Traveling is easier with light luggage: so why is storage space still needed in a new house?
Even in times of Marie Kondo and the minimalism trend, unfortunately, there are some things you have to think about or avoid thinking about: the storage of necessary items. Why are there so many ways to fit a lot into a small space? On Pinterest and similar sites, there aren’t even cupboards shown to store things in...
But what exactly are necessary items? Who decides that?
On one hand, it’s determined by everyday life, personal and household care, clothing cleaning, our habits for comfort and technical equipment, but also things for personal development such as sports equipment, children’s toys, hobby supplies, other leisure items, or business needs.
Often heard: "The forum can say a lot – we manage perfectly fine in a three-room apartment – We are different!"
However, those who say this probably have to make compromises and want to build precisely because the available space is becoming tight: with the first child, the toy collection grows, the second child needs a room, personal hobbies are no longer pursued because the equipment is stored in the basement, and last year’s sleeping bag is packed away.
Also, belongings tend to grow the longer you live. A 30-year-old woman might not need a yoga mat yet because she prefers jogging, the man didn’t need crutches before his knee surgery. Unfortunately, the best years are often still ahead… from age 40, you are advised to change some things. And so, household items accumulate that you keep because you might still need them.
That’s why here is a list of items people have without really noticing. Or will have one day. Or never own but might miss someday. Or not. Not everyone has the same needs.
(The listed items refer to things best stored inside the house, not outdoors in a garage or garden shed.)
Many of these things represent other things—for example, a cat owner might not think about dog food, but they are reminded that cat food also needs a place in the house. This list should therefore be seen as guidance, not criticism.*
House Cleaning + Care Products:
Broom, mop with bucket, vacuum cleaner and bags, handheld vacuum, electric window squeegee, several cloths and cleaners for different surfaces (more than in an apartment), household robot, various charging cables or docking stations, replacement filters, paper towels, etc.
Clothing and Personal Care:
Washing machine, dryer (can also be stacked), drying rack for wool/sports/hand-washed items, laundry baskets (some have three!), space for ironing board + iron and a basket for clean laundry, various detergents and laundry bags, clips, tennis balls, lint removers, shoe care products, shoelaces, insoles, etc.
Hairdryer, razor, hair straightener or similar, epilator, hand care devices, travel makeup bag, bath foam and similar, infrared lamp, first aid kit, medications, joint supports, athletic tape, walking aids (crutches), toilet paper, etc.
Kitchen Aids:
Electrical kitchen appliances (fondue set, roaster, deep fryer, kettle, blender, electric pan, popcorn maker, microwave), soda water maker, baking tins, clay pot, champagne cooler, grill tongs and aluminum holders, empty canning jars, freezer or beverage cooler (second fridge), beverage bottles (case of water, beer and juice, case of wine), some storage supplies like onions and potatoes, 10–20 liters (2.5–5 gallons) of water for emergencies (pandemic/quarantine), tablecloths, sets, candles, etc.
Household Daily Tasks:
Yellow recycling bags (several filled), waste paper and glass recycling, deposit bottles, shopping bags and bags for gifts, decorations (2 boxes Christmas decorations, 1 box Easter, 1 box general), wrapping paper and gift boxes, empty shoeboxes, electric parts (fuses, etc.), several light bulbs, batteries, packaging film and tape, hand tools (cutter, hammer), drill, cordless drill, a few paint cans (at least white paint), leftover paint in jars, brushes and rollers (paint bucket with various painting supplies, silicone/acrylic), sandpaper and felt pads, carpet and tile remnants, more replacement filters, vases, trays, extra cutlery and dishes for guests, disposable tableware, instruction manuals including small packets of spare seals, picnic basket, cooler bag, thermal mug, suitcase, travel and sports bags, small/large step ladder, 2–3 flower pots and plant fertilizer, spray bottle for plants, watering can, rubber boots for drying, 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of potting soil for indoor plants, dog food, cat litter (placeholder for various pet products), sewing machine, fabric scraps, sewing basket, various office folders, stationery, office supplies, printer and so on, old clothes collection, grit or salt for the entrance, baby items, etc.
Personal Development:
Craft supplies for children (window paint, acrylic paint, brushes, jars of paint, chalk), photography equipment, stamp collection, old photos and photo albums, memory boxes, hobby items (wool and related, drawing materials, oil paints and canvases), dumbbells, yoga mat and fascia roller, already purchased gifts and presents, board games, playing cards, aquarium accessories, spare pump, items to exchange because of wrong purchases, borrowed items, cushions for outdoor furniture.
