TURNYOURHOME’SMESSIESTCORNERSINTOMARVELSOF

MAKE IT KIDS’ ART GALLERY, SEE PAGE 16

Encourage the kids to curate their favourite artworks – and play florist, too. Turn the page and see page 72 for these easy upcycling how-tos

Porter’s Paints ‘Eggshell Finish’ broadwall washable paint in Sundance, $11.10/ 100ml, I/N: 0162895.

VELCRO Brand 22mm stick-on hook and loop dots in White, $9.34/pack of 40, I/N: 3960015. 3M

‘Command’ large adhesive picture hanging strips in White, $18/value pack of 12, I/N: 3950426. Gold bulldog clips, Officeworks, officeworks.com.au.

Storage pain points – we’ve all got them, and most households are probably struggling with the same clutter bombs: the toy tsunami, the overflowing linen cupboard, or the museum exhibit of foodstuffs at the back of the pantry. Read on for the most common storage complaints and ways to tame the chaos – without breaking the bank.

1

Under the stairs clutter

That empty space under a staircase relentlessly attracts loose shoes, dog toys, school bags and dust bunnies. There are a range of options to turn this chaotic corner into a dedicated storage space, depending on your budget. Lachlan King of Flexi Storage suggests Clever Cube storage units in ascending sizes. “Pair them with a range of colourful and practical inserts for hidden storage,” says Lachlan.

Modular strip and bracket systems are the next level of DIY solutions. This option is ideal if you want an evolving space that can be adapted to your needs over time by adding different shelves and accessories.

Chelsea Smith of The Organising Platform (theorganisingplatform.com) suggests enclosing the under-stair area with hinged doors or panels that blend in with the surrounding walls. “This can be useful for storing larger items, or those you don’t frequently need to access, such as suitcases.”

If space and budget allow, this dead space can be transformed into your home’s most exciting storage secret – convert it into a cellar, add a desk and shelves to make it a home office or install cupboards to corral the kids’ craft clutter.

KIDS’ ART GALLERY

Gather an assortment of picture frames. Remove the backing boards and glass panels. Clean frames, then prime and paint in the same colour (sample pots will do, or use leftover paint from other projects). Use Velcro dots to attach gold bulldog clips on the wall inside the frames, then position your kids’ artworks in the frames, swapping them regularly.

2Pantry shambles

Start by culling any expired items and using up duplicates. This will instantly create more room. Group the remaining items into categories – baking supplies, cans, snacks, condiments – so they’re easier to find. Then it’s all about making the most of every bit of space. “Invest in storage baskets, turntables and shelf risers to maximise your pantry space,” says Chelsea. Clear, stackable containers are useful for dry goods and small food packets. Keep loose veg in

ABOVE For best use of space, combine height adjustable shelves with drawers of varying depth baskets, however, store onions and potatoes separately, as they have a shorter shelf life when stored together. Make the most of vertical space with adjustable shelves and undershelf baskets, and don’t forget wall and door space, says Lachlan. “Wall strips can even be installed on the back of your pantry door with over-door hooks, then you can add wire baskets for storing spices and other small items.”

Once your pantry is in order, ongoing maintenance should be simple. “Practise a first-in, first-out system to avoid food waste,” says Chelsea. “Place newly purchased items behind older ones to ensure you use older items before they expire,” she says. “Then schedule regular pantry maintenance sessions to keep it organised and functional.” 

ABOVE (second shelf) Boxsweden 24.5cm x 18.5cm x 12cm small wire baskets in assorted colours, $3.50/set of 2, I/N: 0231555. RIGHT (second shelf) Boxsweden 38cm x 27cm x 21cm large wire basket in assorted colours, $8.50, I/N: 0231558, and (fifth shelf) ‘Crystal Nest’ 36.5cm x 15cm x 11cm storage tub, $7.48, I/N: 0281308. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Messy linen cupboard

First off, be brutal! “Consider donating or recycling anything that hasn’t been used in the last 12 months to free up space,” says Lachlan King. “You’ll find yourself back in the same situation in a few months’ time if you just rearrange the mess you already have.”

