We all need storage space in our lives, even if we don’t realize it. Those of us lucky enough to not find ourselves fighting off the pressure and claustrophobia that some people feel when surrounded by clutter probably don’t even think about our storage situations until we find ourselves overwhelmed with belongings.
Looking for new storage options sounds like another typical, dull, uninspired chore. This isn’t necessarily the case, however, as creating storage space in a house is an art form in its own right. Take pride in the everyday, in the mundane, and an inner well-being may follow. Not only will an exercise in proper storage encourage you to think outside the box, it also gives you an excuse to get creative. Here are our 5 IDEAL storage solutions.
DESK TIDIES AREN’T JUST FOR DESKS
Desk tidies are those little wooden organizers, incongruous yet invaluable, that many people keep on their desks. They are designed to hold the full range of study equipment you would expect: pens, pencils, readers, and much more. By removing the back of a desk tidy, you can, for example, affix it to the bottom of a mirror and use it to hold makeup, hair ties, and anything else that can fit in the small compartments.
Repurposing items in this manner is one of the most effective ways you will find of increasing your storage capabilities and the only limit in this regard is your imagination. Every space you can find or make is potential storage space! If you’ve ever played Tetris then you already know how much difference the way you lay out objects can make on the amount of space available.
The guys at Blue Sky Relocation, a removals company in Oxford who know a thing or two about making the most out of small spaces (packing a whole house into a van isn’t easy after all) also recommend keeping a shelf above your desk. They suggest you ”hang a shelf above your desk at eye level to both expand your workspace and have somewhere to quickly put bits and bobs out the way, or to keep them to hand”.
ROOF STORAGE
Roof storage refers to more than just attics; most creative designers can work storage space into any steel or wooden roofing structures. Low steel building costs from top suppliers like Armstrong Steel who offer secured prices have led to more builders opting for steel in recent years. The beams which run under most people’s roofs are in fact not structurally significant, they are decorative.
Ladders and other long, large items demand greater storage requirements generally, and while you obviously need to be careful of weight when storing things over people’s heads, the space offered by roofing beams can be very useful.
UNDER THE BED
The favourite hiding spot of most monsters from our childhood also makes for some of the most underutilized household space. Most beds leave enough clearance to allow for at least some extra storage space. It’s a good idea to choose under bed storage boxes with lids to keep those pesky dust bunnies out.
CONSIDER A STORAGE UNIT
Sometimes, even in a home designed to use its available space with maximum efficiency, we still find ourselves with more stuff than we can actually store. If you find yourself in this position then it is time to be honest with yourself; do you need to keep these items? If you do, then do you need to keep them with you at all times? If you don’t need constant access to your things, then consider hiring a storage locker. Not only will you be able to store your stuff there, but it will be guarded and protected.
Storage units offer all different sizes ranging from 15 sq ft which is the equivalent of a telephone box, to 150 sq ft which is the equivalent of one and a half garages. If you’re considering self storage for the first time, then Cinch Self Storage, who offer self storage in Bicester, advise that ”finding the perfect unit is important, as you don’t want to be paying for more space than you need”. Moreover, they advise that the location of your storage unit should no longer than a half hour drive from your home so that you have easy access to your things.
EMBRACE YOUR RUTHLESS STREAK
Finally, if your house is full to brimming with clutter, and accusations of hoarding are getting levelled at your door (which you can’t close for overflowing stuff), then get ruthless. Donate to local charities and friends, throw out stuff you don’t need and generally ask yourself, do you need this stuff in your life? Would you notice if it were gone? If the answer is no, chuck it.
When you begin to notice that you’re running out of storage space, panic can sometimes set in. The best thing you can do however is to remain calm and to approach the situation logically; there are always ways of creating more storage.