Below are important storage tips from three HGTV hosts:
From Walter Muellenhagen, Hands On:
- Before storing anything (clothes, sports equipment, tools) be sure that the item is thoroughly cleaned.
- When adding shelving, always use a stud finder to locate studs. Nails for shelving and hooks should be secured to studs.
- For older homes with less storage, use your imagination. Many older homes have wider halls, so place a large piece of furniture in the hallway like an armoire or a linen press and use it as a functional storage tool.
- If you use a basement for storage, it must be totally dry. You can check for dampness by taking a square piece of plastic and taping it to the wall using duct tape. Leave the plastic for two to five days, then remove and see if moisture has accumulated under the plastic.
From Kitty Bartholomew, Kitty Bartholomew: You're Home:
- When the boys were little I kept stuff in boxes and printed identifying words like "Army Men, Trucks" with Magic Markers to keep track of them. In families with more than one child I recommend color-coding; each child gets a cubby with his or her chosen color. Mark things on the calendar that apply to the children in each one's color.
From Chris Casson Madden, host of Interiors by Design:
- In my son's room we put a shelf, where he keeps his trophies, above his windows . I bought a bunch of shoeboxes and covered them with fabric and different pictures , and that's what he keeps a lot of his photos in and stuff that boys keep.
- I love storage places that people never think of: above the shower, above the shower curtain; I even put decorative shelves over doorways.
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