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Home 18 February 2021

16 Genius Bathroom Organisation Tricks

The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house, and one of the rooms with the least storage space. These handy bathroom organisation tricks will help keep the space clutter-free.

1. Extra Shower Rail

bathroom organisation tricks Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano shower rail

Keep everything in your shower within reach and off the floor by putting up an extra rail in your shower.

2. Wall-mounted cabinet

Bathroom storage ideas — *Source: ltdcommodities.com*

Make the most of every inch in your bathroom by transforming your toilet into another storage surface. Pop a tray on the cistern and hang all your toilet essentials off the sides.

3. Drawer Organisers

If you’re sick of opening your draws and scrabbling around in a heap of half-finished tubes and tubs every morning, this is the tip for you. Pick up some cheap draw organisers or small baskets and transform you bathroom experience.

4. Extra Shelving

bathroom organisation tricks Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano shelves — *Source: Graceful Order*

Save yourself from filling the sink with products by adding some small shelves next to the mirror.

5. Cabinet Toothbrushes

bathroom organisation tricks toothbrush storage Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: lisotic.com*

A few little cuts will keep your toothbrushes off the sink and clean in the cabinet.

6. Magnetic Storage

bathroom organisation tricks magnetic strip Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: Diply*

Repurpose a magnetic knife strip in the bathroom and save your small items from getting lost.

7. Bath Time Baskets

bathroom organisation tricks toy storage Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: Tiger Feng*

Prevent the bathroom from turning into a impenetrable mass of toys with some baskets and a shower rail. This system means that happy bathers can still easily grab and replace a favourite toy as well.

8. Mason Jar Organiser

bathroom organisation tricks mason jars Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: DIY Playbook*

This chic organisational idea finds a use for all those jars you just can’t bear to throw away. Simply attach your jars to an appropriately sized piece of wood and then mount it all on the wall.

9. Repurposed Baskets

Transform industrial, wire baskets into chic shelves and give yourself stacks more storage space in the process.

10. 360° Shelving

bathroom organisation cabinet storage Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: MiniManor*

Stop creating a product avalanche every time you need to dig something out of a cupboard; install a lazy-Susan. With gentile spin, nothing is out of your reach!

11. More Shelves!

Use all of the space available in your bathroom, and add a shelf above your sink to keep everything neatly organised at eye-level.

12. Magnetic Makeup

bathroom organisation magnetic board Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: LauraThoughts81.blogspot.com*

Display your makeup in this gorgeous, magnetic display and stop it from piling up in your drawers.

13. Filing Your Hairdryer

Use a file holder to store your hairdryer and its cord neatly out of the way.

14. Potty Shelving

bathroom organisation pot storage Handy Mano ManoMano Mano Mano Handymano — *Source: Fahiony.ru*

Who says pots are only useful in the garden? Adding pots into a shelf will enable you to corral all those long-handled objects in one place.

15. Ladder Shelving

Give yourself an added layer of shelf space with a vintage ladder. You can use it to hang towels to dry, or add baskets to store smaller items as well.

16. DIY Rope Shelving

Create these nautical-inspired shelves with a bit of rope and a few planks.

Did you enjoy this article on our top bathroom organisation tricks? Why not read our tutorial on designing a DIY bathroom shelf or even our bathtub buying guide!

Are you organising your own bathroom? Share your finished results with us on Instagramusing the #mymanomanoway, #manomanouk and #youvegotthis hashtags!

Home 4 February 2021

Design Inspiration: Our top 14 Pantone picks

Annually, Pantone sparks design inspiration and creativity across the world with the announcement of their Color of the Year. This universal language of colour is used globally, setting trends and bringing fresh ideas.

The Pantone Color of the Year 2021 is a combination of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, reflecting a message of strength and hopefulness. Following a rocky 2020, the marriage of these two colours aims to inspire hope and stability.

Interiors inspiration by ManoMano — *(C) You X Ventures*

To help turn this design inspiration into a reality, we have put together our top 14 Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Grey picks so you can bring this uplifting combination to life in your own home!