Categorise your linens – bath towels, beach towels, pillowcases –then decide how you want to store them. “Small boxes and drawer dividers can offer an easy solution for keeping smaller items – like hand towels, tea towels and washers –organised,” says Lachlan. He suggests rolling beach and bath towels to help maximise space and improve visibility. “Then place them in wire baskets to help keep them from unrolling, while not obstructing visibility and allowing for air circulation,” he adds. Spare blankets, duvets and pillows are space hogs, so minimise their volume by compressing into vacuum bags and stash on high shelves out of the way.

If you use this cupboard for storing cleaning products too, group them in baskets or boxes. This will keep them away from linen and towels – and you can pull the whole basket out of the cupboard for cleaning sessions.

Need to increase storage in your home? Check out these solutions: bunnings.com.au/lugna Read

Label each container or bin so its contents are organised and easily accessible

Entryway obstacle course

Tripping over ‘stuff’ dumped near the front door of your home? Use that pile of bits and pieces, whether shoes, bags, umbrellas or all of the above, to guide you in designing the ideal storage solution for your family. Keep in mind the size of your space. If there’s room, add a bench seat. “This serves as a convenient spot for putting on and taking off shoes,” says Chelsea Smith. “Place baskets on shelves or under the bench to contain smaller items like gloves, scarves and other miscellaneous objects. Then label each basket or bin to easily locate and access items when needed.”

Utilise wall space, too, such as hooks for coats and hats, or a floating shelf with a decorative bowl for keys or mail. “Hang a mirror in your hallway as a functional and decorative element,” suggests Chelsea. “This allows for a last-minute check before heading out the door and can make the space feel more open and inviting.”

ABOVE Montgomery 34cm x 27cm x 14cm stackable drawers in White, $8.98 each: single, I/N: 0286345, and vertical twin, I/N: 0286349. LEFT Recycling station, see page 74 for DIY instructions. (On shelves, from top) Mr Clean shoe brush, $3.29, I/N: 4460431. Grunt jute twine, $3.20/75m, I/N: 4310292, and cotton shop twine, $8.30/300m, I/N: 4310543. Trojan general purpose scissors, $8.98/pack of 2, I/N: 0191107. Prayer plant in The Good Pot Co. ‘Roxy’ 16cm x 16cm indoor pot in Green, $16.98, I/N: 0430422 (plant sold separately). Boyle essentials brush value pack, $16.96, I/N: 0115222. (On workbench, from left) Mirabella ‘Tuana’ table lamp, $79.95, I/N: 0423299 (globe sold separately). Practa Solutions paper towel holder in Chrome, $6.17, I/N: 2669887 (holding paper raffia rolls). (Under workbench, from left) Ezy Storage multi purpose organiser box, $13, I/N: 0204849. Montgomery vertical twin stackable drawer, as before. Boxsweden ‘Crystal Nest’ 36.5cm x 25cm x 11cm storage tub, $10.43, I/N: 0281315, containing Jack 50mm jute plant tie/webbing, $5.79/10m, I/N: 0127348, and 4.5mm twisted paper rope, $10.79/40m, I/N: 0188974; Crafted 6mm macrame cord in White, $12.50/50m, I/N: 0323853; Wrap & Move 300mm honeycomb paper wrap, $12.98/10m, I/N: 0254423, and paper filler, $6.98/250g, I/N: 0424150. (On floor) Pinnacle 15L metal buckets, $17.89 each, I/N: 4460519. Paper raffia, Officeworks, officeworks.com.au. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

The kids’ room toy-nado

We Insta-polled Bunnings followers and 41 per cent said the house only stays tidy for one hour after cleaning. The likely culprits? Toys – from both kids and pets. Chelsea advises implementing a rotation system.

