I often hear from readers who need more storage at home. Many hesitate to bring seasonal items into their homes because they worry, where will it go when the season ends? I face the same challenge, but I’ve found a few simple solutions that work well and keep items accessible.
Here’s how I store seasonal or extra items like vases, dishes, linens, decorations, partyware, and silverware:
I use lidded baskets to tuck away extras. The baskets are attractive in the room and add texture, yet they don’t have to be expensive or ornate—some have even been spray painted. They fit neatly under a bench, stacked in a corner, or on a shelf.
Most importantly, they’re easy to access, which means I actually use the things I store.
If you worry about losing track of items in baskets, don’t be. Unless you have a gigantic collection, you’ll still be able to find things quickly. I only have a few baskets in my dining area, so if I’m looking for a blue vase it takes about 30 seconds. If I need bags of pine cones or starfish and can’t remember which basket, I might open two or three before I find them—not a major inconvenience.
By contrast, items stored in a remote garage spot can take weeks to locate, and that hassle often stops me from using them at all.
Knowing I can swap vases on the table on a whim or grab a cake plate quickly makes decorating more enjoyable and entertaining less stressful.
To make retrieval easier, group related items together, especially if you keep baskets in multiple rooms. For example, store vases in one room, serving dishes in another, and decorations elsewhere. This simple grouping reduces the time spent searching.
If you like more structure, you could tape a 3 x 5 card under a table or inside a buffet cabinet listing what’s in each basket. I move things around often, so cards get outdated quickly, but this can work well for people who prefer a fixed system.
For those with a little extra space and more decor, consider a four-shelf unit in a garage or basement. Label each shelf for a season—winter, spring, summer, fall—so you always know where to store and retrieve seasonal items. This also helps when you buy end-of-season sale items: you have a clear place to keep them until next year.
Even if you don’t decorate by season, having a few clever storage strategies makes it easier to manage extra items around the house.
What are your solutions for extra storage?
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