Latest news with #homeorganization
Independent Singapore
13 hours ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
‘Sick of it': Man rants about his girlfriend's habit of cluttering their home with unnecessary items, seeks advice on Reddit
SINGAPORE: A man shared on social media that he's 'getting sick' of his girlfriend's behaviour of cluttering their home with unnecessary items. Writing on the r/askSingapore forum on Tuesday (Jul 1), he explained in a now-deleted post that his girlfriend has a habit of buying things on impulse. Not expensive items, but just random things that catch her eye, even if she rarely uses them. Over time, their home has become packed with unused items filling shelves, drawers, tables, and corners, collecting dust. He shared that his girlfriend grew up having to share everything with her family, including her room, wardrobe, and study table. On the other hand, he said that even though his own family had less money, his parents always made sure he had his own space, and he grew up being used to keeping things organised. After moving in with her, he tried to be understanding, especially since the house is under her name. 'I sort of let her do what she wants. And this house is under her name currently, so I feel she deserves to do what she wants in her own house,' he said. See also Young Singaporeans embrace singlehood amidst gloomy dating scene Still, he occasionally brought up how he would prefer a home with fewer unnecessary items, but his feedback often went unheard. 'I will nag at her about her habits and explain to her how I would prefer a home with fewer things that we don't need or use, which all falls into deaf ears,' he wrote. 'It's never a good time to really talk about this, too, cuz she has no time or is stressed or not feeling well, or the worst is gaslighting me with 'we are having a good time. Why do you always ruin it?'' What upsets him the most, though, is when she shifts his belongings while claiming to clean. He admits he sometimes leaves his things around because he doesn't have enough space to store them properly, but he gets frustrated when she moves them and then forgets where she placed them. 'I've tried to adapt and move on regarding this because I still love her, but when I'm in a bad mood or stressed and see her buy more stuff or move my things, oh god, I want to break off with her and move out.' 'Respecting each other's space is very important.' His post received a mix of reactions, with some empathising with his situation and others urging him to have a serious conversation with his partner before the resentment builds further. One Redditor said, 'Dude, it's a big problem that you rather come to Reddit and write this big ass text than talking to her. Raise it, if she cannot compromise, it's over.' Another explained, 'She's just compensating for the situation that she was in when she was younger/growing up. My mom is like that. Didn't have much growing. So when she got married, she got everything she wanted, and having that reminds her that everything she acquires is precious. This habit will eventually go away, but it takes time and lots of reminders.' A third wrote, 'Communication is key. When I want to clean up, I just talk to her beforehand. Anything I see that is out of place, I will leave it in one corner of the room. Same goes for my stuff as well. I even have a basket for 'if you used this recently, you can keep it.'' 'You really have to talk it out. I know it's frustrating and you want to nag at her every time you clean, but respecting each other's space is very important. If in the end she still doesn't respect you, well, desperate measures liao lor.' In other news, a man felt disappointed upon learning that his friend, a mechanical engineering graduate, was earning just S$3,000 a month. On Sunday (Jun 29), he took to the r/askSingapore subreddit to seek advice from others. In his post, he explained that on top of the low salary, the job also requires employees to work half-days on Saturdays and offers only a fixed bonus of S$1,000. Read more: 'Only S$3k?' Man questions why engineering grad friend is paid so little Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Fox News
21-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
How one 'messy' influencer turned her passion for organizing into a seven-figure business endorsed by celebs
