SMART SPACE-SAVING SOLUTIONS
The really useful guide to getting your home ready for the warmer days just around the corner
It’s nearly summertime, and the living should be easy. But if you’re surrounded by thick winter duvets, chunky throws on the sofa and a hall crammed full of winter coats, getting your space ready for the lighter days ahead might seem like an uphill task. Fear not – we’ve come up with 26 quick wins to help reorganise and refresh your home, freeing up space and turning what was warm and cosy into bright and breezy…
1MAKE A LIST
Tiresome as it may seem, listing all the things you need to do will help. Take a walk around your home, indoors and out, and write down everything you’d like to change, then break these tasks down into ‘must do’ and ‘nice to do’. Prioritise the essentials and then, if you have time (or energy), move on to the extras. Not only will you gain immense satisfaction from ticking things off, writing them down makes it super-easy to share the jobs with others too – just hand them the list and pour yourself a cold one!
2 WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY
Sunshine isn’t kind to grubby windows, so give them a good clean (or get someone to do it for you). If possible, swap heavy curtains for voiles or blinds that can filter the brighter light and, at the very least, throw open doors and windows to let those breezes work their warm magic.
3 BOOST THE SPARKLE
With more sunlight pouring into your room, you might want to brighten up your interiors to match. We’re not suggesting a total redecoration, but simply swapping darker cushions and accessories for ones in lighter shades or coastal colours can have a huge effect on the look and feel of a space.
4 PACK UP THE RUGS & THROWS
Woolly rugs and cosy throws are necessary in winter, but can become dust traps in warmer months. It makes sense to pack them away until the autumn months. Vacuum your rugs thoroughly, then, if needed, clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow to dry, then protect against moths and other insect damage before rolling (never folding!) and wrapping them in an old cotton sheet. Store somewhere cool and dry.
For throws and cushions, vacuum bags are ideal as they shrink down, making it easy to pack them away until needed.
5 KEEP YOUR WINTER CLOTHING UNDER WRAPS
If you need to make space in your wardrobe, packing up winter clothes and accessories to store in the loft is a great solution. Here’s what you need to keep them safe and sound over the summer months:
• VACUUM STORAGE BAGS These are ideal for bulky items, such as duvets, sweaters, cushions and throws. Lakeland has a good selection of bags from £12.99.
• PLASTIC STORAGE BOXES Perfect for clothing as, unlike cardboard, they’re not acidic and totally water- and damp-proof too.
• GARMENT BAGS As these accommodate hangers, they’re a great way to keep coats, suits and dresses crease- and dust-free. John Lewis & Partners has clothes covers from £8.50.
• SHOE BAGS OR BOXES Fill shoes with tissue paper to help keep their shape, then put each pair into a separate bag or box and label it so you know what’s inside.
• ACID-FREE TISSUE PAPER Go for pH neutral, which will protect garments while in storage. Use to layer between items or when folding sweaters and other delicate items. Try Acid Free Tissue Paper roll, recycled, £4.79, Staples
6 MOTHS BE GONE
These pesky beasts are more active during summer months, so it’s vital to protect any clothes or fabrics you pack away. Scented moth repellents, such as cedar wood balls or sprays and lavender bags, are a great first line of defence. We love: Dahlia linen lavender bag bundle (pictured), £12/two, Not on the High Street
7 IT’S A SHOE-IN
People are in and out of the house more in the warmer weather, so it’s good to have a designated area where they can leave their shoes. Set up some stylish baskets by each entrance (front door, back door, bootroom etc), so everyone can drop their outdoor shoes into one and grab slippers from the other to stop grass and dust being tracked through your home.
8 SPORTS REPORT
Winter sporting equipment can clutter up your home, so sort out storage for your kit now. Skis and snowboards should be thoroughly cleaned and packed away in the garage or back of a cupboard; hiking or football boots would benefit from being scrubbed of mud and popped in a shoe box ready for the new season, and you can get sports clothing laundered and vacuum-packed away too. For easy access to summer sports equipment, utilise a selection of pegs, hooks, shelves and benches on a wall in the hall or spare bedroom for a neat and tidy way to keep everything together.
9 ON THE PEG
Another brilliant way to organise your hall is to give each family member a peg or hook of their own to hang up jackets, bags or hats, so they can just grab and go.
10 COTTON ON
Now you’ve swapped your winter duvet for one of a lighter tog, why not change up your bedlinen too? Crisp natural cotton or luxe linen will help you keep cooler on the hottest of summer nights.
11WELLY, I NEVER!
Okay, it might nearly be summer, but we’re talking about the UK and that means we’re going to get at least some rain… so you’ll still need somewhere to keep your wellies handy by the door. We love: Farringdon welly stand, from £50, Garden Trading
12 BICYCLE ART
You don’t want to be falling over a pushbike in the hall or having to steer your car around it to get into the garage. Instead, think higher, literally, and mount your bike from the ceiling in the hall or garage.
