On the back burner: tips for smart storage

No one taught us the art of putting things in order. As a rule, in childhood they were called to clean the room, put things in their places, but they didn’t explain exactly how. There was no clear structure, so everyone did it as best they could.

This is how many now live: they put things in order to the best of their ability, overgrow things, spend a lot of time looking for the right items, then throw them anywhere, quarrel on this basis with loved ones, broadcast the same to their children … But you can choose a different an approach!

Down with the excess!

Putting things in order should start with decluttering. Until you get rid of unnecessary things, you will continue to shift them from one place to another. Say goodbye to what is outdated, worn out, disliked – give it to other people, sell it, throw it away, in the end.

Things that you do not use turn out to be hostages – forgotten, they gather dust in the far corner, not fulfilling their functions. By passing them on to someone else, you will not only bring them back to life, but also free up space for something new.

For example, on a coffee table where magazines have accumulated over the years, you can put a beautiful vase of flowers or a fruit platter.

Once you’ve gotten rid of what you don’t need, you can start organizing what you think you need to keep. And first of all, you should pay attention to the things that you get from nooks and crannies just a few times a year. The rest of the time they lie quietly and patiently wait for their release. For such items, it is very important to organize proper storage – careful and long-term.

After the New Year holidays, you should think about the principles of storing Christmas tree decorations, festive dishes and gift bags.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

It is they who make Christmas trees – artificial and live – truly festive. Cardboard, porcelain, glass, felt… Christmas decorations are carefully stored in every house, passing on the most beloved little things from generation to generation.

However, even they do not last forever, so review your Christmas supplies. Feel free to get rid of those that have broken, cracked, become unusable, as well as those that you simply do not use.

How to store Christmas decorations?

• In ordinary plastic containers or cardboard boxes. Line the bottom with something soft, such as a cloth, cotton wool or new baby diapers (disposable, with a cotton layer). The balls and figurines themselves should be wrapped – napkins, paper towels will do, but not newspapers, because printing ink may remain on the toys.
• In containers with separators. A very convenient option – each ball is in a separate cell, while the risk of damage is reduced. Separators, by the way, can be made by yourself, using cardboard for this. If the container is without dividers, you can put plastic cups in it, and put a toy in each of them.
• You can also use egg cartons for storage. However, before putting toys there, the box must be thoroughly treated with an antiseptic.
• Transparent bags with zip-lock, which can then be folded into a common box. Their advantage is transparency (everything is visible) and the presence of a lock.
• In a plastic bottle, plastic cup or in the same zip bags you can add Christmas beads. They get tangled all the time, so it’s best to store them separately. For the same reason, it is worth wrapping a garland on something. A paper towel roll or a regular hanger will do.
• In a round hat or service box you can store a Christmas wreath, which many hang on the door. It should be carefully wrapped in a bag, thereby protecting it from dust, and put where all the New Year’s accessories will be stored.

Boxes with Christmas decorations are best placed in a dark, dry place. At the same time, toys should not “walk” around the box – the more carefully you fold them, the longer they will last you.

FESTIVE WARE

Every home probably has dishes that are not used every day. Deep salad bowls, ducklings, a cake stand, glasses, sets for guests get on holidays – but where to store all this?

• Drawer with dividers. In such a plate, cups or saucers are in separate compartments. Thanks to the limiters, the dishes do not come into contact with each other, which means that if the drawer is suddenly opened, nothing will be damaged. By the way, there are boxes with many small holes at the bottom. They are made so that you can independently place the limiters, based on the size of your dishes.
• Closed shelves in cabinets. A huge plus is that all kitchen utensils are hidden from view and do not “crush” the space. Often this option is close to those who are prone to minimalism. Nothing is stored on the work surfaces and on the walls of such a kitchen, except that you can see a vase of flowers or a fruit bowl on the table.
• Baskets. They can be placed on hanging shelves. It is better to choose baskets with lids so that the dishes are closed from dust. If there is no lid, cover everything from above with packing film.
• Glazed shelves in cabinets. On the one hand, the dishes are protected from dust, on the other hand, glass allows you to admire this beauty, which is so rarely used.
• Wall shelves for plates. On such open shelves you can arrange the most elegant plates or, if you want, cups, teapots, bowls.
• Kitchen sofa with storage box can also accommodate festive dishes, neatly folded into boxes.

Glasses can be placed on shelves or on hanging holders that are attached under the base of the kitchen cabinet. It is worth considering that in the latter case they will have to be washed more often.

GIFT BAGS

After each holiday, we become happy owners of not only gifts, but also gift bags. Over time, they become more and more. The hand does not rise to throw away, how to use it is also not clear to everyone. Let’s see if it’s worth collecting such things at all.

Get out all the gift bags you have around the house. Take a close look at their appearance. Feel free to get rid of those that are wrinkled, torn, faded or simply not pleasing to the eye.

Now look how many are left – do you really need them all? Why do you want to keep them? You can, of course, re-gift – in general, many do so. And it can be used to store various things. Even so, it is better to part with part of the packages: give away, throw away or recycle.

If you don’t want leftover gift bags lying around, take note of the following ideas.

1. A wardrobe with few drawers or organizers. You can put socks, tights, belts, hangers in cardboard bags and put them on a shelf.
2. Children’s room. Here, the packages can also be used as baskets, putting stationery, board games, a small designer, blanks for creativity in them.
3. Guest room. Prepare in advance and store a standard set in paper bags: hygiene products, slippers, towels.

As you can see, there are enough ideas. And yet it is worth considering them as a temporary option. Being in a conspicuous place, packages greatly simplify the interior. A system should be thought out in the house – for storage it is worth choosing baskets or containers of a certain size and color. So that they fit into the interior.

It is better to store gift bags in a “disassembled” flat form, folding them into one common bag and hanging it on a hanger or on a hook in the closet.

Another option is vertical document trays or sections for magazines, in which packages are best placed by category. For example, “New Year’s”, “happy birthday”, “children’s”, sticking a corresponding sticker on each such tray.

You can also store bags in a desk drawer, in a bed drawer or in special organizers.

So, New Year’s toys are waiting in the boxes in the wings, and the dishes are sorted and stand in their places until the new gathering of guests. In the next article, we will talk about other principles of rational storage and organization of home space.

Text: Olga Abakumova