Despite considering herself a naturally messy person, "RíOrganize" founder Ría Safford was able to turn a side-hustle of helping friends organize their living spaces into a seven-figure luxury home organizing business. Safford spoke to Fox News Digital this week about how her frustration with her own messy lifestyle inspired her to get creative with organizing and grow a flourishing business from that. "I couldn't keep living the way that I live life, which is totally messy, things all over the place, no systems," she said. "And so I was able to figure out systems that worked for myself, and it was at that moment that I knew that I could help other people."MEGHAN MARKLE SAYS SHE STRUGGLED BEFORE FAME AND ROYALTY Currently, Safford's RíOrganize employs professional lifestyle experts to help people find creative and tasteful ways of organizing their spaces. The business helps people reorganize everything from their kitchen pantries to their bedrooms, to even their entire homes. It also provides moving services for clients. "For our bread-and-butter home services, it's typically a whole home – like overhaul of organizing – so helping people edit their inventory, coming up with new storage solutions, and product sourcing, and installing to make the most sense for their life," she said. Safford added that her teams focus on observing clients' habits, to find out "what would make the biggest impact for them to live a routine-ready, stress-free streamlined life." She also described the moving services her company offers, noting she added them to RíOrganize during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We do packing assistance, moving coordination, and then unpacking and whole home organization. That's all within 'relocation,'" she said. When asked where she got the idea for her business, the business owner noted the surprising fact that she is "not your typical organizer." "I'm a naturally messy person and I had a daughter at 24 and when I started having kids, there was just chaos," she said, adding that helped her figure out systems that worked for her and then find ways to help out others. As to the exact spark behind the RíOrganize idea, Safford pointed to an old idea from college, saying she first dreamed it up in a marketing class. She added that once she had her daughter, she "realized very quickly the corporate life wasn't for me" and decided to lean into the business. "What started as a side hustle to, you know, help cover mortgage and be home more, turned into a seven-figure business," Safford said. RíOrganize serves clients in the Los Angeles and Orange County area in California, and has most recently established a team in the Dallas area. It has been featured in People, US Weekly, Better Homes & Gardens, and its famous clients include model Chrissy Teigen. Safford told Fox that one of the biggest breaks for her company came in 2019 when she organized a pantry for Teigen and it blew up on social media. "I'm cooking dinner and my phone starts blowing up. My husband's phone starts to blow up. I'm like, 'what is going on?'" Safford stated. She continued, "People Magazine called me within 10 minutes. [Teigen] had posted a carousel of a pantry that I had done for her, and it was her third or fourth-most liked Instagram post ever. It got like 1.4 million likes. It was totally insane. I ended up getting nearly 200,000 followers cumulatively from that project." Safford explained that she got the Teigen gig after going viral for helping Jen Atkin, the hairstylist for the Kardashians, organize her home in 2019. She said that was the moment her "life changed." When asked if she had any tips for people looking to get more organized on their own, she didn't hold back. "One is, do not purchase without a purpose. And I feel like, so often people are in the aisles of Home Goods or Costco, and they're like, 'Oh my gosh, something's on sale,' or 'Oh my gosh, these jars are so cute. I'll figure out something for it on the backend…' And so you find yourself trying to force your things to work for these products because you bought the products versus having edited and intentionally created a space that you know, OK, I need this product to really help maximize here." The second tip she gave is "giving yourself the appropriate amount of time" to take on reorganizing projects so they actually get done. Watch Ría Safford appear on "Fox & Friends" on June 23 at 6:50 AM ET.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How To Deep Clean Your House In 1 Day, According To An Expert
With some planning and prioritizing, you can tackle every room in your home for a deep clean. Declutter to put things back where they belong, and work from top to bottom in every room. Keep rooms clean longer with regular cleaning and managing clutter and unused many times have you opted to throw a big party at your house, only to leave the cleaning for the day before? Whether you're in a serious time crunch and need to deep clean your whole home, or you just want to dedicate a whole day to cleaning and getting it over with, this is the guide for you. We asked Jacqueline Stein, a professional cleaner and the owner of Home Reimagined in Austin, Texas, for her thorough tips on how to deep clean your whole house in one day. Yes, it's possible, but will take quite a bit of effort to get it all done! While cleaning the entire house seems like a Herculean task, the rewards are worth it. Thankfully, it only needs to be done once or twice a year. Use this guide to clean it in one day or to break up tasks throughout a longer time frame. Before diving into this big project, it's important to remember that not everything has to be 100% perfect. Do what you can in the time allotted and don't give up—you can achieve more than you think in a day. Before deep cleaning your entire house in one day, there are a few things you should consider: Plan Ahead: Make a schedule or task list for each room and allocate time for each task. