I was asked a really good question the other day about storage.
My wonderful friend, Nicola. Who, might I add, is an actual super woman... a hard working district nurse and a step mum to 4 boys, Nicola has been a good friend of mine since nursery.
Nicola asked me for advice on choosing the right drawer dividers. There were so many, she was finding it hard to choose.
Storage can be really overwhelming, I'm not exaggerating, looking for 'the right' storage solutions used to genuinely bring me out in a cold sweat!
I'm the sort of person who feels like they have to look at every single option before I can make a decision. It can be pretty tiring, particularly when there are so many hundreds of options on the Internet and in the stores these days!
Apologies for the shameless plug, but one benefit of hiring a PO like me, is that I will take all the hard work away and recommend the best storage for the space we are organising. I always take a load of measurements during the consultation as there is nothing worse than ordering all your storage bins and then finding out they don't fit in your space, trust me, I've been there!
So, how do I choose the right storage? This really depends on a couple of different factors:
1) Most importantly, your style preference. Are you a clear stacking bin lover, reminiscent of 'The Home Edit' or do you prefer a more natural wood or fabric option or a pop of colour even? I will always be led by you, the client, and your own individual style, after all, you have to live with it, not me!
I personally like a combination of clear stacking bins and drawers, mixed with a more natural option, like rattan or hyacinth.
2) Your budget - you can pick up budget friendly storage options in places like Primark, Poundland, Home Bargains, IKEA, even the supermarkets if you take a look at the home sections.
For all of you 'The Home Edit' fans, John Lewis now do a range, or you could even look at Etsy and Not On The Highstreet, for personalised solutions.
I've listed below some of my top tips if you're looking for your own storage. And if you get overwhelmed and need some help, do let me know, I'd love to help!
MARIANNE'S TOP TIPS:
- Always take measurements; particularly the height and depth of your cupboards and drawers to make sure your options fit.
- Ideally, only use 2, or at most 3 different style options in any space. Using the same design will streamline your space and make it look all that much more 'put together'.
- If in doubt, add a lazy Susan, they are so versatile!
- For deep cupboards, put your back stock at the back and use storage drawers for ease of access.
- Use shelf risers to quickly double your space.
- Unless you really want to make a statement with your storage, I would recommend keeping the colours neutral. You don't want to have to replace it if you decide to re-decorate for instance, and it's handy to be able to move it to another room if you need to without worrying about colours clashing.
- Buy more than you think you need, it's better to have too much and then return what is not used, rather than have to make lots of trips.
- Labels, labels, labels - a label acts as an instruction to the rest of the house, explaining where everything is kept and vitally, where it needs to be put back. They are so important to ensuring your things stay where they are supposed to live, no more excuses!
I have been busy working on a label catalogue which allows you to pick and choose from a huge selection of different styles and I'm happy to say that all my labels are included in my hourly rate.
So, there we have it. Some of my top storage tips. I'd love to hear your thoughts on storage and what you need help with.
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All images credit to: 'The Home Edit'
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