Badminton, boules, fishing rod, tent and similar gear can be stored outside. Many items suitable for outdoor storage are not listed here.
You can probably cross off 2–3 things, but I most likely forgot quite a few.
And why a hallway closet? Isn’t a hook enough? My husband only has one jacket, and I only have one pair of shoes.
Clothing:
Man: Work jacket, high-visibility jacket, sports jacket, garden jacket, common jackets for all seasons (biker jacket, all-purpose jacket, bomber jacket, winter jacket, leather jacket), various shoes, headgear (caps, etc.)
Child: fewer jackets, but rubber boots, outdoor boots, sports shoes, indoor shoes, 2 pairs of extra shoes, sandals, ballerinas…
Woman: Winter jacket, winter coat, transitional jacket, summer bomber, summer coat, cardigan, fleece and garden jacket, going-out jacket, and so on… (let’s not even start with shoes here…)
Seasonal accessories like scarves and hats for everyone
Bags: see storage space, plus sports bags for all residents, backpack, work bags, shopping bags and the woman’s handbags…
Personally, I can report that
- about 10 years ago, I didn’t use a handbag at all. For several years now, I’ve needed one too (things and life change, and you have to carry some things around…) and quite a collection has built up despite selling some on e*b*y.
- old shopping and plastic bags as well as empty Tupperware containers, but also baskets and paper bags unfortunately take up a lot of space in the utility room
- many things don’t immediately go where they belong but are first placed somewhere else. This requires additional space.
With or without children: life changes, you discover new sports, hobbies, develop different interests, even if it’s just listening to music, collecting souvenirs, or children’s baby teeth. The house demands involvement, even if you aren’t skilled in DIY, you still have to handle nails and screws.
Where at first there was no household appliance, after 10 years there are 2–3 new food processors, even if it’s just to chop food for the child or grandpa.
Whatever the case: make sure you have enough space in your new home!
@kaho674 thanks for the push
Best regards, Yvonne
*no but
Even in times of Marie Kondo and the minimalism trend, unfortunately, there are some things you have to think about or avoid thinking about: the storage of necessary items. Why are there so many ways to fit a lot into a small space? On Pinterest and similar sites, there aren’t even cupboards shown to store things in...
But what exactly are necessary items? Who decides that?
On one hand, it’s determined by everyday life, personal and household care, clothing cleaning, our habits for comfort and technical equipment, but also things for personal development such as sports equipment, children’s toys, hobby supplies, other leisure items, or business needs.
Often heard: "The forum can say a lot – we manage perfectly fine in a three-room apartment – We are different!"
However, those who say this probably have to make compromises and want to build precisely because the available space is becoming tight: with the first child, the toy collection grows, the second child needs a room, personal hobbies are no longer pursued because the equipment is stored in the basement, and last year’s sleeping bag is packed away.
Also, belongings tend to grow the longer you live. A 30-year-old woman might not need a yoga mat yet because she prefers jogging, the man didn’t need crutches before his knee surgery. Unfortunately, the best years are often still ahead… from age 40, you are advised to change some things. And so, household items accumulate that you keep because you might still need them.
That’s why here is a list of items people have without really noticing. Or will have one day. Or never own but might miss someday. Or not. Not everyone has the same needs.
(The listed items refer to things best stored inside the house, not outdoors in a garage or garden shed.)
Many of these things represent other things—for example, a cat owner might not think about dog food, but they are reminded that cat food also needs a place in the house. This list should therefore be seen as guidance, not criticism.*
House Cleaning + Care Products:
Broom, mop with bucket, vacuum cleaner and bags, handheld vacuum, electric window squeegee, several cloths and cleaners for different surfaces (more than in an apartment), household robot, various charging cables or docking stations, replacement filters, paper towels, etc.
Clothing and Personal Care:
Washing machine, dryer (can also be stacked), drying rack for wool/sports/hand-washed items, laundry baskets (some have three!), space for ironing board + iron and a basket for clean laundry, various detergents and laundry bags, clips, tennis balls, lint removers, shoe care products, shoelaces, insoles, etc.
Hairdryer, razor, hair straightener or similar, epilator, hand care devices, travel makeup bag, bath foam and similar, infrared lamp, first aid kit, medications, joint supports, athletic tape, walking aids (crutches), toilet paper, etc.
