Put Storage Boxes to Good Use in Any Room
Storage boxes keep your home wonderfully free of clutter if you know where to best use them
Hannah Young
10 November 2016
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers). You can find me online at www.ReviveYourSpace.co.uk or in person helping others to declutter, organise and restyle their homes. I believe it's important to make the most of what we already have and love to share the benefits of being organised and efficient, creating more physical and emotional space for the things that are most important to us.
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional... More
Storage boxes are the perfect portable place to keep clutter, but we often find ourselves collecting containers only to leave them unused and empty. Finding the right storage boxes requires some forward thinking, so follow these tips to ensure you plan ahead and make full use of these handy containers.
Measure first, shop second
Calculate the space you have before you go shopping so you can purchase boxes to fit neatly. The box files here slot perfectly into the space provided. Think, too, about where you want to store each item. For example, it’s a good idea to keep frequently used things close to where they’re needed.
If you can’t find a storage box to fit a particular space, try making your own by decorating cereal or shoe boxes.
10 Smart Ways to Keep Your Paperwork Under Control
Calculate the space you have before you go shopping so you can purchase boxes to fit neatly. The box files here slot perfectly into the space provided. Think, too, about where you want to store each item. For example, it’s a good idea to keep frequently used things close to where they’re needed.
If you can’t find a storage box to fit a particular space, try making your own by decorating cereal or shoe boxes.
10 Smart Ways to Keep Your Paperwork Under Control
Corral your clutter
Keep the space under your bed neat and tidy with boxes that slide out for easy access. Boxes with lids are a good choice to prevent dust build-up. However, if speedy tidying is the priority, then open boxes will help keep things together.
Keep the space under your bed neat and tidy with boxes that slide out for easy access. Boxes with lids are a good choice to prevent dust build-up. However, if speedy tidying is the priority, then open boxes will help keep things together.
Revel in consistency
By creating a cohesive look for your storage, you’ll help your brain to quickly process the contents of a cupboard or shelf without becoming overwhelmed. Be creative and choose a colour or pattern you love. This will boost positive feelings and encourage you to maintain your newly organised system.
By creating a cohesive look for your storage, you’ll help your brain to quickly process the contents of a cupboard or shelf without becoming overwhelmed. Be creative and choose a colour or pattern you love. This will boost positive feelings and encourage you to maintain your newly organised system.
Collect outdoor oddments
Boxes are for containing stuff, keeping like with like, and ensuring items are safe, dry and dust-free. So they’re an obvious solution for outdoor storage. A box or storage bench is a great way to have some easy-access space for outdoor items and can double up as additional seating. Make it more comfy and pretty with a rug and some cushions when the weather allows.
12 Inspiring Ideas for Storage Seats to Suit Any Space
Boxes are for containing stuff, keeping like with like, and ensuring items are safe, dry and dust-free. So they’re an obvious solution for outdoor storage. A box or storage bench is a great way to have some easy-access space for outdoor items and can double up as additional seating. Make it more comfy and pretty with a rug and some cushions when the weather allows.
12 Inspiring Ideas for Storage Seats to Suit Any Space
Aim high
For those difficult-to-reach spaces at the top of wardrobes or the back of cupboards, boxes are brilliant. It’s much easier to move a whole box and retrieve the one item you require than scrabble around for bits and pieces.
Using containers in this way greatly increases the amount of accessible storage you have. Just make sure the box isn’t too heavy – you don’t want to drop it!
For those difficult-to-reach spaces at the top of wardrobes or the back of cupboards, boxes are brilliant. It’s much easier to move a whole box and retrieve the one item you require than scrabble around for bits and pieces.
Using containers in this way greatly increases the amount of accessible storage you have. Just make sure the box isn’t too heavy – you don’t want to drop it!
Box up the boxes
A few strategically placed boxes can help round up all sorts of things that typically end up scattered. In the kitchen, for example, a crate of spice jars can be lifted out so you can see all your flavours at a glance. Similarly, odd utensils that only get used from time to time can be kept together, as well as food container lids that so often fall down the back of a drawer.
A few strategically placed boxes can help round up all sorts of things that typically end up scattered. In the kitchen, for example, a crate of spice jars can be lifted out so you can see all your flavours at a glance. Similarly, odd utensils that only get used from time to time can be kept together, as well as food container lids that so often fall down the back of a drawer.
Treasure teeny things in tiny boxes
Boxes are a perfect solution for your craft room. Clear boxes will help you keep yarns and threads visible, but safe from moths and dust. Colourful, decorated boxes can add a creative atmosphere to the room.
You could also dedicate a box or two to any ongoing projects to keep all the elements together, but dust-free and safe.
