How to approach the question of what type of storage to use in an organising project?
In this post, I will focus on deciding what to use in our home or office transformation.
First of all, budget is always an important factor in any project that affects tackling it. We can’t escape the fact that some of us will need to be more considerate when taking on any expenditure, but there are always options.
It might be that one has to use a bit more creativity to manage the resources at hand. Have you ever seen used but upscaled or refurbished furniture or decor elements?
I am sure that you will agree that some of them are real rockstars. Their uniqueness can be enough for some of us to use them in a project.
Probably one of the best things about them is finding an outlet for our artistic traits. You never know. Perhaps through a DIY creative outburst, you might find that you actually enjoy using your hands and creativity.
Anyone who has the inclination can create wonderful solutions, items to use as storage or decorative items during a space transformation.
I like to use as many existing resources as possible. It saves money when we get to arranging for necessary items and reduces the rubbish that will end up in the landfill. This point is getting more and more important in our society. Luckily, we pay more attention to sustainability in our current society and reduce our lives’ ecological footprint.
In my opinion, we must keep educating ourselves about the new technologies and ways to contribute to a greener future. It is in our best interest.
I also love to accommodate the use of natural materials. The use of fabric, seagrass, timber, straw, bamboo or earthware, just to mention a few, creates a harmonious surrounding that resembles nature. It has a very calming effect, helping anyone to deal with stress or challenges.
Of course that these natural materials have their place. They can’t always replace manmade materials, like glass, metal or plastic for that matter, but they can be used as additional decor elements to lift up the esthetics of a space.
Surprising or not, some of the manmade materials are also high on my list. For example, have you tried one of the throw blankets, covers that are on the market? Sometimes, they are not made from wool, fleece or cotton, but polyester, polar fleece or acrylic. These materials found their way to our homes, and they have their place in our living rooms, kitchens or on our verandahs.
They are lightweight, easy to clean and keep their colour and shape for a long time. Not to mention how fast they dry, which can be important if you have kids or pets around the house. Sometimes it can take a very long time for a natural fibre, like cotton or wool blankets, pillowcases, throws, to dry. Especially when you live someplace with proper winter. In those conditions, it can come handy when your favourite four-legged companion jumps on the sofa after coming in from the backyard on a rainy day.
But, besides their quick-drying characteristics, they are usually warm, especially the mink type ones. Due to their manufacturing methods, the resulting material resemble fur, therefore, has a very pleasant and comforting touch.
Okay, let us talk a bit about baskets, boxes, containers and other storage solutions.
Again, when I use baskets or other types of containers for bulky items, I tend to go with natural materials, like rattan, woven, hyacinth or fabric containers. They have a natural and cool look, and simply, I like how they feel to the touch. They can be painted, but most often, they have a natural look. Perhaps the only downside of them is that they usually do not mix well with water. Therefore, their use needs consideration when planning to be placed in wet areas like bathrooms, near sinks or around kids or pets.
When talking about other areas of a house or office, like the garage or office storage, we often use metal or plastic storage units. For the obvious reason of being durable, water or moisture resistant, and come in various sizes, they are the champions of these spaces.
Most of them are stackable, coming with lids that can be secured to the top of the containers or even be locked. The covers will help to keep the stored goods or items reasonably clean. These containers have another positive side: they can be easily cleaned, and their drying would not be an issue either. They can be used for many years or decades without degradation or bug infestation, or damage. These characters make them a cost-effective solution.
On one occasion, we used large, stackable plastic containers and barrels for the most valuable items to move. Receiving our goods at our new home, we did not have any nasty surprises that we might have had if we had used, let’s say, cardboard boxes. We learned an important lesson during that period.
I believe that it is enough for today.
In the next post, I will focus on kitchen and pantry storage solutions.
Until then, happy planning your upcoming home/office transformation!