New Shibden Storage Booths are Perfect for Tackling Kitchen Overflow and Household Clutter

Decluttering, tidying, cleaning, and tackling other life admin tasks will all be top of people’s to-do lists this Spring, so we’re pleased to share that we have launched a range of booths featuring intelligent storage solutions to help keep things spick and span.

Please welcome Shibden, our new storage booth range, which has now officially launched!

On the range, which comprises 4 modular components (straight modules in three lengths, plus a corner module), which can be combined to design your perfect seating layout, the seat lifts easily with a fabric handle that can be concealed to reveal a generous hidden storage compartment, perfect for keeping your space tidy and organised.

Each module features substantial storage capacity (NB: in the medium and large bench modules only, the storage compartment is divided into two sections), and the seats and backrests are covered with durable, high-density foam, while metal springs provide support to the backrests for superior sitting comfort and proper posture. Plus, all storage booths come fully upholstered as standard, including the outside backrest, so your booth can also be freestanding!

Pictured: Shibden Large Straight Banquette Seating with Storage

Combining elegant, comfortable seating with useful storage, Nook’s innovative Shibden range of banquette seating offers a stylish and practical solution to maximise space and optimise convenience, bringing both comfort and clever design to your dining area.

Designed for small kitchens and restricted spaces, Shibden banquettes offer functional, attractive kitchen seating with storage that can be placed against an existing wall to optimise space – and with 18 colours across 4 fabrics (woven, velvet, luxe chenille, and faux leather) and 2 upholstery finishes (plain or fluted), there’s something to match every interior style.

Astronomical Spring is just around the corner – 20th March, if you’re asking – so as the nights get lighter, more people will be designating time to spend Spring cleaning. So, to gather expert insights on the topic, we collaborated with home organisers and cleaners to share tips and advice on where to start.

Decluttering and cleaning

Hester Van Hien, a home decluttering and organising consultant at Tidylicious, said: “Some people see a clutter-free, organised home as the end goal, whilst others see it as a means to a better lifestyle”. Hester specialises in using a methodical approach to transform homes into calm, clutter-free spaces, so we interviewed her to get her expert opinions on 9 popular decluttering ‘hacks’.

The ‘upside down’ and “reverse hanger” decluttering methods

Explainer: Turn items upside down, or hang your clothes hangers the other way round. After using or wearing items, put them back, but this time position the item or hanger the ‘right’ way up or round. Set yourself a deadline (say six months to a year) and, after that time, go through your home, and you can easily see which items you haven’t used or worn. In these cases, perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to these items!

Expert opinion: “I think both these methods can work… but when I work with clients I try to encourage them to make decisions straight away rather than postponing the decision-making.”

Houdini bins

Explainer: Place items in a ‘Houdini bin’ and label it with a date 3-6 months in the future. If you haven’t opened the bin to retrieve anything by that date, donate the entire bin without looking inside.

Expert opinion: “Same as with the ‘upside down’ method… I think it can work, but when I work with clients, I always try to encourage people to avoid those ‘maybes’ instead of reaching a definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when asking yourself 

“Instead, ask yourself – ‘Does this spark joy?’ or ‘Do I like/need this?’. Having said that, there are sometimes items that my clients can’t decide on straight away. We put these in a ‘maybe’ pile and revisit them later, during that decluttering session or a future one. Quite often, that little pause gives people the answer.”

Clutter buckets (invisible clutter):

Explainer: Place baskets in rooms to immediately hide items without a home, making surfaces look clean. These are for ‘ugly-but-practical’ items you know you cannot get rid of.

Expert opinion: “This can be a good method, but it’s only the first step, in my opinion. It makes a room instantly look neater and calmer, but it’s good to revisit these clutter buckets when you have a bit more time, and create a proper home for these items. It’s important that each and every item in your home has its own storage space.”

The ‘5/7’ decluttering rule

Explainer: Only keep an item on a surface if you use it 5 days out of 7.

Expert opinion: “Sometimes it can be nice to have a rule like this, but a home could look very messy if this rule is applied to all items that you use 5 days out of 7. But if you’re considering leaving out some items on a surface, I think this is a good rule to live by.

“Out of sight, out of mind. When you find yourself forgetting about items if they’re not in sight (for example, forgetting to take your medication or supplements if they’re not on your make-up table, bathroom sink, or kitchen worktops), it’s good to keep these items out, and be selective about what you store in sight.”

