Now that those sluggish Winter blues are safely behind us, it’s time to get active. But put down those sweat bands! I’m referring to Spring Cleaning time.

Don’t groan: Spring Cleaning is a wonderful opportunity to pare down our wardrobes, re-think how we use the space in our homes and create attractive, functional storage solutions.

I’ve gathered a few ideas for ways to streamline your wardrobe and home, followed by some creative ways to personalise storage options. If you have more tips or tricks, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Hard to Find posted a wonderful piece on Spring Cleaning in September. They asked  professional organiser Tanya Lea from Declutterhome for her top Spring Cleaning tips. I’ve taken Tanya’s tips and put my own spin on them:

1. One thing at a time
It’s easy to get distracted when you feel overwhelmed. Take it space by space or room by room and you’ll soon be empowered by your small victories!

2. Do I need it? 
This is a question you must ask honestly and answer truthfully. If you know the answer is No, it’s time to let it go: either to be sold, to be donated or, if it is broken irreparably, to be thrown away.

3. Clean surfaces
Dust and wipe down all the surfaces formerly inhabited by junk-piles. Not only does this invite re-decoration, it makes the most of your successful decluttering!

4. Find a home
Carefully consider the most logical ‘home’ for each item. Don’t just shove things away: it’s important that space is used effectively, and that means in a way where you can find things!

5. Label it
Labeling drawers and containers, especially ones you can’t see into from the outside, lets everyone know what’s inside where quickly, easily and without undoing all your good work. Homelife has a wonderful section on storage and they also have a fantastic how-to on label making for your storage containers.

Get Fresh for Springtime

Now that you’ve streamlined your clothes and your home, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labour with some glamorous yet effective storage solutions. Here are a few inspiring ideas below to keep you going.

A beautiful and innovative way to explore personalised storage without spending the Earth is by ‘hacking’ pre-fab furniture. Ikea Hackers use the Swedish giant’s furniture on their own terms, often adding in found or thrifted items for interest.

I particularly love this Ikea hack where they have transformed Ikea table tops into flat file storage. This is a genius idea! architectural file storage is very expensive and this ticks all the boxes for your studio space without costing a fortune.

Remember, too, that recycled or re-homed storage options like these suitcases as drawers made by James Plumb can be a unique way to repurpose old things in a beautiful and functional storage solution.

If you are lucky enough to live in a two storey house and need extra room to store your linen or large collection of board games, then why not make use of your space under the staircase. You can design your own closets, drawers or even wine storage!

Now that I have a child of my own, I really understand the importance of good toy storage. These storage bins from Etsy are a perfect way to display the kids toys and books, and are easy for them to get to, without the struggle of pulling heavy drawers and boxes. I just love this idea and can’t to try it out myself.

Out with the old and in with new (or new ideas to you) Good Luck!