Every month we look at what people type into the search bar on carlahome.com. This October, four things kept coming up: pegboards, jewellery boxes, spice racks and shoe cabinets. Here’s the one we’d pick in each, and how to get the most out of it at home.
1. Pegboards: one wall, every small thing in sight
Pegboard accessories were among the most searched items on our site this month. A pegboard works anywhere small things pile up: above a desk, in the laundry, by the back door or in the garage. Start with the things you reach for every day at eye level, keep the heavier tools low, and leave a few gaps so the board can grow with you.
Four panels and 18 accessories, so you can start with one wall and add on later.
2. Jewellery boxes: everything untangled and in one place
Necklaces knot, earrings go missing and rings end up in the soap dish. A box with separate layers and drawers gives each piece a spot. Keep everyday pieces in the top layer and the special-occasion ones in the drawers below, and use the mirror to try things on before you head out.
Six layers, five drawers and a built-in mirror.
3. Spice racks: see every jar at once
Spice racks and jars were searched just as often as pegboards. The trick is to see every label without lifting jars out. Decant into matching jars, label the lids and the fronts, and put the ones you cook with weekly on the top tier. Keep the rack away from the cooktop so heat and steam don’t dull the flavour.
Four tiers with 28 glass jars, 300 labels and a funnel for decanting.
4. Shoe cabinets: a clear floor at the front door
Shoes by the door are the first thing anyone sees when they walk in. A slim cabinet with flip-down drawers takes shoes off the floor without taking much space from a narrow hallway. Give each person a drawer, keep the season’s pairs inside and store the rest elsewhere.
Three flip-down drawers in an oak finish, slim enough for an entry.
Where to start
Pick the spot that bothers you most each day and sort that one first. One tidy corner makes the next one easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to put a pegboard?
Anywhere small items pile up: above a desk, in the laundry, by the back door or in the garage.
How do I stop spices losing flavour?
Keep them in sealed jars away from the cooktop, where heat and steam dull them faster.
Will a shoe cabinet fit a narrow hallway?
A slim cabinet with flip-down drawers is designed for tight entries; check the measurements on the product page before you buy.
