Photos By: Arthur McLaughlin & Associates, Inc.

Take Advantage of the Natural Light

Artificial light is different from natural light and you will find that over time, constantly being under artificial lights makes your eyes sensitive to natural light.

Whether you have a couple of windows in your home or many windows, you should open them up and allow the natural light to flow in. If you are someone who enjoys the privacy and does not want their windows open, consider some sheer curtains or light drapes that still allow the natural light in but protect your privacy at the same time.

When it does come to artificial lights, do make sure that you layer your lighting and make sure to highlight areas of your home that offer a dramatic entrance or statement.

Give the Bathroom Vanity an Upgrade

A simple replacement of your bathroom vanity can provide you with more storage space and allow you to sport a new look in your bathroom. In addition to the vanity, opt in for new fixtures that can really pull the look together for you. Discover more storage tips here that work in your bathroom and other rooms in the house.

Another idea for your bathroom would be to replace the current mirror with one that is more modern or ornate in nature.

Add a Pop of Color to Your Home

Color is a wonderful way for you to express your personality and elicit feelings from someone. Often, you may see homes that sport a neutral or plain color, and this can be boring. You want to add a pop of color and make your space stand out.

For example, painting your walls yellow can add a lively flavor to your home and even brighten the space. The darker the color, the darker the room will feel too.

Another great way to add color is to create a statement wall or use bold colors that others would not think to use. There are many programs online that allow you to test pain colors on a virtual room, so you can get an idea of what you may want.

Create a Functional Space

Your home’s space needs to be functional and make sense at the same time. If you have a small living room space, you want to see to it that your living room functions with storage options for you as well.

To create a functional space, think about what you want in the room and then decide on how you can incorporate those things. For example, if you like to keep blankets and throws on hand for the couch, find an ottoman or coffee table that has storage built into it where you can keep these items.

You can quickly and easily spruce up the look of your home with the above tips. As you decorate, think about ways you can incorporate storage ideas into your space too.

Photo: DH Architecture and Interior Design

Even the most spacious home can be made to look small when there is too much clutter around. With kids’ toys, pet beds, furniture, ornaments, free standing lamps and the like filling our houses, it’s really easy to see your available floor space be eroded away.

In this article we’re going to look at home storage solutions to save space and reduce clutter. We’ll look at handy hiding places in homes, furniture options and design options that maybe you hadn’t thought of…

Under Stairs Cupboard Storage

In many homes there is an under stairs cupboard. This is an odd bit of space – it’s big enough to store a lot of things, but the triangular shape makes it less functional than it could or should be.

Make more use of the space by having under stairs shelving put in – it looks fantastic but more importantly increases your storage space dramatically!

You can either have these custom made to fit the space exactly, or you can buy ready made shelves that will approximately fit the space if your budget is a little tighter.

Photo: J Korsbon Designs

Think Up, Not Out

Your walls are a great place for storage and one that a lot of us forget about. If storage is lacking then putting up high-strength shelving is a quick and easy way to take things off the floor and create more floor space without much effort.

With companies responding to the demands for better shelving thanks to increasing numbers of us living in flats, you can find some great quality, well-designed shelving that can be a feature as well as a practical solution to a problem.

Photo: Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC

Be More Minimalist 

The reality is a lot of us carry ‘stuff’ around that we don’t love, need or use – it’s just habit. By having a regular cull of your belongings you can get rid of a lot of items that you’d forgotten you didn’t need or use any more.

Using moving house or having renovations done is a perfect excuse to get rid of a lot of things you don’t need any more – toys your kids have outgrown, books you never read, DVD’s you never watch. You’ll likely save a lot of space! It’s also a way to raise extra cash if you sell your unwanted items, or you could do a good deed and give them to charity or a friend!

Alcove Storage Solutions 

In houses with a prominent chimney breast in a room, you are likely to have a large alcove either side of it. An easy idea for extra storage is by having shelving and/or cupboards installed in those alcoves you’ll gain a storage solution that not only matches your home decorating but also enables you to fit a lot of your belongings in.

The great thing is that if you decide to shelve the space rather than add cupboards as well, it’s really cheap and easy to do. It also offers a lot of extra storage because you can go from floor to ceiling height nearly.

Pick Furniture Wisely

If your storage is limited, look for furniture that offers practical and handy storage solutions. Many foot rests have a top that acts as a lid, allowing you to store things inside. Some chairs and sofas also have storage space within the body of the chair themselves.

TV stands are another storage solution – if you choose wisely you can fit a lot of additional bits in the stand.

Finally lots of coffee tables have storage built in underneath, again offering a practical and stylish storage solution that saves space and reduces clutter.

Home Storage Solutions to Save Space and Reduced Clutter

If you use even one of these tips you’ll reduce the clutter and increase the floor space in your house. Use them all and you’ll have more space than you know what to do with! It’ll be like a totally new house!

For latest innovations in new house building visit Anwyl Homes.

Photo: Sita Montgomery Interiors

Cupboards are an incredible way of storing all the items you have. By using them, you can protect your belongings and ensure that they do not get lost. You can free the floor space and make your home look beautiful. Very importantly, you can manage and maintain the house and feel happy that it is neat and tidy. Nowadays, superstores and online sites offer several choices including budget cupboard at Urban Ladder, to accommodate your diverse needs.

To make this choice easier, we have provided you with the Top 5 cupboard designs. These give you the ideas you need to optimize your storage space.

Wall Cupboards

There are different types of wall cupboards. For small spaces, floor to ceiling cupboards are a good option for extra storage space. This is an optimal way of utilizing the wall space, especially the area close to the ceiling. This can have multiple shelving options including wide and narrow shelves, pullouts and rails. Movable and adjustable shelving units are an added advantage. These cupboards have the option of being two to three large cupboards or a number of small cupboards.

Pullout Cupboards

Pullout cupboards are quite literally pulled out and then used to store various items. They can be placed in any room and have multiple shelving units. They can be made fairly tall and make use of awkward spaces such as corners, the space under the stairs, and narrow areas.

Corner Cupboards

These cupboards utilize the corners of the house. They are usually narrow and placed on the floor. But if rails are used, corner cupboards can provide at least two times the “rail space”. In this way, the corners of the house are made use of to the maximum extent.

Wall Mounted Cupboards

Wall mounted cupboards serve several purposes:-

(a) They free the floor space for other storage units and make the house look less cluttered which is great for your home’s decorating!

(b) They can conveniently be placed anywhere. For example, above either the bed or other items on the floor, along an empty wall or in combination with other cupboards

(c) They can be made as several units that are mounted right next to each other, with multiple shelving options.

Their flexibility is what makes them particularly useful.

Stair Space Cupboards

The space under the stairs is especially useful and can be carefully crafted into a easy storage space. Depending on preference, this can be one complete space or divided into a number of smaller spaces. Accordingly, one large cupboard or several smaller cupboards can be made. They can include various shelving options and many selves, depending on the items to be stored. For smaller cupboards, the pullout cupboard design is a good option.

But all cupboards can be made into good storage units and be aesthetically pleasing a well. You achieve this by painting them the same colour as the wall or making them out of good solid wood. Beautifully crafted handles are the last touch and add style and elegance. These options are bound to save space and make you house-proud.