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you are able to clean everything you need to in the allotted time. Gather Supplies: Make sure you have all the necessary cleaning supplies and a sufficient amount of them before you start. 'And remember to always use proper ventilation when using chemicals, and always use protective gear when cleaning (e.g., gloves, masks, etc.),' suggests Stein. Declutter: Before you start cleaning, declutter each room by removing any unnecessary items. This will make it easier to clean and help you see what needs to be done. 'Removing all items that block your vision of the rooms will allow you to clean quicker and not get distracted during a clean to put items away or back in another room,' says Stein. Prioritize: Focus on the most important tasks first—this should be your dirtiest room first. Typically, this is your kitchen and then the bathrooms. Stein suggests cleaning these first, as they will take the most motivation, momentum, time, and energy. Get Help: If possible, enlist the help of family members or friends to make the cleaning process go more quickly and efficiently. Start at the Top: Start cleaning at the top and work your way to the bottom. 'Clean the tallest items first, then work toward the ground last—dust falls and there is no use in mopping those floors if you are just going to be pushing dirt and crumbs onto it from the countertops,' explains Stein. Vinegar Spray bottle Multipurpose cleaner Bathroom cleaner Tough scrub brushes Soft scrub brushes / sponges Microfiber rags (fuzzy and the lint-free ones) Duster Dusting gloves Glass cleaner Floor cleaner Mop Vacuum Broom Specialty cleaners (if applicable) Granite cleaner Stainless steel cleaner Laundry detergent Upholstery cleaning machine Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleaner Dish soap Bucket Dishwasher cleaner like Glisten Rubbing alcohol Oven cleaner Toilet bowl cleaner Washing machine cleaner tablets Lint brush First, declutter the space. Remove any items that have landed on the countertops, put them away, and remove the towels, bath mats, and shower curtains. 'Pop them in the washing machine, so they can be washed while you clean,' suggests Stein. Start from top to bottom and dust everything in your bathroom, or use a handheld vacuum and brush attachment to remove all debris and hair from the surfaces. 'Remember, it's crucial to remove all dust before applying any cleaning products to your surfaces, so you aren't just pushing wet debris around,' warns Stein. Spray the shower and tubs with cleaner and let it sit for 15 minutes while you disinfect the toilet seats, handles, backs, base, and more. Clean the base of the toilet that is on the floor and all the knobs, too. After that, scrub the inside of the bowl before moving on. Clean the mirrors with glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol and a lint-free rag, paper towel, or even newspaper. 'Spray the sinks and countertops with disinfectant—let the disinfectant/cleaner sit on the surface of the countertops for a few minutes while you wipe down any of those cotton ball jars, cotton swab containers, soap dispensers, or other items you put aside,' says Stein. 'Scrub the inside of the sink with a good scrub brush, faucet included, and then wipe down the countertops after for a fresh start.' Use a good scrub brush or scrub mop to clean the walls, floor, corners, door, water guard on door, and grout between tiles in the bathtub/shower. Use a soft sponge or brush to clean the fixtures (shower head, handles, and tub spout), so as not to scratch them. Rinse the shower well. If you have hard water remaining on your glass shower doors, Stein suggests spraying vinegar on them and letting them sit for 15 minutes to 12 hours, before scrubbing with a sponge and rinsing clean. Once you're done cleaning the shower, you can squeegee the entire shower and dry all fixtures and any water remaining on walls, floors, doors, etc. 'A dry shower is the best way to avoid water spots, mold and bacteria,' explains Stein. Clean the windows and window treatments by dusting or washing blinds or curtains, according to their care instructions. Then, use a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth to clean the windows. Wipe the cabinet and drawer doors (inside and out) and take the time to remove all bins or items in the cabinets and wipe the inside down. 