Innovative and artistic storage solutions

Judson Beaumont has made a career out of challenging our preconceived notions of what storage should look like. The artist and founder of Straight Line Designs Inc. proves that storage doesn’t have to be boring to be functional.

“I think of storage and ask, why does everything have to look the same?” says the veteran Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design graduate. “I want furniture to have personality, yet still be very functional. I want people to question why storage should be traditional looking.”

Certainly, no one would accuse Beaumont’s furniture of being anything but works of art or whimsical sculptures. “My customers aren’t just buying a dresser,” says Beaumont. “They are buying one with curves, waves, ones to appreciate and enjoy, so when you go to open your sock drawer you should smile at the same time.”

Today’s storage solutions certainly don’t have to be drab, says Theresa Thom, franchise director, Stor-X Organizing Solutions. More importantly, homeowners don’t realize how many unused areas can easily be transformed into innovative storage spaces. For example, the small closet at the front door is often a landmine of clutter.

“You can pull that door right off and create a mudroom, complete with bench, shelves, a couple of drawers and hooks,” says Thom. “Now, that awkward closet is a much more functional one.”

Wolf Nickel, president and founder of Stor-X adds: “There is also so much wasted space in laundry rooms. You can make the laundry room so much more efficient by adding a built-in folding table with hanging space, as well as shelving for brooms, mops and laundry supplies.”

Before you place your belongings in your new chest of drawers or your curios in your new cabinet, Heather Knittel, owner, Good Riddance Professional Organization Solutions, says: “Envision your space and how you would like it to look.”

This is not only good advice for your storage, but a great opportunity to de-clutter. With the holidays soon upon us, the more you create space, the more relaxing and inviting your home is.

Knittel suggests you systematically go through room to room. Everything should get pulled out of drawers, cupboards and countertops and sorted into three piles ­— donate, trash, keep. “Eliminate what you aren’t using,” says Knittel. “But stay very focused on the task at hand, meaning don’t go zigzagging, stay in the room until it is done.”

Many of us hoard magazines, books and newspapers. Recycle those old newspapers. Then, purge yourself of those magazines and books by giving them to a hospital or other charitable organization that could put them to good use.

Clothing: Purge, purge & purge some more

“Eighty per cent of the time, we wear only 20 per cent of our wardrobe,” says the veteran organizer.

When it comes to clothing, a good rule of thumb is, if you haven’t worn it for six months or for a season, get rid of it.

“Most of us have to change the way we think, we tend to hold onto to things way too long for emotional reasons,” says Knittel. “For example, that sweater grandma gave you five years ago that you have never worn … place it in the charity bin.”

Another way to de-clutter is to examine your buying habits.

“With all of our online shopping, our carbon footprint is growing… we’ve become a throwaway society,” says Knittel. “We need to be more conscientious consumers.”