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Raise your hand if you think living large in a small space is challenging. That’s usually the case especially if you don’t live alone—that is, especially if you have kids who own a truckload of toys for example.
While the web is flooded with storage ideas, sometimes these hacks are only effective for a few days or so. Afterward, what felt like clever ideas have become frustrating, like when you don’t know where to find things anymore.
Well, we’re here to tell you that you shouldn’t give up on your storage dreams. The secret to living large where there is limited square footage is not just storing well. It also involves careful planning or knowing exactly where you want what and why.
Read on for our 10 best storage tips for small spaces.
Storage hacks are for things you need or badly want to keep. Anything else that spells “clutter” must go.
Just because you have a nice box for all your receipts doesn’t mean you should keep all those receipts. Just because you have a closet for old clothes you intend to wear when you’re a few pounds lighter doesn’t mean you should hang on to every piece. Just because you have an attic for outgrown toys doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep them all there.
Clutter is still clutter no matter how well you try to hide it. It will weigh you down and still take up much-needed space, not to mention much-wanted storage containers. So before you try any of our genius storage ideas, toss, donate, or sell stuff that you no longer need lying around.
Go through each room in your house like a fine-toothed comb and seriously declutter your space. It’s not going to be easy, but imagine the space you will be rewarded with after the process. You can fill that newly vacated space with things that breathe new life to your house and bring new energy to your daily routine.
Yes, pretty woven baskets and stylish boxes are attractive and quite on trend these days, but will they work for your space? Maybe. Maybe not.
Storage containers are undeniably helpful in organizing odds and ends in the house, but not if they’re not the size you need. Hence, take the time to measure the spaces where you want to place these storage containers.
Carefully consider what options are available for you and what design will fit into the overall look of your home. Do you want a woven basket for that unmistakable rustic touch, or do you need boxes in rose gold to complement the design aesthetic of your living room? Consider too the stuff you will stow inside these containers. You don’t want them too small or too big, and if there’s a chance to use stackable organizers, like for shoes, toys, and small kitchen stuff, go on and stack up as high and safe as possible.
Doing these extra steps will ensure that your space has a cohesive look. There’s nothing wrong with mixed and matched home accessories and breaking the monotony of a space is desirable, but at the end of the day, our goal is to tidy up and make the most of a space. Careful curation of accessories, even color palettes, is definitely a must.
Multitasking furniture pieces are high up on the list of every storage makeover and for good reason. They’re not only practical to use, but also many are oh so pretty to look at or so easy to DIY. A bench, for instance, may double as a storage compartment at the foot of your bed. An ottoman with a hidden compartment is perfect in the living room.
The space under your bed is also perfect for storing old or seasonal clothes, blankets, and even bulky items like comforters and pillows. Such storage compartments must still be organized properly even if they are completely hidden from view.
Use vertical spaces to your advantage by installing floating shelves on walls or by using multipurpose room partitions. A room partition is an ingenious way of identifying different areas in the house, and partitions that double as shelves are even better
Putting groceries stored away in pretty containers means another extra chore, which can be exhausting. Luckily, there are practical tips to make decanting work even for the busiest of mommies. Decanting, by the way, is a process primarily used to separate liquids and sediments, like in the case of wine decanting.
These days, however, decanting is simply removing the original packaging of an item and transferring it to a more permanent and, hopefully, air-tight container. We decant to save space, to reduce visual clutter, to extend the shelf life of most grocery items, and for pest control. If those aren’t reasons enough, check out Pinterest and Instagram and prepare to drool.
A crowded kitchen counter is quite an eyesore. So remove small kitchen appliances and stow them away inside a kitchen cabinet. The least-used ones should be at the back while the frequently used ones should be right within easy reach.
Don’t dump on top of tables and counters those small items you carry with you throughout the day. One, they are dirty, and two, they add to the visual clutter in your home. Instead, put them in catchalls, which should be located in strategic places around your house, like the entryway, the kitchen, and the living room.
You can dump keys, loose change, mints, etc. into these catchalls and never have to worry about “losing” your small stuff again.
Find creative ways to recycle old pieces of furniture. A cabinet, for example, may be fitted into the kitchen for additional pantry storage or for in the hallway for your coats, umbrellas, hats, etc. An old metal trolley may be repurposed into a side table, a book shelf, or a wine bar. Just because you’re decluttering doesn’t mean you let go of every old item. First consider the possibilities before selling or tossing them out.
Pegboards are no longer confined to the arts and crafts room, the tool shed, or the garage. People have discovered the unlimited potential of an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and durable pegboard panel.
At your entryway, for instance, use a pegboard where you can hang keys, coats, hats, bags, etc. It’s a space-saving trick that you can count on every time. In your work area, maximize your vertical space with the help of a pegboard panel. Even in your children’s room, install one where they can hang their accessories, toys, and even clothes.
Every household should have a family command center to manage everything going on at home. It will serve as the one place where bills, correspondence, monthly subscriptions are sorted out, where the family’s activities are scheduled, where grocery and to-do lists are posted, and where dinner menus are planned.
Here, you can also keep an inventory of your pantry supplies and a list of your storage system so that when you forget where a certain item is stored, you can simply refer to your list.
Living in a tight space doesn’t mean we can’t live in a comfortable and stylish home. Even the smallest of places can feel like a palace with careful planning and the right storage hacks. Enjoy your storage makeover!
