June 17 2021
We know that keeping your home organised and free from clutter isn’t always easy. With busy lives and even busier work schedules, kids, pets and more, turning your house from a place of chaos to one of calm isn’t the simplest of jobs. But, here’s a secret not everyone knows – staying organised doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Follow our top 10 organising tips for your storage – after all, we all know that a tidy space equals a tidy mind!
Tip 1: Declutter, declutter, declutter
Have you ever wondered why minimalistic homes always look so clean and organised? The key lies in the amount of stuff you have. After all, it’s so much easier to remain organised if you have fewer things to sort out. So, before you start packing boxes or folding clothes, make a thorough declutter your first port of call.
If you’ve not worn something for over a year or it no longer fits, give it the boot! The same applies to accessory items such as scarves, bags or jewellery – rather than gathering dust in your drawers for years, why not pass them on to family or friends or donate them to charity to give them a new lease of life? Similarly, keeping hold of books you’ve read and will never read again is arguably a waste of great literature, while notes or old essays from your school days are unlikely to be read again.
To put it simply, if you’re not using it, or you’re unlikely to use it in the future, get rid of it. The trick is to be ruthless and have a good cleanse before you start with your storage packing.
Tip 2: Create an inventory
When doing a full organisation, it can be impossible to remember exactly what you’ve organised. And, whether you need advice on how to organise a self-storage unit or are simply looking for some tips to keep your home tidy, the key to great organisation is making sure you’re prepared, and a little forward planning goes a long way.
So, to keep everything clear in your mind, and to get a better grasp of exactly what you’re organising, it’s a good idea to create and maintain an inventory of everything you’ve stored away. As you begin to pack, a great way to keep on top of everything is to set up a spreadsheet, separated into different categories or rooms, to stay on track.
Tip 3: Colour coordinate your storage
Our top tip? While cardboard boxes are great for storage, using clear coloured plastic boxes is ideal for keeping items safe and secure, while making it much easier to see exactly what you’ve stored, and where. This makes it much faster to find exactly what you’re looking for, without having to root through box after box.
Why not consider grouping your items by colour? For example, you could use different coloured bins or boxes depending on product type, season or even per member of your household. That way, it’ll be much easier to find what you need.
Tip 4: Label everything
This is probably one of the most important aspects of how to organise storage and skipping this step will give you a huge headache when it comes to looking for specific items further down the line. Whilst a list will, of course, tell you exactly what you’re storing, marking your boxes with labels makes it so much quicker for you to find exactly what you need when you need it. Make sure you’re using printed labels or a permanent marker to avoid any damage, and when putting boxes into a cupboard, underneath beds or even in a storage unit, make sure all labels are facing the same way for ease.
Tip 5: Maximise the space you already have
Not only is it great to think creatively in order to make the best use of your storage space, but maximising the space you have means you don’t have to invest in any other types of storage or space. Why not consider making full use of your vertical space by using shelving or hooks to keep things off the floor and declutter?
For example, if you’re thinking of how to best organise a craft room in your house, you could mount racks and shelving from floor to ceiling to store materials, paper and extra supplies, whilst hacks like using magnets and magnetic paint are a great way to group together jam jars or smaller storage to keep fiddly items such as pins, thread or buttons out of the way.
Creating a system is key – rather than throwing everything in at once and hoping for the best, invest time in working out what you need your space to offer. It also makes total sense to make full use of empty, useless space. For example, if you have limited space in a bedroom but an inviting empty space in the bottom of a closet, pop a set of drawers in there to utilise and create space at the same time.
Tip 6: Invest in fitted storage
Fitted storage is, again, the perfect way to truly make the most of all the space you have on offer. Not only can they be tailored to maximise those awkward spaces or gaps where standard furniture doesn’t fit, but they also help to create a cohesive look with the rest of your interior space. So, even if you have a super awkward corner or alcove, a fitted storage solution can turn it into a handy home to store your belongings. And, not only will fitted storage help to keep clutter at bay, but it also makes for much easier cleaning, too as there are no annoying gaps to gather dust in.
Contrary to popular belief, built-in storage doesn’t have to cost the earth. While you can go down the totally bespoke route, there are plenty of ways to get the look on a budget: these IKEA hacks are perfect if you’re looking to turn a popular PAX wardrobe into what looks like a built-in storage solution.
Tip 7: Use storage baskets and boxes for ease
Making use of storage baskets and boxes can help you to streamline those items that would otherwise clutter up your space. And, not only does organising help you to group your belongings, but it also makes them easier to see. From towels to toys, under counter organisation to bathroom storage, baskets and boxes are so versatile, they can be used for basically anything. Better yet? They’re super portable, so if you did want to mix up your storage or organisation, it’s simple.
Tip 8: Hide unsightly cables and essentials
No matter how organised we are, we all have to battle with endless wires, bits and bobs, and the general clutter that goes with everyday life. And, there’s nothing more annoying than a mess of cables or junk lying about.
You can hide things in plain sight, too; investing in storage containers and boxes that fit with the rest of your interiors is a great way to keep things together while also making those everyday essentials look part of your decor. Patterned enamel storage is perfect for your washing tablets and equipment while a purpose-built display unit or cable box is a great way to keep everything hidden.
For more tips and tricks, take a look at our cable management blog post now.
Tip 9: A junk drawer is key
While this tip might seem to go against the rest of our advice, a junk drawer is actually the perfect way to minimise stress and clutter. Sounds counterproductive? Let us explain.
Junk drawers work as a catchall for those random smaller items you’re just not sure what to do with. And, often, these are also the things we reach for frequently – like safety pins, matches or spare parts.
But, be conscious that your junk drawer serves its purpose, rather than just acting as a dumping ground for things you can’t be bothered to put away properly.
- Keep it small and shallow: to avoid chaos, keep your junk drawer small and relatively shallow, so you can’t overfill it.
- Drawer dividers are crucial: just because it’s a junk drawer, doesn’t mean it has to be a mess. Invest in some simple drawer dividers or pots to keep everything organised and easily visible.
- Remain strict with what goes in: a common theme is to use a junk drawer to keep everything you’ve not yet found a home for. But, this can do more damage than good. Stay strict on what exactly lives in your junk drawer and avoid using it as a holding place for new things.
Tip 10: Why not invest in a self storage unit?
Are you running out of space and in desperate need of a place to store your belongings? Sometimes, we all need a bit of extra room, and a self storage unit provides a cost-effective way to keep your items safe and secure, without having to compromise on valuable space in your home. Find your local Ready Steady Store now to find out more.
If you’re not sure how to organise your storage unit, we’re here to help. Take a look at our blog now for our top tips and advice to help you pack your storage unit while also making your experience more efficient. After all, what good is a storage unit, if you can’t find anything you need? Hint: not very good at all.
Hopefully, these 10 top tips will help you to avoid any storage headaches. After all, if you stay organised, the rest should, hopefully, be a breeze!
