Declutter your life with these creative storage ideas

Do you spend hours looking for particular items of clothing, shoes or other daily essentials in your home? Are you drowning in material possessions yet cannot bring yourself to throw anything away? Get inspired with these creative storage ideas and declutter your life today!

In your entryway

A neat and tidy entryway is highly beneficial, as it is the first thing your visitors see and sets the tone for the rest of your interiors. It’s also where you scramble to put on your shoes and collect your jacket and handbag on the way out, so it’s easy for these items to pile up at the door.

If there are multiple people living in your home, one great way to organise all of your belongings at the front door is to convert an old bookshelf/storage unit into DIY lockers featuring hooks for hats and coats and shelves for shoes and sports gear.

If you want to create clean lines and eliminate possible odours, consider buying a shoe cupboard. If your linen press is in the entryway, perhaps you could convert it into a closet and store your linen and towels elsewhere.

To store your keys and other small items in your entryway, consider a small side table or use key hooks. A single shelf with colourful lightweight storage boxes can also work and will free up floor space.

In your bedroom

To save space in your bedroom, consider investing in a bed with built-in storage drawers. These large drawers are great for bulky blankets, seasonal clothes, books, shoes and spare linen. Alternatively, raise your bed using blocks to create storage space underneath.

If you are particularly short on space and wish to use your bedroom for other purposes during the day, such as a space for yoga or study, consider installing a folding bed. These are fairly common in studio apartments and easily convert your sleeping space into a living space.

Maximise your use of wall space. Place hooks to hang hats and jewellery. Consider buying invisible bookshelves and use a pegboard for notes, photographs and small items.
Hanging keys or other important items behind photo frames is another great way to save space and create clean lines.

In your living room

Decluttering your living room, where you spend most of your time, will breathe new life into your home.

The living area is the perfect space for bookshelves. It’s a quick and easy way to create more spacious interiors.

If you have the budget for customised shelving designed to fit a particular space, go for it. If you have high ceilings, perhaps utilise the space above your door frames for a few rows of built-in shelves. Add a smart ladder for access to create an upmarket library look and feel.

Alternatively, invest in good quality flat pack shelving and don’t be afraid to run it along an entire wall.

“Bookshelves aren’t just for books,” said homes.com.au Founder & Managing Director, Pat Carbone.

“They provide a neat space with clean lines for many items including TV remotes, ornaments, photo frames, board games and bric-a-brac.”

Entertainment cabinets, either freestanding or built-in, are a great way to declutter with specific spaces for your TV, DVD player and other appliances. All the cords are concealed at the back.

Don’t forget the space under your couch. It’s a great area for bulky blankets or large rolls of wrapping paper. It gets pretty dusty under there, so consider buying some good quality slimline storage boxes to keep everything neat and easily accessible.

Finally, walk through every room and ask yourself, ‘Is there anything I should be selling’? Online platforms such as ebay and gumtree enable you to make a little money on redundant items.