Organise + design your Reno with these resources

Does it feel like your home is often cluttered and untidy, with household items accumulating in piles no matter how often you seem to tidy them? A lack of adequate home storage is often the culprit. But don’t sweat - adding storage to your home is easy to do! And it can be integrated when you’re building or renovating, or added in once you’ve lived in your home and assessed what storage is needed or lacking. Ready to de-clutter? Here are five top storage ideas for you to consider for your home.

Under Stair Storage

Unused or dead space in your home provides the perfect opportunity to add game-changing storage solutions. By taking awkward shapes like the space under the stairs, you can amplify the area by adopting simple storage options. Solutions like a bench seat with built-in storage, a purposeful combination of baskets and wall hooks, or simple floor-to-ceiling cabinets - can all inject additional functionality into an otherwise unused space.

Z+S Tip • When integrating storage in spaces like stairs where there are angled walls - make sure you or your cabinet maker makes a template of the wall angle so that any cabinetry can be cut to suit - and sit neatly and seamlessly in the space. Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest to receive all our TOP Home Design Tips every day!

Integrate A Study Nook

The humble study nook doesn’t have to be a pokey afterthought. As long as there is room for your laptop and ample space to sit, a study nook can be created in the smallest of spaces. Whether it’s off the kitchen, under the stairs or along a hallway, a study nook is a valuable addition to any home — especially with working from home becoming second place. Paired with open shelving to keep your desk clutter-free, and storage cupboards to neatly store paperwork and essentials out of sight, a well-designed study nook is storage GOLD in a home.

Z+S Tip • To ensure optimise its use and productivity, we recommend integrating it into an area of your home that receives ample natural light.

The Mudroom

A mudroom is one of those spaces you won’t know you need until you’ve had one! This area basically acts as Switzerland between the home and the garage and can house anything from school bags, jackets, shoes, crafting, sports equipment and everything in between! Do some planning as to what type of things you’ll want to keep in your mudroom to ensure any storage can be customised to your needs — whether it’s hanging rails, drawers or pull-out baskets for keeping shoes or a PowerPoint hidden in a cupboard to house your cordless vacuum. Remember — custom cabinetry is made to measure to suit your needs so it will cost more than buying an off-the-shelf, free-standing solution. But is it worth it? #youbetcha.

Deck The Halls

Hallways generally connect a number of rooms or spaces, making them the ideal location for integrating storage for linen and other household essentials. A well-organised linen cupboard — with ample space so the entire contents don’t fall out when you reach for a fresh set of sheets — is something every household should experience.

When designing your linen cupboard, you can maximise its use by customising storage. You might like to include a hanging rail in one section to provide a space for any overflow from your own wardrobe #sohandy or include a PowerPoint for out-of-sight charging of your cordless vacuum. Including some adjustable shelving versus fixed shelves in your design will also provide the flexibility to change the height of shelves to accommodate larger boxes or items.

Z+S Tip • A linen cupboard can come in all shapes and sizes! If you don’t have enough width in your hallway to fit a linen cupboard, consider a walk-in linen cupboard instead. It’s not only ideal for storing linen but also the perfect place to store larger items like suitcases and mid-size appliances like portable heaters and air purifiers.

Multipurpose Wardrobe

Wardrobes, whether built-in or large enough to walk through, are high on the list of must-haves for contemporary homes. Considerate planning of the storage in your wardrobe is vital - as your needs and the way you store your clothes will likely be different to those of the next person. For instance, do you fold most of your clothes or hang them up, and do you prefer drawers or shelves?

Including a combination of hanging space, drawers and shelves, customised to your storage habits, will provide multipurpose storage that caters to your clothes, shoe collection, bags and accessories, making it easier to keep your space tidy. Then, if you have the space, add a bench that can function as a makeup, dressing table or study nook to further maximise functionality.

And don’t forget to consider clever storage and cabinetry ideas in children’s or teenager’s robes too! A built-in study space, large drawers for storing toys and games, and shelves for books and trinkets will help reduce clutter and make it easier to keep bedrooms tidy. Or if you prefer a more minimalist look, you can design cabinetry to include a study nook that can be hidden behind doors when not in use.

Keep reading? Designing The Ultimate Walk In Robe