“Store some toys out of sight and periodically swap them with the ones currently in use,” she says. “This keeps the selection of toys fresh and exciting while minimising the number available at any given time.”

You could also try using a similar system for books, keeping the current rotation displayed on photo shelves. To tackle piles of art, put them on display (see page 16 for one way to make use of old frames).

To tame toys, use separate tubs for different types, and opt for low storage kids can easily access to encourage them to pack things away on their own. “Flexi Storage Clever Cube units make great shelves and can be paired with colourful inserts to brighten up your child’s play area while providing hidden storage,” suggests Lachlan. 

Flexi Storage ‘Decorative Shelving’ 600mm floating photo shelves in Oak, $10 each, I/N: 0127431. Dulux ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Potter’s Pink, $59.50/1L, I/N: 1370161. Rug, for similar try Home Bazar ‘Bahama’ 120cm round jute rug in Natural, $35, I/N: 0240463. Play tent and cushions, Adairs, adairs.com.au. Assorted toys, Kmart, kmart.com. au. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Keep in mind...

n When using power tools, wear the appropriate safety gear and work in a well-ventilated area.

n Before drilling into walls, use a stud finder to check for wiring or pipework and turn off the power before working. If unsure, call a professional.

Scallop Shelves

Add a sweet, handmade touch to the kids’ reading nook

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (gloves, mask, eye and ear protection) n Tape measure and pencil n Circular saw n Jar or tin (less than 100mm diameter) n Jigsaw n 180-grit abrasive paper with sanding block n Microfibre cloth n Mini microfibre roller with tray n Clamps n 3mm plywood• n Primer n Interior acrylic paint n Timber adhesive n 600mm floating photo shelves

1 Measure plywood and mark two 600mm wide by 100mm high pieces, then cut out with a circular saw. Use a jar or tin to draw semi-circles on long edges of the plywood pieces. Use a jigsaw to cut out curves.

2 Sand all cut edges until smooth and wipe over with a damp cloth to remove dust. Apply primer and two coats of paint to both sides of plywood cut-outs with mini roller, leaving to dry after each coat.

3 Apply a bead of adhesive to long edge of each scallop piece, position against front edge of photo shelf, clamp and leave to dry.

4 Install floating shelves according to manufacturer’s instructions, using supplied fixings and fasteners suitable for your type of wall.

Create A Bespoke Table Runner

We cut a length from a new canvas drop sheet, shaped a half-circle from scrap packaging foam and used this to stamp on our design using Taubmans Silver Leaf paint to complement our coloured tableware.*

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Jumbuck ‘Stardom II’ 4 burner LCC27 barbecue, $349, I/N: 0348328. Mimosa ‘Solaris’ 220cm x 90cm slat dining table in White, $569, I/N: 0260504, and 200cm x 40cm slat benches in White, $299 each, I/N: 0260499. Protector Aluminium ‘Oriental Deco’ 900mm x 1800mm screen panel in Surfmist, $205, I/N: 3041171. Lilly Pilly plant in Tuscan Path ‘Harper’ 37cm egg pot in White, $72.58, I/N: 0252488. Marquee ‘Harbour’ 1 seater lounges in Brush White, $289 each, I/N: 0256323. Mimosa ‘Woolamai’ round market umbrella, $169, I/N: 3192696. Bacopa plants in Northcote Pottery ‘Italian’ 15cm terracotta cylinder pots in Greige, $8.69 each, I/N: 0044329. Calibrachoa plant in Northcote Pottery ‘Italian’ 20cm terracotta cylinder pot in Greige, $17.38, I/N: 0044330. Citronella 10cm pillar candle in White, $6/pack of 2, I/N: 0289138. Waxworks 15cm citronella pillar candle in White, $6.45, I/N: 0289387. Matador 3 piece barbecue non-stick tool set in Black, $38.16, I/N: 3171754. All plants sold separately. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.