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by Judy ChristophersonStorage! Is there ever enough? For most of us storage continues to be an ongoing issue. If it is dealt with in a very intentional way, the results can be very rewarding. The following are some solutions for potential problem areas in your home.
First, the entryway
Front entrances or foyers are our home's first impression. When the entrance is empty of people, it can appear very impressive. When several guests arrive or the children come home from school, bags, shoes and coats appear, and everyone is stepping over clutter. Guests and children (and yes, even husbands) will learn to put their clothing and personal items away if there is a place to put them.
Storage for coats is obvious. Put them in a coat closet. However, children need to be able to reach the hooks to hang them up. Hooks at eye level rather than hangers are better for children. Their own space with a place for boots or shoes below their hook with a shelf or basket for their bags or sports equipment is a good solution. Children will feel special with their personal space. They can identify their hook by labeling with their name, their handprint in paint, or with a decoration that reflects their interest. Put this layout behind closed doors and the clutter is solved. This will also help everyone to be accountable. If coats are not on their hooks individuals can be taken to task. Besides, they will be able to locate them again when they leave. We have all experienced looking for the other mitt or the school bag at the last minute.
A designated box or hooks for keys, or a container for wet umbrellas will also help to keep a well-organized space.
If shoes are removed at the front door, then a box of slippers in a variety of sizes will encourage guests and family to comply. It will also indicate to visitors that they are important enough to provide this extra indication of hospitality.
In the kitchen
Kitchens are another area where storage is critical. Think vertical as well as horizontal. In times past, the space above the cabinets has been used for baskets or silk plants, or simply ignored. What about closing in that area with frosted or clear glass doors to put the "good" china, trays and all those other special occasion items that are so important, but which are not used frequently? The space can be accessed by a small "two-step" ladder which folds up and stores away.
Storage rails are a great idea for kitchen items. Specialty stores and even some of the department stores sell rails with "S" hooks which attach to walls. Cooking utensils and small household gadgets can be readily reached in the work area where they are used. Small buckets can be attached to the rail as well to hold the items which do not hang easily. Think about hanging up cookie cutters or rolling pins in this way.
Baskets of the same style can house canned goods and packages. When they are placed on open racks they are accessible as well as convenient.
In the bath
Bathrooms are another challenge. Towels placed in baskets on the floor free up cabinet space. Combination shelves which can hold toiletries as well as towels, reflect the "hotel" look which is so popular right now. Towel bars with three or four bars, one under the other, are available. For the luxury feel, how about a four-tiered heated bar so that when towels are pulled from the rack, they are warm? This would be in an ensuite to the principle bedroom!
As for those closets…
Linen and bedroom closets can benefit from bins for pillows, blankets and seasonal items. If the luxury of space is available, why not provide a closet for the seasonal wear that is off-season? That would mean that everything would not be rummaged through all of the time when someone is searching for clothing, or sheets, or the extra comforter. Commercial organizers can be very helpful, but be certain that they meet the family needs. At least consider hanging double rows of rods for shirts and blouses. And remember, children need to be able to reach the rod, or their clothes will be left for others to hang them up!
Clutter-free dining and living rooms
Dining rooms and living rooms offer their own set of challenges. Flat ware for the table can be stored neatly in drawers in felt pouches. Napkins can be stored in shallow bins within drawers and tablecloths can be rolled on tubes and stored vertically or horizontally, eliminating fold lines when they are put on the table. Instead of using an end table or coffee table in the living room, why not use a decorative chest to hold the coffee cup? The chest can house CDs, craft projects, or magazines, keeping them out of sight, but still easily accessible on demand. Small decorative boxes on tables can handle all of those remote controls in one place so that they can be found easily.
Everything in its place and a place for everything ensures uncluttered decor and easy maintenance. Have fun looking at your spaces in a new and creative way as you consider the possibilities for storage!
Judy Christopherson has been an interior designer, as well as a builder, for the past 20 years in Vancouver, Canada. Currently, she is director of Women Today, Canada, where she puts her creativity to work in developing creative outreaches such as Victorian Tea Parties. To read how God is using Judy click here.