'You can also do some light decluttering if you are up for the task,' suggests Stein. 'Remember to empty the trash and disinfect the wastebasket bin too.' Vacuum the floors and mop them for a perfectly clean room. If time allows, scrub the grout with a tough scrub brush and some cleaner before you mop those floors to remove any deep-set-in stains. Stein suggests replacing towels, shower curtains, shower liners, and bath mats before exiting the room. Start by removing any items that do not belong in the kitchen, as well as any small appliances, utensils, or dishes that are cluttering your countertops. 'Take everything off the countertops, including small appliances, cutting boards, and other items, and store them in their proper place,' suggests Stein. Dust the entire room first, and take out any kitchen towels, floor mats, or other linens and launder them at this time. Remove the stove burners and grates and soak them in hot, soapy water in the sink. 'While they soak, wipe down the stovetop with a degreaser, making sure to clean any spills or residue that has accumulated,' suggests Stein. 'You can also use a handheld vacuum to suck up any crumbs on the stovetop, before wiping it with cleaner.' After you've fully cleaned the stovetop, use a little bit of rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner over it to make it shine. Remove racks from the oven and soak them in the sink or put them in the dishwasher. Spray the inside of the oven and let sit for 30+ minutes before scrubbing it down. 'While the cleaner sits inside, wipe the outside of the oven down with a mild cleaner and then go over with a specialty cleaner,' suggests Stein. Microwave a bowl of water and lemon for two to five minutes. Remove the bowl with oven mitts and wipe the debris from the inside of the microwave. 'You can wipe the exterior, following the same rules as the oven exterior,' says Stein. 'If your microwave is above the stovetop, remove the air vent filters and soak in the sink with the stovetop grates.' Toss any expired food and wipe the shelves down in your refrigerator. Move on to wiping down the exterior of your refrigerator and freezer (following the same rules as the oven exterior), and vacuum the coils. Don't forget to clean the refrigerator's water and ice dispenser. Wipe down small appliances, such as the air fryer, toaster, and coffee maker. Return to the sink, and scrub and rinse all of the grates, filters, and racks sitting in the sink. 'Dry them well and return them to their appropriate appliance,' advises Stein. 'If any dishes, pots, or pans have also accumulated in the sink, wash them now or load the dishwasher and run it.' Start scrubbing the sink by removing all the gunk first—pull out any goop in the garbage disposal and scrub it. Then coat your sink in dish soap and lightly scrub with a sponge to remove all food particles, stuck-on-gunk, and more. Rinse well, and follow up with the appropriate sink cleaner for the material you have (for example, if you have a stainless-steel sink, Stein recommends using Bar Keepers Friend). Spray generously on the sink and scrub it in with a cleaning sponge. Make sure to scrub the sink faucet, handles, and any other metal fixtures with a soft brush or sponge to remove any buildup or stains. 'Let the cleaner sit for 10 minutes while you clean the cabinets,' suggests Stein. 'Return to the sink, rinse it well, and dry it out fully to avoid water spots.' While your sink cleaner is sitting, clean the exterior of your cabinets. If you have wood cabinets, a mixture of warm water and a tablespoon of dish soap in a bucket is a great cleaning solution, according to Stein. 'Use a microfiber cloth, dip it in, and wring it out very well—the rag should be barely damp,' she says. 'Wipe the exterior of the cabinets and drawers, drying immediately as you clean.' If time allows, remove all items from the cabinets and drawers, and wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. Remove any liners and replace them with new ones, if necessary. Organize the contents of the cabinets and drawers and throw away any expired or unused items. Using a disinfectant cleaner, wipe down the countertops. 'Clean the backsplash tiles with a gentle cleaner and wipe down the grout with a toothbrush or scrub brush,' says Stein. 'If you have granite, I would recommend going back in with a granite cleaner to clean up the countertops.' Empty the trash, recycling, and compost bins as necessary, and scrub them with soap and a scrub brush. Once the dishwasher is empty, use a soft scrub brush to remove any gunk in the corners, empty the filter, and run a cleaning cycle with a dishwasher cleaner. Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor to remove any loose dirt or debris, and then mop the floor with a heavy-duty cleaner, making sure to clean any spills or stains. 'Pay special attention to the areas around the stove and sink, as they tend to accumulate the most dirt and grime,' says Stein. 'Replace all towels and floor mats with clean ones and your kitchen is done.' The first thing you want to do is remove any clutter in your bedroom—think clothes, books, and any other items that should be put away into their respective spots. Use a damp microfiber cloth and a dusting brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment, and dust everything from the top of the ceiling fan or light fixtures to the baseboards. 'Remove any dust from the ceiling, walls, fans, light fixtures, window sills, and corners of the room before moving on to dusting the night stands, dresser, shelves, picture frames, lamps, and other decorations,' suggests Stein. Clean your bedroom windows. Dust or wash blinds or curtains according to their care instructions. Then, use a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth to clean the windows. Strip off all of your bedding, including your sheets, pillowcases, comforter or duvet, and mattress topper/cover. 'Wash them according to the manufacturer's instructions, and don't forget to clean any decorative throw blankets and pillows, too,' says Stein. 'Clean them now so they will be washed and ready to return to the room by the time you are done.' While your sheets are off the bed, this is a great time to clean your mattress. Dust mites can be in your mattress, so make sure you are vacuuming the mattress first and steam cleaning with a handheld steamer after. Let the mattress dry completely. To remove odors, Stein suggests sprinkling some baking soda on it and letting it sit for about 30 minutes. Vacuum it up using your vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment. If you have an upholstered bed frame, you'll want to ensure you are vacuuming it now to remove dust and debris that gets stuck in it. While your mattress airs out, or the baking soda is sitting on the mattress, move on to wiping the surfaces. 'Use the appropriate cleaner for the material of your dressers and nightstands, and wipe all furniture to clean it,' says Stein. 'This includes the front of the drawers and handles.' While deep cleaning the bedroom, this is a great time to hang up any clothes that are on the floor, reorganize drawers, or go through your closet and donate items that you no longer need. When in your closet, make sure to vacuum or dust the shelves and wipe them down for a clean room. 'Replace all bedding, pillows, or other linens you laundered,' suggests Stein. Stein suggests wiping down the door knobs, lamp cords, doors, and light switches. Then vacuum the floors, including under the bed, and any carpets or area rugs in the room. Don't forget to vacuum any upholstery or curtains, if you haven't already done so. 'Start by removing any items that don't belong in the living room and find a proper place for them,' suggests Stein. 'Then, organize any items that are left in the room, such as books, magazines, or remotes.' Using a damp microfiber cloth, a dusting brush, or a vacuum with a brush attachment, dust the entire room starting from top to bottom. Remove any dust and cobwebs from the ceiling, walls, fans, and corners of the room before moving on to dusting the shelves, picture frames, lamps, and other decorations. 'Take this time to clean any knickknacks and décor items before moving on to the big stuff,' says Stein. 'I like to use dusting gloves to clean small items first, then I move on to lint roll the lamp shades, wipe coasters down, and wipe fake plant leaves.' Don't forget to dust and wipe any electronics like the TV screen, game console, remote control, and more with a microfiber cloth. Toss all throw blankets, pillow covers, couch covers, curtains, rugs (that can be washed), and any other fabric linen into the washing machine and launder before returning to the room. 'Wipe down all hard surface furniture such as tables, chairs, shelves, and more,' suggests Stein. 'Wiping with the appropriate cleaner for the item, don't forget to clean the legs and under sides of the tables and chairs, too.' For fabric furniture, start by vacuuming it first, then, if needed, use an upholstery cleaning machine or spot clean any stains. Clean the windows and window treatments. Dust or wash blinds or curtains, according to their care instructions. Then, use a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth to clean the windows. Vacuum or sweep the floors thoroughly to remove any dirt, dust, or debris. Make sure to do any spot cleaning on rugs at this time, too. Then, wet mop or steam mop the floors to remove any stains or marks. Declutter any items that shouldn't be in the laundry room. 