Hygge Nook

Children's book storage

I'm starting to feel like the children's books are taking over my home and not in a good way. Instead they are slipping across floors, peeking out from under the sofas, in toppling stacks or heaped unceremoniously into plastic tubs where it's a scrabble to find a desired book. I would much rather they had neat, tidy storage ala the library's lovely wooden pods where oversized books are easy to pluck out. So I've been on the hunt and narrowed my choices down to these:

This is a very simple solution. Big enough to hold 40 books of differing sizes, easy to access and not overly large. I prefer the white but it also comes in natural wood and petrol blue. I feel this one wins out on size and though it's the pricier of the two, I think it's something that won't date or look too young as my children get older. £69 at Tidy Box.

I've seen this kind of sling bookcase used in classrooms, nurseries and similar buildings and they are again simple and easy to access. the downside is with it being taller, you really need some spare wallspace. £45 at Great Little Trading Co.

What solutions have you found for your books?

Holly Palmer's book porcupine

I always think that books define a person and I just love seeing which authors people have on their shelves. Being a bookish person from a bookish family, I even find it a bit odd when I can't even see the hint of a book in a home. Anyway, that leads me to this intriguing bit of furniture. The different sized slots take different sized books which spike out giving it a porcupine effect and they also have coloured innards to give a flash of colour when the slots aren't occupied. It doesn't look like you can do much else with it (no coffee cup space) and you might find the £950 price tag on the ouchy side.

Holly Palmer [Source: Fresh Design Blog]

Make your own lovely library

A library is somewhat of an indulgence but if you have the room, I'm all for it. After all, what is better than hunkering down in a squashy chair with shelves laden with favourite books all around you? Of course, the modern library isn't all dusty leather sofas, artificial lighting and dark walls. Go, light, bright and fill it with tactile prints and colours for the perfect relaxing space.

Clockwise from top left; Picturebook frames, £11.74 at Colloco, Book ends, £27.95 by I Love Retro at notonthehighstreet.com, Harlequin velvet cushion, £24 at John Lewis, Oilcloth bookbag, £14.99 by ellie ellie at notonthehighstreet.com, Ikea Billy bookcase, from £28.38, John Lewis Mayfair chair in Damson, £775.

Look on the bright side with this Homebase storage unit

I am fighting a losing battle where getting my 4-year-old to put things away is concerned. Toys, books, pencils and more (Cheerios, bits of banana) are constantly under foot.

I wonder if this six-drawer unit from Homebase would make a difference. I love the selection of bright colours, the fact that it's on casters, and also that it costs just £31.99.

Worth a try, I think.

Storage, seating and more from McCord

As I've mentioned before, our house is tiny and seating, along with storage, is always a problem. (In case of visitors, we have to have "emergency chairs" stashed in the under stairs cupboard.)

This coffee table set from McCord could be the answer. Underneath the coffee table fit four stools and the tops come off the stools to reveal storage inside. Itcosts £299 from Kays and is also available with cream stools and/or a walnut table.

Semikolon document boxes from The Container Store

I wish we had a Container Store in England. I'd probably move in, such is my lust for storage boxes.

These Semikolon boxes would look neat on a desk. They're colourful but not garish and are made of sturdy fibreboard so could store files, papers and all the other junk cluttering your desk plus there's a bunch of co-ordinating items. They come in lime, pink and navy for $17.99 each here.

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Inspiring spaces: Children's room with storage

 

I found this image in Easy Living - one of my favourite magazines at the moment. Not only is this a good idea for storage - the unit with big boxes that doubles up as a headboard - but I know it works because my oldest son has a similar set up in his room with a bookcase slotted into the gap left between his bed and the wall. His isn't as pretty as this, of course, but I love the way this room would suit girls of all ages without dating quickly and it's a good way of getting extra storage into a smaller room. There's a full list of stockists for everything in the room here.

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A place for everything...

I saw this storage system in Jack's office in an old episode of Will & Grace and thought to myself, "that's what I need!" And then it started cropping up on blogs...

It's the Vitra Uten.Silo Wall Storage Unit and it's a design classic, apparently. Originally launched in 1969, it was relaunched in 2002 and is now available in large (Uten.Silo I) and small (Uten.Silo II) versions and also comes in black,  red and chrome (small only).

Both sizes are currently on special offer at Utility.

Collapsable car boot tidy

I first spotted this when I was on holiday in Cornwall last year (lovely by the way, do recommend it). The people in the cottage next to us on the farm we stayed at had one in their car and when I spotted it, I had to ask about it. It went something like this, '"wheredidyougetthat? IloveitIreallyreallyloveit pleasetellmewhereyougotitfrom?" Yes, I forgot to breathe, I liked it that much. Sad, I know. 

The case collapses down to briefcase size and then expands by a locking system and has little wheels and a telescopic handle to make it easy to manoevre. It's realy useful for all the odds and ends that end up in the car - wellies, gloves, supplies etc. It took me a while to find one but eventually I snagged one on eBay for £11 from seller 365-online. And as the one I got is pink, I'm virtually assured my boyfriend won't 'borrow' it. My toddler also likes to sit in it and be wheeled about!

Harri Koskinen birch storage cubes

 

The curves of these birch wood cubes are so appealing, aren't they? I know plastic storage boxes are hugely popular (especially in my house) and not least because they're so cheap, but these cubes really do make a quiet statement whilst serving a purpose. You could use them anywhere too. So long as you don't mind parting with £170 for each one at Store.

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