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After a summer of heatwaves, it comes as something of a blessing to now be facing cooler evenings, even if that comes with a side order of damp afternoons, muddy footprints and a hallway packed with coats again. With the vigour of back-to-school season in full swing, the early days of autumn are the perfect time to get your home organised for the months ahead. From clever hallway storage and practical baskets to stylish living room and bedroom storage solutions, the key is to keep everyday essentials close at hand without compromising on style.
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Round Rattan Storage Bench - SmallSpecial Price £178.00 Regular Price £275.00 -
Start with an autumn declutter
Before you start planning how to organise your home, begin with a big dose of autumn decluttering. To avoid being completely overwhelmed, tackle the house one room at a time, and maybe even break each room down to two or three separate areas to tidy in 30 minute bursts. In this way you will have a good idea of what you actually need to keep before you introduce more storage.
Now is the time to clear away summer accessories and edit decorative pieces so that you can make the best use of the space you have for items you will use more frequently over autumn and winter. Create a simple keep, store, sell or donate system for all those items that tend to easily multiply such as clothing, toys and books.
Create a welcoming and organised hallway
The hallway steps up as one of the hardest-working areas of the home during autumn. Avoid the dampening effect of arriving home to a state of disarray at the end of the hard day by ensuring it’s easy to keep clutter under control.
It’s essential to have a practical solution for storing the heavier coats and jackets such as a coat rack with double hooks that will also hold school and gym bags. Shoes often seem to breed overnight, especially in homes with young children or teens, so ensure each pair has a place to live – cubby hole style shoe storage solutions such as our Mells Shoe Storage Units are ideal for housing multiple pairs neatly. A bench seat that incorporates storage like our Oak Seagrass Storage Bench is an attractive solution to storing hats, scarves and gloves, with its homely woven baskets at an easily accessible height for small children. Long boots and wellingtons can be kept in the porch or next to the doormat with a dedicated boot rack.
Choose storage that works hard in a small space
Well-thought out storage is even more crucial in smaller spaces. A slimline console table with drawers offers a useful spot for keeping keys and dog leads tucked away. If it includes a lower shelf, use storage baskets for slippers and children’s shoes. Look for dual purpose small hallway storage such as a bench with a lift-up lid which gives you a seat for putting on shoes and a space to tidy away school bags.
Create stylish storage for throws and blankets
There’s nothing like the first chilly night of the season to urge us to pull out some extra layers of comfort in the form of cosy throws and blankets. They make everything from family film nights, to an early night with a good book, so much more enticing. When it comes to blanket storage, keep them close at hand, but also orderly, by placing large wicker baskets next to the sofa or armchair to fold them back into at the end of the day. Upholstered ottomans are also great living room storage ideas, or in the bedroom, store woollen blankets rolled up neatly on a bench at the end of the bed for a styled look that’s also easy to reach.
Make living room storage part of the design
When it comes to stylish living room storage ideas, it’s important to choose furniture that earns its place aesthetically. At Cox & Cox we like a living room styling principle of concealing the clutter and displaying the beautiful, so opt for closed storage for items like TV remotes, games consoles and other tech, paperwork and everyday jumble which can be secreted away in storage furniture like cabinets, sideboards and media units. Then, more pleasing objects such as books, ceramics, lamps, photographs and decorative objects earn their place in open storage such as bookcases, coffee tables and the tops of console tables or sideboards.
Bedroom storage ideas for autumn
Autumn brings the annual wardrobe switch, with lighter summer clothes having to make way for knitwear, coats and heavier layers which always take up more space. Under-bed storage is ideal for packing away out-of-season clothing. For a seamless look, choose an ottoman bed for space-saving storage. Blanket boxes or chests are also a smart seasonal clothing storage option for the foot of the bed. For everyday bedroom clutter, choose bedside tables with drawers or cupboards in the base to store overnight essentials. Baskets are always great for wardrobe organisation and can be filled with swimwear and summer accessories.
Use baskets to bring order to everyday clutter
There are very few rooms in the house that won’t benefit from the addition of storage baskets. Whether large or small, the natural materials of rattan or seagrass baskets will complement any colour scheme with textures to create a considered look. Or for more practical areas look at wire baskets with handles.
We love the versatility that a good set of storage baskets offers – they are flexible and portable, allowing them to be moved around a room as needed. They are visually softer than boxes, making them ideal for adding to shelves or console tables. They are also suitable for multiple uses from toy and shoe storage to logs or craft items.
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Set Of Three Chequer Board Storage BasketsSpecial Price £191.00 Regular Price £295.00 -
Make space for the season ahead
Good storage shouldn't make a home feel more functional; it should make it feel more effortless. With the right storage solutions, preparing your home for autumn needn't mean hiding everything away. From beautifully crafted furniture to natural baskets and hardworking hallway pieces, thoughtful storage can bring order to everyday life while adding warmth, texture and character to your rooms.