Good-looking Ways to Organise and Store Craft Materials
Boxes are a perfect solution for your craft room. Clear boxes will help you keep yarns and threads visible, but safe from moths and dust. Colourful, decorated boxes can add a creative atmosphere to the room.
You could also dedicate a box or two to any ongoing projects to keep all the elements together, but dust-free and safe.
Good-looking Ways to Organise and Store Craft Materials
Divide and conquer
When it comes to toys, suitable and accessible storage is key. In this child’s bedroom, boxes of different sizes are kept at a low level for ease of use.
Try to think laterally when shopping for suitable storage. Here, there are several different styles of boxes, but they work together because they fit in the space. Remember, you might find the perfect toy storage in the kitchen section of your homewares store.
When it comes to toys, suitable and accessible storage is key. In this child’s bedroom, boxes of different sizes are kept at a low level for ease of use.
Try to think laterally when shopping for suitable storage. Here, there are several different styles of boxes, but they work together because they fit in the space. Remember, you might find the perfect toy storage in the kitchen section of your homewares store.
Hang it out
Hanging boxes are such a creative storage solution. They’re a little bit like a shelf, but so much more flexible.
In this tight space, boxes hung from the dado rail provide storage for those little things you need in a cloakroom. The containers don’t clutter the floor, making it much easier to clean.
Hanging boxes are such a creative storage solution. They’re a little bit like a shelf, but so much more flexible.
In this tight space, boxes hung from the dado rail provide storage for those little things you need in a cloakroom. The containers don’t clutter the floor, making it much easier to clean.
Keep things clean
Bathrooms and kitchens get dirty quickly, so help speed your cleaning along by popping toiletries and frequently used items in plastic boxes. You can quickly lift the box up to wipe underneath and, from time to time, you can clean the inside of the box, too.
Containers made from natural materials do look great, but think carefully about what you store in them and how much moisture and dust they’ll collect. The wipe-clean, wicker-look basket on the top shelf here is ideal, while the natural ones on the lower shelves are perfect for towels.
TELL US
What do you think of these ideas? How do you organise your storage boxes? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Check out chic basket options for storing things
Bathrooms and kitchens get dirty quickly, so help speed your cleaning along by popping toiletries and frequently used items in plastic boxes. You can quickly lift the box up to wipe underneath and, from time to time, you can clean the inside of the box, too.
Containers made from natural materials do look great, but think carefully about what you store in them and how much moisture and dust they’ll collect. The wipe-clean, wicker-look basket on the top shelf here is ideal, while the natural ones on the lower shelves are perfect for towels.
TELL US
What do you think of these ideas? How do you organise your storage boxes? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Check out chic basket options for storing things
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Interior Design
The Key Dimensions to Know When Designing Storage
By Eva Byrne
Store almost everything in your home neatly and efficiently by tailoring storage sizing for specific needs
Full Story
Kitchen Ideas
11 Sneaky Storage Ideas for Small Appliances
By Anne Ellard
If your kitchen's short on space, these novel ideas keep small appliances out of the way but still close at hand
Full Story
Bedrooms
Best of the Week: 29 Stylish Storage Ideas for the Bedroom
How do you keep your sleep sanctuary stylish and clutter-free? These 29 designs lead the way
Full Story
Wardrobes
Get it in the Bag: Storage Tips for Your Designer Bag Collection
Maintenance of your luxury-brand bags includes proper storage – here are some tips to do it right
Full Story
Interior Design
13 Places in Your Small Home to Create Storage
By Disa Tan
Outsmart small spaces with these unexpected storage solutions
Full Story
Kitchen Ideas
Smart Storage Ideas for Organising Food Containers
Dividers, rollouts and corner systems can help corral containers and lids and maximise kitchen cabinet space
Full Story
Interior Design
A Professional Organiser Shares Her Top 6 Storage Products
By Patricia Lee
Drawer dividers, undersink rubbish and pretty donation bins are among this pro’s go-to items for the kitchen and more
Full Story
Interior Design
8 Ways to Use Plywood for Storage
It’s versatile, sustainable and on trend – just some of the reasons to embrace plywood in your home
Full Story
Interior Design
Best of the Week: 23 Innovative Home Storage Ideas
Banish clutter and mess with these 23 inspiring storage arrangements from homes around the world
Full Story
Kitchen Ideas
Best of the Week: 25 Genius Kitchen Storage Ideas
Well-planned storage saves you time and keeps your kitchen running smoothly – here are 25 brilliant ideas to try
Full Story
I love everything in its place which lead me to selling lovely wooden storage boxes have a look at my ebay shop http://stores.ebay.co.uk/thecrafthut/
get rid of things
Why do so many commenters think it is helpful to suggest getting rid of things? Do they not use towels and toilet paper? Some of us are lacking in storage due to the design of our houses, not our inability to edit our possessions.