FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the questions that come up most often when someone decides to tidy their home: who we are, where to begin and how to avoid harming yourself or your home when putting up shelves and wardrobes.
If you are not sure the wall will hold, do not test it in practice — ask a professional.
About the guide
Are you connected with the website that used to run on this domain?
No. A different website used to be here, followed by unrelated spam pages. Their content has not been kept and we are not restoring it. All this guide inherited from the domain is the name.
Do you sell furniture or do installation?
No. We sell nothing, take no orders and do not visit homes. We only explain the general principles of storage and safe installation.
Why don't you recommend specific models?
We write about principles that apply to any furniture. A specific product is best chosen based on your things, your home and the manufacturer's instructions.
Can I suggest a topic?
We take the topics readers ask about most often into account when preparing new articles. The list of what we are working on is in the catalogue section.
Storage and tidiness
Where do I start if there is clutter everywhere?
With one small area that bothers you most: a drawer by the front door, a bathroom shelf, a kitchen cupboard. A quick result gives you the energy for the next step.
Should I buy organisers straight away?
No. Declutter first and see what stays. Otherwise it is easy to buy containers of the wrong size, for things that will soon leave the house.
How should I store things under the bed?
In flat containers with lids or in covers, so dust does not collect. Label them and check what is inside once a season.
How do I stop clutter building up again?
A simple rule helps: when a new item comes in, a similar old one goes out. And regular short clear-outs instead of a rare big one.
Installation and safety
What fixings do I need for concrete, brick and plasterboard?
Each material needs its own wall plugs: one kind for solid walls, special ones for hollow walls. Choose them according to the instructions from the shelf and fixings manufacturers, and if in doubt, ask a professional.
How do I avoid hitting wiring when drilling?
Check the wall with a wire detector, take into account where sockets and switches are, and do not drill close to them or to pipes. If in doubt, choose a different spot.
Do I really need to anchor a chest of drawers and shelving in a child's room?
Yes, tall and heavy furniture in a home with children must be fixed to the wall. Children love climbing shelves and pulling out drawers, and unanchored furniture can fall.
Can I store heavy things on high cupboards?
Better not. Heavy boxes up high are hard to lift down and dangerous if they fall. Send light, rarely used things up; keep heavy ones down low.
Read next
- How-to
How to put up a shelf without hitting hidden wiring, and how to declutter without regrets or exhaustion.
- Planning
How to plan storage: an inventory of your things, how often you use them, zones and a place for each group.
- Care
Caring for wardrobes, hinges and drawer runners, airing them out and protecting your things from damp.
What we rely on
- Furniture and fixings manufacturers' instructions
- 78Online editorial materials
Our advice is kept general and is based on furniture and fixings manufacturers' instructions and on common household safety rules. Always check the fixing method, permitted load and the right wall plug for your wall in the instructions for the specific product, and leave complex installation to a professional.