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Could a lack of storage be aff ecting the value of your home? We look at how to tackle clutter and create an organised space.

It’s the source of much frustration in households across the country – too much stuff and not enough places to hide things away and keep everything tidy.

We asked storage design experts for their tips on how to make the most of three key areas in the home, to make everyday life less chaotic and add value to your property...

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KITCHEN

There are few places where mess is more visible to guests than the hub of the home, the kitchen. With open-plan kitchen and dining areas becoming increasingly popular over the last few years, hidden storage that keeps worktops clear is more of a consideration than ever before.

Features like breakfast cupboards with pocket doors that pull back to reveal a worktop with small appliances are high on the wish lists of homeowners planning a new kitchen.

So too are deep drawers with sectioned interiors to keep pots, pans and crockery well organised, cutlery drawers with inserts that maximise utensil storage, and plinths that reveal items like muffin trays as and when needed.

The pull-out pantry is a particular godsend for those who crave savvy storage solutions.

Main image, Benchmarx Cambridge Forest Green True Handleless benchmarxkitchens.co.uk; above and right, Pronorm ProTech drawers in Anthracite (kitchens from £12,000) pronorm.de

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“Larder units with mechanisms that glide forward easily to allow full sight and easy access to contents are a pleasure to use and a highly practical storage solution in any kitchen,” says Richard Turner, UK & Ireland National Sales Manager for kitchen manufacturer Pronorm (pronorm.de).

“On an aesthetic level, opening out a tall larder with shelves of smartly organised baking ingredients, pulses and pasta can look impressive and says something about personal style and the value being placed on the kitchen as a whole.”

A corner larder offers a clever way of using areas that are often under-utilised.

“By being placed on the diagonal, the need for stretching around dark corners and reaching in odd angles are eliminated,” explains Sinead Trainor, Kitchen Category Manager for LochAnna Kitchens (lochannakitchens.co.uk). “Instead, you can simply see everything you have stored at a glance and access becomes as simple as stepping inside.”

However, before ordering a kitchen with every storage consideration conceivable, it makes sense to declutter first. Also, assess how you will use the space and how much storage do you actually need? You don’t want to max out capacity from the outset!

Another thing to factor in is that kitchen storage needs have evolved, particularly over the last couple of years due to the pandemic, as we adjust to the ever-changing landscape of homeworking and family life. Kitchens need to be functional above all when so much multi-tasking is required, observes Sinead, so storage should not be an afterthought.

“A beautifully aesthetic kitchen that doesn’t work on a practical level won’t stand the test of time, so when designing a kitchen, storage must be one of the most crucial elements to consider. Don’t fall foul to the mistake of leaving storage to the last minute,” she explains.

“Instead, when you’re first designing your kitchen space, think about how you and your family use the kitchen on a day-to-day basis and how your needs might evolve and grow in the near future. You can then use this information to select the ideal storage and design the rest of your kitchen around these elements.”

If you’re not contemplating a new kitchen, but want to enhance storage capacity, there are some simple solutions to make the most of existing cupboards.

Items like waste sorter bins are very handy for keeping the kitchen organised – and make the job of recycling easier.

“They sit discreetly into kitchen units and allow users to quickly sort their waste for recycling and to maintain a clean, uncluttered kitchen space,” comments Jo Sargent, Sales and Marketing Director at kitchen solutions specialist Franke (franke.com). “Models with three compartments are handy for compartmentalising plastic, cardboard and cans.”

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BEDROOM

Numerous studies have shown that the practical set-up of your bedroom can directly affect how much sleep you get. Removing clutter helps create a relaxing environment that is conducive to getting enough shut-eye.

“A messy and cluttered bedroom will not only affect how fast you fall asleep, but the quality of your sleep,” says Carl Walsh, sleep expert and owner of Bed Guru (bedguru.co.uk). “If every time you get into bed you’re surrounded by mess and clutter, this can distract you as you’re trying to fall asleep, make you feel anxious or on-edge, and lead to a bad night’s sleep.”

If a bedroom is particularly small, then multi-functional furniture such as under-bed storage is a must.

Storage divan beds give you the option to have concealed draws coming from all angles, a great space saving alternative to a chest of drawers, while ottoman beds that open upwards provide plenty of under-bed storage and don’t encroach onto the floor space around the bed.

