How much does it cost to add basic storage?

ARTICLE Penny Lewis

The most cost-effective way to kick-start a storage overhaul sounds pretty obvious, but it will make the world of difference. Sort out your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t want or don’t need anymore. You don’t have to go as far as Marie Kondo in her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ and only keep things that “bring you joy”, but certainly sell, donate or bin items that are past their use-by date for you.
Go through your linen cupboard and separate out old tea towels, sheets and towels – they’ll be handy as rags and drop sheets for painting. Trawl through your kitchen cupboards for chipped crockery, burnt pans and plastic containers missing their lids. Discard or recycle anything that’s not useable and donate items which are serviceable but you never use.
Open your wardrobes and remove clothes which you haven’t worn for a year. If anything needs mending, get it mended; otherwise bundle everything up, bag it and deposit your old clothes into clothing recycling bins.
After you’ve completed your home cleanse, we’ve put together some storage solutions, starting from $2,000 to help you keep your home in order.

How much does it cost to improve my bedroom storage on a basic budget?

If your budget is really stretched and you can’t afford to upgrade your wardrobe just yet, from a single rail to a new system with varying height rails and drawers; there are options available.
Businesses, such as Howards Storage World, have retail stores but also sell online. Its range includes PVC fabric hanging units to store anything from jerseys, t-shirts and shoes to handbags. There are also inexpensive hooks to provide a home for belts, handbags, ties and scarves. You can even buy hangers, which hold up to five pairs of pants or five shirts at once.
If you have a little bit more to spend, get your renovation consultant to look at installing a closet rack system or wardrobe organiser.
If it’s time to upgrade your bed, consider buying one with drawer storage in the base. If a new bed isn’t on the agenda, measure the distance between the bottom of your bed base and the floor and talk to your renovation consultant about under-bed storage units. Relatively flat and wide soft bags are available from hardware chains to squeeze in under your bed if there isn’t much clearance. Plastic bins on castors are an idea if your bed base is a bit higher off the ground and you have a bit more room to spare.
Space bags from Howards Storage World allow you to really make the most of space by stowing away infrequently used items, such as out-of-season clothes and blankets. Use your home vacuum cleaner to “vacuum-pack” your items, for safe-keeping.
Drawer organisers work much the same as cutlery drawers do in the kitchen. Get your renovation specialist to build-in an organiser in the drawers where you keep your smaller items, such as socks, so that everything is visible at a glance.

How much does it cost to improve my kitchen storage on a basic budget?

Clear containers in your pantry, such as Sistema or Tupperware, will allow you to see at a glance what they contain. Do regular clear-outs of your pantry and fridge to throw out any spoiled food or ingredients past their best.
Buy an inexpensive tray designed to keep your packets of herbs and spices in order. You’ll be able to find your cumin and cardamom easily and won’t need to reach into your pantry to pull out little packets until you find the right one.
Need to find a way to get your used plastic supermarket bags under control, ready to be re-used? Google the hack online that shows you how to fold them for easy storage and removal from an empty tissue box.
Consider a butcher’s block in the centre of your kitchen if you have room. It will allow extra storage and bench space and can be moved aside when not in use.

Make the most of your cupboard space by inserting tiered shelves to stack plates and bowls efficiently. If you have room on top of your high cupboards, buy some décor-friendly storage boxes that can house rarely used items.
Opt for peg boards with hooks and overhead racks, which will help you keep your kitchen utensils and pots and pans in order. Arrange them well enough and they can even look quite artistic.

How do I improve storage in my home with a basic budget?

Make sure your furniture suits the space you have. There is no point keeping a 10-seater dining table if it’s for one or two people with no children living with you. If you love having dinner parties, opt for an extendable dining room table. You won’t necessarily need a full contingent of dining chairs, either. Stackable stools or bench seats can be brought out of storage when you have guests over.
No guest bedroom? Make sure your lounge seating does double-duty by having a sofa bed. Use a wooden chest as a coffee table all the bedding and blankets can be handy, but out of sight when not in use.
Gone are the days of CD racks – digitise all your music and listen to if from your phone or iPod in a docking station. Do a stock-take of all the cords, plugs and leads gathering dust in your entertainment unit. Get your renovation consultant to install a wall-hung TV for a more streamlined and spacious living area.

If you have a slightly bigger budget to work with, why not read our mid range storage solutions and high end storage solutions.

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*Costs are rough estimates and are subject to change. For a fixed-quote accurate to your specific project, please consult your local Refresh Renovations specialist. All Refresh Renovations franchises are independently owned and operated.