Running out of space in the house? Dramatically improve your interiors without breaking down walls with these handy organising tips from Georgina Wong, CEO and founder of Asian Professional Organisers.
Running out of space in the house? Dramatically improve your interiors without breaking down walls with these handy organising tips from Georgina Wong, CEO and founder of Asian Professional Organisers.
LIVING ROOM
• An ottoman or footstool with hidden storage space is a handy piece of furniture. Not only does it hide things like games and magazines, but it also provides extra seating, and can be used as a coffee table, with a tray placed on top.
• The best and simplest way to store DVDs is to arrange them like books on a shelf, instead of using purpose-built CD racks. This takes up less space, and it’s easier to add to your collection when it’s sorted according to alphabet or genre.
• Select bi-level furniture, such as side tables with a lower shelf. When guests are over, you can easily store things underneath.
• Dedicate a drawer in a credenza or sideboard to hold miscellaneous items that are used often, such as pens, stamps and other knick-knacks. This helps you easily locate them, and reduces clutter.
• Use decorative boxes with lids to stow remote controls, so they’re not strewn about.
• Repurpose an old shutter to be used as a vertical wall rack for periodicals and mail. This way, you get an interesting decor feature, too.
BATHROOM
• Roll up towels, instead of folding them, and store them on a shelf or rack. This takes up less space and makes them easier to reach, without messing up the pile.
• If you are short on countertop space for your vanity, go for wall-mounted soap dispensers and toothbrush holders. This also makes cleaning easier.
• Fit your vanity drawers with cutlery trays, like in your kitchen drawers, to consolidate grooming products and toiletries.
HOME OFFICE
• Corral unsightly computer and charging cables with hair-clip claws, so the cables are neatly slotted through the tines of the clip.
• Identify your plugs and cables by labelling them with recycled bread bag tags in different colours. Simply loop them through.
• Keep extension power plugs and cords off your table top and floor by stashing them in baskets suspended on the underside of the desk, using 3M Command hooks.
DINING ROOM
• Install banquette seating to provide hidden storage for bulky seasonal items, such as party-size servers, seldom-used appliances and table linen. Or design a simple storage platform, and top with throw cushions for built-in bench seating.
• If you have little walking room, get wall-mounted “floating” shelves fitted in along the perimeter of your dining area, 30cm below the ceiling. This creates a display area for wine bottles, crockery or decor accessories, without taking up floor area.
BEDROOM
• In a compact space where you have no room for nightstands, install a picture rail above head- height for your glasses, clock, phone, and more.
• Make use of the space under the bed to store items. But instead of just shoving things underneath, compress them in vacuum bags, and organise with boxes to keep your items from collecting dust.
• If you need a workspace, but can’t fit in a desk, consider nesting side tables and a pouffe. They can be easily tucked away into each other when not in use.
WARDROBE
• Use cascading hangers that hook onto each other to make use of vertical space, instead of being limited by the width of a clothing rail.
• For garments that are usually folded (such as T-shirts), instead of stacking vertically, slot them into a drawer in rows so you can easily see every item.
• Hang jewellery and belts on the inside of doors, using 3M Command hooks, to free up horizontal surfaces.
• Clip or hang earrings onto a length of fabric, such as lace, glued onto a mirror frame.
KITCHEN
• Hang pots, pans and utensils with butcher’s hooks from a grid installed above the hob, for easy access.
• Organise baking trays and pot lids upright in the deep drawer by segmenting space with tension rods.
• Consider using glass bathroom shelves as open shelving, as they are resistant to steam and are the ideal depth for spice jars, mugs and tea or coffee canisters.
• If you have many condiment jars in the fridge, make use of recycled clear plastic water bottles to help stack them. Trim the bottles to the height of the shelf, and stack jars within so you can maximise space without worrying about spillage.
