Home Storage Solutions

Gone are the days of sprawling mansions with unused rooms; today, most modern homes are smaller in size, and without proper planning, storing all the handy gadgets and day-to-day necessities may present a problem.

The trick is to use each space to maximum capacity, and rather than thinking outside the box, to install a few drawers in it and use it as a coffee table to boot.

“Inside the home, the rooms that most often present challenges for storage are the kitchen, children’s rooms and home office,” says Caron Bass, a freelance interior designer. “The solution is simply to take the time to assess how existing storage space can be best used, where each item is best stored for practical use and then to let your imagination go on creative ideas of how to create even more practical storage space.”

“Fill your home with things that serve a definite purpose or are beautiful to you.”

Bass explains that a good example of this is to keep kitchen counters clutter-free. “Make use of wall space by hanging utensils, pots and colanders from beautiful hooks which can be bought for a relatively small price and can become a stylish feature in your kitchen.” She adds that beautiful crockery can also be stored on shelves, and the colours of plates etc. can be incorporated into the theme of the kitchen. Each item also needs to be stored near the space where it is most often used: spices above the oven and mugs hanging above the kettle, for example.

“Make optimal use of kitchen cabinets by installing turntables in awkward corners, placing a bin in one to clear limited floor space, putting your microwave oven in another to clear a counter and perhaps even installing cabinets specifically designed for maximum storage,” says Bass.

An alternative would be to simply insert drawer and cabinet partitions to allow better organising of items. Bulletin boards are handy for arranging important documents, slips and mail, while a decorative basket in a centrally located space can house miscellaneous items such as keys and sunglasses.

The same principles apply to children’s rooms, where wall-hanging units can be used to store anything from socks to art supplies. Brightly coloured baskets, bins or boxes can be used to sort, label and stack toys, and every nook and cranny of cleverly designed bunk beds can be used to store essentials. Local parenting website www.Kidzworld.co.za offers a handy directory of various suppliers who offer a myriad practical products that kids love.

In addition to the ideas listed above, shelves are extremely handy in any home office, and can be used to store books, documents, supplies and even equipment such as printers. “Floating shelves are relatively inexpensive, come in a range of different colours, sizes and textures, and are the most popular choice in interior design at the moment,” says Cape Town-based interior designer Michael Kieck. “This could be attributed to both their easy installation and sleek design.” Local design websites such as www.ode.co.za supply a whole range of stylish wall-mounted floating furniture that provides practical solutions to storage problems throughout the home.

“Another fantastic trend is the use of multi-purpose furniture,” says Kieck. The popular trending websitewww.pinterest.com offers creative ideas on both DIY multi-purpose pieces as well as names of stockists of beautiful furniture in every price range.

The available space in a home should also be used optimally. “Using an existing loft or even adding a mezzanine floor is a very effective way of using existing space in the upper section of the home,” says Kieck. A loft conversion need not be a costly exercise. Local companies such as Loft-E-Ladder (www.loft-e-ladder.co.za) offer affordable solutions that are easily installed.

A smaller home often also has limited storage space in the garden and garage. Bass recommends treating both these areas as you would rooms in your house. “Hooks, shelves and containers can go a long way to storing items in the garage, and multi-purpose garden furniture offers space for keeping anything from pruning shears to pool-cleaning equipment.” If the size of your garden permits it, a Wendy house offers ideal extra space.

Once you’ve used every available storage space in and around your home and you are still left with a pile of things that have no space, look up the nearest self-storage facility and rent the space you need. These facilities offer spaces ranging from a quarter-garage size for those odd boxes to enough space for a boat. “But remember,” says Kieck “only acquire, keep and fill your home with things that serve a definite purpose or are beautiful to you.”

Written By - Christelle Wiese
Photos - iStockphoto