surfaces with good old elbow grease

Try it

Attach sturdy wire baskets to the wall to use as book shelves

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Storage solutions

Order in

When there’s a designated spot for your stuff, tidying is a breeze

With more time at home – and a little encouragement from Marie Kondo – many of us have indulged in the joy of decluttering. The next step to organisational success is to create functional and stylish ways to store your stuff so it’s tidy and easily accessible. Start here, with our round-up of savvy solutions for every space. }

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KITCHEN

Stack it To maximise pantry space, decant staples into stackable clear containers in varying sizes. For simple labelling with a personal touch, use a paint pen such as Empire liquid paint marker in White or Black to scribe the contents on the front. Like with like Soft-close pull-out baskets are ideal as they allow you to see and access the entire contents of a shelf, suggests Bonnie Black, founding director of Little Miss Organised. “If they’re not an option, a great alternative is clear pull-out containers on wheels,” she says. “Use them without a lid to corral food containers, lunchboxes and water bottles, and use a smaller size to store lids or separate plastics by type or shape.” Under-sink stars Utilise the void under the kitchen sink with a rail. Fit an adjustable, self-supporting aluminium rail and use it to hang spray bottles and cleaning cloths. Behind closed doors Inside the pantry door is prime real estate for small, regularly used items. Use simple stick-on hooks to hang items like measuring spoons. Narrow wire baskets are great for spices and a mounted paper towel holder will help to free up valuable bench space. Roundabout Delete dead space in awkward corner cabinets by installing a rotating shelf unit, so you can simply swivel and grab what you need.

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Kaboodle 2 tier blind corner soft close pullout baskets, $498, I/N: 2667707

STUDY

Wall allure Create vertical storage with a pegboard, suggests Bonnie. “Start with a piece of pegboard and spray-paint it to match your walls or in a striking feature colour, then be as creative as you like – add S hooks, wire baskets, small shelves and pin images for a moodboard feel.” Waste not Upcycle jars into personalised penholders with a coat of paint on the inside. Sorbet shades look great on a kid’s desk and can be embellished with googly eyes, buttons, pipe cleaners and washi tape. Or, for a natural look, wrap the jars in twine. Hanger helper Over-door hooks and hangers make great use of this otherwise under-utilised space. Divide it If you’re sharing a home office space, consider dividing the zone with a wall of cube storage. “Fill with your chosen fabric or natural inserts for personalised useable drawer space,” suggests Jessica Haslem from Flexi Storage.

Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 76cm x 76cm x 39cm 2 x 2 cube unit in Oak, $72, I/N: 0045680, and 330mm x 330mm x 370mm inserts in Urban Canvas, $9.90 each, I/N: 2583440

Flexi Storage 435mm x 79mm x 70mm small spice shelving basket, $13.98, I/N: 2580936

1 Empire liquid paint marker in White, $5.99, I/N: 0163237. 2 All Set 50L storage tub with wheels, $7.44, I/N: 2583730. 3 LTW small spice shelf, $4.47, I/N: 0291068. 4 Kaboodle 6 piece hanging kitchen storage set, $45.95, I/N: 0103873. 5 Flexi Storage 134mm x 435mm x 140mm large deep shelving basket in White, $19.98, I/N: 2580938. Contents and accessories not included.

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1 Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 146cm x 146cm x 39cm 4 x 4 storage unit in Light Oak, $219, I/N: 0045679. 2 Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 376mm x 335mm x 335mm 2 drawer insert in Oak, $28, I/N: 0079582. 3 Pinnacle 900mm x 450mm metal pegboard in Matte Black, $35, I/N: 0038055.

†Available to order at the Special Orders Desk.

BATHROOM

Roll up Rolled towels create a resort vibe and take up less space. Keep them handy on shelves, or group in a decorative woven basket. For extra hanging space with character, add a vintage timber ladder – or try making one (see Watch It!, right). Vanity fix To organise your vanity, divide and conquer. Bonnie recommends small tubs or baskets, which can be arranged by use and user. “Have a ‘daily use’ basket and consider separate baskets for make-up, hair products and pampering. Colour coding kids’ baskets can also be really helpful,” she adds. For slim drawers, try a cutlery insert tray, where you can separate smaller items and grab your favourite lipstick in a flash. Mirror upgrade For added functionality, switch to a mirror shaving cabinet, which offers great head-height storage. For a chic, right-on-trend alternative to a standard cabinet, choose one in a timber veneer or with a curved shape.

Stein ‘Select’ 900mm wall-hung handle vanity (cabinet only) in Light, $489, I/N: 0019860†. Stein 900mm vitreous china top with single basin in White (tapware not included), $139, I/N: 0019933†

BEDROOM

Chic shelves “Decorative storage can add interest to a plain wall – it’s a functional spot to keep and display items you love,” says Jessica. Toy tubs Encourage kids to put their toys away with a colour-coded tub system. “To help make the system easier, add word or picture labels,” says Bonnie. “To reduce the quantity of toys that need tidying day to day, only keep favourites out and consider rotating items in circulation.” Space saver Vacuum bags will revolutionise the way you store things, says Jessica. “They’re ideal for seasonal clothes, bedding and bulky recreational gear, which you simply bag up then use your vacuum cleaner to suck out the air, reducing the contents to a third of the size for storage,” she explains. “This frees up valuable cupboard space and the sealed contents are protected from dust and mould, ready for when you need them again.”

Storage as art A coat rack mounted on the wall is a wonderful way to display favourite scarves, jewellery, hats and bags, or make your own from a beautiful piece of timber with knobs or hooks. Double duty Add a second hanging rail or expandable hang bar below the original rail in your wardrobe. To streamline outfit selection, store shirts on the top rail and pants and skirts on the lower bar. ◆ “Kid tip! If something doesn’t have a home, it will find a home on the floor”

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1 Stein ‘Vida’ 300mm x 450mm bathroom mirror cabinet in White, $69, I/N: 0064820. 2 Kaboodle cutlery insert, $24, I/N: 4560077. 3 Ezy Storage ‘Brickor’ touch basket, $9.44/small, I/N: 2583806. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

1 Flexi Storage 760mm x 210mm x 200mm coat shelf with hooks in Oak, $44, I/N: 0127441. 2 All Set 90cm x 52.5cm x 111-170cm double bar adjustable height garment rack, $39.88, I/N: 2590220. 3 All Set ‘Flexi’ 60L storage tub in assorted colours, $9.92, I/N: 0126019. 4 Flexi Storage wall cubes in Oak, $32/pack of 3, I/N: 0127429.

Watch it!

Make your own bathroom storage: bunnings.co.nz/DIY-towel-ladder

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