When you live in tight quarters or find yourself with limited closet space, you have to think outside the box when it comes to storage. In the mood to do a little Marie Kondo-ing and find spots for all of your belongings? Read on for some helpful ideas for getting creative with storage for small spaces.
Before you begin to identify small-space storage solutions, purge the clutter you already have in your home. This will help you get the best results from your organizing efforts.
Follow this rule of thumb: When you purchase a new item, give something else away. Ask yourself if you truly need that extra set of glasses or fancy kitchen gadget. This simple exercise of keeping an eye on what you already have may deter you from buying unnecessary items, thereby saving you extra space.
Look Up, Hang Up
The least-used space in your home is quite possibly the best spot for implementing creative storage solutions — the 12 inches below your ceiling. Use it by installing shelves along the perimeter of any room — bedrooms and offices work best — and you’ll instantly have space for books and other items high above. If those feel too far away, feel free to go the traditional route and install vertical shelves on any available wall space.
Speaking of wall space, get creative. Consider hanging bicycles from the ceiling, or free up space in the kitchen by hanging pegboards for utensils and magnetic strips for knives. Hanging storage maximizes valuable floor real estate. Remember the simple small-space living mantra: When in doubt, hang it up!
Think Creatively
Nobody said storage for small spaces had to be boring. Living small means thinking big and turning your stuff into art — and making things extra useful in the process.
One way to possibly double your space is by keeping items you usually hide in closets out in the open. Consider a headboard that provides storage for magazines and mementos, a bed frame that has drawers included under the mattress, or a clothes rack installed in the corner of your bedroom to display your capsule wardrobe. Hang pots and pans on a rack from the ceiling in your kitchen, which makes instant functional décor and enhances your already trendy design scheme.
Another way to get creative is to repurpose unexpected items to use for storage. For example, you can transform a clean farmhouse-style wire trash can into a cute storage bin. And there’s no reason those plastic canisters made for storing pantry staples can’t hold the kids’ toys or art supplies. If you’ve got a recycle bin full of glass jars that held salsa and pickles in their former lives, then wash a few and use them to keep your makeup brushes or desk pens in one spot.
Don’t Forget the Doors
Closets, cabinets, and interior doors — oh my! When it comes to small space storage, be sure to use every flat area you can find that has potential. Whether it’s adding magazine file boxes to cabinet doors to organize kitchen necessities, or mounting your hairdryer in the inside door of your sink cabinet, leave no door unused. And while you may want to use every door imaginable, you might be able to save space by removing a few, too. Swap curtains for a door closure and you simultaneously allow more space for furniture because you won’t have to leave room for the door to open.
And while you may want to use every door imaginable, you might be able to save space by removing a few, too. Swap curtains for a door closure and you simultaneously allow more space for furniture because you won’t have to leave room for the door to open.
Make a Space for Every Object
The strongest key to small space storage solutions is actually a no brainer — you’ve got to stay organized. The odds and ends add up quickly, so be sure you’re decluttering regularly, but also finding homes for any new items you bring into your life. Grab a few inexpensive storage boxes for kids’ toys or baskets for towels in the linen closet. Keeping things in a visible spot will help you take note of your “stuff” inventory.
Don’t forget that furniture can double as hidden storage too. Hollow ottomans can open to reveal hidden space, while coffee tables often have a drawer for small stowaway items.
When making decisions on the best storage for your small space, keep CORT Furniture Rental in mind for furniture and décor solutions. You can find everything you need to stay organized without losing any of the comfort you crave.
