This is a collaborative post.
It’s been an unpredictable year to say the least, as we’ve all spent the vast majority of our time indoors, converted any spare space into a home office set-up, figured out how on earth we going to home school while working from home, and had to find space for our university-age kids to spend a lot more time back in the nest than we had originally anticipated. In twelve months that were full of surprises, stress and anxiety, space was one of those issues that just wouldn’t go away. And that’s before we factor in all the comfort online shopping we did, not to mention all those pieces of kit that we bought thinking that we were going to use our time mastering a new style of cooking or reaching incredible new levels of fitness before we decided that getting to the end of our Netflix watch list was probably going to be the best use of our time.
As we head into the summer, we are all looking forward to a lot more time spent outdoors, not to mention a lot more time spent with our friends and loved ones who we don’t already live with (no offence to anyone in our bubble, but we really are ready to talk to other people in person now). However, the question of storage remains as pressing as ever. If you’re looking for new ways to store those tricky items, here are a few ideas to help you get started.
Maybe It’s Time To Convert That Garage
Admittedly, this is only really an option for anyone who has a garage but doesn’t have a car (or at least, doesn’t have a car that they actually use), but if you do fall into that category: don’t you think it’s time you started using that space properly?
An unused garage can become the worst kind of disorganised space, where we throw the things that we can’t be bothered to sort and tools and bits of machinery that we assume we’ll get around to using at some point in the future. With a bit of hard work, you can convert a garage space into something that is organised, tidy and helpful. A real storage space, not just the room where the chest freezer lives.
Go Big With Your Garden Shed
Just as the garage can become a bit of a waste tip if you don’t keep an eye on it, the garden shed can also be one of those spaces that contains “bits and bobs”, but which you’re afraid to look at too closely. If you’re worried about opening the door to your garden shed because you know that a spade is going to fall on you if you do, then it’s time to think a little bigger.
Investing in a good quality shed can make a massive difference to your storage capabilities, whether you want to use it exclusively for gardening and DIY tools, or whether you want to use it as a home office or cheeky little getaway spot. These sheds can be a great storage solution, with different styles and materials available to make sure that they fit seamlessly into the aesthetic you’ve already created. Shedstore also offers free UK delivery with installation options available.
Don’t Be Afraid To Move Things Around
How many times have you thought “I wish this was somewhere else” or “I wish there was a bit more room here” during the pandemic? Spending so much time in our own homes gave us an awful lot of time (maybe a bit too much time…) to think about all the little things we’d like to change and a lot of us took on DIY projects, but one of the biggest obstacles is often our own perception of what goes where.
For example, the place you started working from home when your office first told you to start working remotely is probably the same place you’re still working from, even if it’s far from ideal. If you’re having to jostle for a work surface in the same room that your kids are watching TV in, then it may be time for a big rethink. This is the perfect time to try switching rooms around, to see if that bedroom would actually work better as a home office and vice versa. If that dining room is barely used, then maybe it’s time to set up the home entertainment centre there instead?
The last twelve months have left a lot of us feeling like we’re frozen in place, waiting for an interminable amount of time for things to go back to normal before we can get on with our lives. That’s exactly why making some bold changes in your home can be a positive thing, and remember: if it doesn’t work, you can always change it back, right?
