There are many simple storage ideas that help declutter problem areas in the home. Good storage habits reduce clutter and make it easier to find and maintain belongings

Establishing storage systems is one of the easiest ways to maintain a tidy home. If everybody in the family knows where things are kept, it is easier to put them away and easier to find them when they are needed.

Bathroom Storage Ideas

Purchase wire hanging baskets or a mesh hammock for plastic bath toys. Not only will they be out of the way, but the toys can drain to prevent them turning mouldy.

Hang towel rails or hooks behind bedroom doors for personal towels can be stored there. Bathroom towel rails can then be reserved for guest towels. Allocate a different colour towel and washer to each family member to make it easy to keep track of which belongs where.

Consider purchasing toiletry bags that can be hung open on a hook on the wall or behind the bathroom door. Use to store everyday toiletries such as deodorant, shaving equipment etc, as well as a spare toothbrush and toothpaste. The bag can be quickly grabbed from the hook whenever it needs to be packed for travelling, decreasing the risk of forgetting an essential item.

Bedroom Storage Ideas

To keep shoes tidy, either keep the boxes the shoes originally come in or purchase clear shoe storage boxes. If there are too many pairs to keep track of, attach photographs of the shoes to the outside of the boxes for easy selection.

Set aside one drawer in each cupboard for accessories such as belts, gloves and scarves. A large bottom drawer is useful, as it may also have space for handbags and purses. Alternatively, belts, scarves and handbags can be looped over a coathanger in the wardrobe if you have enough hanging space.

Necklaces and bracelets tangle easily in jewellery boxes and on hangers. Velvet or felt jewellery rolls keep chains tidy and (roll up small for storage) are easily stored in a drawer.

Regularly sort through clothing to ensure that closets remain organised and clutter free.

Kitchen Storage Ideas

Buy small plastic containers or save old margarine containers with lids to store small items such as screws, birthday candles, corn holders etc. Allocate a single drawer for all these items, making sure that the containers are labelled.

Plastic lunchboxes are a good size to store sachets of food in the pantry – such as soup and seasoning mixes.

Sit spice and herb jars together in a plastic container. It is easier to pull out the container to find what you need than to search through a collection of jars inside the pantry.

Allocate one large plastic container to store the lids for all of the other containers. This saves time searching through the whole cupboard to find a specific lid.

Keep a plastic cup on a windowsill or ledge with a few pens in it. The pens will be easy to find for shopping lists or school lunch orders. Include a laundry marker, which is useful for writing use by dates on plastic containers or labelling containers or bags for the freezer.

Laundry Storage Ideas

Store cleaning products in separate containers depending on their area of use – bathrooms/floors/dusting etc. Trays with carry handles are useful as they are easily picked up and carried from room to room then returned to the shelf.

Garage Storage Ideas

A small bike rack makes it easy to store children's bikes. The bikes will always be in the designated area, keeping the rest of the garage accessible.

For adult bikes consider a hanging stand to save on floor space.

Install sturdy wall shelving, then store items in categories – e.g. camping gear, fishing tackle, car maintenance products.

Living Area Storage Ideas

Keep a large wicker hamper near the lounge for storing books, magazines and newspapers.

Place an attractive bowl or wicker basket on a coffee or side table that is large enough to store remote controls and TV guides.