Expert Advice: A Tidy Home Starts with a Well-Planned Storage

Keeping a home organized is a daily challenge for many. When storage spaces and storage solutions are not well thought out, things tend to quickly pile up in view. Liven's creative director Alina Kester explains how to plan storage spaces and pantries so that every item has its own fixed place.

"The more people live in a home, the more things accumulate. Everyone has their own personal items, hobby equipment or toys, and in a larger house, household appliances and cleaning supplies tend to build up over time. As time goes by, interests and needs change, and this so-called cultural layer inevitably begins to get out of control," said Liven AS creative director Alina Kester.

According to Alina Kester, plenty of cabinet space is always helpful, but an even more systematic solution is a separate utility room or pantry. It's worth thinking about this already during the home planning phase, taking into account both the use of space and what items the family needs to store.

"When planning a utility room, it's worth starting with larger items. First, you should decide on the locations of the washing machine, dryer, or ventilation unit, since these take up a lot of space and require water and electrical connections. It's also important to leave enough space around the appliances so they're easy to use and maintain. It's worth thinking about whether the washing machine is easily accessible and whether there's room to move around in the room when you're carrying a large load of laundry," explained Alina Kester.

Tip: The utility room door should open outward, and when choosing the door, you should also consider soundproofing, since the washing machine, dryer, and ventilation unit will inevitably create noise!

In a utility room with a washing machine, dryer, or sink where there are water connections, a drain trap should definitely be installed. It's also worth choosing a tiled floor, because it's easy to clean and a small leak or water accident won't damage the surface.

"In a smaller utility room, it's not sensible to tile the walls, because with tiled walls, adding every shelf or hook becomes complicated. In a larger room where there's a sink, for example, ceramic tile can be practical, as it protects the walls from moisture and makes the surfaces easier to clean. Ceramic tiles are often preferred for aesthetic reasons as well," noted Alina Kester.

In the lighting of a pantry and utility room, it's worth preferring strong and practical general lighting, which helps you find things quickly.

"If the utility room is not very large, you should consider motion-sensor lighting. If you're carrying laundry or need to grab something quickly, it's convenient if the light turns on by itself and automatically switches off when you leave the room. This way, the light doesn't stay on unnecessarily and uses less electricity," added Alina Kester.

Once large items and their use have been thought through, the next step is to plan cabinets and shelves, suggests Alina Kester. To do this, it's a good idea to make a list of larger items that need storage and measure them as well. The more precisely you know how much space items like suitcases, sports equipment, or a vacuum cleaner take up, the better you can plan your pantry.

Tip: Pinterest can be helpful in planning – its AI-based solution offers very detailed and diverse ideas with the right question. You can also discuss with ChatGPT how to better organize things in your household. 

"Shelves should have adjustable height, because over time needs change and the initial arrangement may not work a few years later. You should definitely check the weight capacity of the shelves. With large and light items, this is usually not a problem, but many small things can add up to surprisingly heavy weight. Therefore, it's worth choosing a sturdy solution so the shelves don't sag over time," emphasized Alina Kester.

In addition to shelves, it's worth planning space for hooks and other wall-mounted solutions, according to Alina Kester. For example, it's convenient to take a vacuum cleaner from the wall and quickly put it back there. This leaves more floor space and makes cleaning easier. You can also hang a drying rack or spare folding chairs on the wall, so you don't have to worry about them getting in the way when moving around the room.

"When placing items in cabinets and on shelves, you should use storage boxes. Particularly practical are transparent boxes, because you can immediately see their contents and it's easier to find what you need. For less frequently used items, such as Christmas decorations, it makes sense to add labels to the boxes. A clear system helps every family member find what they need, not just the person who put the items away," suggested Alina Kester.

With plastic boxes, Kester recommends choosing a solution with side-locking fasteners, especially for higher shelves – this way you can be sure that the box is securely closed and its contents won't spill out when you take it from the shelf. 

"Before going to the store, you should think at home about how many boxes and in what sizes you need. You should also measure the shelves to make sure the new boxes will fit in them. This way, you avoid a situation where it turns out at home that the chosen solution doesn't fit. Price comparison is also important, because the price of the exact same product can vary significantly between different retailers," suggested Alina Kester.