The ‘10-10-10’ and ‘tote bag’ decluttering methods

Explainer: With the ‘10-10-10’ method, you remove 10 items from 10 different, small, specific areas over 10 days. Similarly, with the ‘tote bag’ method, you hang a tote bag on every door and drop items in it as you move through the house, sorting them into relevant piles (donate/recycle/rubbish) at the end of the week.

Expert opinion: “ I think the above two methods can work, but you will only see a little bit of progress, because you only do a little bit of decluttering each time. If you use these methods, I would recommend also setting aside larger chunks of time to work through larger areas of your home, and getting rid of a lot of items in one go. Otherwise, you might be decluttering your whole life! But if you’ve done a deep declutter of your home once, it’s much easier to stay on top of it and maintain a clutter-free home by using one of these methods.”

The ‘333’ decluttering method:

Explainer: Choose only 33 items to wear for 3 months, excluding underwear/sleepwear, to simplify your wardrobe.

Expert opinion: “Courtney Carver has introduced this method. I love her books and recommend them to anyone who’s looking for inspiration on simplifying their home and their life. What she writes about clothes and the 333 method makes you realise that you can probably live with a lot fewer clothes than you think. Imagine having a wardrobe with only clothes that fit you and that you enjoy wearing. It will save so much time choosing an outfit.”

The pre-emptive buying permission decluttering method

Explainer: Give yourself permission to rebuy an item later if you need it. This reduces the fear of letting go of items you might need ‘someday’.

Expert opinion: “This is similar to the 20/20 decluttering rule, created by The Minimalists, and it helps you decide what to keep by letting go of items you can replace for under £20 and within 20 minutes.”

Hester continued: “If these thought processes make it easier for you to let go of the typical ‘just in case’ items, I’m a big fan of them”. Adding her own tip, she highlighted that “it can also make it easier to let go of an item when you first take a photo of it.” 

With the season changing, Hester added that Spring cleaning and spring clearing go hand in hand – “If an area is cleared of piles of stuff, then it’s much easier to clean. You can actually clean an area, rather than clean around things. In a clutter-free environment, it’s much easier to do a deep clean.” Plus, damp and mould are certainly more of a risk in a cluttered room.

To give us some specific insights into cleaning, we spoke to Georgina Shepherd from Housekeep, who shared her expertise on how best to spring-clean your interior fabrics…

Woven polyester

• • Woven polyester is one of the easier upholstery fabrics to look after. The best way to look after this material is regular vacuuming with the upholstery attachment, because crumbs and dust tend to sit in the weave”.

• • Recommended approach: Blot any spills straight away with a clean cloth and a bit of mild, soapy water. Polyester generally responds well to spot cleaning, but it’s best not to soak it

• • One thing to avoid is scrubbing too hard, because that can rough up the fibres and make the fabric look worn or fuzzy

Velvet

• • Brushing velvet gently with a soft upholstery brush every so often to keep the pile looking even

• • If the fabric starts to look a bit crushed, a light steam can help bring it back to life. Even holding a handheld steamer slightly away from the fabric can help lift the fibres

• • The main mistake people make with velvet is rubbing at stains. That tends to flatten the pile and can actually make the mark more noticeable

Chenille

• • Chenille is lovely and soft, but it can flatten with use. Regular vacuuming helps stop dust from settling into the fibres

• • If the texture starts to look a bit flat, lightly brushing it can help restore the softness

Leather / faux leather

• • Leather furniture is actually quite straightforward to maintain. Most of the time it just needs a wipe with a slightly damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and everyday marks

• • Every few months, it’s worth using a leather conditioner to keep the material supple and prevent cracking

• • The main don’ts are harsh cleaners and too much water. It’s also worth keeping leather furniture away from strong direct sunlight, as that can dry it out over time

Wood

• • Try to avoid strong chemical cleaners or abrasive cloths, because they can damage the finish

• • A slightly damp cloth followed by buffing with a dry microfibre works well. This will help lift dirt without leaving moisture sitting on the surface

Glass

• • A simple white vinegar and water solution works really well. Buffing the glass with a dry cloth afterwards will leave you with a sparkling finish!

Stone

• • Stone surfaces like marble or granite should be cleaned gently. Warm water with a few squirts of washing-up liquid is usually enough

• • Chemicals and acidic cleaners, such as vinegar, should be avoided on natural stone because they can damage the surface!

