Clean up your act

Store the real you

When deciding on your storage requirements you have to think about what you are really like. Plan your storage for who you are rather than what you'd like to be. People want to be really organised and dust their shelves all the time - but if you don't like dusting there is no point in having open shelves. Some people are already organised and others need a storage system that will help them put things away. And other people like having things around them and are not too bothered by what others would see as clutter.

Consider others' needs

As well as planning for yourself you need to think about the habits of everyone else in the house. You may be very tidy but your partner might like things on show, so you'll have to come to a compromise. If you have one young child and one older one you need to plan around their differing needs, such as having a high shelf for the older child's private things. Clothes should not be stored out of young children's reach or they will never be encouraged to learn to dress themselves.

Quantify your stuff

Put all the things you want to store out in front of you and discover just what you have. Seeing how many large and small items you have will how much storage you need and of what size.

Define your capacity

Most people have more space than they think so have a good look at your home. Think of it as a project and walk around with a pen, paper and measuring tape and see how far you get. Look at possibilities such as bay windows which can contain storage boxes. Think about storing items in the hall in narrow cupboards or in a blanket box in a spare space, perhaps near the top of stairs. You can buy pull-out cupboards to make storage space under the stairs more effective.

Access all areas

Often dining rooms are empty areas containing only tables and chairs - you could store serving implements in here to save you rushing into the kitchen all the time. People often have beds in their spare rooms, even if they are used only about once or twice a year. This makes a lot of the house look unused. We tend to live in two rooms, even if we have a fourbedroom house, spending our day in the kitchen and living room and then going upstairs to bed. Use the whole house for yourself, making spare rooms habitable with storage space, sofa beds and perhaps a television and desk.

Use it or lose it

Elimination is my word for this year. It is really important to throw things away around twice a year. There is no point in kidding yourself that you might use that thing that has lain around untouched for 10 years because you won't. People hate throwing things out but rather than just binning them you can give them to charity. Storage is expensive so you shouldn't give space to things you don't need.

Think minimalist

For minimalist looking storage, paint the cupboard the same colour as the walls. Don't have wide doors on hinges - instead use sliding doors or ones that open to less than 50cm.

Painted light

If you are displaying a collection of items and can't afford to put lighting in the cupboard, paint the back wall in a pale colour that will highlight the pieces.

Storing technology

If you put your television or stereo in a cupboard make sure it has good ventilation. Remember that remote controls don't work through wood but they do through glass.

Book in advance

If you collect things like books, think five years ahead and build in 50 per cent extra storage. Build shelves to accommodate big books.

Broad and narrow

People tend to create deep storage spaces but then items at the back just disappear. Dining plates need deep shelves because they're 31cm across but smaller items should have narrow shelves.

Space for plates

In the kitchen don't store crockery near dishwashers or hobs as they will get damp or covered in grease. If you tend to cook ready meals you'll probably need more freezer than fridge space.

Pretty tidy

As well as being practical and useful, storage must be aesthetically pleasing. Items on display should be beautiful, so keep tatty books away from the more prominent parts of the shelves and don't use rough materials to build shelves.

Create your dream

Conran pointed out that once a year we go away on holiday to a (hopefully) beautiful, clutter-free place and then we come home to our less than perfect homes. It should be the other way around. You should be in the beautiful environment for 11 and a half months of the year and then maybe go camping for two weeks. Create the interior you've longed for. You need to be innovative and not just have things a certain way because they've always been like that.

Maxi and Frank Goodwin run interiors shop Inreda, in Dublin's Camden Street.