Kitchen Aids:
Electrical kitchen appliances (fondue set, roaster, deep fryer, kettle, blender, electric pan, popcorn maker, microwave), soda water maker, baking tins, clay pot, champagne cooler, grill tongs and aluminum holders, empty canning jars, freezer or beverage cooler (second fridge), beverage bottles (case of water, beer and juice, case of wine), some storage supplies like onions and potatoes, 10–20 liters (2.5–5 gallons) of water for emergencies (pandemic/quarantine), tablecloths, sets, candles, etc.
Household Daily Tasks:
Yellow recycling bags (several filled), waste paper and glass recycling, deposit bottles, shopping bags and bags for gifts, decorations (2 boxes Christmas decorations, 1 box Easter, 1 box general), wrapping paper and gift boxes, empty shoeboxes, electric parts (fuses, etc.), several light bulbs, batteries, packaging film and tape, hand tools (cutter, hammer), drill, cordless drill, a few paint cans (at least white paint), leftover paint in jars, brushes and rollers (paint bucket with various painting supplies, silicone/acrylic), sandpaper and felt pads, carpet and tile remnants, more replacement filters, vases, trays, extra cutlery and dishes for guests, disposable tableware, instruction manuals including small packets of spare seals, picnic basket, cooler bag, thermal mug, suitcase, travel and sports bags, small/large step ladder, 2–3 flower pots and plant fertilizer, spray bottle for plants, watering can, rubber boots for drying, 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of potting soil for indoor plants, dog food, cat litter (placeholder for various pet products), sewing machine, fabric scraps, sewing basket, various office folders, stationery, office supplies, printer and so on, old clothes collection, grit or salt for the entrance, baby items, etc.
Personal Development:
Craft supplies for children (window paint, acrylic paint, brushes, jars of paint, chalk), photography equipment, stamp collection, old photos and photo albums, memory boxes, hobby items (wool and related, drawing materials, oil paints and canvases), dumbbells, yoga mat and fascia roller, already purchased gifts and presents, board games, playing cards, aquarium accessories, spare pump, items to exchange because of wrong purchases, borrowed items, cushions for outdoor furniture.
Badminton, boules, fishing rod, tent and similar gear can be stored outside. Many items suitable for outdoor storage are not listed here.
You can probably cross off 2–3 things, but I most likely forgot quite a few.
And why a hallway closet? Isn’t a hook enough? My husband only has one jacket, and I only have one pair of shoes.
Clothing:
Man: Work jacket, high-visibility jacket, sports jacket, garden jacket, common jackets for all seasons (biker jacket, all-purpose jacket, bomber jacket, winter jacket, leather jacket), various shoes, headgear (caps, etc.)
Child: fewer jackets, but rubber boots, outdoor boots, sports shoes, indoor shoes, 2 pairs of extra shoes, sandals, ballerinas…
Woman: Winter jacket, winter coat, transitional jacket, summer bomber, summer coat, cardigan, fleece and garden jacket, going-out jacket, and so on… (let’s not even start with shoes here…)
Seasonal accessories like scarves and hats for everyone
Bags: see storage space, plus sports bags for all residents, backpack, work bags, shopping bags and the woman’s handbags…
Personally, I can report that
- about 10 years ago, I didn’t use a handbag at all. For several years now, I’ve needed one too (things and life change, and you have to carry some things around…) and quite a collection has built up despite selling some on e*b*y.
- old shopping and plastic bags as well as empty Tupperware containers, but also baskets and paper bags unfortunately take up a lot of space in the utility room
- many things don’t immediately go where they belong but are first placed somewhere else. This requires additional space.
With or without children: life changes, you discover new sports, hobbies, develop different interests, even if it’s just listening to music, collecting souvenirs, or children’s baby teeth. The house demands involvement, even if you aren’t skilled in DIY, you still have to handle nails and screws.
Where at first there was no household appliance, after 10 years there are 2–3 new food processors, even if it’s just to chop food for the child or grandpa.
Whatever the case: make sure you have enough space in your new home!
@kaho674 thanks for the push
Best regards, Yvonne
*no but
Let's be honest: most people here would prefer an extra meter of storage space rather than having to use methods to cope with limited storage—if they can afford it.
In my kitchen, I was missing a drawer and accessible cabinet space near the sink because habits had changed (including taking medication). Since I have a freestanding refrigerator, it was simply moved 60 cm (24 inches), and a Besta cabinet was added to the kitchen. For matching the fronts, a contrasting color was chosen, which is repeated on the other kitchen wall with another cabinet.
Anyway, it works great now.
One problem that’s still unsolved: we now freeze more frozen food, partly because of the fruit trees and bushes. Also, the ice cream delivery comes by. We don’t have space for a second freezer on the property or in the pantry.
