Living in a small home is an excellent way to save money and time on cleaning and yard maintenance. However, clutter can still pile up despite your best efforts. If you constantly trip over shoes or have nowhere to put your purchases when you return home from a shopping trip, you’re not alone. How can you maximise the storage space in your humble abode? Here are 14 tips for optimisation.
1. Store Underneath Your Bed
There’s no room for monsters to hide if you store items under your bed! Seriously, consider organising your belongings with drawers or rolling storage bins beneath the mattress. This location could be terrific for seasonal clothes, shoes or extra linens. Some flats are as small as 75 square feet, so creativity is a must.
2. Use Multifunctional Furniture
Optimising space within a small interior is challenging, but it’s easier when you have multifunctional furniture. These pieces contain secret storage space that remains hidden while you entertain guests. For example, your ottoman could hold your extra blankets, pillows and pet toys to avoid clutter. Some TV stands have hidden compartments to store your favourite tech devices.
3. Hang Items in Door Organisers
Whoever invented over-the-door organisers deserves infinite praise. This storage component easily fits over most doors and frees up space in other locations. Use one for shoes in the bedroom and another for cleaning supplies in the laundry room. Consider hanging one in your pantry to benefit your children, as it makes snacks easy to grab and go as they please.
4. Place Pegboards in the Garage
Experts say cars get bigger every two years, which doesn’t bode well for a small garage. Tidy up with pegboards. These hanging organisers hold your hammers, wrenches and drills and remove clutter from your workbench. If you don’t have room for drawers, pegboards are also an excellent solution in the garage or kitchen.
5. Make Space in the Laundry Room
Your laundry room can quickly run out of space if you have a washer and dryer. While stackable appliances conserve space, you may be looking for better solutions. Try storing your cleaners and laundry supplies behind cabinets, as experts say it can increase functionality and appeal. Other solutions for this area include wall-mounted hooks and using vertical space.
6. Go Vertical With Storage Solutions
Some homes and flats are tall instead of wide, so take your storage to the sky with vertical storage. Mount shelves on your living room and bedroom walls to avoid leaving things scattered on the floor. You also benefit from your belongings being within arm’s reach when you need them. Besides shelves, you could use tall bookcases to store your decorative items.
7. Add Even More Shelves
It’s hard to have too many shelves in a small home, especially if you have a lot of stuff. People often overlook the pantry as a space for alternative shelving, so take advantage of extra racks in your kitchen. Consider a bookcase or wire shelves to fit your bulkiest items and maximise the unused kitchen corners. While they seem like small changes, pantry shelves can go a long way.
8. Install Revolving Trays
Pantry and cabinet shelves can easily become cluttered with snacks, canned food and seasoning blends. How can you keep them from falling when you open the cupboards? Install revolving trays to store more items and maintain control. These rotating tables can go under the sink or inside the refrigerator while making searches less of a burden.
9. Look Under the Stairs
If your tiny home has stairs, you have another storage solution. Harry Potter had to be creative with this space, so you can make it happen, too. Install a small cupboard on the landing or build shelves inside the staircase to avoid occupying more floor space than necessary. Check local building regulations to ensure your project meets code requirements.
10. Attach a Caddy in the Shower
A cramped tub means relaxing baths might be impossible for taller people. If storing your shampoo and body wash is tricky, solve this problem with a caddy. This shower organiser maximises space underneath the faucet by holding your bathroom belongings. From shampoo to your skin care products, a caddy can make your shower feel less cluttered.
11. Mount Baskets in the Bathroom Wall
The shower isn’t the only place you can maximise space in the bathroom. If the loo feels cramped, mount baskets on the wall to create more room. These storage solutions can hold your toilet paper, hand soaps, extra towels and other bathroom necessities. When guests come over, they’ll have an easier time finding the hygiene supplies they need.
12. Stick to Storage Cubes
Take a lesson from your children in primary school. Young kids use cubbies to place their rucksacks and lunch pails when they’re not in use, thus freeing up space in their desks. These storage cubes are innovative in school settings and can easily make your home feel more organised. Use your at-home bins for storing clothes, books, children’s toys or craft supplies.
13. Minimise With Vacuum Seals
Bins, containers and shelves can only hold so many of your belongings before you run out of room. How can you maximise storage within your storage? One of the best solutions is vacuum-sealed storage bags that remove all oxygen from the container. There’s no air to take up space between clothing items, towels or bed linens.
14. Schedule Decluttering Days
When living in a small space, it doesn’t take long for the home to become messy. A 2024 survey revealed 56% of British baby boomers are tidy, whereas only 39% of Gen Z said they consistently clean. Your living space feels more organised when your space is neat, so designate days for decluttering. Only keep what you need and donate and discard the unnecessary belongings.
Storing Belongings and Bringing You Peace of Mind
Smaller homes mean you need to think outside the box for your storage solutions. When you have limited space, embrace your creativity and try unorthodox strategies. No matter the size of your flat or single-storey house, you have endless possibilities for organisation. When you embrace innovative storage solutions, you eliminate clutter and make it more comfortable and functional.
