When you’re planning a new home, it’s easy to focus on the big decisions. The kitchen. The floor plan. The exterior. The colours. Yet it’s often the smaller design decisions that determine whether
family life feels calm or chaotic.
Where do the school bags get dropped? Can the kids find their own clothes? Is there somewhere to plug in devices, store the vacuum cleaner or hide everyday clutter? Individually,
these decisions seem small.
Together, they’re the difference between a home that constantly feels cluttered and one that quietly supports your family every day.
Storage that grows with your family
Families change quickly, and children’s storage needs change just as fast. A wardrobe that suits a five-year-old won’t necessarily work for a teenager unless it’s designed to adapt. As Dan McLean, General Manager at Designer Homeware, explains, “Families often plan for today’s needs rather than how they’ll live in five or ten years.”
Adjustable shelving and double hanging rails can be reconfigured into full-height hanging as children grow, creating storage that evolves with your family.
Easy-to-reach shelves also encourage younger children to put away their own clothes and belongings, building independence while taking one more job off Mum and Dad’s list.
A home for every little thing
One of the simplest ways to reduce daily chaos is to create dedicated places for the things your family uses most often. Charging drawers, appliance cupboards, soft-close drawers and high cupboards for medicines are the small design details that make everyday family life run more smoothly.
Just as importantly, design storage around the things you actually own. Vacuum cleaners, suitcases, golf clubs and bulky appliances all need somewhere to live. When everything has a dedicated place, there’s less clutter and more calm.
Why mudrooms are having a moment
Mudrooms are high on many families’ wish lists, and for good reason. If your floor plan doesn’t allow for a dedicated mudroom, a thoughtfully designed entryway with custom cabinetry can achieve much the same result.
These spaces have become the control centres of the home. They often include:
When everything has its place, busy mornings become a little less frantic, and everyone knows where to find things - and where to put them back.
Make every square metre count
New homes aren’t getting any bigger, making thoughtful storage more important than ever. As Dan McLean explains, “A larger wardrobe doesn’t automatically provide better storage. It’s the internal design that makes the difference.”
If you’re deciding where to invest, prioritise the spaces your family uses every day, particularly bedroom wardrobes. Adjustable layouts, quality drawer runners and clever internal storage deliver benefits you’ll appreciate every morning.
The home that quietly works for you
Great family homes don’t just look beautiful. They quietly make everyday life easier. When everything has its place, mornings run more smoothly, mess becomes easier to manage, and every member of the family can be a little more independent. It’s thoughtful design that keeps working for you, long after you’ve moved in.
Top storage tips, room by room
Kitchen
Hide the mess before it multiplies. Every family secretly has a “junk drawer” for unopened mail, batteries and that mysterious collection of screws nobody wants to throw away. Better yet, make it a hidden pull-out drawer. Pair it with a scullery or appliance cupboard with power inside so your coffee machine, blender and air fryer are always ready without cluttering the bench.
Living room
Built-in cabinetry isn’t just for the TV. Create homes for board games, puzzles, books, Lego creations, family photo albums and yes, even your hardworking robovac deserves its own parking bay.
Home office
Working from home isn’t going anywhere. A compact study nook with built-in cabinetry and sliding doors lets you hide laptops, paperwork and charging cables at the end of the day.
Mudroom or entry
Think of this as mission control. Include shoe storage, hooks for school bags, cupboards for sports gear, a stick vacuum cupboard and somewhere to stash beach towels in summer and gumboots in winter.
Kids’ bedrooms
Choose wardrobes that grow with your children. Adjustable shelves and double hanging rails can be reconfigured into full-height storage as they get older, making one wardrobe last from kindy to college.
Master suite
Don’t forget Mum and Dad. A thoughtfully designed walk-in wardrobe with dedicated hanging space, drawers, shoe storage, jewellery trays, good lighting and, if space allows, a small makeup vanity can make busy mornings feel surprisingly luxurious.
Bathrooms
Deep drawers often work better than cupboards, making toiletries easier to see and reach. Add tall linen storage, mirrored cabinets and concealed storage to keep everyday clutter off the vanity.
Garage
Garages have a habit of collecting everything except the car. Keep yours functional with full-height cabinetry for tools, camping gear and seasonal items and wallmounted storage for bikes and sports equipment. This frees up floor space for whatever your family needs, perhaps a rumpus room or a home gym, or maybe even the car.
