[AD] There are a lot of things to consider when moving into a new house, not least of which is the storage capacity you have available. If you are downsizing, this will be a particular concern, but even if you are moving to a home that is the same size or larger, there will be decisions to make about what you want to keep and where you will put it.
This is somewhat inevitable because the process of moving involves packing up all of your belongings and finding new places to put them when you unpack. Your first days in a new home offer a great opportunity to assess whether or not you have the space you need, but identifying the problem is only the first step towards a solution – it can be hard to know what to do if you discover that you don’t have enough room for everything you own.
Here, the storage experts at Clever Closet list their top five ways to organise your belongings, create extra storage capacity without filling up your space, and make the experience of moving into a new home easier and more comfortable than ever.
Only take what you need
Moving house means packing everything you own into a box. This is often a time when people will take the opportunity to throw things away that they don’t need, and you can apply this actively to the process of packing up your belongings. As you put each item away, take the time to consider whether you really need it, and to think about where you will store it in your new home. It is easy to rush through the stressful process of packing, but this kind of mindful approach will keep you calm and set you up for an easier move.
People will often prioritise packing according to the urgency with which they need to unpack them – the everyday essentials will be the last things to be packed into boxes, and the first to be unpacked. Other boxes may contain only items that you rarely use, and that may not need to be unpacked for months after your move. If you have a box like this, ask yourself – do you really need to keep the things inside, or could you save time, money and storage space by throwing them away or moving them on?
Think about storage when you pack
Packing your things into boxes also means exploring creative approaches to storage. For example, many people use storage containers to protect their belongings, prevent cables from tangling, or simply to enable them to stack everything more neatly inside a larger box. This same approach can apply to the ways that you store your belongings in your home – after all, you will find that the easiest items to transport when you move are those that are stored in boxes already, and there is no reason that this cannot be applied more broadly.
Storage containers are all the rage and come in many sizes and varieties, so you will be able to find the right solution for your needs. They can allow you to stack items that otherwise would not balance properly, ensuring that you can pile them higher and make better use of the space you have available.
Make new space
There are many innovative storage solutions available that can create storage capacity without taking up any additional space. For example, storage solutions that fit under the stairs or in awkward spaces can turn an area that would otherwise go unused into a useful and functional unit in which you can keep your belongings. These built-in options add a large amount of storage capacity, which can be extremely useful if you are downsizing, or expecting your storage requirements to grow.
There are also smaller ways to take advantage of built-in or hidden storage, and a variety of innovative solutions you can explore. These range from simple ideas – like bench seats with hidden compartments inside – to more creative approaches, like wall-mounted shelves with built-in drawers that double their capacity.
Be realistic about what you need
If you are moving into your first home, there is often a temptation to buy one of everything you think you might need – or one of everything that your parents have in their kitchen, for example. However, it is important to remember that this should be dictated by your needs, and you won’t have a strong idea of what you need until after you have moved in. While it is important to invest in the essentials when buying new homeware items, it is equally vital to think about what you actually use and consider where you will store these items when they are not in use.
In this way, you can ensure that you have enough space for everything, and avoid the problem of filling up all the available space in your new home as soon as you move in. After all, impulsively buying new products and appliances can create storage challenges that don’t need to exist, and you may find that you need to throw these things away later if your storage needs change.
The most creative way to do this is to think about how you can use your belongings for multiple purposes – you can find inspiration online and explore minimalist aesthetics for ideas about how multi-tools or innovative applications for everyday items could save you the space that a set of tools would otherwise occupy.
Consider storage when you decorate
Many people have bold visions for how they will decorate their new home after they move in, inspired by things they have seen on TV or online, or by the homes of friends or family members. While this type of inspiration can be useful, it is also important to consider how you can fulfil the practical requirements of a home.
This is where decorative storage solutions are key – for example, ladder shelves are very stylish and trendy, but also offer a convenient place to store a few small items. There are many similar pieces of furniture or decorative items to consider for this purpose, and again, a lot of suggestions online about how you can get the most storage capacity without affecting your aesthetic.
Many of these suggestions will work in tandem – for example, you may be able to add furniture that is aesthetically pleasing, but that also contains hidden storage compartments. Or, if you have planned your redecoration with added storage capacity in mind, you can take this into account when deciding where to store your items as you pack them away. Ultimately, by considering these approaches you will find a solution that works for you, and will ensure that you make the most of the storage space in your new home.
Post contributed by Gavin Forde, content marketing executive, Clever Closet
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