Creatively Use Your Space

Everyone gets short on storage space at some point. If you're looking for some creative storage ideas, you're in the right place. It's beneficial to expand your mind and see things in a different light. Adapting the space that you need to store things in to fit the amount of things that you have to store can help you to find space that you didn't know you had. It doesn't necessarily take a lot of skill to reorganize in a way that helps you to keep clutter under control, but it does take a little bit of brain power and ingenuity.

If you've got a lot to organize, it's best to first focus on clearing out the floor. Getting the floor space free will make your home seem bigger and cleaner, right off the bat. Go around the house looking for problem areas. There are probably some piles of shoes, clothes, bags, and toys that pretty much live on the floor full time. Make spaces for these things first and you'll be on your way to controlling clutter in your home.

Hooks and hanging bars are inexpensive and can help you to get the process started. Make a space for all of those little things that just get thrown around. For kids, and some adults for that matter, it is best to make the storage area very easy to access and use. Reminders, in the form of decorations or distractions, can be helpful, too. Place a bin, storage bench, or chest in the area where you want your family to hide away bulky items, like boots or backpacks. If you hang hooks, help people avoid using the floor instead by placing a wastebasket, small table with a flower arrangement, or other distraction directly underneath. If they start to put their things there, they can easily reach for the hook instead.

Make the most of the space that you have designated for long-term storage. Combine items as much as you can, or use stackable containers that you can label. This will help you to use some of that wasted space by the ceiling in your closets. Shelves and cubbies squeezed in above and around the door inside the closet will give you plenty of places to hide away things like camera equipment, sports equipment, photo albums, and important memorabilia.

Create even more space in the closet by using specialty clothes hangers. Hangers designed to make space are perfect for opening up a new area. Hang suits on coat hangers that also have a hanging bar for pants, instead of hanging them on separate hangers. Wood hangers are sturdy enough to hold your heaviest items without breaking. A good space saving clothes hanger is one that can hold more than one item. Other specialty hangers can help to easily organize ties, belts and scarves in a very small space.