Home Organization & Storage Ideas to Maximize Space in a Small Home

Remove Clutter

Before you can come up with effective organization and storage methods for your small home,  make it a point to go through your stuff to see if there are items you can get rid of. Whether it’s throwing out things that are broken or donating clothes you no longer wear, getting rid of any sort of excess will surely make organizing easier.

Once you’ve narrowed down all the items you’re keeping, take your preparation a step further. Start to think about the activities that take place within your home and create room zones. Zones are specific areas within each room that relate to an activity. For example, if you have your office desk in your guest room, you probably have a work zone and a hospitality zone. If you have children who complete their homework at the kitchen table, perhaps your kitchen has a homework zone.

Go through each room in your house and create a list of the zones you would need in each area. SFGATE.com has a detailed method for defining room zones. Each designated area will contain the items that would be needed for such an activity – organized neatly of course!  While such a task may seem daunting or excessive, this list will come in handy throughout the process. Once you have all the zone areas defined, go back through your stuff and decide if the items are designated in the proper zones.

Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture

In dealing with small real estate, a great way to maximize space is by opting for multi-functional furniture pieces. There are an array of pieces to consider that will save you space, align with your room zones, and reduce the amount of money you spend, including:

• Storage Ottomans for the Living Room or Bedroom: Use this as a typical ottoman but then flip it up to house blankets, movies, or game controllers.
• Trundle Daybed for the Guest Room: Choosing to get a trundle daybed means you can utilize the bed as either a couch, a single bed, or extend the bottom and create a larger bed for more company.
• Storage Bed for the Master Bedroom: Investigate purchasing a bed with drawers or shelves underneath. This would be a great spot to hold pajamas, extra sheets, or things you would typically hide for safekeeping.
• Lift-Up Coffee Tables for the Living Room or Den: Coffee tables are a nice touch to living rooms and den areas, but they’re even nicer when they can do more than present recently read magazines. Use them to house mail, pay bills, or a pencil, pen, and some notebooks when it's homework time.
• Mirror Jewelry Holders for the Bedroom or Bathroom: Jewelry holders in the form of long mirrors are a great addition to either your bedroom or bathroom. They'll also save you from using up prime real estate with a bulky jewelry box or dresser space with a countertop jewelry box.
• Entryway Storage Benches for the Front Door Area: Many people end up having a bit of a mess at the front door simply from busting in and out in a hurry. Opting for a storage bench is a great idea at the very least to hide the mess. Use it to house shoes, bags, umbrellas, or maybe bug spray and sunscreen in the summer & gloves, and hats in the winter.

Utilize Wall Space

One of the best ways to make your home appear more spacious is by keeping your floor space clean & clear. The more of the floor you can see, the more spacious your rooms will appear. However, where do you put your stuff? It’s simpler than you think, depending on the layout of the room. Here are some ways to utilize ceiling & wall space effectively:

Living Room

Choose to hang your TV up on the wall instead of taking up the entire space in the entertainment center. Additionally, hang up photo frames to keep your coffee table and side tables free.

Kitchen

Extend your cabinets above or below the standard location by adding extra shelves or drawers. Take advantage of the extra space to house big dishes, pans, vases, or even cookbooks.

Laundry Room

Choosing to use the wall and ceiling space is a great idea, especially in a traditionally small area such as your laundry room. One effective tip is to purchase a stackable washer & dryer. You'll automatically save space & keep the floor clean. It's a win-win! 

Office

With so many people now working remotely, home offices are pretty much a must. However, not every home has the luxury of dedicating a full room to an office. Small homes may need to incorporate office spaces in living rooms, bedrooms, or guest rooms.

Choosing to have a wall-mounted or fold-up desk is a great option in these types of scenarios. A wall-mounted desk provides enough wall space for bookcases or storage units, while a fold-up desk gives you the option to hide your workspace and blend into whatever aesthetic you need in that particular room.

Accessorize to Organize

Another great way to effectively maximize space is by purchasing additional organizational accessories. While some may think simple drawer organizers won’t make a difference, they definitely will force you to strategize how to store certain items.

Some organizers to consider include:

• Hanging closet organizers
• Behind the door organizers
• Blow dryer and hair accessory cabinet organizers
• Drawer organizers for the office

Conclusion

Despite the size of the space, having a place to call home is a privilege. One could lose sight of this if they’re frustrated by clutter, chaos, or a lack of space. Implementing simple, yet effective methods for maximizing storage within a small home will surely put things back into perspective.

Sources

• https://homeguides.sfgate.com/organize-house-rooms-zones-29758.html