9 Organizing Lessons We Can Learn From Small Spaces
Are you designing a little room or a studio apartment? With these clever tips, you can make every inch count
How do you make a small space work without sacrificing style? The trick is to be super organized, to furnish cleverly and to beef up storage. These useful ideas can cut the clutter and increase the sense of spaciousness.
2. Work Around Architecture
In many cases, this shelving would have stopped at the flight of stairs, but instead it carries right on up them. In other words, the architecture of your home shouldn’t hamper your needs — you just have to work around it.
The designers made the most of the whole wall above and below the desk. And by using open shelving instead of solid cabinets, they kept the area feeling light and bright.
In many cases, this shelving would have stopped at the flight of stairs, but instead it carries right on up them. In other words, the architecture of your home shouldn’t hamper your needs — you just have to work around it.
The designers made the most of the whole wall above and below the desk. And by using open shelving instead of solid cabinets, they kept the area feeling light and bright.
3. Build Storage Into Furniture
If space is at a premium, building custom furniture into your design, whether shelves or a window seat, will ensure that every last inch is useful.
If you’re going to create a window seat like this, don’t miss the opportunity to hide storage inside. Cabinets or drawers that can be accessed from the front are ideal and can be used for out-of-season clothes, home office files and much more. Failing that, a lift-up lid can do the job.
Find cabinetmakers on Houzz who can customize your storage
If space is at a premium, building custom furniture into your design, whether shelves or a window seat, will ensure that every last inch is useful.
If you’re going to create a window seat like this, don’t miss the opportunity to hide storage inside. Cabinets or drawers that can be accessed from the front are ideal and can be used for out-of-season clothes, home office files and much more. Failing that, a lift-up lid can do the job.
Find cabinetmakers on Houzz who can customize your storage
4. Free Up Drawer Space
In this small kitchen, everyday items are readily accessible on hooks or shelves. Besides offering convenience, this solution frees up drawer space for unattractive and less useful items. Another bonus is that a small kitchen without wall cabinets can feel larger. It’s a win-win-win.
Browse pot racks in the Houzz Shop
In this small kitchen, everyday items are readily accessible on hooks or shelves. Besides offering convenience, this solution frees up drawer space for unattractive and less useful items. Another bonus is that a small kitchen without wall cabinets can feel larger. It’s a win-win-win.
Browse pot racks in the Houzz Shop
5. Buck Convention
Most of us have bedside tables that stop at mattress height, right? But what about all that wall space above (remember the tip about vertical storage)?
Instead, maximize your storage opportunities with bedside tables and wall-hung cabinets above them. These cabinets are big enough to hold a ton of clothes. If you choose a storage bed too, you’ll effortlessly keep your bedroom neat.
Shop for storage beds on Houzz
Most of us have bedside tables that stop at mattress height, right? But what about all that wall space above (remember the tip about vertical storage)?
Instead, maximize your storage opportunities with bedside tables and wall-hung cabinets above them. These cabinets are big enough to hold a ton of clothes. If you choose a storage bed too, you’ll effortlessly keep your bedroom neat.
Shop for storage beds on Houzz
6. Make a Place for Everything
When you’re designing storage, it’s smart to create it for a specific purpose. That way, it’ll get used properly — possibly by even the messiest members of the family.
In this hallway, there’s room for a family’s coats, shoes, gloves, hats and CDs — all hidden neatly away behind closed doors.
Find wall organizers
When you’re designing storage, it’s smart to create it for a specific purpose. That way, it’ll get used properly — possibly by even the messiest members of the family.
In this hallway, there’s room for a family’s coats, shoes, gloves, hats and CDs — all hidden neatly away behind closed doors.
Find wall organizers
7. Embrace Open Shelving
In the smallest of spaces, having everything at hand makes up for any frustration about the close quarters. And having things handy means, where possible, no doors on storage units.
This often entails having purpose-built shelving created to your specifications or, better still, having shelving that you can adjust as your needs change — because they will. Future-proofing is king.
In the smallest of spaces, having everything at hand makes up for any frustration about the close quarters. And having things handy means, where possible, no doors on storage units.
This often entails having purpose-built shelving created to your specifications or, better still, having shelving that you can adjust as your needs change — because they will. Future-proofing is king.
8. Use Your Imagination
Not one to pass up a space-saving opportunity, this homeowner created a utility room and pet haven under the stairs. A solution like this will free up space in the kitchen (not to mention on the sofa).
Want to up the ante? Try hanging a foldaway drying rack on the side wall. Choose a light one that you can easily lift over the banister.
17 Ideas for Storage Under the Stairs
Not one to pass up a space-saving opportunity, this homeowner created a utility room and pet haven under the stairs. A solution like this will free up space in the kitchen (not to mention on the sofa).
Want to up the ante? Try hanging a foldaway drying rack on the side wall. Choose a light one that you can easily lift over the banister.
17 Ideas for Storage Under the Stairs
9. Go All-Out With Labels
So far the tips have been about investing in clever storage or reimagining furniture. But once that’s done, it’s all for nothing if you don’t keep the contents of your storage pieces in good order.
So: labels. Choose cute ones on food containers, or sticky ones on vacuum packs holding out-of-season bedding or clothing. By labeling the contents and their expiration dates when applicable, you’ll be able to quickly find what you’re looking for and reduce waste.
Tell us: Do you have organizing tips from living in a small space? Share them in the Comments.
More
12 Smart Designs for Small-Space Living
Find a professional organizer to optimize your small space
So far the tips have been about investing in clever storage or reimagining furniture. But once that’s done, it’s all for nothing if you don’t keep the contents of your storage pieces in good order.
So: labels. Choose cute ones on food containers, or sticky ones on vacuum packs holding out-of-season bedding or clothing. By labeling the contents and their expiration dates when applicable, you’ll be able to quickly find what you’re looking for and reduce waste.
Tell us: Do you have organizing tips from living in a small space? Share them in the Comments.
More
12 Smart Designs for Small-Space Living
Find a professional organizer to optimize your small space
Shelving often stops at wainscot or picture-rail height, leaving the wall above as a wasted opportunity. So go high — right up to the ceiling and even over a doorway.
The upside to putting shelves on the doorway wall? They provide loads of storage and, since they’re hidden from view, the room still feels airy.