Storage to make decluttering & Spring cleaning easier
The first ray of spring sunshine has peeked out from behind the clouds, and it’s time to think about decluttering and organising our homes for the start of the warmer months. But before we get too ahead of ourselves it’s time to start by putting our warmest bedding and clothes away in storage first.
Here are some handy ideas to make decluttering & Spring cleaning easier, in case you need a little inspiration. There’s no point decluttering and organising your home if you don’t have the right structure in place to help.
Well chosen storage items are one of the best ways to get everything neat and tidy, and crucially to keep it tidy in an ongoing fashion.
Put warmest winter bedding & jumpers away
This brightly coloured underbed storage, ยฃ24.00, from the Elements range at Dunelm comes in green or pink, and gets rave reviews. There are various other items of bedding, storage and ornaments that go with it too, all with cheerful designs at affordable prices.
Other lovely made-to-be seen storage bags can be found at Dunelm and La Redoute UK. Some of the smaller ones are suitable for putting away winter clothes too.
If you need something that’s easier to hide away, try underbed storage on castors, or blanket bags and boxes that fit neatly inside cupboards or on the top shelf of a wardrobe. For practical, affordable blanket and clothing storage that tucks away, the best places to look are:
- B&Q – including underbed storage on castors from ยฃ6
- IKEA – cheap and practical
- Wayfair – foldable fabric storage boxes, many colours, good for clothing & accessories
Box your bedding up & sit on it
For homes with more room, a blanket box, storage trunk or ottoman can look great at the end of the bed, or anywhere you might want a temporary place to sit (if it’s strong enough to be used as occasional furniture.) There’s something for just about every budget, style or preference here.
The minimalist ottoman shown in the picture above is from HOMCOM, and it’s currently on offer for ยฃ79 at Debenhams (70% off in the sale). It fits well with most modern low-key decor, and has a linen cover with 54-litre storage capacity inside it, as well as armrests and sturdy legs.
If you want more of a bold design statement at an affordable price, the best places to look are:
Vac it up & pack it up
Vacuum pack bags shrink your winter woolies right down, reducing the clutter and saving even more space. The most compact ones use a vacuum cleaner nozzle to maximise the air removal, but don’t be tempted to skimp on the quality here – you want well made vacuum bags that’ll last for years without leaking air.
Your best bet here is definitely Lakeland, with multiple vacuum pack options in various shapes and sizes, including the twin pack of cubes shown above, ยฃ9.99. Use and reuse to your fashion heart’s content as the seasons change.
You can also find good quality vacuum storage bags at John Lewis (own brand) and B and Q (top brands like Ezy Storage and Packmate), including handy multi-packs.
Don’t forget the anti-moth sachets!
Vac-packing your clothes also helps to keep the bugs and dust out, but I always like to include some good quality moth proofing at the same time. It’s an investment in your favourite clothes, preventing damage and giving you many more years of wear out of cherished pieces.
I’m personally not a fan of old fashioned mothballs (urgh, napthalene, eww) and also share my space with a bona fide lavender hater. For full on moth bashing with a gentle non-jarring fragrance, my personal choice is always Modelli perfume-style sachets shown in the picture above, available at Amazon UK (widest choice) or Robert Dyas (good price) – especially their ‘Bouquet Vert’ version which is actually rather chic.
Honourable mention must also go to the excellent Moth Stop range at Lakeland, which is worth every penny.
If you don’t mind a little lavender, the Acana brand range is effective at keeping those pesky moths at bay and it’s sensibly priced too. Find it at John Lewis or Robert Dyas (currently in their 3 for 2 offer).
These are my current favourite storage ideas to make decluttering & Spring cleaning easier.
Are you feeling the urge to put your warmest winter woolies away yet?
