A happy home is a cleverly decluttered home! If your rooms are overflowing with out of place household items, then you need some quick and simple storage solutions.
Finding the space to keep all of your (essential) extras can seem like an impossible task, but there are so many ways to store everything in its proper place. Stylish storage doesn't even have to be bought: Homemade shelving or some simple upcycling techniques can improve the overall design of your house and keep clutter in check.
Think about whether or not you want your storage to display your accessories. Exposed shelves in any room can add an attractive element to your design, if filled with the right components. Make use of bare walls and put up shelves to display pretty crockery in the kitchen, or books in the living room. Upcycle old crates to hold soft furnishings in the bathroom, or place a vintage pigeonhole unit in the hall to hold keys and letters.
1/10 Clever storage ideas for your home
If you want all of your household items hidden away, then pull-out storage is a must. Floor to ceiling cupboards with a handle-free design can fit seamlessly into a sleek kitchen, disguising a enough ingredients to fill a pantry. Under-basin drawers fitted with dividers will also offer a clever storage space for all of your toiletries, when you're tired of seeing bottles of beauty products piled up in the bathroom.
Kitchen with open shelving
Finding extra kitchen space for all those pots and pans is always tricky, but open shelving lets you affordably take advantage of walls where there are no units, such as around the sink. This is a great way to display pretty pieces or just keep frequently used items poised for culinary action. Opt for wooden shelves as they can be painted in any colour you like, making them super versatile. The dark grey of these shelves looks simple yet striking.
Similar shelves
Wickes
Similar paint
Farrow & Ball
2/10 Bedroom with floral storage cases
Storage doesn't have to be dull - make it part of your personal style by choosing items that can be loved in their own right. Floral suitcases really brighten up this bedside table and go perfectly with the other colourful touches in the bedroom, such as the bedding and lamp. Getting smaller pieces off your bedside table also means you can put all the lovely items you own on display. These suitcases come in a set of three, so you can stack them up or dot them around the room.
Similar bedside table
Lombok
Suitcases
Bhs
3/10 Bathroom with wooden crate shelving
Talk about quick, clever and ever so easy... In this rustic bathroom, wooden crates have been turned on their side and wall mounted to create bargainous shelving. Try it yourself, but be sure to leave room above them for stacking towels. Use the insides of the boxes to place toiletries and loo rolls so that they're never far when you need them. If you want a more colourful look, try painting the crates in a bright colour, rather than leaving them bare.
Similar crates
Notonthehighstreet.com
Similar towels
John Lewis
4/10 Living room with modular shelving
This neutral living room uses its modular shelving to put lots of pretty objects on display, but it would work equally well for showing off a collection of books. The great thing about modular units like this is that you can add more as and when you need them. You can also place shelves at different heights to accommodate items of varying sizes. And how clever is it that one shelving 'compartment' is used to create a second frame for a wall-hung picture?
Similar shelving
Ikea
Similar sofa
Sofa.com
5/10 Hallway with understairs storage
The open 'cupboard' under the stairs here is used to store coats, footwear, umbrellas and bags, creating a nice feature that draws your attention to the painted staircase. Of course, the lack of doors does mean you can't just cram everything in and hide it away, but it's a good motivator to keep everything in its place. Remember, shelves and hooks are your friends when it comes to being neat.
Similar baskets
Dunelm
Similar worktops
Magnet
6/10 Kitchen with plate rack
The wooden plate rack in this kitchen is used for storing pretty china and has been painted grey so it blends in with the scheme. In an otherwise neutral room, the tableware adds a hit of colour. Mix and match your plates and cups to get a pretty, eclectic feel, or make a statement with a set in a vibrant colour. Whatever style of plates you prefer, you'll love the easy access that a plate rack affords you.
Similar plate rack
The Plate Rack Company
Similar teacups
Dotcomgiftshop
7/10 Hanging laundry bags
These hanging storage bags are an excellent way to teach children where to put their laundry. Not only will this system make it easy for you to find items that need washing, but your child's clothes won't end up all over the floor - perfect for a clutter-free bedroom. If you have any spare scraps of fabric, it's easy to sew these bags yourself. Then just use a fabric pen to create labels that can be ironed on.
Similar paint
Little Greene
Orange fabric
Romo
8/10 Basin vanity unit with drawer
This bathroom vanity unit has a large drawer underneath the basin, which is a really good way to make the most of space that is often unused. If you're fed up with seeing rows of make-up and endless beauty products, you'll feel much better if everything has a place. Use drawer dividers (even a cutlery tray will do) to get more from your storage and allow you to quickly see where everything is - far better than moving your stuff so it's out of sight, but still in a complete mess.
Similar vanity unit
Victoria Plumb
Similar drawer divider
Muji
9/10 Kitchen with full-height pull-out storage
No space is wasted in this sleek kitchen with floor-to-ceiling storage and handleless design. Just pull out the cupboard and inside is an entire pantry of food, which is kept organised with metal racks. The beauty is that a system like this makes your space look totally bare and minimalist, when actually you have all the ingredients necessary to cook up a storm. Tall storage will work best if it's bespoke, so it can be tailored to fit your room perfectly.
Similar storage
Wren Living
Similar flooring
B&Q
10/10 Pigeon-hole unit with hooks
Admittedly, you could use any old shelving to house your bits and bobs, but we love the retro look of this pigeon-hole unit. Handy label slots help keep control of what goes where, so things don't start appearing in the wrong place, while the hooks below make it perfect for a hallway and hanging up coats or keeping keys safe.
Similar pigeon-hole unit
Cox & Cox
Similar hooks
Screwfix
Look out for second-hand pieces that you can customise in any way you like - perhaps with a lick of paint or by sanding down for a distressed look.
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