Chic storage solutions
Now we’ve put our homes through a Kondo clear-out, it’s time to tidy up what’s left in style, says Jessica Doyle
Even before Marie Kondo came along with her decluttering tips, the start of the year was always a good time for a clear-out. Charity shops up and down the country are suddenly heaving with clothes and books, and Barnardo’s alone has reported a 20 per cent increase in homeware donations.
Having got rid of items that no longer “spark joy”, as Kondo puts it, we’re now busy making the most of our remaining possessions: sales of storage – from ottomans and garment rails to display cabinets – are going through the roof.
At John Lewis, storage units and trunks are up 75 per cent year on year, while clothing hooks are up 36 per cent and crates 15 per cent. “We’ve seen a considerable increase in customers investing in space-saving and problem-solving storage items that make everyday life easier,” says buyer Matt Thomas. “Versatility is key when creating a clutter-free home, and pretty and practical, multipurpose pieces that store clothing and
accessories are particularly in demand.” Sales of its felt storage basket are up a staggering 3,100 per cent.
If anyone knows how to do storage effectively, it’s the Swedes, and this week’s Stockholm Furniture Fair was packed with chic solutions. Swedish brand String (string.se) is marking 70 years since the launch of its modular shelving system, which still looks modern and fresh today. Its ladderstyle side panels can be fitted with any combination of shelves, racks, drawers and cabinets – plus tables and desks – and there’s a whole range of accessories such as cups, hooks, bowls and organisers that can be clipped on to the sides for ultimate clutter containment.
The adjustable design and choice of colours means they look as good displaying books and records in the sitting room as they do holding cosmetics and cookware in the bathroom and kitchen – and the brand now has its sights on organising our gardens, too, with a new outdoor shelving range in galvanised metal. Elsewhere in Stockholm, there were lounge chairs and coffee tables with shelves beneath for holding magazines and books, slim cabinets and storage desks aplenty, and mirrors fitted with handy shelves and baskets. Summing up the streamlined Scandi aesthetic, Danish
Baskets with your children’s names on might even inspire them to clear up
company Fritz Hansen (fritzhansen. com) has brought out a new collection of boxes covered in vegetable-dyed leather, to hide coffee-table clutter such as unsightly remote controls.
Ikea cornered the market in affordable storage options long ago, and its Pax wardrobe and cupboard system, with its countless permutations, remains hugely popular and the best out there for the price; “hack” it with door fronts and handles from companies such as Superfront (superfront.com), for a more individual look. IKEA’S Platsa system, which came out last year, is similarly modular, and also easier to rearrange into different formats.
The entrance hall of a home is often a culprit for unruly clutter, and is also the first part of your house that you see when you get back after a long day. If you’re habitually greeted by a messy pile of shoes, imagine the joy that could be sparked by the sight of neat rows of footwear stacked in pigeonhole boxes.
John Lewis stocks Neatfreak’s stackable shoe cubby, which will instantly tidy up a hallway, while new British brand Morfus, launched by architect Tim Williams, specialises in sustainably made, modular storage furniture that is particularly well suited to corridor clutter. The Benji system of interlocking plywood boxes is perfect for minimalist hallway storage, and easily assembled in your choice of layout – making it a good option for maximising space under stairs.
In other rooms of the house, when buying new furniture, look for hard-working pieces with integrated storage. For the sitting room, ottomans are currently having a moment, particularly those upholstered in velvet, and when they come with hidden storage compartments, they make a neater alternative to a coffee table; use a tray for cups and glasses. Sofas and side tables are available with hidden storage, and Loaf ’s Smuggler headboard also does the job of a bedside table and bookcase, with slide-out shelves for drinks, and cubby holes to hide books. If you don’t have the space or budget for large pieces of furniture and built-in shelving, there are plenty of small, quick fixes around: over-the-door organisers can hold shoes or accessories, and a drawer on casters can turn the wasteland under the bed into a model of orderliness.
Stella Monteiro, storage sales leader at Ikea in the UK, is a fan of the company’s Skadis pegboard, “a brilliant way to organise any room in the home thanks to its customisable storage add-ons, guaranteed to make arranging your belongings more enjoyable”. Fixed to a kitchen wall, it can hold utensils and ingredients on clip-on hooks, pots and shelves; hung above a desk, it will organise messy stationery, as well as holding pictures and mood boards for inspiration. Monteiro also recommends the 365+ range of storage jars with bamboo lids, which “make cupboard organisation a breeze”.
Finding storage that looks good as well as performing its function is the key, and one fact that has emerged from the current wicker trend is that you can never have enough baskets. The perfect solution for the lazy tidier, a large woven basket (the bigger the better) is ideal for storing toys in the sitting room. Buy personalised baskets with your children’s names embroidered on them from Edit 58 (edit58.com) and they might even be inspired to clear up after themselves.
If floor space is an issue, try hanging baskets from coat stands or hooks along a wall or picture rail: they’ll make a decorative feature and provide space to store make-up and products in the bedroom, tableware and candles in the dining room.
Reducing “stuff ” is, of course, Kondo’s mission; and an admirable one at that. But if you can’t or don’t want to reduce it, you can at least make it look more appealing. And what could spark more joy than that?