Living Room Design Inspiration

*Pantone Color of the Year 2021: Living Room*

1. 2-seat sofa, £261.99 – 2. Marble coffee table, £89.99 – 3. Grey beanbag, £69.99 – 4. Jute rug, £45.99 – 5. Yellow ottoman, £28.99 6. Yellow Chesterfield armchair, £219.99 – 7. Grey cabinet, £135.99

Pantone design inspiration by ManoMano — *(C) Isaac Martin*

Pantone Bedroom Inspiration

Using the Pantone Color of the Year 2021 hues, you can get creative by playing around new design ideas. Grey and yellow work well together for a variety of interior styles, including accessories for your bedroom.

*Pantone Color of the Year 2021: Bedroom*

Sideboard chest with wicker drawers, £139.99 – 2. Yellow rocking chair, £149.99 – 3. Gold side table, £129.99 – 4. Grey wood bed frame, £289.99 – 5. Knot cushion, £55.00 – 6. Bedside table, £89.00 7. Yellow footstool, £114.99

Want to take your inspiration to the next level and give your walls a refresh? For your next weekend project, take a look at out our article on 5 projects to transform your home in one (brush)stroke.

Did you enjoy this article on our top design inspiration by the Pantone Color of the Year 2021? Why not read our tips & tricks to create a cosy reading space or even our guide on how to paint a wall!

Are you designing your home in yellow and grey? Share your finished results with us on Instagramusing the #mymanomanoway, #manomanouk and #youvegotthis hashtags!

Expert Advice 14 January 2021

Small space design ideas on a budget

Whether you live in a studio apartment or want to get more out of a small room, ManoMano’s small space design ideas will help get your creative ideas flowing. We have put together some of our best products and savvy tips for decorating small spaces on a budget.

Bedroom decor that won’t cost an arm and a leg!

Even those who don’t live in a palace deserve a bedroom that’s comfortable, practical, beautiful and conducive to a perfect night’s sleep.

Here are some tips on how to decorate a small room on a budget:

First of all, sort, declutter and keep only the essentials.
Optimise your storage: a large shelf, closet or chest of drawers… Your room will appear more spacious if things have been tidied up/hidden.
Choose a comfortable bed with soft cushions and light-coloured sheets, which create an open and relaxed space.
Consider adding some soft lighting elements (bedside lamp, fairy lights) to create a cosy atmosphere.

Why not do it yourself?

Pallet headboard tutorial
Check out our guide on making your own console table
Read our tips & tricks on creating a cosy reading nook!

Check out our selection for affordable bedroom furnishings here.

1. LED moon Lamp, £12.99 – 2. Solid pine bed frame, £126.99
3. Bedside table in mango wood, £94.99

Small space design: make a cosy living room

What’s the golden rule when it comes to furnishing small spaces? Be practical and optimise!

For your sofa, opt for a two-seater convertible bed so you can host family and friends or, if you are in a studio, to sleep on at night.
Consider getting a small coffee table: to save more space, go for higher instead of wider. And make sure it has extra storage space.
If you need extra seating, simply invest in a few footstools for the floor or a single but inviting chair.
To maximise space, avoid putting too much on the floor. Instead, opt for space-saving furniture such as shelves, wall-mounted TVs and ceiling lights. The less you have on the floor, the more space you’ll save.
And consider adding a touch of nature with some small green plants!

Affordable design ideas for your small living room

1. Knitted pouffe, £111 – 2. Foldable futon sofa bed, £299.99 –
3. Solid mango wood coffee table, £183.99

Our tips on decorating living rooms on a budget:

Create a big impact with creative homemade room dividers,
Check out 5 ways to transform your home in a single brushstroke,
For warmer weather, read our 6 easy tips to create a beautiful outdoor living space

Are you working on affordable hacks for a small space? Share your finished results with us on Instagram using the #mymanomanoway, #manomanouk and #youvegotthis hashtags!

DIY 8 January 2021

DIY Console Table: An easy to follow guide

DIY Console Table with drawers created by My Thrifty Life by Cassiefairy

With just an old drawer, some reclaimed wood and a bit of imagination, it’s easy to build your own console table or desk. With many of us working remotely or home schooling, creating a dedicated space for studying or business is a great way to separate your work from your home life. Additionally, you can never have too much storage – especially in the hallway where keys, letters, loose change and newspapers can quickly clutter up the space.

