Beat those clutter blues

Clutter is something most of us have to live with if we are sharing a house with children and a typical spouse. Just counting the pairs of shoes in the hall cupboard rapidly amounts to double-digit figures.

But with a little self-discipline and the following guidelines you too can live in a clutter free zone.

The best way to avoid clutter is pretty obvious - buy less stuff.

Before buying anything, consider that not only will you have to find room for it, you'll have to clean and, in some cases, maintain it. Do you really need it? Maybe you don't. Of course, you still have to deal with what you already have. Here are some ways to get rid of the clutter:

• Some things you will have no trouble discarding. But stuff you're not sure about put into a box, tape it closed, and mark it "Deliver to (name of charity) on (future date). If you've had no reason to look inside the box when the "Deliver by" date arrives, dispose of it.

• If there is a general problem in your household of people not using things consider having a "Lost Property" box - if you see something lying around simply drop it in the box. If the item hasn't been claimed after some time ask the owner if s/he would be happy for you to bin it, sell it, or give it to charity.

• Find ways to create more or better storage space throughout the house, starting with closets. Begin with a paint job. It's easier to take stock of what's inside a closet if the interior is painted white. Put items you'll use most frequently in the front. Buy small, battery-operated lights to use where there are none.

• Stow related items together, (for example sewing supplies; extension cords; glue, tape and twine) in plastic storage bins, plastic drawers or inexpensive cardboard storage boxes from an office supply store, and label the fronts.

• To add room in a bedroom closet quickly, double the hanging space by using a piece of PVC pipe to make a second tier, cut a thick-walled piece of pipe to the desired length. Get a piece of chain that's long enough to slip through the pipe and then reach the closet rod at each side. Secure the chain with S hooks at the appropriate height.

• If your closet has sliding doors, replace them with a frame and conventional doors. Then use the backs of the doors to hang shoe bags (which can be not just for shoes but also for socks, pantyhose and more), a mirror, laundry bags, tie racks or hooks.

• If possible, build shelves in your closet. Stacks of shirts and sweaters are easier to get at and more visible than when jammed into a drawer. If you're going to use shelves to hold shoeboxes, sweaters or shirts, space the shelves fairly close together - high stacks of sweaters or shirts get out of order quickly. If you're going to use plastic drawers or boxes for underwear, socks, stockings, space your shelves accordingly.

• Extra blankets can be stored between the mattress and box spring or stuffed into pillow covers and used decoratively. Store items under the bed in drawers from a cast-off bureau ( add casters if you wish). Or buy shallow plastic storage boxes with wheels meant for this purpose.

• You can find unused storage space all over your home if you think creatively. Examples: If your home is built with studs and drywall, you can add cabinets between the studs without losing any room space. Replace the family room sofa with cushions on hinged platforms that have storage beneath. A shallow bookcase to hold paperbacks may fit the wall of even a narrow hall. If the steps to the basement are open, install tracks and a pullout drawer on the underside of one or more steps. You can even replace nailed-down steps with hinged ones and stow items underneath.

Children's storage ideas

A child-sized bench can make an inexpensive bedside bookshelf that can be purchased unpainted and finished to match your child's room.

You can also use empty rectangle, plastic, diaper wet-wipe containers to store small toys and blocks. Available in primary colours or pastels, wipe containers can be used with the flip-up lid left on or removed to make a see-through bin. Label the recycled containers with a permanent marker to help children learn to sort their toys into the correct bin. If you decide to store a different group of toys the label can be erased with a dry paper towel and fingernail polish remover.

If your child has room under their bed consider buying a charity store dresser drawer and adding four rolling wheels to it. Most twin beds can accommodate two or more drawers and make for easy toy clean-up. Use a hanging shoe bag for kids to organize small stuffed animals or Barbie dolls.

Add a skirt to a desk or bookshelves to hide storage boxes and make the room look neat and tidy. Install hooks to the back of children's doors to hang backpacks and coats.

Household Storage

Decorating empty coffee cans, biscuit tins or wooden craft boxes make great looking storage containers that can be used in virtually any room in the house. Boxes can be decorated with left over wallpaper scraps, coloured corrugated paper and twine and sponge art. Be sure and label your items when the boxes are finished.

Decorative screens are a popular way to define a room's space or maintain privacy. Adding fabric pockets to the panels are a fun way to add storage options. Use the pockets to organize magazines, newspapers, unopened mail or your sewing project.

Bathroom towels can be stored attractively stacked and rolled up in a oversized wicker basket. Towels or magazines can also be hung from an antique wooden ladder in your bathroom. Use wall mounted baskets attached to shelf brackets for an attractive shelf that can hold bathroom supplies or home office paperwork. A picture frame or bulletin board can be made out of pre-made vinyl or cedar lattice as well.

Be creative and try to think of alternative uses for normal household items and you will be surprised at the simple storage solutions you can come up with.