Verity kitchen cabinet, £1,995, displaying Eve White Bobble tableware, from £8, recycled gin glasses, £10.95 each, Sage Green Urchin jug, £39.95, and assorted table linen, all Graham & Green.
The Kitchen
‘We tend to use only 20 per cent of our belongings, and knowing what you need to organise in terms of cupboards or drawers makes life easier,’ advises Merlin Wright, design director at kitchen designers Plain English. ‘Think about whether you like things out on display, or hidden – chefs tend to keep things on shelves so they’re easy to grab, but if you don’t cook much, items can get dusty if not used regularly.’
Large pantry cupboards are perfect for hiding clutter and offer extra workspace when needed, while a smaller-scale storage staple is a moveable butler’s trolley. In terms of food, baskets for vegetables allow air to circulate, and decanting dry goods into jars gives a sense of order to pantry shelves. ‘Rows of labelled jars on open shelves look appealing too,’ adds Merlin. ‘While spice or bottle racks on the inside of doors keep everything to hand.’
1 The Kit in Chalk, £199, Mustard Made.
2 Cream wall-mounted plate rack, £145.95,
Melody Maison.
3 Hanging basket set, £60, Nkuku.
4 Witham oak plate rack, £228, Rowen & Wren.
5 iDesign stackable pantry basket with label holder, £15.50 each,
A Place For Everything.
6 Spring kitchen storage shelf, £20, Yester Home.
7 Midsomer Grey/Aqua Pantry, £5,722, Crown Imperial.
8 Extra-large Umi iron shelf, £895, Nkuku.
9 1970s English potato picking crates, £28 each, Merchant & Found.
10 Cadogan Check storage basket in Black, £55, Tori Murphy.
11 Wooden cutlery box, £115, Graham & Green.
12 Macau Jade cupboard, £1,595, Graham & Green.
13 Blue Toile De La Prairie fabric by Jill Lasersohn, £246 per m, Schumacher.
London townhouse by Albion Nord interior design studio, featuring built-in wall storage
The Living Space
‘Living rooms should be relaxing havens at the end of a busy day, and a cluttered room can mess with your mind, as well as your space,’ says Simon Glanville, managing director of storage experts A Place for Everything. ‘Keep storage stylish, compact and multi-functional. You don’t need to use your living room as a storeroom, but it’s handy to have items that serve a dual purpose, such as side tables with storage for magazines, blankets and so on.’
The best storage systems enhance a room, as well as being practical, and the key is balancing useful storage with visual appeal. ‘Storage is an important part of designing any room, and it doesn’t have to be boring,’ agrees co-founder of Mustard Made, Becca Stern. ‘Adding storage can be an opportunity to introduce something eye-catching, whether through vibrant colours or a striking design. Glass-fronted cabinets, for example, are a beautiful way to introduce a feature piece that also provides practicality.’
1 Orbit coffee table, £549, A Place For Everything.
2 Mid 20th-century Italian bureau bookcase, £4,800,
Blanchard Collective.
3 Round leather storage basket, £399, Life of Riley.
4 Agadir storage ottoman, £545, The French Bedroom Company.
5 Joyce storage basket, £45, Lola & Mawu.
6 Coleridge wooden storage chest, £455, Funky Chunky Furniture Co.
7 The Collector in Navy, £749, Mustard Made.
8 Leather Heirloom trunk, £325, Life of Riley.
9 Vintage metal trunk suitcases, £128 each, Smithers.
10 Velvet storage footstool in Linwood Velvet Crystal Sunset, £1,367,
The Footstool Workshop.
12 Two organisers with 16 compartments, £25, A Place for Everything.
Anastasius hallway storage unit, £1,695, round Allegro dining table, £3,195,
and Berina rug, £1,995, all OKA.
The Hallway
This space is often small, but needs to hold a lot of stuff, from shoes and coats to umbrellas, bags and miscellaneous pocket detritus, so making the most of this area is essential. ‘A slimline design, such as a locker, helps maximise vertical space without taking up much of the floor,’ suggests Becca of Mustard Made, while Simon at A Place for Everything agrees: ‘Use wall space where possible, and choose hooks and hangers that have multi-uses.’
For example, a mirror with hidden storage for post, keys and bags, or hallway hooks that have cubbies or shelving you can pop lidded boxes onto. ‘It will surprise you how much unused space there is on the back of a door, whether it’s a room, wardrobe or cupboard door,’ adds Simon. Back-of-door storage can be used on any door, whether you opt for hooks or a modular system fixed to the back of it. Multifunctional furniture, such as a bench seat with a lid that lifts for storage, is another essential for keeping this room neat and tidy.
1 Handwoven reed storage baskets, from £19 each, Bohemia Design.
2 The Midi in Olive, £319, Mustard Made.
3 Narrow Anastasius hallway storage unit, £895, OKA.
4 Chester Dove Grey utility cupboard, £1,099, The Cotswold Company.
5 Bembridge foraging basket, £50, A Place For Everything.
6 Bespoke cabinetry, £POA, Plain English.
7 Small woven hanging storage basket, £65, Cox & Cox.
8 Widbrook hallway storage bench, £769, A Place for Everything.
9 Large rustic wooden wall shelving unit with heart drawers, £119.95, Melody Maison.
10 1940s faux wood workshop shelving/pigeon hole bins, £985, Merchant & Found.
11 Elkstone mellow oak shoe bench, £599, The Cotswold Company.
