If you lose your keys, misplace bills, and spend hours hunting for your other glove, you may need to reduce the clutter in your home. One excellent way to corral your clutter is to create more storage space.
First, take a look around your home to see if there are any underused nooks or odd areas. A window in the upstairs hall with a narrow space on either side that was previously a dumping ground for unwanted things can become a useful and functional area. Ideally, you should create storage space with a built-in window seat and cabinets on either side. However, if you aren’t a carpenter, you can still create a useful and attractive unit with freestanding pieces. Measure the width of the window and the width of the area on each side of the window. Then, head to the nearest building supply store with your measurements in hand. First, check the laundry area for prefabricated linen cabinets to see if the store has cabinets that will fit on either side of the window on hand. If not, you may have to go to the kitchen department and special-order pantry cabinets to fit the area. Next, you will need to check your local unfinished furniture store for a children’s toy box that will fit under your window. Paint the trunk to match your cabinets, and add a few cushions to the top to give it the look of a window seat. For under $500, you should have a large, functional storage area where you only had wasted space before. Store extra linens, sweaters, or birthday gifts without the clutter.
Another frequently wasted area is the space under coffee tables, benches, or hall tables. For the price of a few baskets or other containers, you can turn these areas into a tidy, functional storage space. Make sure all of the baskets you use in one room match each other so the storage space has a cohesive look.
Do you have a long, narrow downstairs hall with little foyer space? If your hall is just a foot wider than your walking space, you can add valuable storage space with a prefabricated shelving unit. Paint the unit the same shade as your walls so that it fades into the walls. Make sure you anchor the unit securely. Once again, you will need matching baskets for this unit. Label these baskets for mail, gloves, and other small items you frequently misplace. If you have a large household, give each person a basket for car keys, sunglasses and lunch bags to reduce the clutter that used to fill your hall. If you have enough room on the shelving unit, use your bottom shelf to keep shoes tidy. Just line the baskets on the bottom shelf with plastic, and you will have the perfect spot for shoe storage.
Is the space under your beds catching dust bunnies? With the addition of some under-bed boxes on wheels, you can reduce clutter in your overcrowded closets by creating storage space for out-of-season clothing.
Finally, if you have stairs leading up to the second floor, take a look at the space under them. If there are no pipes, wires or ducts running through, you will be able to knock out the drywall and build shelving or even a small utility closet. This frequently overlooked space will hold clutter, coats, mops, and even a vacuum cleaner.
