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We remodelled our kitchen two years ago, replacing curling linoleum and rusted metal cabinets with more counter space and cupboards than we had ever had.
Yet when the friend who designed it called, I told her the drawer by the stove for hot pads and towels was too small.
"How many hot pads do you have?" she asked. "Only 11 or 12." And so began my reality check about kitchen storage. It's usually not about too little space: It's about too much stuff.
Plastic bags, says professional organiser Scott Roewer. And food storage containers. And food — a particular problem among warehouse club shoppers.
"People buy a new coffeepot and keep the old one, buy a new food processor and keep the old one," says says Fernando Alban, manager at Chesapeake Kitchen Design in Washington.
For kitchens
So here is the word from the experts: Admit what you have too much of and reclaim that space.
Plastic containers: Sort by size and shape, then send the overflow to recycling heaven, says Roewer. Zipper bags work for almost everything and take a lot less space to store.
Food: Set aside a cabinet as a dry pantry for pasta, cereal, jars and cans, suggests Dana Souksavanh, design specialist in Maryland. Using one cabinet is more efficient than scattering food storage around the room.
n Knives: Knives you do not use are a waste of space, says Souksavanh. Get rid of the ones you never reach for and store the rest in a wooden block on the counter; it looks good and protects them.
Do not overstock cleaning products, says Alban. And if you remodel, look for newer sink designs.
Turn excess into display. One friend has a weakness for dish towels. Rather than monopolise a drawer, she shows them off in a basket on the floor.
Bottom line: Get realistic.
— Belle Elving
Coat closets
What lies behind most coat closet doors goes way beyond parkas and rain slickers. Fire extinguishers, camera bags and golf clubs are just the beginning.
Step one in a rehab programme: Resolve to keep only outerwear, umbrellas, hats, gloves, scarves and boots in this space. Begin by removing everything and sorting ruthlessly. Consider rotating coats with the seasons to free up space. Then wipe down the closet walls and vacuum the space. Repaint if you have the time.
"Most consumers have only been given a pole and a shelf in their closet and they do not know how to organise everything," says Lisa Lennard, director at California Closets, a home storage company.
Lennard says it's well worth the effort to create two hanging areas, one higher than the other, for long and short coats. Scarves and gloves can be organised in bins.
A waterproof boot tray inside the closet will catch drips from galoshes or umbrellas. A hook on the back of the closet door can hold dog leashes and backpacks. People with very limited space should seek out every inch of hidden storage for stashing coat-closet invaders: under the bed, in storage ottomans, on hooks along a staircase.
Finally, treat yourself to a set of sturdy matching hangers to help outerwear hang nicely.
A good choice is Ikea's clear lacquered-wood Bumerang hangers — $4.99 (Dh18.3) for eight. At that price, you can afford several packs and toss out sagging wire hangers.
— Jura Koncius
Linens
If you have a linen closet, however small, count yourself lucky. But this prized space has a way of becoming stuffed and jumbled: Lumpy piles of sheets and towels are squished in among first-aid supplies, hair dryers, outdated medications, half-empty shampoo bottles and extra toilet paper.
Reclaim the space by remembering what linen closets are intended for: linens. Start the overhaul by removing everything and winnowing the pile to include only what makes sense to store there.
If you would like a really clean slate, take a few hours to paint or even wallpaper the interior. Not up for that much work? At least put down fresh shelf liners.
Then, prioritise. Put things you use all the time at front and centre. Seasonal items — beach towels in winter, heavy blankets in summer — go higher up and farther back, says Deborah Broockerd, senior designer in Maryland.
Group lotions, potions, pills and implements together: manicure gear in one see-through container, hair stuff in another, medicines in a third.
As for those linens: "You only need three sets of sheets and pillowcases" per bed, says Kim Oser of Put It Away! in Maryland. "One that is on it, one in the laundry and a spare in case of emergency." Overflow linens can go to animal shelters, the rag pile or the trash.
— Annie Groer
Bathroom makeover
If you do not want to face a dreary, badly lighted bathroom first thing in the morning and last thing at night, resolve to spruce things up. Even if your budget or landlord rules out a major remodel, do not despair: Inexpensive cosmetic changes can dramatically improve the room.
First, experts agree, clear the clutter of old makeup and expired medication. Then, consider a fresh coat of paint. Paint the walls a neutral colour and add contrast with towels and rugs.
Even if you have inherited a pink-tile bathroom, using a soft, complementary paint colour can tone down the tile and make it more tolerable, says Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks, a chain of high-end bath and kitchen stores.
Other quick changes include hanging a new shower curtain on a shiny chrome rod; replacing a rusted medicine cabinet with a mirror and shelf over the sink; and adding hanging art and other decorative objects.
In powder rooms, Sallick likes using vintage towels found at flea markets to dress up the small space. Ellen Witts, a designer in Maryland, suggests hiding drab flooring under sisal or other natural fibre cut to the shape of room.
Finally, any bathroom will benefit from proper lighting. Try to replace any old fluorescent lights.
— Terri Sapienza
Office within
It does not matter whether your home office is a small or massive space. The problems are the same: It's ugly and you cannot find anything.
Let's start with looks. No matter how wireless the world may seem, most home offices have a tangled eyesore of electrical cords. Try mounting a power strip underneath your desk so the cords are close to their plugs.
Designers and professional organisers suggest bundling the excess wires with cord clips. You do not have to spend much money to perk up a home office. Get a desk lamp to cure bad lighting. A comfortable ergonomic chair is worth spending money on. Then, the organisation. Tossing needless paper is the first step to home office efficiency.
There is no single correct filing system. Some people like colour-coded folders. Others prefer boxes with lids or baskets or an accordion file with a fold-over flap.
Individual files could hold bills, medical and expense records, tax information and newspaper clippings, among many other topics. Each child should have his or her own file. — Liz Seymour
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