There’s a bit of an art to smart storage in small spaces, but once you master it, you’ll be amazed at how much tidier your home seems and how much more relaxed you feel when you look around!
As you know, I’m all about keeping things simple. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that regularly culling my family’s belongings and making an active effort not to buy things we don’t truly need has transformed my life. However, what has truly helped is that when we were getting our home done up I have designed/bought our furniture with intention.
I’ve found that just because a space is small, that doesn’t mean that you can’t store a surprising number of items in it by being clever. Of course, sometimes we all need some help with the whole cleverness bit! Here are 10 essential tips for smart storage in small spaces.
1. Baskets or containers everywhere.
I love baskets or containers for storage because it’s just so simple to toss things inside of them, which means it’s pretty easy to get kids to comply. You can place baskets in all sorts of places, like on top of tall furniture, above your kitchen cabinets, or on shelves. Above all, I find Nina’s ‘container-like’ toy storage with several open drawers very handy, as she can put away her toys herself.
2. Use furniture with built-in storage.
I get it – you’re not going to go out and spend money on new furniture just to have more storage space. However, if you are in the market for new living room furniture, consider items like flip-top coffee tables or upholstered storage benches where you can stash items in space that would normally go to waste. In my living room, I have nesting coffee tables with a shelf underneath; I can slide them together and pull them out with ease while storing things like magazines underneath.
3. Get help from gadgets.
These days, you can find all sorts of clever solutions to your storage problems that are inexpensive and highly functional. For example, a cheap hair dryer holder mounted inside your bathroom cabinet door solves one common bathroom storage problem. Similar cabinet door storage caddies can be purchased for the kitchen to store foil and plastic wrap out of the way whilst still keeping it easy to reach. My favourite is our long pull-out shelves in the kitchen. Yes, it’s pricey, but it lasts a lifetime and there’s no wasting of space at all.
4. No hall closet? No problem.
Entryway storage can be a big challenge, and it’s awfully convenient to have certain items near your front door like keys and jackets. Consider installing some simple shelving near your front door to create a drop zone for your family. You can place baskets on the shelves (see, baskets again!), one for each family member, where they can toss their essentials and have them handy when coming and going while still keeping them out of view and looking super organised. If you have a home so tiny, you cannot even manage this (🤚🏼), have baskets in every family member’s room instead, plus a few hooks for good measure. This works for us!
5. Declutter on the regular.
We can’t very well have a list of storage tips without mentioning the need to declutter on a regular basis. When you have fewer items to store in the first place, you can stretch limited storage space much further. Only keep what is necessary for your family and consider donating everything else.
6. Consider a kitchen cart.
When there is truly no more space in your kitchen and you’ve already got rid of everything you can’t live without, a rolling kitchen cart is a great solution. You can buy one or even make it if you’re especially handy. Most of them have a slew of drawers and shelves, allowing you to fit in a surprising number of items. Plus, there’s always the space on top as well, which you can use as a workspace or to store other kitchen items. A cart on wheels can easily be pushed out of the way when not needed if your kitchen is especially tight. I used one for years and it served double-duty. It was especially handy to take things outside to the terrace when it was connected to our bedroom in another apartment we lived in. Today, we have a tinier home so there’s no space for it, but our terrace is connected to the kitchen, and I’ve sneakily bought a rolling coffee table for my son’s bedroom, which I make use of when we need to 🙂
7. Use under-the-stairs and other niche storage.
If you’ve got stairs in your home, don’t let the space beneath them go to waste. Consider installing cabinets or shelves; if you’re renting and can’t make big changes, a long bench with a hinged lid has a lot of room for storage inside and would fit nicely for smart storage in small spaces. If you look around, you’re sure to find places where you could squeeze in more storage. For example, I’ve got kitchen and living room cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling so I don’t waste a centimetre of space!
8. Hang your pots and pans.
Pots and pans have a way of taking up a ridiculous amount of space in your cabinets. Hanging them above your stove or along another wall in the kitchen can free up a significant amount of cabinet space that you can devote to other items.
9. Look over your bed.
Don’t forget about the space behind and above your bed. If floor space allows, consider a headboard that has some storage inside of it. And installing a shelf along the wall above your bed can help you maximize a small space and give you a place to store items like books and jewellery boxes.
10. Don’t let corners go to waste.
In a very small bathroom or bedroom, consider placing a corner-shaped cabinet or shelving unit in an unused corner. This will give yourself some storage space in an area of rooms that often ends up going to waste.
As you can see, you don’t need a huge house to have room to breathe. Try these tips for smart storage in small spaces and enjoy a much less cluttered home!
Love,
Nakita xxx
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