Sort Your Life Out’s Mr Carrington’s 10 easy storage tips

More and more people are living in smaller spaces, with flats and micro-apartments gaining in popularity.

As Brits seek simple financial solutions to home-making, efficient use of storage is more important than ever.

In fact, 49% of Brits are wrestling to find space to store all their belongings, with clothing the most likely to cause storage nightmares in 2024, according to a survey conducted by Dr. Beckmann.

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With this in mind, the cleaning specialist has partnered with TV declutter expert and Sort Your Life Out star Mr Carrington, who has offered his "savvy" and easy tips for compact storage solutions.

10 easy storage hacks for small spaces

1. "Utilise the space under your bed. You can buy beds with taller legs to maximise the often-underused area. I love to use a mix of plastic crates with lids to avoid dust build-up."

2. "The back of the door offers tons of potential storage. Use an over-the-door rack to store your shoe collection. You can also hang wicker baskets to the back of doors, which can be used for accessories like umbrellas, making every inch of the room work harder."

3. "Keep cushion covers inside your cushions! If you’re a fan of changing décor seasonally, try storing cushion covers inside each other like nesting dolls. Not only does this save space, but it also adds extra firmness to your cushions."

@bbc Who else knows they need to sort their cupboards out? 😅 #SortYourLifeOut #SYLO #BBCiPlayer #StaceySolomon ♬ Home Baking - Matthew Beattie

4. "Opt for a wall-mounted, fold-out drying rack. This can double as a towel rail, saving you space in your laundry area. Pair it with something like Dr. Beckmann Magic Leaves Laundry Detergent Sheets, which are so compact they can fit in the slimmest of spaces like in between your machine and the worktop."

5. "Picnic baskets make excellent storage containers! Use them throughout your home to store anything from socks, shoes, towels and even plates. They’re breathable and lightweight, and if you get a few in varying sizes, you can stack them to save even more space."

6. "Repurpose a hanging shower caddy, using one for spice jars, stationery or even cutlery they’re great for storage outside of the bathroom too."

7. "Add an appliance shelf to create extra kitchen surface space. Bulky appliances clutter countertops but finding shelves designed to fit over your microwave, toaster, or kettle, will create a handy spot. Make sure to double-check with the manufacturer before purchase to ensure health and safety measures are taken."

How do you organise your kitchen? (Image: Kristen Prahl/Getty) 8. "Fabric recycling bags are a fantastic alternative to cumbersome recycling bins, they’re lightweight, easy to carry, and much more space efficient. You can simply hang these on an adhesive hook to reduce space required in the cupboards."

9. "Bathroom storage can be a nightmare, utilising narrow trolleys that fit neatly besides the toilet to store loo roll, toiletries and cleaning products like Dr. Beckmann Toilet Cleaning Sheets are a fantastic option. The toilet sheets are so compact and lightweight, they can be slotted in small spaces nearby and make quick work of freshening your toilet, effectively removing dirt, limescale and stubborn marks. 

"The toilet cleaning sheets use 75% less plastic than traditional bottled toilet cleaners and are great to have slotted nearby, as they make quick work of freshening your toilet, effectively removing dirt, limescale and stubborn marks."

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10. "Install a shelf above your door. The ledge created by the door frame is a perfect spot to add a shelf, offering bonus storage for books or other decorative items, freeing up other areas in your room."

Mr Carrington explained: “When our homes get smaller in size, every inch of space matters, and keeping things organised can be a challenge. Over filled storage units can become cluttered and chaotic leading to increased levels of stress.  

“Micro-apartments are a growing trend but have very minimal space, but with the right tips and tricks you can soon incorporate solutions that make your living environment feel more spacious and clutter-free.”