13 CHAIR RAISING
Got a lot of extra chairs for when family and friends come round for that summer party but nowhere to keep them? Look upward to see if you could hang them on a hook somewhere. They might even work as wall art – saving space and make a style statement at the same time.
14 CAPSULE COLLECTION
Fed up with hunting for your sunnies, keys, purse, in-car charger (delete as appropriate) every time you leave the house? Grab a selection of gorgeous baskets or pots and arrange them by the door to keep individual items in (it works so much better than one big, messy bowl crammed with everything).
15 LUNCH BOX
Dining alfresco is one of summer’s great joys, so this year make it easy on yourself by collating all your outdoor dining items – plates, glasses, cutlery, table runners, napkins, jugs, hurricane lamps, candles – into one box in the garage, shed or utility room, so when the sun does shine, you’ve got everything you need in one handy place.
17 PERFECTLY TRANSPARENT
Now is a great time to have a clear out of your kitchen cupboards. If you want to cut back on plastic, then invest in some glass jars and head to your nearest refill/ zero waste shop to stock up on pulses, rice and pasta. We love: Tall Ball jar, £12.99/ four, Lakeland; Copper Wire cliptop jar, £5.50, John Lewis & Partners
18 ROBO-CLEAN YOUR BARBECUE AND GRILL
Want a spick and span grill with next to no effort? Say hello to GrillBot, the barbecue-cleaning robot that has three powerful brushes to remove stubborn grub. Choose between a 10-, 20- or 30-minute run time and then, when it’s finished, pop the brushes into your dishwasher. GrillBot grill cleaning robot, £99.99, Robert Dyas
19 GRILL CLEANING BY HAND
Summer equals barbecues, but if yours has spent its winter languishing in the shed, give it a little TLC. Here’s how…
• Take off the grill and clean thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
• Use a hard-wire brush on the grill itself – if it’s really bad, you might need to call in the heavies in the form of oven cleaner.
• Once it’s clean, turn on the burners (or light charcoal) and let it heat up for about 10 minutes. Turn off or douse the coals.
• When fully cool, wipe a little cooking oil over the grill and you’re good to go. Linen napkin, £21, Rowen & Wren
20 CLEAR THE DECKS
Chances are your decking has been a tad neglected over the winter months, but with summer approaching, you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, so you’re going to want it in tip-top condition. The good news is, with a couple of clever products and bit of elbow grease, you’ll be done in no time.
• Start by sweeping away any dirt or debris, and fix any protruding nails or screws (they’re guaranteed flip-flop killers!).
• Next, powerwash the deck – use the washer on low so you don’t damage the wood.
• Apply a good-quality decking cleaner. This removes residual grease and stains, and restores the wood at the same time.
• Finally, reseal the wood with decking stain or oil to replace the natural oils and resins and protect it throughout the summer. We love: Ronseal Decking Cleaner & Reviver, £9.99/5L; Screwfix and Cuprinol UV Guard Decking Oil, £42/5L, B&Q
21 POWER PLAY
Patios need the occasional pampering too, so spruce up yours with a power washer… Kärcher’s T350 Patio Cleaner attachment, £40, from John Lewis & Partners, is splash-free on various surfaces so you can make your paving stones pristine without the risk of getting your windows and doors mucky.
22 WHATEVER THE WEATHER
Sadly, we don’t live in a country where the sun shines from May to September, so weatherproof garden storage for cushions, garden chairs and rugs is a must. No matter the size of your outdoor space, there’s a solution to suit, from a full-sized summer house to cushion boxes and a handy bench with built-in seat storage to stash bits and bobs.
23 SPRUCE UP YOUR OUTDOOR FURNITURE
While we’re on a cleaning mission, your garden furniture may not be looking its best after months under wraps. So pop on your Marigolds and give metal tables and chairs a wipe down with hot soapy water. Treat wooden pieces to a light sanding and some teak oil to revive and refresh them, and throw dusty cushion covers in the machine for a quick wash before hanging out to dry in the sun! Cushions, from a selection, The White Company
24 SORT OUT THE SHED
A bit of time spent organising now will save you lots of time over the coming months. Invest in some shelving for the watering can, compost and smaller plant pots; hang hooks on the walls to hold the strimmer and garden tools; and move the mower and wheelbarrow to the front so you’re not wrestling other items out of the way when it’s time to cut the lawn. And don’t forget about the doors – make the most of this often unused space by hanging some baskets on the inside to hold smaller items, such as gardening gloves, secateurs and plant labels.
25 TIDY UP THE GARDEN
Go for a quick spruce-up – grab the mower and give the lawn a quick haircut, trim away any old branches or overgrown hedges, chuck out cracked or broken pots and planters and get the greenhouse in order. This means, should the bank holiday be nice weatherwise, you’ll have a garden you’re happy to spend time in.
26 MERGE INDOORS AND OUT
Adding a few (or a lot) of green, leafy houseplants makes any space feel instantly summery. Place them near windows or patio doors and they’ll blend with the garden beyond, creating a seamless transition from indoors to out. We love: Big Ken kentia palm, from £50; Theodora string of nickles, £18; both Patch HB