Whenever I go into Ikea I always have the same two reactions, “WOW, these storage ideas are as so clever” and, after about 30 mins “Get me outta here!” (I think it’s safe to say we all have varying degrees of these two experiences.)

After a recent trip, (yes, I made it out alive after following those bright yellow arrows), it got me thinking about storage. When people buy a property, one of the most important ‘needs’ at the top of their list is storage. Whether internal (wardrobes, cupboards, pantries, attics) or external (garages, sheds). As humans, it is in our nature to collect things as these items represent who we are, places we’ve been and memories of past events. We as a society are also avid consumers and most people’s wants far surpass their needs.

So what do you do when your ‘stuff’ outgrows your current storage facilities? For homeowners, there’s usually a ‘I’ll get to it later room” which doubles-up as storage and a regular council clean up for when it get’s overwhelming. But for renters, it is a little more difficult. Firstly, renters know that they’ll have to move sooner or later so the less packing and transporting the better. And secondly, there’s no benefit in building or investing in extra permanent solutions for someone else’s property.

There are some pretty nifty solutions to creating more storage and they needn’t break the bank nor be boring. Here are just a few ideas.

Hook, line and sinker

Whether you nail them, use removable double-sided tape or use over-door one, hooks are an easy, inexpensive solution to increase space. They can be used anywhere – kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, garage – come in different sizes and colours, and are transferable. I particularly love the idea of hanging kitchen utensils in small kitchens. It looks great and saves the rummaging in cluttered drawers for that soup ladle.

Not the kind you find on an elephant

Trunks have come full circle and have definitely come back into fashion. The beauty of a trunk is that not only are they usually quite deep and can fit a lot of things, but they can also be used for additional seating. If your trunk needs a spruce up, maybe drape over a throw rug or look into having it refurbished to fit your home’s theme.

Boxed up

Boxes have saved my sanity many times. Not cardboard moving boxes, but plastic colourful, lightweight, sealable, movable boxes. Go to any discount store, hardware house or department store and you’ll find a plethora of plastic boxes in a huge range of colours and sizes. What’s great about plastic boxes is that when you move house, you don’t have to re-pack these boxes, just throw them in the moving van.  As a plus, so many boxes these days are decorative and can add to the style of your home. You can also buy boxes in different materials such as metal or upholstered fabric.

Out of sight

Why not use the space under your bed for more than just accumulating dust and hair? Flat storage boxes are a neat and clever addition for any bedroom. You can store your shoes, clothing, paperwork – anything that isn’t too bulky. Again these are inexpensive, sealable and transportable.

Just remember, the Golden Rule: If you haven’t worn it, used it or opened it in six months, get rid of it.  You’ll soon find you have more storage space!