When you first walk into a completely empty new home it’s easy to assume that it’ll always feel as open and as airy, and be so easy to keep clean. However, it’s usually not long before reality comes crashing down in the form of countless boxes of heavy winter clothes, scarcely used cookery books, old electronics and all the other bits and pieces we all accumulate over time. In no time at all your beautiful open spaces can be filled with clutter.

Installing shelves will help you organise everything and restore order in any crowded home but if you can put in the storage system before moving your belongings in, it’ll save you a great deal of time and effort. Your knick-knacks, books, and craft supplies can go straight from the mover’s boxes and onto the shelf where they’ll stay.

It also makes the process of measuring up simpler. There’s nothing in the way and you’re free to decide what should go where before moving anything into a particular room. Of course, it’s easier to install storage solutions in open, clutter-free spaces, especially if you’re setting up flat-packed or kit furniture. There are plenty of reasons to put the shelves up before moving in.

Next time you move house, get the storage sorted out as soon as the painters and decorators have finished. You’ll end up with a better, more organised home and unpacking will be so much quicker. A little forethought can save you time and make sure your home is messy for the shortest possible time.

There are messy people and there are neat people. It’s quite hard for neat people to live with messy people and, in all fairness, it’s also pretty difficult for messy people to break the habit of a lifetime and get used to picking their wet towels off the floor and remembering to do the washing up. In relationships we all have to learn new things and sometimes it takes effort to adapt to living with someone whose standards of tidiness may be different from our own.

If your partner in life drives you crazy by leaving every room a complete mess or they have a hobby that commonly results in a pile of debris you’ve got no time for, you can help by giving them the gift of a storage racking. Not only will that make keeping things neat and tidy easier, it’ll also remove any excuse they might have!

With the right shelving there is no need to leave hobby supplies lying around, and a good solution will make it easier for your husband or wife to look after their things. They’ll soon catch on to the benefits of being able to find anything they need quickly and simply, and you’ll be able to relax in the knowledge that their mess will be cleared up at the end of the evening.

Good shelving or the right storage rack can make the difference between a messy home and a tidy one. It’s so much easier and more natural to clear up when everything has a place and that place is easily accessible.

As the old carpenter’s saying goes, you should always measure twice because you can only cut once. When a plank is sawn there is no going back so to avoid waste it’s important to always make exactly sure you’re going to make the cut in exactly the right place. Even the most experienced carpenters and cabinet makers measure everything twice and mark the sawing lines in pencil and so should you – if you make your own shelving that is.

These days most people don’t. It’s quicker and much more convenient to order it ready made or flat packed. The finished racking is much better looking and stronger than anything most of us could hope to build and few people have the workshop space or the time required to make furniture. Aside from professional and hobby carpenters most of us aren’t all that great with a saw.

There is still value in the old saying though. Measure twice, cut once has become measure twice, order once. If anything the second version is even more vital. Saw a plank in the wrong placed and you’ve wasted a plank. Order the wrong sized shelving and you’re really stuck- sometimes literally, halfway up the stairs.

Always measure the space available for new racking or furniture carefully. Take note of all three dimensions (including height) and if you’re ordering ready made rather than flat packed consider how you’re going to get it into the room. That’s often the hardest part, especially if you want to put your new purchase upstairs.

Shelving is a necessity for many businesses, whether for use in backroom warehouses or on the shop floor.

Industrial or engineering businesses may require heavy duty shelving which can cope with the types of heavy equipment and products common to these industries, whilst cheaper lightweight shelves are probably appropriate for the storage of light items such as stationery products, books and magazines.

It has become increasingly popular to use shelves for home office arrangements since the internet made home working more commonplace and the type of shelving systems used for home offices tend to be more stylish and ambient than those designed for commercial or industrial use.

There are currently some good online deals to be found on shelf systems for use in children’s bedrooms – and these systems can look great as well as being completely practical and functional for storage of kids’ school equipment, computers, games consoles and toys.

Shelf systems made from attractive and durable wood varieties such as pine are now even used in the lounges of contemporary homes and can be blended perfectly with furnishings, décor and home entertainment systems.

Some online firms even sell special starter kits for small businesses which include flexible shelves and workbenches. If you are considering starting a sole trader business or small scale business, it is important to always consider the appropriate use of shelves and these starter kits can prove to be great investments.

Look at a range of comparison sites and follow independent recommendations for the best online shelving deals.

Shelving and racking can prove just as useful in the home or office as they are in warehouses and retail outlets. It can become soul destroying searching for an item which you placed in a ‘safe place’ but just cannot lay your hands on. An office which requires the storage of important files, contracts and customer contact information can also run far more smoothly with the incorporation of a bespoke shelving or racking system.

Shelving for the home is far more stylish and ambient than its industrial or commercial equivalents, and is often made from attractive materials such as pine or oak.

Some online retailers offer great deals on shelving which is specifically designed for the utility room, home office, lounge or child’s bedroom, so it is worth considering this space-saving option.

Home businesses and e-taliers often require small storage areas for products which are awaiting shipping and these can be acquired from many shelving specialists for a very reasonable price.

Companies which offer bulk deals on industrial or warehouse shelving often offer space makers, pallet trucks and workbenches – all of which allow your storage area to run smoothly and effectively.

