Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Buying containers before decluttering

Attractive boxes and organisers promise order, and it is tempting to buy them straight away. But until you have sorted your things, you do not know what needs storing or how much of it. The containers end up the wrong size, and the excess simply moves into them from the wardrobe.

How to avoid it: declutter the area first, decide what stays, measure shelves and alcoves with a tape measure and only then choose containers. Shoeboxes you already have at home are often enough to start with.

Overloading shelves

Shelves sag, supports work loose and fixings gradually pull out of the wall. This applies especially to books, crockery and jars of supplies, which weigh more than they seem.

How to avoid it: check the manufacturer's instructions for the load the shelf and its fixings are designed for, spread heavy items evenly and keep them on the lower levels. If a shelf visibly sags, unload it at once.

Not fixing furniture to the wall

A tall wardrobe, shelving unit or chest of drawers seems stable until someone leans on it, opens several drawers at once or tries to climb up. Such furniture is especially dangerous in a home with children.

How to avoid it: anchor tall and heavy furniture to the wall using the method given in the manufacturer's instructions. Before drilling, check the wall for wiring and pipes, and if you are unsure of the wall material, call a professional.

Keeping everything on display

Open shelves crammed with odds and ends gather dust and make a room feel cramped. The eye tires of the visual noise, and cleaning turns into moving objects from place to place.

How to avoid it: keep on display only what you use all the time or genuinely love. Put the rest away in closed wardrobes, drawers and matching baskets.

A few more common slip-ups

• Heavy boxes on high cupboards that are dangerous to lift down.
• Unlabelled boxes whose contents are forgotten within a month.
• Damp things in a closed wardrobe and seasonal clothes stored without cleaning.
• Storing things far from where they are used.
• One big clear-out every few years instead of short regular ones.

Read next

• Where to start
• How-to
• Care