Space saving tips in a flat please...

[PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer]

live in a flat, have cupboard space but not well designed, have high ceilings, one double, one single bedroom.

Apart from being ruithless and chucking out things we don't need, what space saving tips do you have? Things to use, etc. We are prepared to spend some, but not tons of money doing it.

(ie, in bathroom we have no storage apart from large sill, small kitchen).

Be as inventive/creative as you like, we are being open minded! (links are useful too)

You're amazing Pavlov!

I really would be careful to get the sheila's maid fitted properly - can you get a jobbing builder round to identify joists & give you peace of mind? We use ours constantly (it occupies the otherwise idle ceiling of our tiny downstairs cloakroom, as created by slicing off part of an otherwise redundantly spacious landing) and when it is full of damp washing it is very very heavy.

Also, you want to have very solid ropes for hauling it up & a firmly fixed hawsery thing on the wall for tethering the ropes. Altogether has to be robust.

yes, maybe we will get a builder round to do it...I would hate for our space saving to create a hole in our ceiling!

I would not say amazing Bink - this is a long time coming, we have been here 3 years! (and gradually accumulated more and more crap belongings!). Its got to the point were we tidy up for 4 hours one day, the place looks fab, then by the end of the next day its chaos again. And we are fed up with it. Once we get the organisation sorted, we will be able to stay on top of it with just an hour between us each day, and then couple of hours at the weekend - then I get get started on the bigger jobs - finish painting the hallway, and maybe even get started in the front room.

This is our plan for the front room - tell me what you think:

We have a gas fire (disconnected) in the place of where the original fireplace was, and on the floor the 'hearth is a raised tile platform, it has a relatively ugly wooden fire surround. We have a recess each side which currently has on one - computer and a shelf, on the other - two shelves and a tv/cabinet, on each side there are wall lights which are horrible!

We are removing the fireplace completely, hoping to find the original slate hearth flat on the floor. We are then going to plaster the hole that is there, maybe tile inside, and have a modern open space for either a woodburner (doubt it) or a nice ornament (we ave central heating, dont need a fire). This is going to save us a good 1ft of space on the floor - where the hearth is, its just dead space and not attractive, by removing it, it will open the front room.

Then, above the fireplace, where there is usually a hanging picture or mirror, we are knocking out a space, same width as fireplace space below, and about twice as high. We will be put 3 heavy wooden shelves (small beams or chinky wood from reclamation yard) across this, entire space, varnished, rustic looking. In the recesses, at the same height as the shevles in new space, there will be three more shelves each side, made of same wood to match.

A smaller computer cabinet, a built in tv cabinet to match the wooden shelves.

And here is the space sving bit - the shelves above the fireplace, will be junk computer equipment, DVDs, bowls with odds and sods in- all the stuff currently cluttering our shelves visibly. From the ceiling, there will be a tapastry hanging, to cover the entire space. therefore, making it invisible, clutter free, but completely accessible - cool eh? It can be as messy as we want, and no-one will see!

Get some of those plastic stackable boxes. You can put loads of stuff in them and make use of your high ceilings if you put a few STURDY shelves up and then put these boxes on them.... or Tescos are doing folable ones at the mo 3 for £5. I can't find a link i'm afraid.

Lucky - I know this is not good when space saving - but I really dislike plastic boxes - they are very ugly. I am happy with them in cupboards in loft etc, but not visibly, i know, I know.

DH has just bought lots of wooden ones from sainsburys, bargain at £6.50 each! The hinges are awful and need replacing, but thats ok. I am going to paint them - for DD's toys, I will draw what is on the box on the top and the sides! For the ones we will use, might just varnish them, or paint them some funky colours. We have actually found DDs useful to put our cups on in the front room!!! (and DH ate his dinner using one as a tray!!!).

I have used plastic storage boxes, for DD - but they are so big, she just cannot access all her toys if they are stacked, and there is so much in them, they need to be more organised.

BUT, if they are that cheap, could get some for the loft.

Use some pretty ones for on display then. Matalan do nice wicker ones nice and cheap (we can't have them as the cats will rip them to shreds ) but use plastic ones for loft/in cupboards/bottom of wardrobes etc.

Loving this thread - I also live in a high-ceilinged cluttered flat.

In their office accoutrements section Ikea do a range of plywood storage things including mini chests of drawers: these are brilliant for organising all the little bits of crap like small tools, medicines, sewing stuff etc etc that normally end up in a horribly cluttered kitchen drawer. They are stackable and can live on a shelf. And they're not nasty plastic.

Not read whole thread, but its just made me remember a house we viewed once. The kids room was amazing. They'd built a false floor over 3/4 the room, which had the bed and other furniture on. Under the floor, it was all drawers, which could be pulled out inrto the remaininig bit of room ie that wasnt built up. This part was for toys etc so no furniture to get in way of opening drawers. Hope you know what I'm trying to describe. It was great

How about this then? -

DDs toys were previously stored in two large plastic boxes, stuffed full, mostly inaccessible, plus also toys randomly placed around the flat, as there was no order to it, plus one large wicker basket for teddies etc.

Now she has
6 smaller wooden boxes which I am going to paint with objects and colours on:
Little people/animals and related items
Train Tracks
Puzzles & games
Music instruments
Arts and Crafts - kept up out of her reach
Baby doll clothes, dressing up.

Now she needs one more for assorted blocks and shapes - currently in a broken cardboard box!

Cool eh? I feel soooo organised!

Ikea do great fabric boxes which you can use inside drawers, or on cupboard shelves to organise things. here. I use them in DD's drawers, the small ones for pants, socks, vests, etc and the bigger ones for folded T-shirts, pjs, etc. It means that a drawer can be used for more than one thing without seeming jumbled. I also have one in my laundry cupboard, one under my sink and one in the bathroom cupbaord for small things.

They fold down flat and zip back together. They are hard to explain but wotrth keeping an eye out for if you are going to ikea.