How To Get Organised When Space is Tight
*This is a collaborative post.
If you find your possessions are enjoying more of your house than you are, it’s time to take a fresh look at storage.
No matter how much storage you start out with, somehow it can end up not being quite enough. Maybe you need a complete rethink either about how you store things or by taking another look at the things you’re hanging onto.
Be Picky About Possessions
A lot of storage problems can be sorted just by having fewer possessions. Sounds easy, but we all know it’s not that simple.
Bearing that idea in mind though is a good starting place when you’re trying to declutter and get organised.
Go through the entire house and cull everything that’s broken, too small, has bits missing or you’ve forgotten what it’s for. Taking it room by room can help so you don’t get overwhelmed. If you really have been hanging onto stuff, you could even work from cupboard to cupboard. While it may sound like too small a thing to make a difference, having just one organised and tidy cupboard can be enough motivation to get on and do a bit more.
Most of us feel a need to hold onto family history and nostalgia, so don’t feel you need to throw things away unless they really are beyond repair. Items you’re not sure about, want to keep for posterity or just because you love them, can be packed into boxes and placed safely in self-storage. Storage unit hire can be very cost-effective for the peace of mind it gives you.
The idea is to clear out all the stuff you’re not using to make way for the things you need and use every day.
Store for the Season
The seasonal approach to storage is an idea gaining traction. We all have stuff that’s regularly used for part of the year, then it lies idle for months in between.
It could be garden machinery, sports kit, particular items of clothing… even Christmas decorations or special occasion dining sets and bakeware.
When space it is tight, it makes sense not to keep those things in the house when they’re out of use. Self-storage costs are very reasonable, with the added benefit that you only need to rent as much space as you need. There are even large lockers if you don’t need a whole room.
As well as everyday possessions, consider using self storage for collectibles or to help with things you want to hand down or reuse at some time. Maybe furnishings you want to use in the future, such as nursery items if your family isn’t yet complete. If you’re keeping a spare bedroom furnished for guests who only visit occasionally for instance, you could get better family use from the room as a play area, hobby den, or home office.
It’s relatively easy to retrieve items from self-storage when you want to do a quick turnaround.
Keeping Things Organised
Once you’ve got the house mostly clear of possessions you don’t use much, it’s time to organised what you do use.
It helps to have designated places for specific items, such as shoe storage by the door, somewhere for coats and hats, plenty of shelving for books, ornaments or plants and a few decorative containers for random bits and bobs. Containers or baskets are especially useful for bathroom essentials, and if you have nowhere to place them, consider installing a shelf above the door where it’s out of the way but accessible.
Other little changes that can help keep things tidy and together include:
- A key hook or dish by the door for your keys.
- Hooks or a rail inside the wardrobe door for ties, scarves, or bags.
- Storage furnishings like ottomans or chests, and tables with drawers or shelves.
- Divan beds so there’s somewhere for spare towels or sheets. They’re great in kids’ rooms too, for bigger toys or sports gear.
Try and get everyone involved in keeping things organised. Small things like picking up clothes, filling the dishwasher or doing the dishes after every meal and always making the bed in the morning, can help the house feel more spacious and less cluttered.
It’s not easy, but it is simple, and if you can move the things you don’t use into self storage and get everyone onboard with keeping stuff at home organised, It’s possible to make even small spaces feel spacious and tidy.
