LadyConstanze
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Joined: 2/18/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders
Wow, I wasn't expecting so many replies this soon. Apparently I'm not the only one bothered by this.
Thanks for all the tips. Quite a few of these things we've already done - storage boxes in the bookcases for toys, books stacked up in the spare room, footstools which are actually storage, containers under the beds.
I will have to give some serious thought to what other storage furniture we can bring in. None of the rooms have a lot of space for extra furniture - two of the four bedrooms won't fit a single bed and a wardrobe in, they're too small. It's clear we do need a total re-think about what we do and don't keep. Storage locker is a possibility, there is a place pretty close to us, it's just a case of scraping together the funds.
Theshytype mentioned fittings inside the kitchen cupboard doors which I am going to look into right away - seems like it would be very useful for things like spices which take up a lot of real estate. Unfortunately hanging things from the kitchen ceiling isn't an option because the ceilings are too low here - my husband would bang his head. Our old house would've been perfect for that.
I think it's a typical British problem. We live in a converted mews house (the old space where the carriage was is now a garage which we use for storage) but when the place was modernized, they opened it up, looks a lot more airy with a mezzanine floor, but again, that means we don't have an attic where to store stuff properly...
Our biggest problem is that whoever designed the bathroom really didn't think about storage space or that women might have makeup or need more than a toothbrush, add to that it being an old house where the measurements aren't standard, so most of the storage spaces are things I had to build myself (luckily I'm fond of doing woodwork) what works really well is utilizing spaces behind doors and such with shelves that are shallow and not too deep, and basically just fitting it in. Even if it is just spices, it gives you more room in the cupboards. I made shelves for the kitchen and fitted a rail underneath one of them, with hooks you can hang pans from it, which does help a lot as they tend to take up massive space in cupboards and I'm not too fussed by seeing my pans and woks hanging there.
Books I tend to recycle a lot, once I read them, I have to be absolutely sure that I want to read them again, or else they go to a charity shop or the pub who has the book exchange (people put their old books on the shelves, others can browse, take them home for a read and then bring them back, a bit like a little library without the library card)...
The house is fairly big and the rooms are generously sized (apart from the blasted bathroom, even cleaning it is a major hassle as I bump into stuff all the time), but again, no real storage space like larders or cupboards under the stairs because it's all pretty much open plan... I just can't figure out how other people in the street manage to live with several children.
Seriously, have a look behind doors, a lot of the doors in UK houses have a bit of space behind them, it's ideal to fit in shelves that are only a few inches deep and you'd be amazed what you can store away there, the local timber supply, an electric screwdriver, a few wall brackets and you're in business. Just go to the local IKEA store for ideas, then make the kind of stuff yourself and according to the space you have available. They also have brilliant white boxes from fabric that you can fit into shelves, still keeps it airy and light (especially if you use light wood for the frames) and you can store away tons of kiddie furniture.
One thing I did for one of the bedrooms (we use it as a guest room) is basically build something like a seat that fits under the window, only it's a box (make a pillow that fits the size) and you got a seat and a storage area, might be ideal for the kid's room too.
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RE: Drowning in clutter - 
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