9 Organising Lessons We Could Learn From Tiny Spaces
Furnishing a small room? Live in a tiny flat? Whichever, you’ll need clever tips like these to make every inch count
Lucy Searle
8 October 2018
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
How do you make a cramped room work without sacrificing style? The trick is to be super-organised, to furnish cleverly and to beef up storage. Try these neat ideas for an uncluttered, space-enhanced room
Exploit vertical space
So often shelving stops at dado 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? It will provide masses of storage, and as the shelves are hidden from view as you enter, the room will still feel airy and spacious.
So often shelving stops at dado 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? It will provide masses of storage, and as the shelves are hidden from view as you enter, the room will still feel airy and spacious.
Work around architecture
Just because there’s a flight of stairs leading up to a doorway doesn’t mean your shelving can’t carry right on up them. In other words, the architecture of your home shouldn’t hamper your needs – you just have to work around it.
Here, the designers have made the most of the whole wall both above and below the desk. By using open shelving rather than solid cupboards, they’ve kept the area feeling light and bright.
Just because there’s a flight of stairs leading up to a doorway doesn’t mean your shelving can’t carry right on up them. In other words, the architecture of your home shouldn’t hamper your needs – you just have to work around it.
Here, the designers have made the most of the whole wall both above and below the desk. By using open shelving rather than solid cupboards, they’ve kept the area feeling light and bright.
Build hidden storage into furniture
If space is at a premium, building fitted furniture into your scheme, whether shelves or a window seat, will ensure 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. Cupboards or drawers that can be accessed from the front are ideal, and can be used for everything from out-of-season clothes to home office files. Failing that, a lift-up lid can do the job.
Need a bespoke piece of storage furniture? Find cabinet-makers in your area
If space is at a premium, building fitted furniture into your scheme, whether shelves or a window seat, will ensure 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. Cupboards or drawers that can be accessed from the front are ideal, and can be used for everything from out-of-season clothes to home office files. Failing that, a lift-up lid can do the job.
Need a bespoke piece of storage furniture? Find cabinet-makers in your area
Free up drawer space
In this small kitchen, all the everyday items are readily available on hooks or shelves.
The bonus, other than convenience, is that it frees up drawer space for less useful and unattractive items. The other pro is that a small kitchen without wall units will feel larger. Win win.
In this small kitchen, all the everyday items are readily available on hooks or shelves.
The bonus, other than convenience, is that it frees up drawer space for less useful and unattractive items. The other pro is that a small kitchen without wall units will feel larger. Win win.
Don’t be lured by 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, have bedside tables and wall-hung cabinets above to maximise your storage opportunities. The ones shown here are big enough to hold a ton of clothes. If you choose a storage bed, too, you’ll effortlessly keep your bedroom neat.
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, have bedside tables and wall-hung cabinets above to maximise your storage opportunities. The ones shown here are big enough to hold a ton of clothes. If you choose a storage bed, too, you’ll effortlessly keep your bedroom neat.
Make a place for everything
When you’re designing storage, you have to create it for a specific purpose. Why? 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, er, CDs – all hidden neatly away behind cupboard doors.
When you’re designing storage, you have to create it for a specific purpose. Why? 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, er, CDs – all hidden neatly away behind cupboard doors.
Embrace open shelving
In the smallest of spaces, having everything to hand makes up for any frustration at the cramped quarters. And having it close by means, where possible, no doors on storage units.
This does mean either having purpose-built shelving created to your spec or, better still, having shelving you can adjust as your needs change – because they will. Future-proofing is king.
In the smallest of spaces, having everything to hand makes up for any frustration at the cramped quarters. And having it close by means, where possible, no doors on storage units.
This does mean either having purpose-built shelving created to your spec or, better still, having shelving you can adjust as your needs change – because they will. Future-proofing is king.
Use your imagination
Never one to pass up a space-saving opportunity, this homeowner has created a utility room and pet haven in one – all 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 of the housing, too. Choose a light one you can easily lift over the banister.
Never one to pass up a space-saving opportunity, this homeowner has created a utility room and pet haven in one – all 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 of the housing, too. Choose a light one you can easily lift over the banister.
Go crazy with labels
So far, all the chat has been about investing in clever storage or reimagining furniture. But however organised your approach to storage, it’s all for nothing if you don’t keep its contents in good order.
So: labels. Choose cute ones on food jars, or sticky ones on vacuum-pack bags holding out-of-season bedding or clothing. By labelling everything, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in no time.
Tell us…
Do you have any organising tips you’ve gleaned from living in a small space? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
So far, all the chat has been about investing in clever storage or reimagining furniture. But however organised your approach to storage, it’s all for nothing if you don’t keep its contents in good order.
So: labels. Choose cute ones on food jars, or sticky ones on vacuum-pack bags holding out-of-season bedding or clothing. By labelling everything, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in no time.
Tell us…
Do you have any organising tips you’ve gleaned from living in a small space? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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Great storage ideas, we needed to tidy away the walking boots and wellies but have a social space.
We have also used the unused space under the stairs
Open shelving is all very well but requires more dusting and cleaning!