I’m working with a client, specifically to select the right storage solution for various zones in her home. Starting with the entrance, living zone and office zone. My client is a single mum, living in a townhouse with limited space and two kids. So they have a lot of stuff. Here’s how to choose the right storage solution.
Stock take all your stuff
There isn’t a magic wand to help you with all the stuff in your house. Having purposeful storage gives you a place for your stuff but storage has a limited capacity.
So you need to stock take your stuff. Do you need as much as you have? Do you use as much as you have? Do you even know what you have?
For example my client placed a bar table near the kitchen with stools. She did this so her kids and guests could be close to the kitchen. But this bar table is now full of paper and other miscellaneous items.
It no longer serves its original purpose or any purpose really. Other than being a place for a pile of stuff to grow.
What’s more the dining table is only one step away. So functionally the bar table wasn’t necessary for the original purpose. As the dining table could have served the same purpose.
Anyway before you choose the right storage solution, you need to have a way to manage all the stuff. You might consider a regular clean out. Another option is a system where you bring in one thing but remove two things from your house. Find something that works for you.
Choosing the right storage
For the right storage piece to work it needs to be purposeful. A linen cupboard needs to contain linen. A tea towel drawer needs to store tea towels. If you buy a cute basket to store your throw, then only keep your throw in it.
I don’t know about you. I open a cupboard or pull out a drawer for something specific. I don’t like it when I can’t find it.
Or if the item I’m looking for is there but under lots of other stuff. This isn’t purposeful, it’s annoying and not very efficient.
For my client I need to find a storage solution for the entrance. Something for bags, jackets and shoes. I have to find a piece that fits the intended space.
The kids have schools bags, sport bags and my client has a hand bag and work bag. That’s around six bags. My clients want a cupboard for bags so that they’re not visible. But if the kids walk in, and dump their bags on the floor. Then storage piece I’ve selected won’t work.
So for the right storage solution to work, you and your family might need to be retrained. We all want a home that’s easy to live in. Having to step over bags and watch where you step isn’t easy. Moreover it could be a dangerous trip hazard and creates unsightly visual clutter.
Choosing the right storage requires taking stock of our stuff. We need to use the piece as intended. Finally, we also need to manage and clear out our stuff on a regular basis for easy living. As well as good flow of movement.
