Storage Hacks: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Your Home's Storage Space

No matter the size of your home and the space you have available, it can be a struggle to make the best use of storage space. The ultimate result of this is usually the accumulation of clutter, and even if you are a supremely organized person with more storage capacity than you need, this problem can be hard to avoid. For this reason, Campbell property management, Action Properties says that almost everyone could benefit from a better understanding of how to make the most of the storage space they have available, or from learning how they can create more.

Here, the storage experts at Clever Closet detail some useful approaches to tidying, offer some innovative ideas about how best to use the storage space you have available, and explain how you can create extra storage capacity to conquer clutter and make your home easier to manage.

Declutter

This process can be very involved and time-consuming, but it will also make the biggest difference to your tidiness and use of storage space. It involves collecting your items together and assessing them individually to decide whether or not you really need them. The items that you don’t need can be thrown away, donated or otherwise disposed of, which can free up a lot of storage space if you commit to the process and see it through.

Once you are certain that the only remaining items are those that you cannot do without, you should find a place to store each one. This is a great way to prevent mess and clutter from building up as, once you are sure that you have a dedicated place to store every item, it is much easier to put them away.

Divide Storage Into Long-Term and Short-Term

In most homes, there are two types of storage: short-term and long-term. Short-term storage solutions include cupboards and drawers - areas in which items are easily accessible whenever you need them - while long-term options might include a loft, shed, or garage, depending on what your home has to offer. Many people also take advantage of long-term solutions outside the home, such as rented storage lockers. Whether or not this option is right for you will depend on your specific needs, but it may be worthwhile to consider if you have a lot more belongings than you have storage capacity. If you need a storage solution that offers the benefits of long-term storage but is far more accessible than a storage locker, built-in storage may offer what you need, as we will explain below.

Taking the time to assess everything you own and decide how much you really need it, as we have described above, also allows you to consider how often you use each item. While it makes sense to keep items that have a similar purpose together - for example, storing all of your cleaning products together - you may be able to free up space by separating them. By moving the things you don’t use so often into long-term storage, you can free up some of your short-term storage space and use it much more effectively.

For example, do you need your toolbox to be easily accessible at all times? Or do you find that you mostly use one or two tools on a regular basis, and only need the rest when you are undertaking a big DIY project? In the latter cases, it may be more practical to keep only the things you need to hand and put the hefty toolbox into long-term storage.

Another advantage of this is that you can free up shelf space by using wall-mounted hooks. Many tools have holes in their handles that you can use to hang them on the wall, and if not, they are easy to affix. This is also true of cleaning tools like dustpans, mops and feather dusters, all of which are typically among the most heavily used items.

Create Capacity with Built-In Storage

If you are still lacking in space after decluttering, or you want to combine the benefits of long-term and short-term storage solutions - for example, by gaining significantly more storage capacity without sacrificing easy access to your possessions - consider whether you could benefit from a built-in storage unit.

These are available in many different styles and can be installed to take advantage of space in your home that is otherwise unused - for example, under the stairs, under the eaves of your attic, or even in awkward alcoves that are too small or oddly shaped to use. In this way, you can add what is often a significant amount of extra storage capacity without taking up any more room. These storage options are typically spacious and can be divided to help you stay organized, but they are also accessible inside your home and easy to maintain.

This can also provide a temporary solution while you are decluttering, as the extra space can become a temporary place for some of your belongings. This can make it much easier to work through your home item by item, and prevent you from creating further clutter while you carry out this step.

Ultimately, the right solution for your home will depend on a number of factors, including the specific storage challenges you are facing and the options you have available. If you need an innovative solution for a particular problem, there are many resources available online that could help. Otherwise, by following the steps above you can tackle clutter in your home, make the most of your space, and make a start on getting organized for good.

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