Domestic storage - a guide to space optimisation for families

Whether you live in a three bedroom home or a modest studio apartment, space always seems to be in shortage. In fact, as we go through life accumulating all sorts of belongings, this can ultimately create unwanted clutter. This is something that affects growing families in particular – as our lives change, so does the need for extra space within our homes.

As not everyone can afford a home extension, there are ways to efficiently optimise your space that will not only help you clear out some of the clutter, but also implement new, improved storage solutions. Good storage is in fact key to an organised home, which will not only help keep things looking tidy, but it will also improve your overall family organisation.

The old saying ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ hits the nail on the head, so here are some easy tips for space optimisation.

Invest in smart furniture

If you’ve ever taken a walk in IKEA, you will have  noticed how the right furniture can make even the smallest of apartments look good while being functional. In fact, there are plenty of smart solutions on the market that will add valuable storage space to your home without adding any clutter.

For instance, sofas and beds featuring a storage compartment are ideal to keep your bedding and blankets tidy and organised. Think about all the space you could free up in your wardrobe or cupboards if you could store everything directly under your bed or sofa!

But the space saving solutions available on the market are many and varied. Under-sink cabinets, for instance, are ideal to keep your bathroom organised, perfect to store everything you may need on a daily basis, from towels to spare shampoos and toiletries.

Make good use of your home space

When thinking about organising our homes, we often only focus on the rooms that hold the most importance - such as the living room, bedroom or kitchen.

However, if you’re lucky enough to have a spare room to use for storage, you should also think about reorganising that. In fact, whether you have a small utility cupboard or a spacious attic, it’s easy to get carried away when storing our belongings. Take some time to empty out your “storage room” and reorganise it. Plastic boxes and storage baskets are a great way to keep things tidy, as they allow you to categorise things and put a system in place. This will make it easier to find things once they’ve been stored away for a few months.

To maximise any storage space, you will need to go through everything first and declutter your belongings to establish exactly what you want to keep.

Declutter first

Unless you’re completely isolated from social media, chances are you have come across at least one “organisation video” in your time. These have become hugely popular thanks to the satisfactory before & after results. In fact, while organising our belongings can be a tedious task, it is also extremely rewarding and will leave you feeling a sense of calm and harmony.

So, before you launch yourself into the reorganisation process, get a few bags and be prepared to say goodbye to some stuff. It’s in our human nature to hoard things we feel attached to, however more often than not, we don’t actually need half of what we want to keep.

Organisation guru, Marie Kondo, has a very simple tip to help you decide what to keep. Simply hold each item and think to yourself “Does this spark joy? Does this item serve any purpose?”. Items that spark joy, can be kept as they hold sentimental value (think about your child’s old blankets or your great-grandma’s lamp). Items that serve purpose are things you know you will be using at some point in the future (this can be a bread maker or your fine china dinnerware). If the answer is no to either of those questions, then it's time to let go of that object and make space for something that will be more useful.

Now that you have decluttered, you’re ready to start reorganising your belongings in a more methodical way.

Organise into smart storage

There are a variety of storage solutions available on the market – from storage caddies to plastic boxes.  Simple solutions are always best, as they will help you effortlessly organise your belongings so that they can be easily located later.

You can also opt for a mixture of storage solutions. For instance, seasonal things such as Holiday decorations can have their own dedicated storage box, which can be placed at the back. However, the things you need more regularly are better suited for smaller storage boxes or caddies. Splitting things into compartments or smaller boxes will make it easier to find what you’re looking for in the future.

As you make your way through your storage boxes, make sure to label everything. This will save you a lot of time in the long run and will prevent you from having to rummage through each box every time you need something.

Consider self-storage

The last piece of  advice we have is more suitable for people who don’t have any storage space in their homes. We are talking about domestic self-storage, a flexible solution that can serve the purpose of a detached storage room, removing any clutter from your home. Self-storage units range from small lockers, suitable for a handful of boxes, to larger units,  which can store all your belongings. These are particularly useful as they allow you to compartmentalise your belongings and keep everything safe and tidy.

Self-storage company Vanguard, are among the leaders in domestic storage, offering solutions suited to everyone’s needs. Their storage facilities are equipped with 24/7 CCTV, on site security and access limited to customers only. This means that you will be able to place all your belongings into storage, with the peace of mind that these are safe, while also freeing up some valuable storage space in your home.

If you’re unsure about what unit would be best suited for your needs, you can use Vanguard’s storage unit size guide to find out.

So, whether you’re looking for a permanent storage solution within your home, or you would like to organise your seasonal decorations, this guide to space optimisation for families should have given you a clearer idea on how to do just that!

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