How To Store Knick Knacks

Why can’t I find anything in my house?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re reminiscing about your last holiday and remember the cute keychain you got. But now, you don’t remember where you last put it. Was it in the junk drawer? Or the travel backpack? Or maybe somewhere under the mountain of paper on your desk? 

Storing larger items in our homes is easy. You know exactly where to put your luggage and your vacuum cleaner. But finding ways to store smaller items can get challenging.

These random knick knacks can get lost and leave us searching for them, like a needle in a haystack, if we do not assign them proper homes.

These knick knacks could be

• Travel Memorabilia like your fridge magnets, trinkets, keychains, etc.

•  Sentimental items like cards, old letters from a friend, little notes left by your children etc. 

• Household Items like batteries, charger wires, bulbs, luggage locks & keys, battery back ups… The list goes on!

Before storing them away, you could first try to

Put them to use 

I’m equally guilty of hoarding things that I find too precious to use, only to have to throw them out years later, once mould spots set in, or the leather starts peeling off. Only then do I consider how much of a waste it was that these items never got to serve their purpose.

• Don’t keep your keychains, pouches, coasters, and stickers aside! Open them up and use them the way they were intended, before they start disintegrating or losing their stickiness

• Use the fridge magnets to hold up your favourite recipes, photos or sentimental notes on your fridge. The myth that magnets ruin your fridge has been debunked!

• Repurpose items! Use shot glasses or mugs to hold miniature plants, old buttons, charms and beads for crafting, or trinket trays for keys right next to the door. There are plenty of great ideas online.

Display them 

Souvenirs are great conversation starters when guests come to visit. Why not place them out in the open on coffee tables, shelves, in decorative boxes or stands? Once they catch someone’s eye, it’ll be a good chance for you to regale your guests with anecdotes from your travels!

Now on to storage…

Drawer Inserts

These inserts come in a variety of sizes to fit your needs. Make sure you measure and plan out the exact number and sizes needed for your drawer. These are great for small items like keychains and keys, watches, lighters, accessories, sewing kits and all kinds of small souvenirs.

Boxes with Lids

The Sockerbit box is Vanessa’s favourite item from IKEA. The smaller sizes are great for little toys. The slanted sides provide easy access for little hands to reach for what they need! Since they are opaque, they are also great for hiding visual clutter, especially when they are used to store an assortment of items.

Trays

Consider leaving a tray on a few surfaces of the house like the entryway, bookshelf or shoe cabinet. This allows your everyday knick-knacks to have a home, albeit a temporary one, until the next time you use them.

Here’s a different kind of drop zone.

Once you enter the room, drop off your sunglasses, cufflinks, key cards, items you’ve stored in your pockets or even loose change. Now you have a place to get ready before leaving the house and know exactly where to look for these daily necessities. 

Everything should have a place and everything must be in its place. This mantra is truly applicable to every item in all of our homes, from the biggest pieces of furniture, to the tiniest treasures.

Still need help with organising your random items?

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