All In Order Storage strategies to make everyday living easier.
‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is the holy grail for homemakers. And as writes, Laura Barry bespoke storage solutions add up to maximum ease.
The burden of household clutter goes beyond a disorganised pantry or untidy bedroom. A 2017 survey by Gumtree found that 91 per cent of Australians are hoarding unwanted items at home, estimated to be worth a whopping $5404 per household. An earlier study by The Australia Institute found that around 40 per cent of Australians feel anxious, guilty or depressed about the clutter filling their abode. Successful organisation and storage solutions are not just a means to a tidy end, they promote peace of mind and stress-free living. Take control of everyday debris by integrating these storage ideas into your home.
OPTIMISE STORAGE
Professional organiser MaryAnne Bennie (in8.com.au) specialises in decluttering homes and lives. Here are her top tips for making the most of what you have.
Organise your home first, then shop for extra storage if needed. You won’t know exactly what you need until you’ve sorted through everything.
We use about 20 per cent of our stuff 80 per cent of the time. Make space for the 20 per cent and eliminate as much of the remainder as possible.
When storing items in deep shelves, use the ‘many:few’ technique, where many items are placed in a single row at the back, and just a few are placed in front to allow for easy access physically and visually.
When organising shelves, place light items at the top, and tall or heavy items lower down. If you have adjustable shelves, store items of a similar height together.
If you can’t remove, use and put something back in its place in one or two movements, it’s time to reorganise.
To keep things tidy in the living room, allocate a designated drawer or basket for remotes and other controls.
Organise electric cables and chargers by labelling them according to device, or keep them in labelled zip-lock bags or door-hung organisers.