A French-door fridge would be an option, but then the fridge dominates the open-plan kitchen/living area, which I want to avoid. That’s unfortunate.
I say: who else has that kind of capacity in the kitchen? Those with a pantry (also called a larder) are well prepared, but most homeowners with homes under about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) do not. It would be beneficial to consider whether the utility or storage room could accommodate that kind of space.
For example, my walk-in closet is roughly half a meter (20 inches) short on half-height storage. These days, with Marie Kondo’s approach, that should be manageable. So, I fold my T-shirts!!!
But honestly, I’d rather have that extra half meter than waste time folding. And anyone who sees it the other way around is mistaken because they don’t reflect on or understand the nonsense. Marie Kondo, FlyLady, and similar methods are ways to balance out storage deficits. Ideally, you wouldn’t have those deficits in the first place.
I also declutter—there are active groups that set a good example, and you can learn from them. I get rid of something every day (eventually, I’ll have nothing left, then my husband’s turn).
Just like @kbt09, one item of clothing has to go when a new one arrives. Being strict about “anything I haven’t worn in a year” works too, but if you extend that to two years, it’s even more effective.
The bag or box has to be stored temporarily since I want someone else to have those clothes—not the trash bin.
I like to keep it simple. That means: I stand in front of my closet (in this case, the walk-in) and want to see everything at a glance. So no “Sex and the City” walk-in closet. But: that extra half meter would be preferable!
However, you can’t discuss this with a man whose limited laundry is put away by his wife.
In my kitchen, I was missing a drawer and accessible cabinet space near the sink because habits had changed (including taking medication). Since I have a freestanding refrigerator, it was simply moved 60 cm (24 inches), and a Besta cabinet was added to the kitchen. For matching the fronts, a contrasting color was chosen, which is repeated on the other kitchen wall with another cabinet.
Anyway, it works great now.
One problem that’s still unsolved: we now freeze more frozen food, partly because of the fruit trees and bushes. Also, the ice cream delivery comes by. We don’t have space for a second freezer on the property or in the pantry.
A French-door fridge would be an option, but then the fridge dominates the open-plan kitchen/living area, which I want to avoid. That’s unfortunate.
I say: who else has that kind of capacity in the kitchen? Those with a pantry (also called a larder) are well prepared, but most homeowners with homes under about 140 sqm (1,500 sq ft) do not. It would be beneficial to consider whether the utility or storage room could accommodate that kind of space.
For example, my walk-in closet is roughly half a meter (20 inches) short on half-height storage. These days, with Marie Kondo’s approach, that should be manageable. So, I fold my T-shirts!!!
But honestly, I’d rather have that extra half meter than waste time folding. And anyone who sees it the other way around is mistaken because they don’t reflect on or understand the nonsense. Marie Kondo, FlyLady, and similar methods are ways to balance out storage deficits. Ideally, you wouldn’t have those deficits in the first place.
I also declutter—there are active groups that set a good example, and you can learn from them. I get rid of something every day (eventually, I’ll have nothing left, then my husband’s turn).
Just like @kbt09, one item of clothing has to go when a new one arrives. Being strict about “anything I haven’t worn in a year” works too, but if you extend that to two years, it’s even more effective.
The bag or box has to be stored temporarily since I want someone else to have those clothes—not the trash bin.
I like to keep it simple. That means: I stand in front of my closet (in this case, the walk-in) and want to see everything at a glance. So no “Sex and the City” walk-in closet. But: that extra half meter would be preferable!
However, you can’t discuss this with a man whose limited laundry is put away by his wife.
L
ludwig88sta13 Apr 2020 15:14"Der Bauherr," a masculine noun in German, includes both male and female clients commissioning construction projects. This is because, in the German language, there is a distinction between grammatical gender and biological sex:
- Grammatical gender (plural: genera; from Latin genus “type, kind, gender,” a linguistic term derived from Ancient Greek γένος genos) is a classification of nouns found in many languages, where each noun is assigned a gender category.
- Biological sex [ˈzɛksʊs] (Latin sexus “sex”) is a linguistic category referring to biological gender.
Or, do you always think of "die Leiche" (the corpse) as a woman? No, because "die" here is only the grammatical gender. Likewise, the article “der” in "der Bauherr" does not necessarily imply that the person is male.
Therefore, the proper headline would be
"DIE LISTE! Of interest to every client commissioning construction."
It reads more smoothly and, I promise, is absolutely non-discriminatory (for anyone who understands German grammar).
