Space-Saving Tips for Organizing a Small Home

Adam Bender | February 23, 2021

A small home doesn’t have to feel like it. While your square footage is limited and home organization can be a struggle, you probably have more space than you realize. With a little creativity, you can live large in a small home.

Implement these space-saving ideas to maximize your home’s existing space.

1. Declutter Everywhere

In a small home, you don’t have the luxury of keeping things you don’t use or want. Be diligent about decluttering and purging items - including clothes, toys, and gadgets- regularly. Go through every room of your home, from the bathroom to the garage, decide which objects you genuinely need or want, and purge the rest.

2. Implement a One-In, One-Out Policy

Real Simple recommends for every new item purchased, that one old item needs to be discarded or donated. If you buy a new pair of shoes, give up an older pair.

3. Assign Everything a Place

Clutter happens when your things don’t have a place. Establish a specific home for all of your possessions and return each item to its rightful spot after use. If you can’t find a location for something, you probably don’t need it.

4. Select Multipurpose Furniture

When considering furniture for your home, buy functional items that can serve more than one purpose. Your kitchen table can double as a desk, and an ottoman also makes a great coffee table.

5. Buy a Modular Sofa

Give yourself more options with a modular sofa. You can move the pieces around your living room.

6. Capitalize on Corners

In a small home, you need to use all the space available - even corners. A corner desk can turn it into a home office, or a storage bench can create a reading nook. Other corner-friendly items include a coat rack, umbrella stand, or cupboard.

7. Build in a Desk

If you work from home but don’t have enough space for an office, install a built-in fold-down desk into the wall.

8. Fold Your Furniture

Give yourself more room by choosing foldable furniture. Store folding tables, chairs, and desks in the closet or under your bed and take them out when needed.

9. Add Hooks Wherever Possible

Hooks are great space-saving tools you can use in any area of your home. Affix them to the back wall of your closet to hold handbags, scarves, or other accessories. In the bathroom, a hook behind the door is the perfect spot for your robe. In the entryway, smaller hooks are ideal for keys.

10. Maximize Kitchen Cabinet Space

Keep your kitchen counter clear by adding sliding drawers to organize and expand the capacity of your cabinets. To give the kitchen a clean, open look, House Beautiful recommends keeping “your trashcan and appliances” in the cabinets. Another option for maximizing space is to use shelf risers to give you more room for storage. Don’t forget to make use of the inside of your cabinet doors.

11. Utilize Vertical Space

Open up more space by making the most of the walls and doors throughout your home. The options for using vertical space are endless. On your living room wall, mount the television, put a shoe rack on the back of the closet door, or hang pots and pans on your kitchen wall.

12. Co-Opt Your Fridge’s Exterior

Your refrigerator can store more than food. Use the side to mount a paper towel rack. Use the top of the refrigerator to store cookbooks or other items you may not need every day.

13. Invest in a Closet Organization System

A small home typically has insufficient closet space, but there is a way to add more storage. Custom closets can help to maximize space and keep your belongings organized. More storage capacity in the closet means less clutter in your living area.

14. Go Under the Bed

The space underneath your bed is a prime storage area for offseason clothing or extra linens. Install drawers or use flat, plastic storage bins.

15. Trade Your Headboard and Bed Frame

Add more storage in your bedroom by selecting a headboard with built-in cabinets or a bed frame with drawers.

16. Opt for Stackable and Nesting Items

Save space in your kitchen cabinets by purchasing stackable storage containers and nesting bowls. This idea isn’t just for the kitchen. Stackable storage crates or bins are great for any room in your home. In the living room, substitute nesting tables for a standard coffee table.

17. Make Use of the Space Above Cabinets

The space above your bathroom and kitchen cabinets usually remain empty. Instead, put storage crates or baskets in those areas to store items you don’t regularly use.

18. Go With a Leaf

Consider investing in a drop leaf kitchen or dining room table, as you can adjust the table’s size when you have guests. The rest of the time, you can save space.

Conclusion

Living in a small home doesn’t need to feel cramped and crowded. While you can’t add square footage to your home, you can make better use of your existing space and make it feel a lot roomier using the above tips from this article.