Like all professional home organisers, I have a love-hate relationship with storage bins. I help my clients construct spaces that function seamlessly, feel comfortable, and mirror their personal style. This involves decluttering. While storage bins are an excellent way to organise your possessions after they are decluttered, unfortunately, depending on them too early can backfire.
If you have decided to utilise storage bins – which are fantastic tools when used correctly – please declutter the items first. After that, here’s what you must keep in mind –
Categorise the Items before Selecting a Storage Bin
1. Identify Items for Deep Storage
You cannot say goodbye to some items even though you rarely use them. Examples include old yearbooks, nostalgic t-shirts, childhood memorabilia, and wedding mementoes. Store these items in the attic or basement because you do not need to access them regularly. The best thing is that along with having them separately, you can also protect from damage from moisture of fungi.
2. Identify Items for Occasional or Seasonal Storage
According to the experts providing storage bins in South Africa, items you use infrequently or seasonally must not clutter the flow of your property’s prime spaces. But they must still be accessible.
For example, you do not have to keep additional place settings and platters used for occasional entertainment in your kitchen cabinet. They could go inside the corner of the pantry or garage cupboard. Do not store them too deeply, or else you will end up purchasing duplicates.
Other occasional items are holiday décor, costumes, swimming pool paraphernalia, camping equipment, and seasonal clothes. Organising these items by category makes retrieval easy.
3. Identify Items for Frequent Usage
Frequently used items must be kept in easy-to-access locations. For instance, if you use all of your twelve ramekins daily, you must place each of them in a bin. This way, you can retrieve them whenever you want.
Storage Containers to Opt For
1. Plastic Bins
The experts offering storage bins in South Africa said plastic containers might not be the most eco-friendly solution, but they are certainly the most effective. They are light in weight, durable, and capable of protecting the contents from moisture and pests. They can be stacked for a uniform appearance.
2. Acid-Free Boxes
Items that tend to degrade must be handled carefully. Scrapbooks, photographs, vintage clothes, sentimental letters, etc., must be stored in breathable acid-free boxes. Ensure the containers are kept away from heat, sunlight, bugs, and dust. This will keep them safe for longer period of time.
3. Acrylic Organisers
Acrylic organisers have impressed larger segments of the population because they easily fit inside a refrigerator, drawer, or cabinet. You may select whatever size you want – tiny trays for paperclips, a long one for eyeliners, and a deep one for vinegar.
Be creative when looking for storage bins. A narrow, tall trash bin is excellent for storing wrapping papers. A jewellery box can keep your snow globe collection safe. Believe me – the perfect container is out there – it may not show itself immediately. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us regrading the post.