- Grammatical gender (plural: genera; from Latin genus “type, kind, gender,” a linguistic term derived from Ancient Greek γένος genos) is a classification of nouns found in many languages, where each noun is assigned a gender category.
- Biological sex [ˈzɛksʊs] (Latin sexus “sex”) is a linguistic category referring to biological gender.
Or, do you always think of "die Leiche" (the corpse) as a woman? No, because "die" here is only the grammatical gender. Likewise, the article “der” in "der Bauherr" does not necessarily imply that the person is male.
Therefore, the proper headline would be
"DIE LISTE! Of interest to every client commissioning construction."
It reads more smoothly and, I promise, is absolutely non-discriminatory (for anyone who understands German grammar).
ypg schrieb:
Let’s be honest: most people here would prefer an extra meter of storage space rather than having to use methods to make do with limited storage, if they can afford it.
In my kitchen, I was missing a drawer and some easily accessible cabinet space near the sink because our habits changed (including taking medication). Since I have a freestanding fridge, I simply moved it 60 cm (24 inches) and added a BESTA cabinet in the kitchen. To match the fronts, a contrasting color was chosen, which is repeated on the opposite kitchen wall with another cabinet.
Anyway, it works perfectly now.
One problem that’s not solved yet: we now freeze more frozen food. This is partly because of our fruit trees and bushes. And we also use ice delivery. We don’t have space for a second freezer on the property. Nor do we have a pantry. Getting a French door fridge could be an option, but then the fridge would dominate the open-plan kitchen living area, which I want to avoid. Annoying.
I’d say: who else has that kind of capacity in their kitchen? If you have a pantry, you’re well prepared. But most homeowners (under roughly 140 sqm (1500 sq ft)) don’t. It would be worth considering if a storage room could provide that space.
For example, my walk-in closet is roughly half a meter (20 inches) short of half-height storage space. In times of Marie Kondo, that should be manageable, right? So I fold my T-shirts!
But honestly: I’d rather have that extra half meter than waste time folding like that. And anyone who thinks the opposite is fooling themselves because they don’t reflect on or can’t grasp that nonsense. Marie Kondo, FlyLady, etc. are ways to compensate for deficits. It would be better not to have those deficits in the first place.
I also declutter — there are active groups who lead by example, and you can learn a lot there. I get rid of something every day (at some point I’ll have nothing left, then it will be my husband’s turn ).
Like @kbt09, one clothing item must go for a new one. But the conscious rule “anything I haven’t worn in a year” works too, if you stretch it to two years. The bag or box needs to be stored temporarily, because I want someone else to have it. So no trash bin.
I like things to be clear and tidy. This means: I stand in front of my closet (in this case, the walk-in) and want to see everything at once. So no “Sex and the City” walk-in closet. But: that one half meter would still be my preference!
You can’t really discuss this with a man whose few clothes his wife puts away for him in the closet. I have enough space and still follow FlyLady because I want everything I own to be tidy, and I don’t want my stuff to increase beyond what I already have… I used to hang pants, but that annoyed me a lot because I have many pairs, and just those would fill a whole wardrobe if I want to keep them visible. So I fold them, I see them better that way, same with T-shirts… but I stopped with undershirts because it was too stressful.
Today I finished the project of clearing the last boxes under the basement stairs with a 15-minute zone session (-:
Snowy36 schrieb:
I have enough space and still follow FlyLady because I want everything I own to be organized and not get worse than it already is...You can do that too. When I googled FlyLady (I admit I haven’t actually tried it yet), I learned that this woman named it as a self-help system for those who can’t handle everyday chaos. I think it’s great that something like that exists. As I understand it, it’s less about having space for spare batteries and more about cleaning according to a schedule and zoning.
Snowy36 schrieb:
...because I have so many of them and just having an overview would fill a whole wardrobe... that’s why I fold them—I can see them better, and the T-shirts too...For me, it's the T-shirts... although I would still have more space for them if I didn’t fold.Thanks for the list. I also notice how more and more stuff keeps piling up. After narrowing down from a 3-room and a 2-room apartment to the 2-room apartment, and having one apartment more or less staying in my parents’ hobby room: I’m definitely not made for too little space or too little storage. Especially during the pandemic, the purchase of toys has increased significantly when trying to manage working from home with a 4-year-old child.
I’m happy to soon (in 1 year) be living in a place with 8 rooms plus 3–4 storage rooms spread over the floors and an insulated attic...
I’m happy to soon (in 1 year) be living in a place with 8 rooms plus 3–4 storage rooms spread over the floors and an insulated attic...
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