Storage & Organisation
7 Places You Forgot to Declutter
Is your home all spring-cleaned and spruced? Are you sure? Revisit these common clutter culprits to check...
A spring cleaning frenzy may have been and gone in your household, but did you leave some classic clutter spots untouched? If you’re happy with that, hurrah. But if you’d like to create more meaningful storage and boost the sense of calm an organised home can give you, roll up your sleeves and read on.
Home office desk
Working from home provides a certain freedom, but with that comes the potential tyranny of never being able to switch off, because your desk is right there. Without co-workers’ side-eyes to worry about, it’s easy simply never to tidy up, keeping all those to-do lists, pens, water bottles and paperwork poised for use at all times.
But feast your eyes on this zen-like vision designed by Folds Inside and imagine another way… As they say, tidy desk, tidy mind.
Consider commandeering some nearby closed storage. If you have an in-tray or basket, sweep everything into it at the end of the day and shut it behind those doors or stash it inside a drawer reserved for the purpose. And be strict about clearing away cups and pens at the end of every day, too.
If homeworking is likely to be a long-term prospect, it could be worth opting for bespoke joinery tailored around everything you need to store and hide.
Browse homeowner reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory to find a cabinet-maker in your area.
Working from home provides a certain freedom, but with that comes the potential tyranny of never being able to switch off, because your desk is right there. Without co-workers’ side-eyes to worry about, it’s easy simply never to tidy up, keeping all those to-do lists, pens, water bottles and paperwork poised for use at all times.
But feast your eyes on this zen-like vision designed by Folds Inside and imagine another way… As they say, tidy desk, tidy mind.
Consider commandeering some nearby closed storage. If you have an in-tray or basket, sweep everything into it at the end of the day and shut it behind those doors or stash it inside a drawer reserved for the purpose. And be strict about clearing away cups and pens at the end of every day, too.
If homeworking is likely to be a long-term prospect, it could be worth opting for bespoke joinery tailored around everything you need to store and hide.
Browse homeowner reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory to find a cabinet-maker in your area.
Bookshelves
Chances are your bookshelves contain a lot more than books. Shelving like this, designed by Barbara Genda, is the perfect spot for displaying selected decorative objects and propping postcards and the like.
Too many bits and bobs, however, can quickly turn into clutter – especially when the shelves also become a dumping ground for letters to deal with, bits of broken things you keep intending to mend, small items you don’t have a home for, spent scented candles… Is this all starting to sound familiar?
Clear everything that doesn’t belong on the shelves, rehousing items in their rightful homes or dealing with them, and give each shelf a good dust. If you feel unable to maintain your shelves as a no-dumping zone, consider an attractive box or basket in which all shelf-cluttering items can be hidden out of sight (and ideally dealt with in one go).
You might also like 7 Places You May Have Forgotten to Clean.
Chances are your bookshelves contain a lot more than books. Shelving like this, designed by Barbara Genda, is the perfect spot for displaying selected decorative objects and propping postcards and the like.
Too many bits and bobs, however, can quickly turn into clutter – especially when the shelves also become a dumping ground for letters to deal with, bits of broken things you keep intending to mend, small items you don’t have a home for, spent scented candles… Is this all starting to sound familiar?
Clear everything that doesn’t belong on the shelves, rehousing items in their rightful homes or dealing with them, and give each shelf a good dust. If you feel unable to maintain your shelves as a no-dumping zone, consider an attractive box or basket in which all shelf-cluttering items can be hidden out of sight (and ideally dealt with in one go).
You might also like 7 Places You May Have Forgotten to Clean.
Bedside table
Dusty water, pens, hand cream, jewellery, more books than you’re currently reading… What’s on your bedside table right now?
Make the first thing you see in the morning a calming view by imposing discipline on the surface of your unit. Make room for a plant, as seen in this bedroom by Amber Interiors, to soothe the senses, an attractive water jug and glass, and one – max two – books. Everything else can be kept out of sight or tidied away elsewhere if not required nightly.
A bedside cabinet with a drawer, like this, is ideal for allowing the top surface to remain tidy while still having everything to hand. A basket or lidded box beneath a shelf will work to the same end.
You might also like 7 Hardworking Headboards That Double Up as Storage.
Dusty water, pens, hand cream, jewellery, more books than you’re currently reading… What’s on your bedside table right now?
Make the first thing you see in the morning a calming view by imposing discipline on the surface of your unit. Make room for a plant, as seen in this bedroom by Amber Interiors, to soothe the senses, an attractive water jug and glass, and one – max two – books. Everything else can be kept out of sight or tidied away elsewhere if not required nightly.
A bedside cabinet with a drawer, like this, is ideal for allowing the top surface to remain tidy while still having everything to hand. A basket or lidded box beneath a shelf will work to the same end.
You might also like 7 Hardworking Headboards That Double Up as Storage.
Food container drawer
Whether you have a matching Tupperware collection, a set of glass lidded containers or a collection of old plastic takeaway boxes repurposed for storage, is it under control?