'Dust the room or vacuum with a handheld vacuum and brush attachment,' suggests Stein. 'Dust the shelves, cabinets, tops of the washer/dryer, and any utility items in there.' Clean the washing machine first. Stein suggests running the cleaning cycle, or if you don't have one of those, run the hottest and longest cycle with a cleaning tablet in it. While this is cleaning, head to the dryer and remove all lint in the lint trap. 'Take out the lint holder and use a lint brush to clean deep down inside the dryer's lint trap,' says Stein. 'Or, use a long vacuum attachment and clean out any trapped lint.' Wipe down the inside of the dryer with a damp rag and clean the door, too. Then, clean the exterior of the dryer. Returning to the washing machine, once the cleaning cycle has completed, open the machine to let it air out. 'Pro tip: always leave the washing machine door open after a load to let it dry completely so that your clothes do not smell like mold and mildew,' suggests Stein. Wipe out the inside of the machine, cleaning the drawers/compartments that hold the detergent, and drum around the washing machine. If you have a front-facing washer, Stein suggests making sure to spray some cleaner into the drum and let it sit for a few minutes to remove any mildew and gunk. Then, dry the inside completely with a clean rag, including drying the drawers and any compartments for the detergents, and then wipe down the exterior. Clean the exterior and the interior of any cabinets, after removing any items. 'At this time, refill any products that need to be filled or add it to your grocery list, reorganize cabinets, and make sure they are all wiped clean,' says Stein. Wipe any countertops or folding tables, including the underside and the legs. Making sure you are also checking on any utility items in this room like water filters, water heaters, and other items to ensure they are all in safe and working condition. Vacuum the floors and mop for a clean laundry room. Declutter and put items away, moving the cars or any vehicles so you can fully clean. Use this time to reorganize or put boxes away that may have been left out. 'Donate anything that is not being used or put the donations into your car to drop off,' suggests Stein. 'Make sure to put all tools away, [place] ladders in the correct location, and charge any lawn mowers, weed whackers, or other lawn equipment that requires it.' Dust the ceiling in the garage and make sure to remove cobwebs and other particles that are on the shelves or walls. Wash and clean doormats and rugs or any fabric item that lives in these outdoor spaces. 'Wipe any hard furniture, gym equipment, shelves, or tables that are in the space,' says Stein. 'Sweep up any debris on the floor and then hose down or power wash the floors if needed.' To keep your home clean for longer, get rid of clutter before it accumulates. Set aside a few minutes each day to put things back where they belong. Stick to a regular cleaning schedule each week to prevent buildup of dust, grime, and dirt. Focus on areas of the home that get heavy traffic. They may need more frequent cleaning than less-used rooms. Tasks like taking out the trash, tossing expired items from the fridge and pantry, making the bed, and wiping down surfaces often will help maintain a clean house. Read the original article on Southern Living
The Guardian
21-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Hide toys, tidy away cables – and make friends with baskets: 11 clever home storage hacks
Modern home life is messy: between scattered toys, shoe piles by the front door and tangled cables, it can be hard to keep on top of the clutter. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. We've asked design experts and home organisers for their best tips on how to hide it all, from furniture with charging drawers to hidden living room storage, cable clips and sleeves to an overlooked, hidden bathroom storage spot. And remember: storage baskets are your friend. Rachel Burditt, home organiser at The Declutter Darling, says clients often ask for help hiding the cables that dangle from lamps, speakers and TVs. Her solution? Using small cable clips (available from DIY stores such as Toolstation) to hold them in place on the back or side of the item. You just stick or nail the clip on to a hidden spot and feed the cable through it, keeping it out of sight. For cables that need to run along the floor, she recommends using cord sleeves – essentially jackets for your wires – that blend into your decor. She gets hers from Amazon, but you'll find them in all DIY shops. In areas where multiple cables are needed, it might be worth investing in a cable box. They're neutral containers you can sit a block of sockets in, keeping wires and plugs hidden and stopping them from gathering dust. Muji's white, steel cable organiser looks like a desk tidy and fits into even the most minimalist aesthetic. 