When considering who to buy your storage products from, compare the different prices and deals on offer but remember to seek recommendations and testimonies from customers and businesses whose needs are similar to yours. Check blogs, industry websites, comparison sites and client lists on individual websites, in order to find the best deals possible. The deals are definitely out there, so take the time to look carefully!

Aesthetics are sometimes forced to take a back seat when finances are an issue. When unexpected expenses have an impact on your budget, looks and luxury often turn out to be expendable. Despite your best plans for furnishing your house, a restricted budget might see you considering a cheaper, lower quality option.

It is under such circumstances that you may consider purchasing budget furniture, which is widely available. Whilst most of this type of lower quality furniture and portable shelving units can be used to serve a purpose temporarily, before long you can see why such furniture is so cheap. If you are not careful, you could find yourself throwing away money on makeshift shelving and flimsy storage racking that is not fit for its intended purpose, or could even cause an accident.

Our extensive range of portable racking units at BiGDUG could be just the thing you are looking when it comes to quality furniture at the right price. Our metal shelving and storage racking are popular, and offer superior quality at the most affordable prices, proving that economic furniture does not come at a price of build quality or looks.

When your budget prevents you in investing in expensive shelving units for your new home, attractive, high quality portable racking units can take their place without having an impact on your budget. Being aesthetic, practical and easy-to-assemble, the new range of natural pine wood and metal shelving can help in getting your home organised, without the accompanying hefty price tag.

There are many different styles of storage units that are available on the market these days. The units come in a range of different materials, shapes and sizes so that they can suit many needs. There are storage units that hold a various range of weights, so before purchasing your storage units you need to consider the weight of the items you have to store on them. There are standard units or there are heavy duty units to pick from.

There are shelves and units that can be attached to the walls in an area that best accommodates your storage needs. The shelves can be installed with ease as long as you have the right tools and fixings. If you do not use the appropriate fixings the shelves then your belongings could end up falling onto the floor and getting damaged.

If you have a limited amount of space available on your walls then there are racking units that can be placed onto the floor. These racking units come with a various number of shelves, and the shelves of the unit can be adjusted to heights to suit. If you purchase a unit and require additional storage space then for a small additional cost you can purchase extra shelves to add to your racking unit.

For a more secure storage option there are storage cabinets, these help so that you can lock items away dangerous items so they are out of your children’s reach or banking documents that need to remain safe and confidential.

Every time you go shopping you purchases items and take them home. Bringing more and more items into your house means that you need to find a home for all of these items, so that they are not in your way and easy to access when needed.

This is where there may be a requirement for temporary storage in your home. The good thing about temporary storage systems are that they are easy to assemble and disassemble, which means that you can use them for every situation for as long as they are required.

Most temporary storage units are bolt free and use a snap together system. The only tool that you need to put the unit together is a mallet, which is great if you do not own many tools.

The temporary storage units can be folded up with ease and put away, so that they can be stored in the garage or cupboard until they are required for your next storage issue.

The best purchase you can make when picking you temporary storage is to make sure that it is a multipurpose unit, so the shelves can be adjusted to suit the storage needs for a wide range of items. This makes sure that you get a storage system that is value for money.

If you need to modify the unit to create the perfect storage system, then there are accessories available, so that you can design the ideal unit for all of your needs.

An old saying that still holds true is ‘prevention is better than cure’. Many emergency repairs around the house could be avoided by carrying out regular maintenance checks of the various items that need to looked at.

Draw up a list of things that need to be checked. Shelving and racking, for instance. Make sure they are still securely fixed to the wall. If one has worked loose, try fitting a larger wall plug and a longer screw.

Plumbing checks.

Stop cocks can jam because they haven’t been used for a while. Two or three times a year, fully close them then open them again. A stiff handle should work loose after a couple of turns. A tap that keeps dripping even after being fully closed needs a new washer.

Electrical checks.

Never work on live equipment. If you are working on an appliance, unplug it first. If it is permanently wired equipment, turn off the power at the mains. Light fittings should be checked for signs of wear. Extractor fans should be cleaned regularly.

Central heating checks.

With gas fired central heating, if a radiator is not heating up properly, there is probably air trapped inside which needs to be bled out. Use the radiator key to slowly turn the valve until the air begins to escape, as soon as the hissing stops, close it quickly to prevent water escaping. A small container such as a bowl will be useful to catch any that does.

Lightweight angle iron shelving units are simply a low cost version of its heavyweight cousin. These light steel systems are strong enough to be used for household storage when they are stabilised and braced. It is unfortunate that on many occasions they are not properly stabilised or braced. In this state, they are unsafe.

As with the heavy angle iron systems, a shelf should be installed at ground level to form a rigid box structure. If this is not done the legs might buckle and topple the entire unit. If this leaves you a shelf short, then make use of a light wood frame to replace the bottom shelf. It is also possible to use more than one shelving kit to give you the option of either a taller unit and therefore more shelves or the same height of system but the shelves will be twice the depth affording more shelf storage space.

Alternatively, you could use wooden shelving systems. They are a lot more flexible than metal shelving. It is possible to make them any size or shape you want and this allows you to install them in any space you like.

Wooden shelving systems also have a more attractive appearance than their metal counterparts. Uprights and shelf edges can be rounded and bracing made decorative which makes them ideal for indoor use. If they are to be used indoors it is recommended that you finish them with wax or varnish. Paint is likely to scratch easily and will spoil the appearance.