The fine art of storage

Stowe, stack, cram, pile, heap, hang, and house - until all is lost and nothing found. Does it sound familiar? Is that the story of our lives? Does the way you store your clothes and accessories reflect your inner life?

Our relationship to drawers, cabinets, and closets seems complex. Often enough, you might be prone to lie down on a coach for a session of psychoanalysis to find out more about your secret needs and hidden motifs. Or, is good old behaviourism what it takes, solid advice? Do this! Do that! Sort things out! Get organised! And remember, practice makes perfect!

On the other hand, why not ask a wise and percipient person with some experience and expertise in the field? Some time ago, we were approached by Emilia with a request for clothing storage ideas.

Emilia de Poret is a well-known Swedish columnist and fashionista at Elle and TV4 based in Stockholm. With Ebba Kleberg von Sydow she also manages the digital platform Säker stil, Conscious style, and a pod on the same theme. They are now launching their third handbook. In parallel Emilia has had an artist career as a singer and songwriter.

Emilia decided to go for our Ekeby interior when she converted an old butler’s pantry into a clothing storage.

– The expression of Ekeby, she says, echoes the classicist style of our house in Strandvägen from the late 1800s.

Likewise, an adhering kitchenette was restored with door Sundby, also in the Kvänum Real Classic selection. The choice came naturally.

– Spectacular solutions might suddenly seem very dated. A classic or timeless style minimises the risk of getting tired, says Emilia.

She prefers to keep storage discrete. Function is key. Not that she opposes a refreshing breach of style now and then, on the contrary. But it certainly requires finesse.

To Emilia colour, form and function constitute more or less a holy trinity. Once the Kvänum cabinets in colour Klippa were fitted, she felt something was not quite right.

– Help, I thought, colours mismatch. There was nothing wrong with Klippa though. I love it. Kvänum promptly solved the problem by repainting the walls, as easy as that. I am hugely impressed by the eager creativity and top notch cabinetry - the haute couture of joinery. As a customer you feel privileged.

So, is there still hope of salvation for lost souls who have yet to realise the depth and the width of a closet – and its prospects? Can Emilia offer us guidance?

– Start with your needs, she says, concerning both size and facilities. Think smart inside the box. Sort out your favourite items and make them easy to find. You will need shelves and drawers for staple goods like knitwear, T-shirts, casual clothing, socks, underwear, and for accessories. Get yourself a good hang for delicate garments like evening dresses, gowns, suits, blouses, and shirts. But never jumpers, pullovers, or alike – they are bound to lose shape on a hanger.

Clearly, you would not like to lose shape. But, might also the reverse present a problem? Can you flip and become obsessed by order?

– Oh yes, you ask me, says Emilia, and bursts into laughter. I am a bit of a compulsive cleaner myself; a tidy façade in sharp contrast to an internal chaos is rather agonising. Nevertheless, moderation is to recommend. Perfect is the enemy of good, as someone so wisely put it.

Now, all sorts of storage are not distinguished by discretion. Quite the opposite, exposure seems to be the point. Emilia has this weakness for walk in closets.

– From sneakers to high heels, I am passionate about footwear. The sight of shoes in different shapes and forms on slanted shelves is intriguing and simply irresistible. A thing of beauty is a pure joy. Hang a dashing dress on the wardrobe door, or make room for your finery in a glass cabinet; within the wooden frame silk, embroideries, pearls, and sequins make a true piece of art.