Chests and trunks: making the most of your storage space

Storage space; it's a perennial problem. Our houses often struggle to accommodate the possessions we can't help but accumulate over the years. All but the most stringent non-hoarders fall foul of the problem eventually - and even if we do manage to make an effort to clear out unwanted items, it's only a matter of time before we build back up to capacity.

So, how to combat the clutter? Top of your priority list should be to maximise the efficiency of your available storage space and one of the best ways to do this is to make good use of storage chests and trunks. Available in a range of sizes, materials and - most importantly - prices, these boxes of wonder are an ideal solution for any taste or budget.

Low-cost plastic chests are perfect for under-bed storage in the master bedroom while, for those with a little more cash to play with, more expensive wicker and wooden trunks can provide much-needed storage while still fitting in aesthetically with the rest of your furniture.

Chests can come in especially handy in family homes, where space is inevitably at a premium. Colourful plastic boxes can be employed as a cheap but stimulating storage solution for kids' bedrooms, for example.

And while wooden trunks are most often situated in hallways or adult bedrooms, they can be a wonderful way to limit the time it takes to tidy up toys from the lounge floor once children have gone to bed. If you decide on a sturdy model, chests and trunks can also even double up as additional seating - just be sure to invest in some thick, comfy cushions for your guests.

Manufactured with storage in mind, trunks and chests naturally offer increased space over and above similarly sized furniture such as chests of drawers. One tip, though: if you plan on using your chest to store lots of smaller bits and pieces, it's often an idea to use plastic containers or dividers inside to help you organise your belongings - and avoiding the need to empty the whole lot out at a later date in search of that elusive item.