Easy storage ideas for your busy family home
Read on for our kid-friendly storage solutions, top tips and essential buys that are guaranteed to help you keep your family home well ordered and clutter-free
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How is it possible for two little humans to make so much mess? I ask that question daily as I collect my daughters’ dirty laundry off their bedroom floors, pick up plastic tat that’s been discarded in the middle of the living room and load all their empty glasses and snack plates into the dishwasher.
The fact is that kids have a lot of stuff. From scooters and bikes, to arts and crafts, shoes, coats, clothing, school bags and toys… the list goes on and on. Which is why it’s super important to get inventive with storage so you can try and get your family home into some sort of order and help keep the clutter at bay. I’ve broken down this feature into what I think are the four main problem areas in the family home; the hallway, kids bedrooms, the playroom/living area and the family bathroom, revealing essential decluttering top tips followed by our favourite storage buys.
Now all I need to do is get my kids to put their stuff away… anyone willing to reveal their trade secret in how to get children to actually use said storage solutions? Enjoy!
The entrance/ hallway
There’s nothing worse than walking through the front door and being greeted by shoes, school bags, scooters and bike helmets thrown haphazardly across your entrance hallway. Shoe storage and somewhere to hang coats and bags is a must. Make the most of unused wall space by fitting hooks to hang bikes and scooters from – they’ll help keep the floor clear, as well as add a visual feature. And, if you have space under the stairs, consider building bespoke furniture to maximise your storage potential. If your hallway is narrow, opt for thin pieces of furniture to avoid the entrance from feeling too busy and chaotic!
Kids bedrooms
If you’re designing your kid’s bedroom from scratch, built-in furniture and multifunctional pieces are well worth the money spent. Consider beds with underneath storage, bespoke floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, and storage cubes that can double-up as seating with a comfy cushion on top. If you’re working with what you already have, clothes dividers and stackable containers can be super helpful in keeping wardrobes, chest of drawers and cabinets in order. Don’t worry about hiding everything away either – stuffed bears and wooden toys can look great on open shelving. You also want to create storage solutions that are easily accessible so that kids can reach their toys and books with ease, but also store them away again. We love the oversized baskets from Ella James (pictured above) which look super cute and add warmth to a space. Don’t forget children's needs and requirements change quickly, so ensure any storage you buy will cater for them now, and in the future.
Playrooms and living spaces
If you’re fed up with standing on tiny pieces of lego every time you enter your kid’s playroom or family space, getting the toy storage spot-on in your home is essential. Whether you’ve got a dedicated playroom or you’ve given up some of your living space for a play zone, you need to ensure that the storage you create is accessible for your little ones so that they can (I can’t actually guarantee that they will) put their things away by themselves. Organise toys into categories and place them in separate containers and baskets. Don’t forget to label them to avoid cross contamination! If your child can’t read yet, add pictures to your labels so they know where to put everything away once they’re done.
Consider floor-to-ceiling bespoke storage (try an Ikea hack if you’re constrained by budget) to make use of every inch of wall space, leaving the lower cupboards for kids’ things and upper cupboards and shelving for grown-ups. You might even want to add a hidden desk area for homework and crafting, or a cosy bench nook for reading. I’m also a big fan of furniture that doubles up as storage. For example, bench seating, ottomans and coffee tables all with hidden storage underneath.
Family bathrooms
There’s nothing worse when trying to relax in the bathtub than seeing your kid’s toys float past you! If you’re renovating your bathroom, try to add recessed shelving around the bath tub for toiletries and toys. If that’s not possibile, go for storage that keeps everything in one place but also allows toys to dry quickly to avoid the risk of mildew. Try mesh toy bags with suction pads that attach to baths or tiles, or storage bins that have drip trays underneath that can be emptied regularly.
Fit functional furniture such as under-sink storage, shelving and wall cabinets to keep towels, toiletries and other essential items tucked away and add accessible hooks and rails so there’s no excuse not to hang up towels and face cloths! Click here for more family bathroom design ideas.
For more storage and decluttering ideas, check out our 8 ways to declutter your home post. Community is really important to us, we’d love to know what you think about this feature and Nest magazine as a whole in the comments below.