items, or everyday essentials.
Hooks or organizers that hang over the back of the door can be used to hang towels, coats, or even accessories in closets or entryways.
Making use of vertical space in your home allows you to free up floor space while creating a visually appealing storage solution that adds both form and function to your home.
Invest in Multi-Functional Furniture:
Another overlooked trick. If you are living in a small space (or even if you aren’t) multi-functional furniture pieces are amazing for storing or organizing.
Invest in ottomans or coffee tables that have built-in storage compartments to store blankets, pillows, or board games. Consider bed frames that have built-in drawers to maximize space in bedrooms and eliminate the need for bulky dressers or nightstands.
Having furniture that serves a dual purpose in your home allows you to optimize space and streamline your storage options without sacrificing style or comfort.
Group Similar Items Together:
Organize your belongings by grouping similar items together based on function, category, or usage frequency. Designate specific storage areas for different types of items, such as clothing, kitchen supplies, or hobby materials.
Hot tip: get your own label maker because having labeled bins, baskets, or storage containers to organize smaller items into is a game changer.
By maintaining a sense of order and cohesion within each storage zone, you can streamline your storage system and simplify the process of locating and retrieving items as needed.
Create a Command Center:
If you have kids or a lot of people living in one space, this is definitely something you should do.
Establish a centralized command center in your home to keep important documents, schedules, and supplies organized and easily accessible. Designate a wall or bulletin board for displaying calendars, to-do lists, and reminders, and use labeled folders or binders to store important paperwork, such as bills, receipts, or medical records.
By including a designated area for keys, mail, and other everyday essentials you can easily prevent clutter from accumulating on countertops or entryways.
Rotate Seasonal Items:
If you have very little space at home, it might be a good idea to get a self-storage unit and keep seasonal items packed away in the off-season. Store clothing, decorations, or recreational equipment that you don’t need in labeled bins or storage units and rotate them in and out of storage as needed. Discover a range of self storage solutions to suit your needs.
Maintain Regular Maintenance:
Once you get organized, you have to stay organized (this is where the real work is). Try to put things away as you use them, failing that set-aside time each week to tidy up and put items back in their designated places.
Every now and then, you should also try to conduct decluttering sessions to reassess your storage needs and purge any unnecessary items. By staying proactive and consistent with your organizational efforts, you can maintain a clutter-free home and enjoy the benefits of simplified living year-round.
Keeping your home organized and neat will help create an environment where you can relax and enjoy spending your down time. Organization is about being creative and coming up with sustainable storage solutions. Make use of hidden spaces and furniture as extra areas for storage and be sure to keep up with the organization on a daily basis, it is not just a once-off. Storage units are a great way to have extra space without having to get a bigger home.
