Have you ever looked around your house and thought, “where’s Marie Kondo when you need her?” - we’ve all been there. It can be tough to motivate yourself when your home is feeling cluttered and disorganised. But where to begin? Don’t worry! We’ve got 10 simple storage tips that will make your life a whole lot easier.

Declutter

Step one: choose a room. Step two: open the cupboards. Step three: take a look at your belongings and remove anything you no longer use or need. A good way to approach this is to consider if you have needed it in the last year - if not, consider if it’s an item you still need. You’ll be amazed by how much you can throw away, donate, or sell! Three steps and you’re done. Easy.

The Right Storage

It’s tempting to head straight to Ikea and grab a new storage unit or chest of drawers right away. But before you do that, take a moment to measure your room and the existing drawers or shelves. You want to make sure whatever you buy will fit perfectly and suit the space just right. Think about how the new piece will affect the layout and flow of the room—will it make moving around easier or harder? And don’t forget about the style - you want your new storage to blend seamlessly with your current furniture, creating a cohesive and functional look. Taking these extra steps might seem tedious, but they’ll save you time, money, and the hassle of dealing with returns. Plus, you’ll end up with a space that truly works for you.

Store Your Seasonal Items Away

You don’t need your bathers, shorts, and other summer clothes all year round, and the same goes for those puffers and warm coats that you won’t need during the warmer months. Invest in some space bags and vacuum pack those seasonal items until you need them again. You’ll be surprised at how compact they become. Plus, this means more room to buy more clothes…right?

Got a Nook?

Some homes have those tricky nooks and crannies that make furniture and storage placement a challenge. You’ll want to get creative with how you use these spaces. For example, maximise your understairs space by storing large or cumbersome items here (think suitcases, sports equipment or holiday decorations), freeing up space in other areas of your home. You could even turn a nook under the stairs into a compact office, a cosy reading corner, or even a mini library with some built-in shelves. Some corners can be too awkward to fit existing storage units and you may want to consider custom shelving or a corner cabinet to make the most of it. Even those narrow gaps between appliances and walls can be transformed with slim rolling carts or custom pull-out shelves. With a little imagination, those void spaces can become incredibly functional.

Store by Size

A good rule of thumb when storing items in a wardrobe or bookshelf is to start with smaller pieces in the centre of the shelf, working outwards with bigger items at the ends - this will make everything look balanced and tidy. For safety, place light but bulky items like pillows and doonas on a high shelf, and keep the heavier stuff on the lower shelves. By doing this, you’re not only making your space look great but also keeping it safe and functional.

Organise The Kitchen

Ever moved into a new home and realised you don’t have a cutlery tray? That top drawer can become chaotic quickly! It’s best to assess what you own and buy organisers that work for you. Whether it’s wire shelving for plates, dividers for folders, or a tray for cutlery, organisers are essential for an orderly kitchen.

Label Your Containers

If you’re short on time and need to find one of those random items you left lying around, labelled containers will be a lifesaver! Clearly mark your containers, crates, and tubs, and group them by similar categories so you can quickly find what you’re looking for. Take it to the next level with some colour-coordinated labels to make it aesthetically pleasing. Yes, please!

Kids Room Storage

A tidy home can turn chaos within seconds if you have kids around. Consider using under-bed storage and other low-level options like display cases or low-rise dressers in their rooms. This way, you can encourage little hands to become little helpers when it’s time to tidy up.

Make Use of Empty Space

This might seem obvious, but using every little bit of available space is key to maximising storage. For example, if you’re placing small boxes, blankets, or pillows on the top shelf of your wardrobe, ensure they fit snugly with no gaps in between. You might even want to stack pillows on top of boxes if your storage space allows, freeing up more shelf space.

Stick to Your Cleaning Schedule

Sticking to a cleaning schedule is an absolute must (and trust us – your future self will thank you!). Set deadlines for cleaning or sorting tasks and stick to them. We’ve all had those days when we’re exhausted after a long day at work and can’t bear the thought of cleaning that stack of dishes, but try your best to get it done. It might help to listen to a podcast or watch your favourite TV show while doing these chores. We promise you’ll feel more refreshed and motivated waking up in the morning to a clean kitchen. The same goes for all those other chores we all dread: folding the washing, putting it away, vacuuming, putting the trash out… the list goes on! If you stick to your deadline, you’ll always wake up to an orderly home.

Follow these steps, and you'll master the art of organised living in no time!