Inspiration Station - Style and Storage

Have a hallstand or shoe bench in the hallway

Hallway units are a great way to keep this busiest of areas neat and tidy. Store loose items like bags, umbrellas, and keys, and keep your hallway is a clutter-free zone. Having a hallstand can also help to speed up your morning dash out of the front door, quickly grabbing coats, hats and bags.

There are always options available. Measure out what space is available in your hallway – do you need just a shoe bench, or the whole hall tidy with hanging hooks? Shoe storage gets youngsters into good habits. When they take their shoes off and put them in the cubbyhole, they’ll be there for their next trip out. And the bench is great for parents – plonk the toddler on the padded top, and get boots and coat on, ready for action.

Small things make a big difference in the hall, where clutter can quickly get out of hand.

Add storage cabinets in the living room

When looking for storage in the living room, storage cabinets provide a variety of compartments for tidying away clutter and making an organised space.

Imagine your living room. What kind of things end up looking more like clutter than a careful arrangement? Choose the size of storage cabinet that will comfortably take care of any books, magazines, or remotes, and still add to the general décor of the room. Have fun dressing the top with a favourite ornament or photograph.

Add a storage ottoman in the living room

Storage footstools are a great way of adding storage. If you’re settled on the sofa, and feel like you want to get more cosy, reach for the handy rug that’s stored neatly in the footstool. Or have a quick tidy up when an unexpected visitor calls. What the eye doesn’t see has probably been stashed in the footstool. And of course, while it’s helping keep the living room clutter-free, it’s a place to rest your feet, or an extra seat when needed.

Invest in a coffee table with drawers and shelves

The right coffee table can provide valuable storage space, as well as holding drinks and snacks. Think about what you want from your coffee table. It might be that you’re a keen reader and need a table that includes a shelf for books and magazines. Perhaps you’d benefit more from generous drawer space to conceal clutter in a busy family home. You may even want a table that has both.

Whether modern or traditional, there are all sorts of coffee table that have different kinds of storage. Keep it traditional with drawers that have antiqued handles, or choose a modern design with simple, clean shapes.

Place a sideboard in the dining room

When it comes to storage in the dining room, look no further than a sideboard. A traditional piece of furniture for the dining room, sideboards are great for keeping your best plates, glasses, table mat and table linen in one place. Of course, sideboards are often found to contain other essentials like board games, packs of cards and dominoes, all best played on a dining table.

A sideboard can also be used as a drinks cabinet, with plenty of room on top for displaying favourite photos and other ornaments – perfect for when you have guests over for dinner. With different sizes and styles to choose from, you may want to match your existing dining table, or mix up the look with a different finish.