For many of us, clutter is a frustratingly constant companion that can be a major source of stress and make a home feel less like home. For some, it’s behaviour that can spiral into hoarding. To help prevent mess getting out of control, it’s worth looking at ways to get the best out of the storage you have at your disposal. (Disclaimer: This article contains spons0red content, meaning we may receive compensation from the products or services mentioned.)
It can be easy to overlook but understairs storage can play a valuable role in keeping things tidy. Making the most of it is a no-brainer – and here’s how to do it.
Maximising space
The nature of understairs spaces means that they can often be awkwardly shaped but that shouldn’t put you off utilising them as much as possible. You could approach a designer to help you create shelving or drawers that are customised to fit your space or install hanging rails that allow you to access the higher-up parts of the space.
Just setting up some storage boxes or drawers could be a good use of the space, while a hangrail at the front could be used to place a curtain that covers the storage when you’re not accessing it.
Storing seasonal clothing efficiently
As understairs storage can often be an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation, it might be a good place to place seasonal or occasional clothing that doesn’t need to be in your wardrobe all the time. You could use vacuum bags to pack clothes efficiently and get creative by using a label maker to identify bags or drawers clearly by season. You can then rotate out pieces between this space and your wardrobe a few times a year as appropriate.
Looking after your accessories
It’s common to use these oddly shaped, downstairs nooks to house accessories like shoes, bags and hats. A good shoe rack can be invaluable for these spaces – you can even find modular ones that you can assemble however best fits the space available. Installing hooks on the inside walls of the space can give you easy homes for hats or bags.
Preserving good storage conditions
You’ll want to consider climate control and pest prevention to make sure your clothes and accessories stay in good condition under the stairs. Airing out your items every now and then is wise, as air inside understairs spaces can get stale.
Placing cedar blocks within the area is also a good idea. Not only do they help to prevent the growth of mould and deter insects but they can also impart a natural wood aroma.
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