Georgina also offered other hacks on looking after your upholstery, including:

1. 1. Steam cleaning for refreshing upholstery
   2. Baking soda for odour control 
   3. Using a soft upholstery brush to revive textures
   4. Vacuuming seams and crevices in seating 
   5. Rotating and fluffing sofa cushions regularly

On these, she said: “Steam cleaning is great for refreshing upholstery because it lifts dirt and freshens fibres without soaking the fabric. It works particularly well on woven polyester and velvet. With velvet, a light steam can help revive flattened pile and make the fabric look fuller again. It’s best to avoid using steam directly on chenille or leather, as heat and moisture can damage those materials”.

“Baking soda is great for removing odours from your upholstery. It is best used on woven polyester and chenille. It’s not ideal for velvet because the powder can get trapped in the pile, and it isn’t necessary for leather. Sprinkle a light layer of baking soda, leave it for about 20–30 minutes, then vacuum it up. It helps absorb lingering smells and freshens fabrics without needing strong cleaners or water.

“If velvet or chenille upholstery starts to look a bit flat from everyday use, gently brushing the fabric with a soft upholstery brush can lift the fibres and restore the texture. Always brush lightly and in the direction of the pile for the best result

“Dust, crumbs and pet hair tend to collect in seams and corners of sofas and chairs. Using the narrow nozzle attachment on your vacuum is a quick way to remove this buildup and keep upholstery looking cleaner overall.

“Rotating seat and back cushions every so often helps distribute wear more evenly. Giving them a quick fluff also helps maintain their shape and keeps furniture looking fuller for longer.”

The wider impact of clutter

With mould and damp highlighted as potential issues when it comes to clutter, we also collaborated with Dr Nikki Ramskill, a GP verified on the healthcare review platform Doctify, to discuss the impact on our physical health.

She shared that “when surfaces are covered, or rooms are overcrowded with belongings, dust, allergens and sometimes mould can build up much more easily. These particles can irritate the airways and immune system, particularly for people who already have conditions such as asthma, eczema or environmental allergies. Poor indoor air quality can lead to symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and worsening asthma. Some people may also notice headaches, fatigue or difficulty concentrating if the air in their home contains high levels of dust or mould spores.”

Clutter can also influence daily health behaviours – “When kitchens and worktops are crowded with items, cooking from scratch can feel more stressful and time-consuming, which may lead people to rely more heavily on convenience foods or takeaways. Similarly, if there is limited clear floor space, people may feel less inclined to exercise at home or move around freely. Over time, small environmental barriers like this can subtly reduce physical activity and healthy habits.”

According to Dr Ramskill, who specialises in women’s health, women may also feel the effects of clutter more acutely, partly because they often carry a disproportionate share of the household organisational burden – “When women are already managing work, family responsibilities and hormonal changes such as perimenopause or menopause, a chaotic home environment can add to mental load and contribute to stress, poor sleep and difficulty concentrating. Creating a home environment that is easier to clean, ventilate and move around in can therefore have surprisingly positive effects on both physical health and overall wellbeing.”

Continuing on the theme of mental health and wellbeing, psychologist Dr Sarah-Jane Khalid said: “research shows that clutter and disorganisation can create a cumulative effect on the brain. The brain prefers to have order when there is chaos or clutter, which can lead to constant visual reminders of disorganisation, and this then drains our cognitive resources, leading to an inability to focus. Research has further shown that clutter can also lead to an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol, which can trigger stress, anxiety and depression. It can also exacerbate procrastination.”

Psychotherapist Georgina Sturmer added that“physical clutter can add to the mental load that we are carrying, leaving us feeling stressed or anxious. Decluttering can positively impact mental health by regaining control, tackling overwhelm, and creating space. Small spaces or limited storage can make people struggle to keep items and spaces organised, and therefore, more efficient organisation is needed in order to mitigate these issues.”

But busy lifestyles can mean belongings start to pile up, and sometimes there just isn’t an available space for those extra table linens and placemats, kids’ toys, or seasonal decorations to be properly put away out of sight.

With toys being a key part of household clutter for many families across the country, we also spoke to Dr Amanda Gummer (PhD, PCHE, BA(Hons). mBPS FRSA) – CEO FUNdamentally Children, Home of The Good Play Guide – about some toy-related decluttering hacks.

On the ‘20 toy rule’ as a potential decluttering hack, she commented: “It’s a helpful conversation starter, but it’s arbitrary. Twenty toys might be excessive for one child and insufficient for another, depending on variety, home space, sibling sharing and how toys are defined. The real issue isn’t the number. It’s whether the toys available support deep, sustained and varied play rather than superficial switching.”