'You can also get trays that attach under tables to keep wires tidy, which work well if you've got a home office,' Burditt says. Try Livivo's under-desk cord organiser. Amazon cord sleeves £5.10 at Amazon Muji steel cable organiser £19.95 at Muji Livivo cord organiser £14.99 at B&Q£14.99 at Amazon The games consoles, tablets, laptops and phones that litter surfaces while they're charging can also be hidden. Interior designer Loren Kreiss recommends creating a charging drawer in a bedside table or chest of drawers. Drill or cut a hole in the back. Put a block of sockets inside, run an extension cord through the hole and connect them to the nearest power outlet. Then leave your chargers in the drawer, ready to go. Interior designer Wesley Moon takes a similar approach with beauty devices: 'I always build outlets into a drawer in vanity stations so things like hairdryers can stay plugged in.' This means they're always tidied away. If you're DIY-phobic, check out Wayfair, which has a range of cable management cabinets with holes pre-cut into the back. Try the stylish Holz Stainless Steel 2 with a ridged, moody black finish and a slot for wires at the back. Holz stainless steel 2 cabinet £125.99 at Wayfair If you don't have an office and don't want your home to look like a student library post-6pm on WFH days, an easy way to clear away your tech, stationery and paperwork is a must. Burditt recommends using a butcher's trolley from Ikea, such as the Räskog – a stack of three baskets on wheels that you can fill with your work essentials and then stow away easily. 'They're really small [61 x 28 x 38cm]. Mine fits in my under-the-stairs cupboard.' They are also great for handbag collections, tool kits and more. Burditt recommends them for storing kids' craft materials – allowing you to wheel the glue, glitter, felt tips, card etc out of sight after your little one has finished their masterpiece. Want a way to store the artworks they're making? 'Get one of the My Little Davinci picture frames,' says Imani Keal, DIY content creator at @imaniathome. 'They allow you to store up to 50 sheets of paper, and you can display the nicest one on the outside.' Ikea Råskog £25 at Ikea My Little Davinci multi-storage picture frames £29.99 at My Little Davinci£29.99 at Amazon Bulky kitchen appliances such as air fryers and toasters take up valuable counter space. 'If people have enough room, a walk-in pantry with a dedicated worktop is a great place to store appliances,' says Emma Perkin, director of Emil Eve Architects. 'But of course, that's not achievable for everyone.' For smaller kitchens, Perkin recommends adapting standard cupboards. 'You can modify a tall, open-backed Ikea cabinet – for example, a Metod high cabinet – by adding a worktop-height work surface to one of the shelves and installing a plug socket. By removing or reducing the depth of the shelves above this (by either cutting them narrower or using shelves from the matching wall unit, which are only 360mm deep), you can create space for your toaster and air fryer inside a cupboard, with shelves for spices, jars and bottles above.' Metod high cabinet £146 at Ikea 'I don't want plastic scattered everywhere, so I use hidden storage for toys,' says Burditt. She labels thin, flat storage bags – such as underbed grey storage bags from Dunelm – to keep puzzles, games and Lego under her sofa. 'It's all tucked away, but my kids know exactly where to find their things.' For larger items, she says an ottoman works well. 'Just close it up, throw a blanket and some cushions over it, and suddenly it's extra seating.' With a capacity of 117 litres, you could fit plenty of Lego in Swyft's cushioned storage 02 bench, available in velvet, boucle or linen. Moon takes a similar, but built-in, approach. 'In one New York apartment, we created a banquette along one wall. It worked as a dining nook, but the seat lifted up to reveal compartments underneath. Each child had their own section for toys, and we made sure the lids had spring mechanisms so they stayed open – no pinched fingers!' Dunelm storage bags £5 at Dunelm Swyft storage bench From £299 at SwyftFrom £340 at John Lewis Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion If you want to keep heavy dumbbells to hand in your living room without ruining the aesthetic, hide them in a sturdy, shallow throw basket such as H&M's large handmade seagrass storage basket. 'Put the weights at the bottom of the basket, and then use it to hold throw blankets on top to camouflage them,' says Keal. H&M storage basket £19.99 at H&M If you want to get fitter without joining a gym, check out our guide to the best home exercise kit 'You can place a litter box at the bottom of a cupboard, getting a carpenter to cut in a discreet entry hole for your cat,' says Perkin. 