Spring Cleaning and Storage Ideas

Springtime sees everyone giving their homes the once over.  Getting rid of the old and in with the new.  (Or possibly giving old items a new place to be enjoyed and cherished)  I saw this display at the Canadian Table and Giftware Association (CGTA) earlier this year and thought it really evoked the feeling of spring.  (I just may want to add this arrangement to my family room after all my spring cleaning is complete.....) 

Spring Accessories at the CGTA

I actually look forward to sorting through my items room by room.  I look at each item and decide if I will use it, display it or toss it.  There is something liberating about discarding all the items I never use or look at anymore.  I love the feeling of  having a clean and organised space where you can find the things you need when you need them.   

After purging each room we may decide to give it a little lift after achieving that calm and organised space.  Since storage space is at a premium, I am always on the lookout for ideas that utilise dead space or do double duty, while staying ascetically pleasing. 

The following are some examples of storage ideas that you may be able to implement in your own home.
  
The kitchen truly is the heart of the home - and this is also evident when you see how many items that don't belong somehow end up here!  In addition to the obvious many of us keep cleaners, garbage bags and the like under the sink or on the counter.  I saw this idea for those of us who really like to keep things accessible and out of site. 

apartmenttherapy.com

Newspapers, school trip forms and mail usually end up sitting on the counter.  The solution in our home was a shoe cabinet from Ikea.   It is a shallow cabinet with 3 slim drawers.  The top drawer holds the days paper and our current mail.  The 2 lower drawers are used for our daughters.  They each have their own place to keep their homework, school forms and extracurricular information, and it keeps the clutter off the counter!    

If space doesn't allow for another cabinet, the inside of your cupboard doors can serve as some much needed storage.  Installing a pegboard to the inside of the door allows you to hang up all sorts of small items.  The chalkboard is another idea, and the best part about this is that everything stays hidden and therefore, neat. 

iheartorganizing.com

Entryways are another place where things tend to collect.  Have a bowl or decorative box at the front so you have  somewhere to put keys, gloves etc.  The foyer will look a lot cleaner just having the items all in one container instead of  strewn throughout the area.

homelife.com.au

Many entry's don't have enough space to hold everything we need.  If this is your situation it may be worth adding much needed storage in another area.  If your stairs have dead space underneath, here is a practical solution that also looks great.

shelterness.com

 Another idea involving stairs is adding a drawer hidden behind the riser.  I love the idea of reclaiming space that is otherwise unusable. 

design-decor-staging,com

There are plenty of other stylish storage solutions out there,  one that can help solve your particular dilemma.  Remember that having an organised home means different things to different people.  The key is finding a way to make it work for your lifestyle and suit your taste.  

If you require assistance with giving your rooms a lift please email me at linda@changesinteriordesign.ca