I don’t say this as a brag, but as an exhausted sigh: I own way too much stuff. As someone who collects physical media, loves a colorful space and would much rather have a home library than a Kindle, I’ve more or less accepted my status as a clutter king. Add to that a fiancée who’s just as attached to her own collection of ephemera, and we’ve got ourselves a case of forced-maximalist cohabitation. So when I started looking for a storage solution to hide some of the chaos, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to put Mustard Made’s “Twinny” storage locker to the test in my own home. How’d it fare? Spoiler: I loved it. And that’s especially good news considering the brand’s entire website is currently 25% off through November 11.
What’s Mustard Made all about?
You may have seen the brand pop up on social media or in home design publications, but if not, here’s the gist: It’s a storage company that specializes in colorful steel lockers. Founded in 2017 by two sisters, the brand takes inspiration from vintage industrial storage and gives it a decidedly more playful, modern makeover.
Its first product was The Twinny, the locker I have in my home. Standing 6 feet tall and nearly 3 feet wide, this double-doored unit comes in a range of fun colors, including blush, berry, sage and butter. Since its debut, Mustard Made has expanded its lineup with several variations on the original design, including The Skinny, a slimmer, single-doored option, and The Shorty, a more compact version.
First things first: The Twinny is sturdy, easy to build and extremely practical.
My biggest concern with The Twinny was its size. Would this thing look gargantuan in my home, or would it fit just right? I was also curious about how much interior storage space I’d actually get to toss all of my games, toys and tchotchkes in. Thankfully, despite its huge dimensions, the locker arrives flat-packed in a box, like something you’d order from IKEA. You’ll probably want an extra set of hands to haul it inside and get it set up, but at least you won’t have to figure out how to maneuver a fully assembled, 6-foot-tall locker through your front door.
Assembly is fairly straightforward, too (although I wouldn’t call it quick). The included instructions are easy to follow, and Mustard Made also has a YouTube tutorial that walks you through the process. My partner and I were able to put together the base and get the locker standing, after which the rest of the build was an absolute breeze. All told, we had it assembled in under 30 minutes.
Inside, The Twinny comes with four adjustable shelves that you can position at pretty much any height using detachable metal brackets. There’s also a support bar that doubles as a closet rod, making it easy to hang things like rain jackets if you’d rather use some of the space for clothing. Or, you could use that rod like us and tie some string lights around it for interior lighting.
We positioned the shelves to accommodate our very sizable board game collection, giving us a place to stack boxes and hide some of the visual clutter that’d otherwise be out in the open. We managed to fit roughly 30 board games in the bottom half of The Twinny alone. That left the entire top half free for ephemera, various digital cameras and all the other miscellaneous stuff — magazines, letters, cards — that we’ve accumulated over the years. In other words, this thing holds a whole lot more than it might look like from the outside.
And as far as stability goes, The Twinny feels reassuringly sturdy. It stands upright without much fuss, even with its relatively simple assembly, and Mustard Made includes wall-mounting hardware for anyone who wants to secure it for added peace of mind.
But just as importantly, it gives the living room a vibrant pop of color I desperately needed.
I think Mustard Made’s biggest selling point is that it takes something traditionally industrial, bulky and utilitarian and makes it genuinely fun to look at. Beyond being a practical storage solution, my bright red Twinny breaks up the more neutral tones in our living room and gives the space a bold focal point. Seriously, I can’t think of a single time someone’s come over and hasn’t complimented it.
The metal exterior is functional, too. Since it’s magnetic, we’re able to decorate it with photos, magnets and other little keepsakes, switching things around as the seasons change. The inside of each door also has small hooks for hanging items, while the doors themselves can be locked with a key. It’s a nice combination of personality and practicality, which is really what makes this locker stand out.
Is it worth its price?
It’s no secret: Mustard Made lockers aren’t exactly the cheapest storage solutions on the market. You’re paying a premium for the design, the color options and the fact that this is a statement piece you want people to see in your home. But having lived with The Twinny, I think there’s a pretty compelling case for it, especially if you’ve been looking for a way to add some personality to an otherwise functional piece of furniture — or, as several families point out in customer reviews, a way to upgrade the nursery or playroom.
But if you’ve been eyeing one yourself, or you’re on the fence about it, now is definitely the time: Mustard Made is 25% off its entire website, making this a considerably easier purchase to justify. For someone like me who’s constantly looking for more places to put their stuff (while ironically buying more stuff), that’s a pretty sweet deal.
If my glowing review isn’t word enough, I totally get it. Read on below to see what users have to say about the Twinny locker below. But whatever you do, don’t miss out on this sale!
“After following Mustard Made for several years, I finally ordered one of their lockers for our nursery and can confirm it was worth the wait. It is the perfect addition to the room - it’s easy to put up, solid, and brightens up the whole space. We just love it!” — Molli
“I’m very happy with this locker! It’s sturdy, I love the color and the aesthetic, and it’s very spacious inside (make sure the depth works for your space). I wish it came with more shelves, I had to buy some extra shelves because I didn’t want it for hanging things, I wanted it for shelf storage, and I was confused by the photos (not their fault). But I’m happy with how it turned out and it suits my needs perfectly. I would also recommended putting it together with two people. I put a lot of furniture together on my own, but it’s quite large and I think I would have bent the metal if I had done this on my own. With two people it only took about 15 minutes. Overall, if you check the dimensions and look carefully at the photos, I think it’s a very aesthetically pleasing storage solution” — Nicholas Rehberger
“Love love love my twinny locker. I can’t wait to get several more. I am a costume designer and maker, and it is the perfect place to store my fabrics and haberdashery out of the light. The team was so so helpful when I needed assistance for some components of the locker that were damaged in transit - thank you 🙏🏼” — Meg
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