With the change in season comes the chance to have a good old sort and de-clutter so that calm and order can reign your home once more. Tackling the 4 main 'problem areas' of the house, we show you simple storage solutions that might just change your life.
HALLWAY
Create a cheerful welcome with a statement bicycle-print wallpaper in duck egg blue.
All the ideas at a glance.
- Slimline shoe cabinet- Keep frequently used shoes out of the path to the front door by stowing them in a shallow unit
- Peg rail for coats- Leave just one jacket per person in the hallway- move out-of-season coats to a bedroom wardrobe.
- Wall cubby unit- Hang a cubbyhole unit in the hallway to keep pens, diaries, notebooks and sets of keys close to hand.
- Basket for the car- Store the kids' wellies in a basket that you can easily pop into the car.
The Moodboard- Baskets & Bicycles
Cykel 11100 wallpaper, £38 per roll, Scion. Rubber studded flooring in Peppermint Cream, £49.95 per sq m, Harvey Maria. Child's drawing/message framed picture, £65, Sarah & Bendrix. Tealight lanterns, £11.95 each, Orla Kiely range, Wild & Wolf. Swedish clogs, from £62.50, Hedgehog. Mini tumbler, £4.99, Falcon Enamelware. Inox Intelligent Matt Emulsion (in tumbler), £43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Cuckoo clock, £49.95, Muji.
KITCHEN
Team a graphic-print wallpaper with white and pale oak furniture for an easy-going Scandi-style vibe.
All the ideas at a glance.
- Underseat drawers- Choose a hard-working bench that provides deep storage for extra-kitchenware.
- Pull-out baskets- Put spare cushions and table linen in easily accessible baskets that can be tucked beneath furniture.
- Organiser pegboard- Keep letters, bills and invitations off the kitchen table by sorting them into wire baskets that can be attached to a pegboard.
- Grab-and-go storage- Pop blankets and mats that are suitable for picnics in a basket near to the back door.
TIP! A neat corner bench adds extra seating without cluttering a compact space with lots of chairs. TIP!
The Moodboard- Graphic Florals
Polished Concrete Natural laminate flooring, £31.99 per sq m, Arte collection, Quick-Step. Blind (background) made in: Lotta Apple, £28 per m; Plains One in Citrus (border), £30 per m; both Scion. Cushion covers made in (from left): Hesta Apple, £28 per m, Scion; Cirekelblooma, £22.95 per m, Hus & Hem. Levande Saldo Wallpaper, £38 per roll, Scion. Familjen cup, £28 for two, Isak range, Cloudberry Living. Scissors, £175, Paperchase.
LIVING ROOM
Combine a soothing mid-grey backdrop with happy-go-lucky patterened fabrics in a mix of muted mid-century shades.
All the ideas at a glance.
- Wall of storage- Use a basic freestanding unit (like these Hemnes cabinets from Ikea) in multiples to create a bank of storage to fit your space.
- Baskets near sofas- Leave out large baskets for the kids to put their toys in, so they're not left strewn across the floor.
- Pratical coffee table- Choose a table that has a shelf and drawers underneath so its easy to keep the top clear.
- Boxes on top of units- Put rarely used items inside boxes that blend in with the walls and store everything above eyelevel
TIP! Fill glazed shelving units with plain white box files, then add accessories in two accent colours. TIP!
The Moodboard- Mellow Mid-Century
Sisal Fine Bouche flooring, from £36.50 per sq m, Kersaint Cobb & Company. Bowls, from £6 each; money box, £27; all Cermica Blue. Cushion covers (from left): made in Hetsa, £28 per sq m, Scion; Spira Juline, £19.95, Hus & Hem; made in Cykel, £28 per m, Scion. Case, £6.95; pencils, £2.95 for 12, all Muji.
KIDS ROOM
Paint walls in a soft shade of blue, then up the fun factor with a mix of bold geometric prints in bright shades.
All the ideas at a glance.
- Peg rail- Store toys or pairs of socks inside cotton bags and hang on a peg rail painted in the same shade as the walls.
- Pull-out desk- Choose a desk on castors that can be pushed beaneath a high sleeper bed when not in use.
- Storage bench- Keep favourite clothes within easy reach by putting them in crates that fit neatly beneath a bench.
- Stack of baskets- Add bold colour with a set of woven baskets in a mix of bright shades.
TIP! Display colourful prints and large books on an adjustable pegboard. TIP!
The Moodboard- Pattern Playtime.
White brushed pine laminate flooring, £27.99 per sq m, Perspective collection, Quick-Step. Pipkin framed artwork, £39, Made.com. Fabrics, from top: Klippan Tulip, £29.95 per m; Mello Coral cushion cover, £26; Klippan Bird, £29.95 per m, all Hus & Hem. Gesso doll's house shelf, £65, Cox & Cox. 'Me and My Animal Friends' wooden set, £25, Sarah & Bendrix. Gentle Sky Intelligent Matt Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Colouring pencils, £2 for 12; bear highlighters, £3 for five; all Paperchase.
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