I’m a homes editor and these are the 4 vital storage items I’m 'adding to cart' this spring – and why you should too

Storage is vital for keeping your home functional, tidy and will help banish visual clutter hot spots.

That’s why these four vital storage items are ones we’re adding to cart. As a homes editor, let me tell you exactly the hard lessons I've learned in recent weeks that have led to me reassessing my storage needs.

To begin, your home storage ideas need to serve vital two purposes: store things and maximize your space.

4 storage items I’m adding to cart right now

1. Waterproof outdoor storage

April showers are not a thing of lore. The meteorological reasons for this temperamental weather is not my area of expertise, but it certainly is true that April’s flip-flopping weather is enough to give you whiplash. It can be sunny one minute, raining the next.

Every year, I get caught out by this and end up with my patio cushions sopping wet and unusable for days until they dry out again. It happened again last week after I enjoyed a chilly but sunny lunch break on my patio furniture, but found the cushions soaked the next morning.

That’s why this handy outdoor waterproof storage unit from Walmart, which is currently on offer is the perfect solution. You won't have to subject your cushions to musty shed smells, make space indoors for bulky cushions, or like me, spend days trying to dry out the foam or cleaning your outdoor cushions.

2. Out of season clothing storage

I am spending this week picking out the sweaters that are ironically making me sweat, and swapping them for my cooler tops, blouses and skirts that I had stashed away over winter. Decluttering your closet of any out-of-season clothing not only opens up space but makes it less stressful to get ready in the morning.

However, the fastener on my trusty vacuum storage bags, which are an essential bedroom storage idea, have finally fatigued and need replacing. These storage bags make it possible to compress soft items such as clothing, bedding, cushions, and coats with your vacuum, so you can save space and protect any natural fibers from pests, such as moths, which can leave holes in your clothes.

After packing for house moves (three in the last few years) and at least half a dozen wardrobe transitions for seasonal clothing swapping sessions since the pandemic, the fastening zipper-style sealing points on mine are no longer staying shut, so it’s time to recycle my current ones and invest in a new batch.

This multi-pack of vacuum storage bags from Amazon are just the ticket and will help me maximize my underbed storage space.

3. Airtight attic storage bins

I had a horrifying moment a fortnight ago when I found an heirloom covered in a layer of mold, and it’s been the much-needed kick-start I needed to source some air-tight storage tips for my small attic.

It was somewhat crushing to find the surface of my decades-old wooden backgammon set, which I inherited from my Persian grandmother in Iran, has become covered in mold over winter.

It’s a good time for me to reassess what’s up there, but also a reminder of things to never store in the attic. The risk of mold creeping into my attic has also given me a nudge to schedule a visit from a roofer to check it’s not because of a common household leak, or a failure in adequate attic ventilation.

In the meantime, any loose items up there will be going in large lidded storage bins from Target, for extra protection from fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels during April showers. Choosing clear containers means I will be able to track down what I'm looking for easily, helping to properly organize my attic.

4. Ottoman foot stool

The constant switch between needing a fan in the daytime to needing a cozy throw in chillier evenings this April has me rethinking if my large footstool is a small living room mistake.

The beautiful but expansive footstool I currently have matches my black velvet sofas but has empty space underneath, and whilst I appreciate being able to see its pretty brass legs, the space is wasted. That's why I have my eye on an upholstered storage ottoman from Ikea.

This will maximize my space, and mean I have somewhere handier to keep those extra throws we keep pulling out of the under-stairs cabinet in the hallway for colder April evenings spent relaxing together.

What to shop

If storage is firmly on your mind, consider the the ways you can use vertical storage to your benefit at home.