5 Ways I Make the Most of My Storage Space

I’ve lived in my fair share of small homes in my time, which means I have become an expert in making a small space work for me. Part of that means knowing how to store things without them encroaching on my living space, which can be difficult, especially when a cluttered home makes you anxious or uncomfortable. I’ve put together a list of ways you can improve your storage, no matter what size your home is. Here are five ways I make the most of my storage space.

Cut down on the stuff

It sounds so simple, but if you don’t have space to store everything that you need to – the first thing you can do is give yourself fewer things to store! Obviously there are things you can do to increase storage solutions and accommodate anything that you need to, but cutting down on the clutter gives you a less overwhelming starting point and ensures you are only storing the things that really matter.

Think practically about your shelving

It can be really tempting to go shopping for shelving and get caught up with buying something that costs a lot of money, looks very nice but doesn’t actually do very much. When it comes to good storage solutions, stripping it back to basics is essential, which is why using racking in your home is always going to be my favourite storage option. Not only is it sturdy and practical, holding as many boxes as you can fit on there, but you can see everything so nothing is going to get lost or misplaced.

Use vertical space

Most of us tend to put things like shelves and photos up to a certain height in a room, and then there is an excess of unused space above it that could definitely be used more efficiently. One way to combat this is putting up shelving that goes from floor to ceiling, so you know you have absolutely used as much space as possible. My favourite way to make use of vertical space is actually to loan it to my cat! Using scratching pads and floating shelves I can create a cat playground, with lots of places to sleep and play above the rest of us. Then, the space that would have housed a huge cat tree can be used for other storage!

A garage is for more than cars

If you are lucky enough to have a garage, then you might actually have a bit of unused space around the edges of the building. Garage storage is great because it keeps everything neatly out of the way, without infringing on your living space or ruining the aesthetic of your home. Use slim racking shelves at the edges of room to provide maximum storage for anything and everything, without cutting into the space that is needed for your car.

Make sure everything is clearly labelled

There is honestly nothing worse than knowing that you need to find something in a room filled with 20 storage bins, and not knowing which one you will find it in. Chances are, its going to be box number 20! Use a clear labelling system so that you don’t have to go through and take everything out every time you need a birth certificate or a P60. Take this one step further by buying QR labels; you can scan them with your phone and list every single thing that is inside the box with that code on, to make finding things absolutely foolproof.

 

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about your storage? How do you make sure you are utilising your space in the best way possible? Share your tips in the comments below.