Smart Storage Solutions
Have you ever returned home to find shoes, scarves and other items scattered throughout the home with no real place to belong? Or do you often come across out of place items that you longer need, want or use in the household? For many homeowners with busy schedules, junk can easily pile up and create wasted space in the home. The good news is that are simple storage solutions on the market to organize even the most compact cottage house plans.
The first step is to get rid of the junk by recycling, donating or throwing it away. A good rule of thumb – if you haven’t used it in more than 12 months, toss it! The next step is to look around each room of your home and develop a plan of action. What items do you use most often? What can be stored away for occasional use? If you could have your storage set up any way you wanted, what would it be? The last question is the most important and is typically easier to do than imagined!
• Laundry & Mudroom – The laundry and mudrooms are spaces that may be combined or separated, but are always busy and working hard to keep families on the move. These spaces are best outfitted with flexible storage solutions. For example, baskets are great to assign family members. Each person has their own basket to toss in gloves and hats or sort shoes and laundry. It’s a decorative element that corrals the clutter in a simple way. The same can be said for designated hooks and built-in cubbies.
• Kitchen – For many kitchens, it is the little things that are constantly overflowing and in the way. Countertops everywhere are overflowing with bulky spice racks, items that cannot fit into the pantry, and cookware that cannot be manipulated into a standard cabinet space. For starters, labeled baskets and over-the-door storage hangers make pantry organization simple. These tools keep similar small items from overwhelming shelf space, allowing easier access and better inventory. Built-in backsplashes and kitchen islands with extra cabinets are all the rage for making the most of a kitchen. Extra counter space and keeping them clean is every chef’s dream.
• Bathroom – Especially within small or shared bathrooms, it is important to make the most of vertical space. Over the toilet shelving and cabinets are perfect for providing a place for frequently used items like toothpaste and mouthwash. This frees up the smaller and somewhat awkward under-sink space for long-term storage of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. Where bathroom storage is concerned it is also critical to look outside the immediate space for appropriate storage options. For example, storing towels in the hall linen closet may make more sense than squeezing them under the bathroom sink.
• Bedroom – Bedroom storage is all about presenting clean surfaces and providing a restful space. Underbed storage, large dressers, and closed armoires are all excellent options for storing things in the bedroom. Even more vital in keeping bedroom clutter out is the well-organized closet.
• Great Room – The typical family gathering space is often littered with movies, books, and games. Floor-to-ceiling entertainment centers offer the perfect mix of open shelving and large cabinets. This system allows prized books and pictures to be viewed by guests while secretly taming the unruly mass of gaming systems and movie collections.
These are just a few of the suggestions in the amount of storage solutions available in today’s market. To begin tackling your storage woe, be patient and shop around for the best solutions for you and your family’s needs. Whether purchasing pricey customizing solutions or creating your own with baskets and shelves, keep in mind that your storage set up may change with your family’s needs. A sensible storage system now may not be in the future. By following a few simple steps and determining what solutions work best to accommodate your family, your cottage house plan will once again be organized and clutter-free.
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