Rather than counting toys, Amanda encourages parents to check for balance:

• • Infants

    • • A small selection rotated regularly is sufficient. Often, fewer than 10 accessible items at a time.

• • Toddlers

    • • Around 10–20 accessible toys at once is usually manageable, provided they cover movement, construction, pretend and sensory play.

• • Pre-school

    • • 15–25 accessible resources work well in many homes, again covering different play categories.

• • School-age

    • • More complex toys take up cognitive space as well as physical space. Quality matters more than quantity. Many families will naturally accumulate more, but not all need to be available at the same time.

She added, “Accessibility is the keyword. A cupboard or other storage compartment full of toys is different from a floor full of toys.”

Pictured: Shibden U-Shaped Banquette Booth with Storage

Rotating the toys that are available can also be a useful method for reducing visible clutter – on this topic, Amanda shared that “toy rotation can be very effective, particularly for toddlers and pre-schoolers. When fewer options are available, attention increases, play becomes deeper, and children rediscover older toys. This is less about novelty and more about reducing cognitive overload. That said, some children are unsettled by sudden removal, so rotation works best when done gradually and without ceremony… Toys are tools – they should serve development, not dominate it.”

Amanda also shared 6 practical approaches for decluttering toys (without the tears), including:

1. 1. Removing broken or developmentally outgrown toys first
   2. Involving children in donating toys framed as ‘passing on’ rather than ‘losing’
   3. Creating a ‘maybe box’ stored out of sight for a few weeks
   4. Focusing on categories rather than individual items
   5. Modelling detachment by decluttering your own possessions
   6. Avoiding surprise bin bags – “children deserve predictability and respect”

Amanda also highlighted that research suggests that excessive choice can reduce sustained attention. She shared that “when children are overwhelmed by options, play can become fragmented. Potential downsides include reduced focus and shorter play episodes, increased clutter and parental stress, less appreciation for individual toys, and more reliance on novelty. It’s also worth challenging the assumption that ‘more toys = more enrichment’… Time, space and adult responsiveness are far more predictive of outcomes than toy volume.”

Clutter can indeed cause parental stress, but it doesn’t just affect the adults in the household. We also spoke to another Doctify-rated expert – this time, paediatrician Dr Arindam Das – to talk about how our children may be affected.

As previously discussed, clutter can impact the ability for thorough cleaning. Floors, in particular, can carry bacteria, viruses, allergens, and chemical residues (especially in high-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens). According to Dr Das, “crawling babies and toddlers are naturally closer to the ground and frequently put their hands or toys in their mouths, which increases exposure”.

While he shared that early-life exposure to normal environmental microbes may help support immune system development – “the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ suggests that reasonable microbial exposure in early childhood may reduce the risk of allergic disease later in life” – Dr Das warned that potential issues could include gastrointestinal infections, viral respiratory illnesses, or allergic flares in susceptible children.

However, he notes that serious illness from routine floor exposure in a typical home is uncommon… He said, “In the vast majority of homes, it is completely safe for children to play with toys on the floor. Children playing on the floor is developmentally normal and important for motor development, sensory exploration and independence.”

Offering practical hygiene advice for parents, he suggests the following precautions:

• • Encourage handwashing before meals

• • Clean toys regularly (weekly is sufficient in most homes; more often if visibly dirty or after illness)

• • Wash soft toys periodically

• • Vacuum or mop floors regularly

• • Avoid wearing outdoor shoes indoors if possible

While he confirmed that there is no need for daily disinfection in healthy households, and that constantly sterilising toys in the home setting is unnecessary, he reminds parents that strong bleach solutions left wet on surfaces, highly fragranced cleaning products, and antibacterial sprays used excessively can all be harmful for children – so moderation matters in family households!

Mindful kitchen planning

In addition to reducing clutter in our households, interior design and storage planning can also make a big difference. To gather more insights, we also spoke to three specialist property experts.

• • Irfan Litt, senior design and sales manager at Parker Kitchens

• • Julie Gokce, senior kitchen designer at More Kitchens

• • Samantha-Jane Agbontaen, an interior designer and founder of House Designer

Continue reading to see what they had to say about layout planning, storage solutions, and homeware usage – focusing on kitchen/dining spaces.

Kitchen layout planning

Julie shared that “when it comes to designing a kitchen layout, you need to visualise the planning by creating designated activity zones for preparation, cooking and cleaning”.

