Ever since I was introduced to the “Tiny Home” concept, I’ve been very intrigued. I read through the Not So Big House books and watched every episode of Tiny House Nation on FYI. The most important theme seems to be proper use of resources, meaning it’s not how much space you have, but how well it’s used.

Here are some great tips I’ve learned on organizing a small space:

1. Declutter 

 We all have way more stuff than we need. My mantra: If you don’t love it and use it, get rid of it. Stick to the basic essentials. It will make it much easier to clean, much easier to manage, much easier to live. Try going through every room in your home, one by one. This can be a weekend-long marathon, or split up into smaller chunks of time. Divide into 3 categories: Keep, Toss, Donate. Imagine the relief you’ll feel when all the junk is g-o-n-e!

2. Break the rules

Tiny homes utilize every square inch of space. When it seems like you have no room for storage, think outside the box. Just because a cupboard is in the bathroom doesn’t mean you must only store toiletries in it. One of our bathroom shelves houses extra kitchen items and cloth napkins. Another of our bathroom cupboards is designated for extra paper products—plates, napkins, plasticware, etc. The bedroom closet is home to much more than clothes and shoes; I stack all of my office supplies on the upper shelf. 

 
3). Think high and low 

Many times we forget that items can be stored beyond eye level. I have 2 cabinets over the fridge. Because they’re so high up, I can’t easily reach them and they’ve been empty. Talk about wasted space! I gathered up some barely-used items and a step stool and got to work. Within 10 minutes, I was able to find “magic” space after complaining I didn’t have any. Another under-used storage area is beneath the bed. This is a perfect place for flat bins.    

4. Hang up your clothes  

This tip alone was huge for me! Instead of having a dresser—or two!—in every bedroom, by simply hanging clothes in the closet, I was able to get rid of the extra furniture. It takes much less space to hang rather than fold. The clothes also stay less wrinkled, which cuts down on dreaded ironing! At this point, the only items I put in my dresser are socks, undies, and certain sweaters. Everything else, including bras, go straight on a hanger. (A tip on hangers: anytime I buy something, I ask to keep the hanger. 90% of stores allow it and I haven’t had to actually pay for one in years.)

5. Double Duty

Look for pieces that serve more than one purpose. In my living room, the ottoman serve as a foot rest/mini coffee table/storage area. I also love bunk beds with a built in bottom desk for kid’s rooms. Built-in bookshelves are a dream come true (Mine hold books, art, the cordless phone, etc). In Japan and Scandinavia, they even make built-in beds, sofa bases, drawers inside staircases, and other awesome furniture.

How do you make the most of your storage space?