S H E L T E R
O R G A N I Z E
T H I S !
Tips for home offices, closets and pantries BY AMAN DA MACLAREN AN D H OLLY WEST | PH OTOGRAPH Y BY B RIANA B ROU G H
Go Vertical Many people discount the space leading up to the ceiling. Store infrequently used items up high and keep a step ladder nearby for access when you need them.
Baskets and Clear Boxes I love to use baskets and clear boxes of various sizes to store items in kids’ rooms because they are easy to use and make for easy clean up. Instead of putting socks in a drawer, have a sock basket. This is such an easy way to help kids corral toys, clothes, you name it. Clear containers have the benefit of visibility if they are in a closet. These are great for blocks, legos, art supplies and things of that sort.
Wire Shelving Units Many retailers sell wire shelving units in various heights and depths. I use these all the time in closets and garages, in combination with baskets and such, to organize items. When assembling, you can adjust the height and number of the shelves being used. They are inexpensive and easy to move around. Additionally, they can be anchored to a wall for added safety.
Stack Clear Boxes Frequently, shelf space is misused, as people only use the first “layer” of a shelf. However, storing and stacking things in clear boxes takes advantage of the shelf height. The clear boxes allow you to see what’s inside so you don’t lose track of or forget what you’ve stored.
T a k e
I t
Hooks You can gain storage space on unused walls with the simple addition of a few inexpensive hooks. If kids are using them, be sure to hang them at a reachable height.
t o
t h e
M a x
When Maria Siegel was redesigning her daughter, Sydney’s, bedroom, she knew it was too small a space to have a bed, desk, bookshelf, chair and dresser. “Something had to go, but as she was getting older – [she’s now 13] – I knew the desk and chair would become very important for studying,” says Maria, a designer and professional organizer with her own company, Goldenrod Place Interiors. “The most obvious thing that could go was the dresser, but I still had to come up with a solution for storing and organizing her clothes.” 38
|
durhammag.com
|
april 2018
Sydney’s simple, small, reach-in closet “didn’t lend itself to storing an actual dresser,” so Maria got creative and decided to re-envision the space using the elfa closet system offered by The Container Store. “I came up with a design that solved the most pressing issues of the room: storage space (shelves), hanging space (coats, dresses) and a drawer space (clothes),” Maria says. “[Sydney’s] closet is a perfect example of how you can maximize space to the very last inch.”