78Onlinea place for everything: a guide to storage at home

An independent guide to storage and organising space at home. We do not sell furniture or carry out work, and we are not connected with the previous website on this domain. Leave complex installation to a professional.

How-to

How-to guides

Many storage jobs are perfectly doable yourself: putting up a light shelf, sorting out a wardrobe, clearing a storeroom. The key is not to rush, to follow simple safety rules and to be honest about where your experience ends and it is time to call a professional.

A quick check of the wall costs far less than calling an electrician after a bad drilling job.

— Food for thought

How this section works: we describe simple household jobs in general terms. Check the specific fixings, permitted load and installation method in the instructions from the manufacturer of the shelf and wall plugs.

How to put up a shelf

  1. Choose the spot and think about the load

    Decide what the shelf will hold: light odds and ends, or books and crockery. That determines the fixings and whether you can manage it yourself.

  2. Identify the wall material

    Concrete, brick and plasterboard need different wall plugs. If the wall sounds hollow when you tap it, it is most likely plasterboard.

  3. Check for hidden wiring and pipes

    Run a wire detector over the spots where you plan to drill and note where the sockets and switches are: cables often run vertically and horizontally from them. Do not drill near pipes.

  4. Choose fixings as instructed

    Use the wall plugs and screws the manufacturer recommends for your wall and load. The fixings supplied in the box are not always suitable.

  5. Mark out with a level

    Mark the points in pencil and check they are level with a spirit level. A crooked shelf is irritating every day, and things slide off it.

  6. Drill and fix

    Wear safety glasses, hold the drill straight and do not press too hard. Once it is up, give the shelf a firm wiggle by hand before loading it.

How to declutter

  1. Pick one area

    Do not try to sort the whole home at once. Choose the shelf, drawer or corner that annoys you most.

  2. Prepare bags for each decision

    Separate ones for what stays, what can be given away, what needs mending and what should be thrown out. That way decisions do not get mixed up.

  3. Take everything out and wipe the space

    An empty space is easier to assess, and a clean shelf encourages you to put back only what you need.

  4. Ask yourself about each item

    Did you use it last season, do you like it, do you have something that does the same job? If there is no answer, put it in a 'maybe' box.

  5. Put what is left back in place

    Frequently used items closer, rarely used ones further away. Keep similar things together and label the boxes.

  6. Get rid of the excess straight away

    Take the rubbish and donation bags out of the house the same day, or the things will find their way back into the wardrobe.

  • Tools

    What helps with tidying and simple installation: spirit level, tape measure, wire detector, boxes — no brands.

  • 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.