'We designed one against an external wall with an air vent leading outside, helping with ventilation and keeping things smelling fresh.' B&Q has a range of cupboards and cabinets designed to hide cat paraphernalia, such as the Feandrea decorative litter box cabinet, which has a flexible internal space where litter trays, cat beds and bowls of food can be tucked away. Moon took a similar approach to Perkin when it came to integrating a dog crate into a design for a client. 'We built it into an end table beside their sofa,' he says. 'Instead of a basic wire crate, we used a decorative metal grille – similar to what you'd see on an air vent, but with larger openings for airflow. He used New York-based Architectural Grille to make custom-designed sides, working with a carpenter on the frame. 'We bolted it to the floor so its table surface didn't wobble when the dog moved,' he says. Lots of furniture designers are selling similar dog crate furniture on Etsy. Tolotun dog house makes mid-century modern dog crates that look more like kooky 1970s display cabinets. Meanwhile, Kurr Pets' dog and cat beds and houses, made of Baltic birch plywood and jewel- and pastel-tone fabric, would blend into a contemporary flat. Feandrea litter cabinet £50.99 at Songmics£78.39 at B&Q Tolotun dog house From £279.56 at Etsy Burditt has a simple idea for keeping an exposed gas meter concealed, which she used for a recent client. 'We got a picture shelf and put that underneath it, and then got a few big prints to put in front of it.' Perkin says: 'Hiding an ugly boiler inside a cupboard can make a massive difference. There are lots available specifically for this, or you could incorporate the boiler into a larger cupboard, perhaps with shelving around it for additional storage. She recommends Lark & Larks, who make tall cupboards specifically designed to conceal boilers, starting at £75.16. 'You need to make sure you leave adequate space around and in front of the boiler for ventilation and access.' Lark & Larks boiler cupboard £75.16 at Larks & Larks 'You know the panel on your bath? On some – usually the wooden ones – you can actually slide that out and use the space behind it,' says Burditt. If not, she recommends installing a Ceramica bath storage panel, which turns the space around your bath into a hidden cupboard with a sliding, lockable door. She says this is good for storing kids' bathroom toys, spare beauty and cleaning products and loo rolls. Perkin says if you're planning to renovate your bathroom and you're getting a concealed cistern and wall-hung toilet installed, you have an opportunity to put in hidden storage. 'You're building out the wall anyway for the cistern to sit behind,' she says. 'So you can get a carpenter to build in recessed shelves above the cistern, with mirrored doors flush with your new wall.' Ceramica panel £119.99 at Plumb World Try Ikea's Trones storage cabinet. 'They are only 18cm deep and work in every single space,' says Keal. It looks like a clean white box, and was designed to store shoes, but she uses it to hide her wifi router, incoming post, her dog's leash, food and toys. 'And you can use the top of it to put a little basket or drop your keys on.' And for the shoe littering? Perkin says if you're undergoing renovations and you have a generous living room next to the entrance hall, 'you could look to borrow a bit of space from this to create recessed shoe and coat storage from the hallway.' Like Keal, she recommends fold-out racks for storing shoes away in narrow spaces. More than 10 pairs of shoes can be tucked away in the five-tiered steel Logan shoe rack from Sklum (£209.95). Wayfair also has a range of similar shoe tidies, such as the Sheringham six-pair storage with a wooden slatted finish. Ikea Trones cabinet £25 for two at Ikea Sheringham shoe storage £78.99 at Wayfair Whether they're wardrobes or kitchen units, Perkin recommends always building cupboards up to the ceiling. 'We will often try to avoid any form of cupboards or wardrobes that stop below, because it creates a dust trap and you're just wasting space that you could use.' While that space might be hard to get to, it's a great place to store the things you only need every now and then – boxes of Christmas decorations, for example. You can do this by stacking two standard kitchen units on top of each other. 'I always recommend getting a bed that's at least eight to 12 inches off the ground,' says Keal, 'so you can slide suitcases and other items under it.' Dusk and Loaf both have great options with vast ottoman storage. 'It's the perfect space for things you don't need access to all the time and want to keep out of sight.'
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
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