Dead spaces like small corners can be some of the most confounding spaces in the home. Luckily, Marie Kondo is here to help. In a recent interview with Homes & Gardens, the celebrated organizing consultant explained exactly how to transform these underused spots into havens of order and organization.
Marie Kondo gained international acclaim for her minimalist approach to home organization, but she is also a pro at maximizing the space that is there. Ahead of her appearance at the Clean & Tidy Home Show, Kondo shared her method for utilizing dead space in every home.
Before you purchase anything, maximizing storage in dead zones starts with planning your organization. In our exclusive interview, Marie Kondo tells Homes & Gardens: 'The first step in utilizing dead space is to properly measure the size of the space so that you can choose storage products in just the right size.' Though this advice can be applied to almost every area of the home, it's some of the most difficult to follow because it feels time-consuming, but it will save you lots of time and clutter in the future.
Once you have measured, it's time to purchase the best space or closet organizers. Kondo states: 'These days, you can find very narrow drawer storage shelves and shelves that can be installed in the smallest of spaces. I’m sure you can find the right product for almost any space.' Using the proper shelves or drawers can transform a corner from a deadzone into a bold, design-led feature.
Further, making the best of vertical storage will instantly elevate the unused corners in your home. Kondo states: 'Also, if you can stand things up, store them standing. Not only can you store folded clothes standing in drawers, but you can also store small stationery and other items standing, using small boxes as dividers. By doing so, you can make the most of the height of your storage space.'
Shop Organizers for Small Spaces
Maximize vertical storage in the small spaces in your home using multi-tiered lazy susans and bins. These are perfectly employed in tall cabinets, drawers, or shelves.
This Lazy Susan is workhorse that's perfect for high-traffic storage. It's rustproof stainless steel, so it's good for more humid rooms like bathrooms and kitchens.
Two clear slide-out drawers include removable dividers so you can organize contents for quick access.
Linus Kitchen Bins are a great way to organize storage space in a pantry, cabinet or deep kitchen drawer.
Before you begin optimizing the dead spaces in your home, it's important to employ ultimate decluttering. All of Marie Kondo's organizing advice involves removing items that do not 'spark joy' as the first step. By weeding out unnecessary noise, you will give the dead spaces in your home the best chance of having a complete and polished look.
Though maximizing storage through the use of dead spaces is a seemingly small change, it can make a huge difference in your experience of home.
Marie will speak at the Main Stage of the Clean and Tidy Home Show on October 19. Also, in partnership with the Clean and Tidy Home Show, KonMari will hold an In-Person Consultant Course, which will be the first one in 5 years in Europe. Registration closes on September 30. Why don’t you leap and change your life in 3 days?
