We’ve all seen them. Those immaculate, minimalist, perfectly styled homes in our Instagram feeds that are completely clear of clutter. We wonder to ourselves, “does anyone actually live there?”
Day to day life, especially for families with kids, makes it difficult to keep our homes tidy all of the time, or even some of the time. We want our homes to feel like peaceful sanctuaries, but the messes piling up everywhere can leave us feeling stressed.
While it’s impractical to throw out all of the toys or knick-knacks around the house, having storage solutions throughout your home can alleviate clutter and keep it looking Instagram feed-worthy. We’ve compiled a few ways you can incorporate storage throughout your home to keep your stuff out of sight:
- Entry Way
It starts as soon as you walk through the front door. Your family needs a place to put jackets, shoes, backpacks, purses, and all of the things we want to put down when we come home. No matter how big your foyer is, you can still create a dedicated space for these things. Installing hooks to hang jackets and bags is a great first step. Consider adding a bench, so that there is a place to sit when putting on or taking off your shoes. Having storage cubbies or baskets available are a great way to hide away things like scarves, hats, and shoes.
- Family Room/Office/Living Areas
You’ll need to have storage available in the rooms where your family hangs out. Consider bookshelves or cabinets, with baskets, to place toys, magazines, or other items. Furniture with hidden storage, such as coffee tables or ottomans, is another great way to hide things like extra blankets or games.
- Kitchen
Fully-stocked kitchens require a lot of storage, and many solutions are readily available. Walk-in pantries are wonderful but even for those without that space, you can still use your cabinets wisely to fit your grocery items, dishes, cookware, and small appliances. Pull out spice racks and trash bins are great ways to hide unsightly clutter. You can also place baskets or bins inside cabinets or drawers to stay organized. Tuck away chargers inside cabinets or drawers to keep those off of the counters. Clean, clear surfaces are the best way to make your kitchen look tidy.
- Dining Room
Dining areas or formal dining rooms can offer space to store special serve ware or seasonal items. A low cabinet or buffet server can tuck away those items, plus offer space on top for when you are entertaining and need a place for beverages or appetizers. You may also consider shelving or cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, for maximum storage.
- Bedroom
As with the rest of the house, having dedicated areas in your bedroom for storage is important. In your closet, shelves with cubbies or baskets can offer space for odds and ends that need a place to go. Place your shoes on a rack or shelf as well, rather than lining them up on the floor. In the bedroom, keep as much as you can off of the floor with hampers or shelves. Keep items such as toiletries tucked into baskets and out of sight.
- Toys
Whether you have a dedicated toy room, or if they are used in the family room or kids’ rooms, storage for toys is essential for keeping clutter hidden. Have bins or baskets that legos and other toys can be thrown in for easy clean-up.
- Laundry Room
The laundry room is another unsuspecting place you can get great bonus storage. Cabinets or shelves are a great start, plus consider fold out drying racks or ironing boards to save space. Once you’ve established a spot for your detergent and other laundry necessities, you can use any leftover storage space for things like linens, vases, and seasonal decor.
Spring is a great time to clear out and donate or purge anything that you no longer need, but throwing away everything and having a perfect Instagram home is not realistic for most families. Keeping your home organized and free of clutter is no easy task, but you can make your life easier by giving your families places to store away items in every room. Be creative and have fun with it!
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