Carl also recommends harnessing any vertical space on offer if needed, such as buying a bunk bed with storage for a child’s bedroom, while custom-size furniture will be your best friend, ensuring you make the most of every inch.

Fitted wardrobes can also be miracle workers for small bedrooms and spaces with awkward nooks and crannies.

“From a practical and aesthetical perspective, fitted wardrobes offer the most effective and efficient way to make use of the space within your bedroom,” comments Racheal Hutcheson, National Retail

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Manager for Sharps (sharps.co.uk). “A truly bespoke design, that has been created to fit the exact contours of your room will offer, on average, 40 per cent more space than ordinary fitted wardrobe designs.

“Small or awkward spaces often need intelligent solutions to make the most of them, so consider curved corner rails, pull-out trouser rails and pull-down hanging rails to ensure your wardrobe is as efficient as it can be.

“It’s important to take a wardrobe’s doors into consideration to ensure they are easily opened. If a bed is in close proximity to a wardrobe, opt for sliding doors to provide a sleek, effective alternative, whilst mirrored styles will help to make a space look bigger,” she adds.

Bedroom island units offer additional drawer space, as well as a tabletop for displaying perfume and cosmetics or other finishing touches, according to designer Megan Baker, of My Fitted Bedroom (myfittedbedroom.com). “When mounted on wheels they can be easily moved around the room for the ultimate in flexibility.”

Replacing the dressing table concept (which is often messy and filled with bottles, brushes and make-up palettes on display), built-in beauty bays are ideal for keeping make-up and toiletries hidden away, she adds.

Unless your bedroom is particularly big, Megan recommends drawers versus shelves. “Open shelving is great if you have lots of space to play with, but in most modern bedrooms, storage is about making items accessible and neatly stored. Drawers help to translate that zen-like feeling that everything has its place to the inside of the wardrobe.”

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Roseberry fi tted furniture in London Grey utopiagroup.com; below, Aston Matthews S Line wall-hung basin unit in solid limed oak astonmatthews.co.uk

BATHROOM

As more and more of us crave the spa experience at home, demand has surged for storage solutions that help create the beautiful, soothing, sleek aesthetics befi tting a calming sanctuary to escape and unwind.

Bathroom bliss requires items such as ugly household cleaning products to be kept well tucked away. You want nice, luxury products on display, not bleach and toilet rolls!

“Storage is often an afterthought when planning a bathroom, but when you consider how much stuff we keep in our bathrooms, it should be a priority,” observes Howard Birch, Director at luxury bathroom specialist, Aston Matthews (URL). “From spare loo roll to cleaning materials and cosmetics, if the bathroom is going to look smart and clutter-free, you need to incorporate as much storage as possible.

“A basin unit is a useful option, providing drawers or a cupboard under the sink. Also, consider a mirrorfronted cabinet above the basin and if this also incorporates a light – even better.”

Aside from the functionality provided, a vanity unit can provide a focal point in your bathroom.

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imperialbathroom.com

“When it comes to the actual style of your vanity unit, it really comes down to personal taste,” comments James Stevenson, Creative Director at Imperial Bathrooms (imperialbathroom.com). “Perhaps you prefer a model with design flourishes and features such as glass legs or period handles, or maybe you’re more inclined towards a simple, more pared-back aesthetic with a classic look and clean lines. Whatever your preference, bear in mind that your vanity unit can play an all-important role in maximising your bathroom storage.”

Maximise your space with fitted furniture that makes the most of tight corners and awkward spaces, adds Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at bathroom expert Utopia (utopiagroup.com).

“In terms of interior storage, look for deep drawers and adjustable shelving to allow for those taller bottles. Compartmentalised drawer spaces are also excellent for organising make-up and personal grooming items.” Organise makeup and toiletries in drawers in transparent containers to make it easy and quick to grab and go – especially at peak times like the school run.

Orthex at homebase.com

Freestanding wall storage can be used to create a focal point, while in smaller bathrooms, wall-hung cupboards provide the ideal solution, creating the illusion of more space by maximising the visible area of the floor.

A towel rail on a wall-hung unit or utilising the unused space on the back of a door for hanging towels and bath robes also incorporate practicality in a smaller setting.

If your bathroom is really bijou, consider running a shelf above the bathroom door or utilising the wall space above the toilet for a storage unit.