However, Irfan noted that “you will often hear about the kitchen work triangle, positioning the sink, hob and fridge in a balanced relationship. It is a helpful starting point, but very few rooms are perfectly square or conveniently arranged. Windows, doors, plumbing runs and ventilation points usually dictate part of the plan. Our role as designers is to work within those real-world constraints and make the space function properly.”

Samantha-Jane added that: “The most common mistake in kitchen design is planning for the kitchen you aspire to have rather than the one you actually need. The best kitchens we deliver start with an honest brief about how the space is really lived in. Everything else becomes purposeful from that point: layout, storage, materials.”

Storage solutions

The experts highlighted the following 6 areas when looking to optimise and maximise kitchen storage:

1. • Start by looking up – many kitchens leave unused space above wall units

• • Don’t forget about corner solutions

    • • Irfan shared that “Corners are often wasted. Modern corner solutions bring the contents forward, making storage genuinely usable rather than awkward”

• • Appliance garages, pull-out larders and tandem larders keep surfaces clear while allowing quick access

• • For anyone renovating, prioritise deep pull-out drawers over traditional cupboards wherever you possibly can

• • Implement multi-functional solutions, or look to implement clever space-saving systems – such as nesting, stacking and modular

    • • Julie shared: “When it comes to saving space, the golden rule is to look for opportunities where one thing can do the job of two. Nesting and modular systems are the way to go here”

• • Consider built-in solutions, including integrated appliances

    • • Samantha-Jane added that: “Integrated appliances are worth the investment in tighter spaces. They eliminate visual noise and free up floor area”

Adding some further context, Julie mentioned that, “people often overlook the vertical space when planning kitchen storage. It’s common to get so focused on the floor plan that you forget about wall space, especially for smaller things! Magnetic knife strips are a brilliant example, and hanging rails for utensils, ladles, or even your most used pots add a lovely professional kitchen feel while keeping everything exactly where you need it. This will clear your countertops too, making it more of a pleasant environment to cook in”.

Irfan shared that thoughtful internal organisation is key to optimising space-saving in kitchen design – “Most gains come from using awkward areas properly and reducing surface clutter. Good space saving is about improving access, visibility and flow so the kitchen feels calmer and easier to use.”

Samantha-Jane continued: “The most efficient kitchens are ones where every item has earned its place. Before designing, audit what you actually own and use. A renovation is the perfect moment to be ruthless.”

Irfan also shared 10 examples of additional features that many homeowners may not have considered, yet which can make a marked difference to how effective and enjoyable a kitchen feels in daily use include:

1. 1. Boiling water tap
   2. Pull-out bin system
   3. Corner storage
   4. Slim pull-out spice racks and towel rails
   5. Spray tap
   6. Warming drawer
   7. Pull-down mechanisms in tall cabinets
   8. LED task and internal cabinet lighting
   9. Pop-up sockets and concealed charging points
   10. mart or combination appliances

Kitchenware usage

Julie said: “Walk into any kitchen, and you will find drawers stuffed with gadgets used once, cupboards crammed with mismatched containers and appliances gathering dust. The truth is, you can cook almost anything with a surprisingly small collection of well-chosen pieces.

With this in mind, Samantha-Jane suggests that the following kitchenware quantities are sufficient:

• • Food prep: 2-3 boards for a solo household, up to 5 for a family. One per purpose: veg, meat, bread.

• • Cookware and ovenware: 2 to 3 pieces for solo use, 4 to 6 for a family. Nesting trays, two roasting dishes maximum.

• • Pots and pans: 3 for one person, 5 to 6 for a family. Saucepan, frying pan, casserole, and stockpot cover most cooking needs.

• • Tableware: buy 4 above your household size to cover guests without overstocking.

• • Cutlery: one full set plus a spare 4-piece.

• • Drinkware: split between everyday and occasion. 4 to 6 solo, 12 to 16 for a family of four.

• • Small appliances: kettle and toaster as the baseline, then one based on a genuine lifestyle: blender, coffee machine or air fryer. Not all three unless you use all three.

If one thing has become clear, though, speaking to these experts, it’s that – whatever the environment – space is always at a premium. Banquette seating with built-in storage provides many benefits, including the perfect opportunity to double up on comfort and convenience, as discreet, hidden spaces are ideal for storing anything – from small appliances to tableware and even toys.

Integrated storage in banquette seating provides practical, versatile, smart use of space – freeing up cupboards and removing the need for additional shelving, making the most of your interior space! If you’re looking for an elegant yet easy, affordable way to add storage to your seating solution, Shibden banquettes by Nook offer the perfect combination of design flair and practical integration. View the Shibden range.