THREE TO MAKE, BUY OR CUSTOMISE

Get all over your untidy shoe piles and jumbles of stuff by introducing some storage cunning. There are plenty of options to buy or you can fashion some yourself

1 Make

The Shakers knew a thing or two about an orderly home: peg rails skirting around rooms were used to keep everything from tea towels to chairs off the floor. Channel a little of their creativity and make your own peg rail, fix on a wall or on the inside of a wardrobe door, and hang scarves, jewellery, bags and sundries on it. Buy screw-in hardwood Shaker pegs (these are from Ebay, £9 for 10) and fix to a piece of 4x2 timber at measured intervals. Paint your choice of colour and you’re all set.

2 Buy

Shoe racks have their limitations – never being able to accommodate enough shoes being their main shortcoming – but there’s no denying their usefulness. Try to avoid the temptation to go cheap, though, and buy one that will last – a sturdy and dependable piece of furniture that will continue to do its job for years. This one by House at John Lewis, £80, has two tiers and a bench top to perch on while you tie your laces, and will take around eight pairs of shoes; johnlewis.com.

3 Customise

That old staple of storage solutions – the trusty fruit crate. You could hang around veg markets and look out for cheap used ones or buy a brand new one especially made for such a use and not very expensive. Use singly to pile pants or socks in, or screw into units of four or more to create cubby holes for jumpers and T-shirts. Paint and decorate according to whim. Used crates from vintageapplecrates.com start at £13.25 each, or buy these new ones, £5.75, at king-of-crates.com.