Cupboards are the number one type of storage built into most homes. Most shelves are spaced between 300-400mm apart, which is great for large things, but not so great for our smaller items. It’s no wonder that most people feel they just don’t have enough space in their homes.

There is just not enough space.

We have linen cupboards where we stack piles of linen hoping for it to stay neat. Our kitchen cupboards store our plates and cups with so much wasted space above. Most standard built in wardrobes only come with a rail for hanging clothes and one shelf. Some homes just aren’t large enough to have a lot of extra furniture for storage, so we have to rely on what comes with the home.

The solution is simple.

By adding a shelf to a cupboard you potentially have the ability to double your storage space. Or at the least, create a neater area where you don’t need to stack 20 items in a pile – they can be separated into a couple piles making it easier to see and access what you have. A simple shelf to a linen cupboard, for example, allows folded sheets to be stored below with the matching pillow cases above.

Cupboards with adjustable shelving are easy – your local hardware has adjustable shelf pins and will usually cut your timber to size. By adding shelves at a height that specifically matches what you are storing, you maximise your storage space. Below is an example or a cupboard where I added two additional shelves to store some of the products I sell in my catalogue. Every centimetre of space is utilised!

For those that need a simpler solution, stackable shelves, like the one below, are great for kitchens, pantries or anywhere in your home that store a lot of smaller items.

This is another of those simple jobs that require very little time and money but is well worth the effort.

If you are adding a shelf to your cupboard this weekend then why not do some de-cluttering at the same time?

See you next time!

Mei x

For helpful tips, advice, humour and inspiration on getting organised, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media – click on the links below.

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Do your cupboards need an additional shelf? Send me a comment as I’d love to hear from you 🙂

Repurposing your items doesn’t always mean you have to create it into something completely different – think timber pallet into a coffee table. It simply means that some things in your home, that had an intended purpose in the beginning, can be used elsewhere in the home. Without the need to throw it away or purchase something new.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…Repurpose.

With environmental issues being big news these days, it helps to avoid wastage where possible. Items that were originally intended for use in one room, when no longer needed, can certainly be moved to another room or area with a different purpose.

An example of this is when we move into our new home and my red multi-tiered storage cube (which suited the style of our last home) no longer suited our new home. Its original purpose was a display unit and room divider, but now, it fits perfectly in our store room under the stairs. The different tiers were a perfect fit under the concrete angles under the staircase. Plus, just by adding additional shelf space, it made this into an incredibly space efficient storage unit – with the addition of labels of course.

Do you have items to repurpose?

When organising my client’s homes or offices, I always find ways to repurpose their furniture. You won’t often find me without my tape measure! A simple measure of the furniture dimensions will quickly determine whether these items can be repurposed in another space.

If you like a bit of DIY, then you can add some additions to improve its use? If you like arts and crafts, then why not add some paint or decorative touches to dress it up a bit?

Repurposing is a great way to reduce your waste and is a simple way to save money as well.

See you next time!

Mei x

For helpful tips, advice, humour and inspiration on getting organised, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media – click on the links below.

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Do you repurpose your household items? Send me a comment as I’d love to hear from you 🙂

Have you ever tried to reach that muffin tray at the back of your cupboard and accidentally pulled out 15 other items that were stacked on top of it? Or spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for a cookie tray that you just can’t see as it’s hidden beneath all your other bake ware? The easiest solution to these problems is by storing them upright.

My go to product.

One of the biggest problem areas with my clients is their kitchens and pantries. Not only do they have trouble figuring out where to best place their items, but also how to store them. One of the most innovative products in my storage range is the Madesmart Expandable Bake Ware Organiser. This clever little product expands to fit your cupboard space and keeps bakeware, trays, platters, dishes and even cutting boards, orderly and easily accessible. It has divided slots which can be adjusted to suit and the soft grip feature keep items in their place.

This is a simple organised solution that doesn’t need any drilling or fixings and at a retail price of $34.95 is well worth the money spent!

Maximise Your Storage Space.

With so much storage space wasted in cupboards, it may seem necessary to stack your bake ware on top of each other. But storing it upright will make it an efficient storage space with very little space wasted.

This is a simple job that you can do in 20 minutes on the weekend. While you’re at it, why not de-clutter a few more cupboards at the same time!

See you next time!

Mei x

For helpful tips, advice, humour and inspiration on getting organised, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media – click on the links below.

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Do you stack your bakeware or is it in desperate need for an upright organiser? Send me a comment as I’d love to hear from you 🙂

Do you know where you are spending your money? Do you feel that you have no control over your expenses? The answer to these problems is as simple as planning a budget.

I like to plan a budget every year. This means going through my bank statements for at least three months to see where my recent expenses are.

If you feel like your finances are out of control, then planning a budget is a must.

Collect your data.

It is really important to set up the correct templates of how to track your expenses. Then it’s time to collect your data. While going through your bank statements, jot down your expenses and payments – some example categories are listed below. Work on a month at a time and then average these figures over a three month period.

• Mortgage/Rent
• Personal Loans
• Credit Cards
• Insurance – home, car, health, life, income protection
• Rates – water, shire
• Dept Transport – vehicle registration, drivers license
• Utilities – gas, electricity, home phone, mobile phone, pay TV, internet
• School/University Fees
• Groceries
• Clothing
• Entertainment
• Vehicle Misc – repairs, petrol, parking
• Other – gifts, clothing, holidays

Set it up right.

I like to use an excel spreadsheet to keep track of all the data. For those that need more than an average monthly spend, making note of which month your quarterly or bi annual payments (like rates or car rego) are due, will make it more accurate. This helps you know which months will be high in expenses so you can plan for them.

By setting up your template correctly, you can create tabs for each year as your budget changes – the hard part has already been done.

Analyse the data to find ways to save.

With the fast paced lifestyles we all lead, it is so easy to lose track of where your money is going. Until I recently did this year’s budget, I didn’t realise how much money was being spent on dining and entertainment. This was a simple way to cut down on our expenses. Groceries is another high expense with most people – and meal planning is one of the simplest ways to reduce not only your spending, but saves you time and food wastage as well. Check out my blog post on How Meal Planning Can Help You.

Switching off lights to save electricity, reduce your water usage by taking shorter showers – these not only save money but help the environment too.

The biggest benefit to planning your budget is the sense of control you will have. By being able to reduce expenses, savings are able to be made. Having money saved for a rainy day will help with your stress levels too. Why not start a separate savings plan for a family holiday? Or that very special item you’ve had your eye on for a while.

See you next time!

Mei x

For helpful tips, advice, humour and inspiration on getting organised, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media – click on the links below.

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Do you follow a budget or are your finances out of control? Send me a comment as I’d love to hear from you :)