Reclaim your space
A quick guide to clutter-control ideas for the modern urban home. Turn toys into pop art, prevent pileups and indulge in DIY craft to make the best use of space
Wires dangling from the back of the TV. Magazines stacked on the coffee table. Toy cars underfoot. A cabinet stuffed with crockery. A dining table that’s really the holding area for everything you have no space for. Welcome to a typical messy Indian home.
“People often complain of messy and untidy homes, despite cleaning them often,” says Hemil Parikh, founder of Elysium Abodes. That’s because clutter piles up when you least notice it. Files and documents, a bunch of keys or even makeup products can act as silent culprits. “But when the same clutter is compartmentalised, it can be doubled as gorgeous décor,” he says.
Decluttering isn’t just about discarding what you don’t need. It’s about assigning a space for everything and working out how to get the best of the space and things you have.
DECLUTTERING IS NOT JUST ABOUT DISCARDING WHAT YOU DON’T NEED. IT’S ABOUT ASSIGNING A SPACE FOR EVERYTHING AND WORKING OUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE
DOUBLE UP
“Indians are hoarders by nature and love preserving everything,” says Radeesh Shetty, director at The Purple Turtles. So, if you don’t want to throw it, then hide it well.
Priyanka Mehra, principal architect at PS Design suggests using furniture that doubles as storage. “I recently recommended one of my clients to use old trunks as side tables, says Mehra. Not only does it add a vintage look, but it can also be used to dump daily clutter. From newspapers to books and from children’s toys to clothes that await the laundry.
Parikh suggests a trendy solution with stool seating. “Ottomans are now becoming the focal point of the room and serving the purpose of ‘all eyes on me’ décor,” he states. It’s also a great place to hide things that would otherwise be scattered in the open. These seats come in various styles, patterns, fabrics, colours and sizes.
“They are available in sizes as wide as a couch to small, petite size single seats,” he adds. The best part, they move around, unlike a static sofa.
Interior designer Vaishnavipratima also suggests using Ottoman seating. It’s a great place to keep extra cushions, spare batteries for the TV remote, dinner napkins, crayons for visiting kids and other items you need in the living room.
SORT IT OUT
Daily clutter like wires, cable cords, books, children’s toys or beauty products can all double as décor if arranged properly. Lalitesh Mandrekar, design expert at Godrej Interio recommends some DIY: Decorate a shoe box and poke some holes to create a charging station that does away with loose wires at odd places.
A household with kids means toys are constantly being left around and eventually ignored. “Use them to make a unique, personalised pop-art,” says Mehra. “Create a collage of your kid’s toy cars by fixing a magnet in the bottom of each model and simply fixing a metal plate on the wall,” she says. Walls are a great place to store items you constantly need. Arrange all your makeup products in a stylish way by using a magnet board.
“This way you’re clearing up the dressing table and adding drama as well,” she adds.