It can be hard to, ahem, contain such containers – and why can you never find the lid to the one you want to use when you need it? Go through your collection – bin or repurpose pieces that aren’t complete, are broken or never get used because they’re your least favourite (there’s always at least one). And do you have more than you need?
Before you move on, think: are you storing your containers in the optimum spot? Is there a more practically positioned or proportioned cupboard, drawer or box for them? If so, make the swap now (decluttering the new space as you go).
Now consider your storage style: depending on your available space, one route is to lid all your containers and stack them complete. It takes up more space, but stray lids or boxes with no tops will become a thing of the past. Second is to ape the ordered contents of this extremely pleasing set-up by QuikDrawers with a bespoke solution.
Whether you have a matching Tupperware collection, a set of glass lidded containers or a collection of old plastic takeaway boxes repurposed for storage, is it under control?
It can be hard to, ahem, contain such containers – and why can you never find the lid to the one you want to use when you need it? Go through your collection – bin or repurpose pieces that aren’t complete, are broken or never get used because they’re your least favourite (there’s always at least one). And do you have more than you need?
Before you move on, think: are you storing your containers in the optimum spot? Is there a more practically positioned or proportioned cupboard, drawer or box for them? If so, make the swap now (decluttering the new space as you go).
Now consider your storage style: depending on your available space, one route is to lid all your containers and stack them complete. It takes up more space, but stray lids or boxes with no tops will become a thing of the past. Second is to ape the ordered contents of this extremely pleasing set-up by QuikDrawers with a bespoke solution.
Daily dumping ground
The minute you walk through the door, there are typically things to off-load – stuff such as keys, post and general pocket debris. Unless you have a neat, dedicated spot for such bits and pieces, they will quickly create a cluttered surface.
Firstly, collect and sift through everything gravitating towards the dumping zone; remove the really random stuff, separate mysterious bunches of keys to deal with separately, and gather any other nearby debris to organise, too.
Now size up what’s left. If you’re reasonably minimal, a vintage box or nice basket may work; if not, consider asking a joiner to create a slimline cabinet like this one, designed by Signature Designs Kitchens and Bathrooms. Note the clever use of whiteboard, hooks and corkboard to give this space maximum function.
The minute you walk through the door, there are typically things to off-load – stuff such as keys, post and general pocket debris. Unless you have a neat, dedicated spot for such bits and pieces, they will quickly create a cluttered surface.
Firstly, collect and sift through everything gravitating towards the dumping zone; remove the really random stuff, separate mysterious bunches of keys to deal with separately, and gather any other nearby debris to organise, too.
Now size up what’s left. If you’re reasonably minimal, a vintage box or nice basket may work; if not, consider asking a joiner to create a slimline cabinet like this one, designed by Signature Designs Kitchens and Bathrooms. Note the clever use of whiteboard, hooks and corkboard to give this space maximum function.
Staircase
Constantly collecting things on your ground floor that belong upstairs? Unless you’re super organised and put them away immediately (in which case, hats off), they may accumulate on your stairs, especially if you’re relying on other members of the household to take them up with them. As it’s typically the first thing you see as you step through the front door, this can be particularly bothersome.
Obviously, tidying it all away is ideal – revealing a beautifully designed entrance like this one by Ruby Red Interiors. Not realistic? Consider a basket for the stairs or a series of hanging bags for each family member to organise the area. Or get everyone on board and brainstorm a new, neater regime!
Tell us…
Which are the neglected clutter spots in your home – and how do you keep on top of tidying them? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Constantly collecting things on your ground floor that belong upstairs? Unless you’re super organised and put them away immediately (in which case, hats off), they may accumulate on your stairs, especially if you’re relying on other members of the household to take them up with them. As it’s typically the first thing you see as you step through the front door, this can be particularly bothersome.
Obviously, tidying it all away is ideal – revealing a beautifully designed entrance like this one by Ruby Red Interiors. Not realistic? Consider a basket for the stairs or a series of hanging bags for each family member to organise the area. Or get everyone on board and brainstorm a new, neater regime!
Tell us…
Which are the neglected clutter spots in your home – and how do you keep on top of tidying them? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
What’s lurking in your living room’s lovely sideboard, like this one installed by Kia Designs, or those beautifully made alcove cabinets? If you’re nervous of opening the doors to find out, it could be time to tackle the area for good.
It’s an easy place to fill up with stuff you don’t really need but don’t want to look at. Am I right? Dated DVDs; old candles; random decorative objects; unedited boxes of photos; kids’ artwork dating back years… You get the idea.
Before going in for the attack, think first about what it would be more useful to store in this space. It may not be living room-related, but if it’s needed and taking up space you don’t have elsewhere, these cupboards – emptied – could be gold. So that’s your motivation.
Next, tackle your cupboard contents when you’re feeling ruthless. If you do need this space for something else, take a deep breath and embrace digital technology by selling, donating or recycling old films or music. Sort photos into types or albums and chuck those you can do without ever seeing again. Bin or give away things you won’t miss or never use. And anything linked to other parts of the house, relocate!