In terms of materials, you can use any reclaimed timber you have to hand, such as plywood, pallet wood or scaffold boards. For the drawer you can recycle one from an old, tumble-down chest like we have, or you could use a storage basket or two. The dimensions of this piece of furniture will depend on the size of the drawer you’re upcycling and the length of the legs. So, because you’re making it yourself, you can always customise the design to suit your needs. You could make it lower to create a child’s desk for homework or, rather than using a drawer, you could make a narrow cubby hole beneath the desktop to store your laptop, or you can use taller legs to DIY a narrow console table to keep your entryway organised.

Check out the guide with step-by-step photos to make this handy DIY console table here. Enjoy!

Project created by My Thrifty Life by Cassiefairy with photography by Andy-Greenacre.co.uk

Did you enjoy this guide on an inexpensive DIY Console Table? Why not read our article on our tips & tricks to create a cosy reading nook or even our January home & garden checklist!

Are you building your own console table? Share your finished results with us on Instagram using the #mymanomanoway, #manomanouk and #youvegotthis hashtags!

Inspiration 16 December 2020

DIY Christmas Present: Make a cabinet in 10 steps

Christmas is a time of love – no matter where we find ourselves this extraordinary year, we will still hope to have a special time. You can make it extra memorable by creating a DIY Christmas present that is handy and unexpected, with the help of The Handy Mano.

This Christmas, we set a challenge to plan and create a handy and unexpected present which was #MadeWithLove for a special someone. The idea was for the present to take pride of place in a loved one’s home, as a way to ‘be there’ even when physically we may not all be together.

We’ve shared one of the #MadeWithLove creations below, alongside some insight into the creative process. We have also shared links to the video below so you can see each part step by step.

Dan Lovatt – A wall-mounted cabinet for his mum

Back in March, my mum got Covid and was quite ill which wasn’t a nice experience as we couldn’t see her. So, this Christmas I want to make her something special. As she is obsessed with cosmetics, I wanted to make her a wall mounted cabinet that she can use to house all her lotions and potions and keep them all contained. Excited to get started on this!

DIY Christmas present: Materials you’ll need

Pen and paper

Table/surface for cutting wood on

Sanding paper

Hammer & nails

DIY Christmas present: Steps

Step 1 – Make a plan

Work out all the parts you will need to make (sides, the back, and shelving) and the size of the cabinet (the cabinet I made was 518mm x 518mm x 120mm). I opted to use 18mm birch ply which has the most beautiful soft grain.

Step 2 – Seamless edges

I planned for all of the joins to have mitered edges to create a seamless effect. To do this, I used the Makita circular saw for extra precision, which means you get the sharpest of cuts. The saw is great as it’s precise, lightweight and packed full of power!

Step 3 – Groove it

Clamp the pieces of wood down, then using the router, press it gently down to create grooves for the shelves to slot in. The cabinet I designed had 3 shelves but you can adapt this according to how big you want it to be.

*DIY Christmas present: create grooves for the shelving*

Step 4 – Glue it up

Put each of the parts together and check it all fits. To attach each piece, I used Gorilla wood glue and clamped each piece together to help it stick nicely.

Step 5 – Smooth it over

Sand over the pieces in 120 grit to smooth over the surface, which also prepares the wood to be treated.

Step 6 – Bringing it together

Attach the backpiece to the shelving using Gorilla wood glue, then clamp together. I then hammered in some nails around the frame to make it extra secure. Handy tip – when you are driving nails into something, use grips to keep the nail in place whilst you protect your fingers! Your cabinet will now be taking real shape.

Step 7 – Treat it

To emphasise the natural grain of the 18mm Birch Ply, use light coats of Oslo Oil Clear Mat to protect the wood and give it a warmer finish.

*Protect the wood with a lick of Oslo Oil Clear Matt*

And voilà! A wall mounted cabinet which was #MadeWithLove for Dan’s mum! A great idea for a DIY Christmas present and easy to make. You can take a look at Dan’s Instagram Reel to see the tutorial in action.

Did you enjoy this article on a DIY Christmas present #MadeWithLove? Why not read our article on making your own snowman game out of pallets or even our guide on how to recycle your Christmas tree!

Are you creating your own Christmas presents? Share your finished results with us on Instagram using the #madewithlove, #mymanomanoway, #manomanouk and #youvegotthis hashtags!