Tips and tricks for a more organised home.

Having the right storage without a doubt makes life easier and your home more enjoyable. But, doing it incorrectly can have the opposite effect, which sort of defeats the purpose.

Does this sound familiar? Overstuffed baskets that require a circus strong man to get off the shelf, kitchen drawers filled with utensils you haven’t touched since 2003, or the dreaded “man draw”. Here are some tips and tricks for a more organised home.

Think outside the box

Think about it, do you have any unused space in your home? Maybe a pokey corner, space under the bed, or even ceiling space? All of these things can be your friend and depending on your budget you can find solutions at iKea or via your favourite interior designer.

This fantastic floating shelf from the London home of Paul Benson and Paul West shows a variety of memorabilia on display but could easily be converted to be a smart bookshelf or a space to sit wicker baskets for holding anything from paperwork to cleaning products.

Bigger is Better

Never underestimate the amount of space you need and when in doubt, bigger is better. A generously sized library wall, like this, is perfect for any sized space and can hold a large amount of books and other objects all in one location, reducing the potential for clutter in other areas.

Deep Drawers

Now this is something I recommend to my clients 90% of the time. Moving away from the typical 600mm deep kitchen joinery and opting for 700mm instead, can make the world of difference in your kitchens functionality, with little impact on the overall flow of the space.

Yes, it’s a touch more expensive, but so worth it, your pots and pans will fit, your large plates can sit end to end without poking out, they can maybe even hide that cheeky bottle of wine.

It’s also easier to see the contents, making it more likely that you’ll keep things organised, including, should I even say it? The Tupperware draw, shock horror.

Don’t mismatch

With the advantage of cost effective and easily accessible homewares, it can be easy to get taken in by this seasons latest hot new thing. My advice, if you’re not prepared to do the lot, don’t bother. Yes, plain wicker might seem a bit unexciting, but it helps create order.

Image: Monika Hibbs

Expert Tip: Unfortunately common sense isn’t so common anymore, so before you decide to tackle any home organising (professional or not), remember to measure your space!