Interior Design
The Super-Busy Neat Freak's Storage Wish List
If you like your house shipshape, you will love these nine nifty solutions that make neatening up so much easier
Build more storage than you currently have or think you need, great designers tell their clients. A good gauge? “At least 30% more,” architect Gwen Tan of Studio iF and Formwerkz Architects once told me. “It’ll fill up easily – moving into a new house, owners often purchase new things!”
It’s not just extra storage space we need to think about, however. We also forget how we store things, or how real life gets in the way of proper housekeeping after we move in to our new homes. And so we end up buying even more things to help us stay organised. Incorporate smart storage solutions in your home during your design-and-planning phase, and you won’t have to say “Why didn’t I think of that?” as you read this.
It’s not just extra storage space we need to think about, however. We also forget how we store things, or how real life gets in the way of proper housekeeping after we move in to our new homes. And so we end up buying even more things to help us stay organised. Incorporate smart storage solutions in your home during your design-and-planning phase, and you won’t have to say “Why didn’t I think of that?” as you read this.
2. Indoor hanging for laundry
Too tired to lift those bamboo poles out the window or hoist them up to their ceiling slots? Or simply not enough laundry to make the effort? A more easily accessible small hanging rod may be your new best friend…
Too tired to lift those bamboo poles out the window or hoist them up to their ceiling slots? Or simply not enough laundry to make the effort? A more easily accessible small hanging rod may be your new best friend…
… or these fold-out drying racks attached to the wall.
Make sure they’re in a well-ventilated space so that your laundry dries without that damp smell.
Make sure they’re in a well-ventilated space so that your laundry dries without that damp smell.
3. A slide-out ironing board
Because seriously, who has the time to unfold and fold back a weighty ironing board? When you’re in a rush, you end up leaving it unfolded, and eventually keep piling freshly washed clothes onto it, until you can barely see its surface.
Because seriously, who has the time to unfold and fold back a weighty ironing board? When you’re in a rush, you end up leaving it unfolded, and eventually keep piling freshly washed clothes onto it, until you can barely see its surface.
A cabinet-installed one isn’t so bad, too.
4. A properly accessorised broom closet
With slots and holders for everything, including the vacuum cleaner hose. I am so into this closet.
With slots and holders for everything, including the vacuum cleaner hose. I am so into this closet.
Speaking of accessories…
5. A shallow cabinet to store and display your fashion accessories
The saying, “out of sight, out of mind” definitely applies to the things we wear. When they’re stored nicely like this, and you can see all the trinkets you have, you’re likely to wear them more often (and buy new ones less!).
5. A shallow cabinet to store and display your fashion accessories
The saying, “out of sight, out of mind” definitely applies to the things we wear. When they’re stored nicely like this, and you can see all the trinkets you have, you’re likely to wear them more often (and buy new ones less!).
6. Sloped drawer inserts
“Out of sight, out of mind” applies to makeup, too. These sloped drawer inserts allow you to organise your makeup so you can see everything instead of rummaging through a seemingly bottomless cosmetic bag.
“Out of sight, out of mind” applies to makeup, too. These sloped drawer inserts allow you to organise your makeup so you can see everything instead of rummaging through a seemingly bottomless cosmetic bag.
7. Hair appliance organiser
And no tangled power cords! Happy happy joy joy!
And no tangled power cords! Happy happy joy joy!
8. A niche for reading material
Who thought you needed a small bookshelf in your bathroom? Anyone who likes to read on their throne will appreciate this thoughtful design.
Who thought you needed a small bookshelf in your bathroom? Anyone who likes to read on their throne will appreciate this thoughtful design.
9. Toilet roll storage
Granted, you can store extra rolls in a basket, on the shelf behind the toilet or above its water tank, but this shelf is so convenient and accessible… and if you’ve ever run out of toilet paper at the most inopportune time, you know how important it is to have this shelf at arm’s reach!
TELL US
What other storage solutions do you wish you’d incorporated in your house? Do share in the Comments section!
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Browse storage and wardrobe ideas
Granted, you can store extra rolls in a basket, on the shelf behind the toilet or above its water tank, but this shelf is so convenient and accessible… and if you’ve ever run out of toilet paper at the most inopportune time, you know how important it is to have this shelf at arm’s reach!
TELL US
What other storage solutions do you wish you’d incorporated in your house? Do share in the Comments section!
MORE
Browse storage and wardrobe ideas
Make your worktop a part of the cabinets – in the photo above, accordion doors; on the left, hydraulic lift doors – so you can quickly enclose the ‘mess’ when guests come. When power points are part of this niche, you won’t need to lift and move your mixer, toaster or kettle to another surface, thereby reducing the cleanup effort after you use it.