In Conversation with DIYgirls Design Studio

When it comes to creating a sleek, chic interior, it’s vital to invest in adequate storage to make the most of your space. Today we’re chatting all things storage with Vinette Nicholls, Owner of DIYgirls: your one-stop interior design studio.

1. When it comes to creating additional storage in the home, what are some of the most important things that need to be considered?

Whether it’s a bedroom, bathroom or family entertaining space, good storage is essential for a well-balanced and functional home; and smart storage that maximises space is an immediate consideration when we work on the refurbishment of any client’s home.

We always make sure that storage solutions are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing – fitting in with the style of the home and lifestyle of the client. To achieve this, we prefer manufacturing bespoke options that are designed in the right style, shape, size, colour, materials and finishes, as opposed to off the shelf options that are available in standard sizes, which don’t use space optimally.

Surprisingly custom made options are not always as expensive as you may expect as furniture makers, like DIYgirls, don’t have a costly office, retail store or shop front to maintain. This allows us to keep costs down while ensuring quality of build.

2. What are the current options for added storage that homeowners can consider for bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens?

A wonderful way to maximise space throughout your home is with hidden storage solutions. Tailored TV units, for example, can provide ample hidden storage while making a real statement when it’s designed to meet your requirements and complement the style of your room.

To take advantage of a bare wall in our client’s family home, we made this Box Slatted TV Wall Unit to measurement. While it conceals all wires, charging docks, routers, and decoders, it also provides abundant space for books, games, and other personal items.

By installing this central storage unit in their cozy and inviting pajama lounge, we freed up space for seating and other furniture pieces, without overwhelming the space

Many of our clients who rent and therefore don’t want a built-in TV unit, opt for the standalone Galway TV Floor Unit. This striking slimline design is ideal for homes where space is a premium as it provides a modern, clean look and feel while making the living space seem wider in seconds.

Both built-in cabinetry and freestanding TV unit options are becoming increasingly popular for use in the bedroom and living areas as it allows clients to keep playthings nearby, without compromising aesthetics.

Whether your home is large or small, another hidden storage gem is window seating. It allows you to maximize the space you have around an otherwise unpopulated window by supplying additional seating, while serving as the ideal place to stowing away throws, cushions, games and more.

As with your TV unit, we suggest opting for a made-to-measure bay window bench. By doing so, you can design a bench that’s not only the perfect fit, but also boast finishing touches that are in harmony with that of the rest of your furniture. The result is seamless flow in your room.

Serving the same purpose as the bay window bench, one of our all-time favourite storage solutions is the ottoman storage box. Upholstered in a luxurious quilted fabric that is available in a range of trendy colourways, the Hopscotch Storage Box, for example, is both practical and beautiful – adding the boutique hotel look and feel to any bedroom. With a hinged lid, it’s quick to put away reserve linen, handbags, shoes or out-of-season clothes and it’s as easy to access those items again.

A list of bedroom storage ideas would not be complete without having a closer look at bedside tables.

If your bedroom is big enough, why not let a chest of drawers multi-task as a bedside table? This will create more storage as well as surface space, so you have room for a statement table lamp, a photo frame as well as one of your favourite decorative table accessories. It further gives the room a sense of grandeur, combining the best of both worlds in terms of functionality and style.

To achieve the same amount of storage space in a smaller bedroom, we made a tallboy chest of drawers in the same style as the standard pedestal, for our client. While this choice is more compact in terms of floorspace that it consumes, it still provides maximum storage, which is ideal for keeping underwear, socks, and pajamas.

3. Looking only at wardrobes and walk-in closets, what are some of the trends that we can look forward to? This is in terms of design/fitment/décor.

Island units are fast becoming one of the must-have storage pieces in walk-in closets as it brings the look and feel of a dressing room together by filling the empty space in the center of the room. At the same time, it also offers added drawer space and a handy tabletop for the display of perfume and cosmetics. When mounted on wheels they can be easily moved around the room for the ultimate in flexibility.