Maximizing the vertical space in your small home can help your store items.
According to the National Association of Realtors, many Americans are downsizing into smaller homes, which can present some storage challenges. It often seems as if everyone has too much stuff and nowhere to put it. That feeling is compounded when you have a smaller home. By looking for ways to creatively use space, you can create a comfortable, uncluttered space in even the smallest home. Does this Spark an idea?
Clear Out the Clutter
The best way to find space to store your belongings in a small house is the clear out the clutter. You probably don't need the statistics textbook from college or the broken coffee maker you thought you would fix "someday." Going through your home and tossing, donating or selling items that you no longer need or want will clear out space for you to store the items you want to keep.
Use Multi-Purpose Furniture
Small houses may not have a lot of closet or cabinet space, so add furniture that does double duty as storage. Look for a bed or coffee table with built-in drawers, or use storage ottomans in the living room to serve as a coffee table and a place to store extra blankets, books or other items. In the kitchen, look for a cart on wheels that can store kitchen items while also offering a service to hold the microwave or for food prep. Use an armoire in the living room to store the television, games, toys or extra blankets---you can just close the door to hide everything when it is not being used.
Use Vertical Space
When you are designing your home and trying to maximize storage space, think vertically. Install floating shelves to display accessories, or install a tall, narrow bookshelf in the living room. Many home goods retailers offer bathroom cabinet units that fit over the toilet, giving you a cabinet, shelf and sometimes a towel rack all in one. Using vertical space can also help you display a collection that might otherwise gather dust in storage. Display your collection of hats or antique plates on a wall to add a personal touch to the space while opening up storage space for something else.
Use Storage Products
Storage and organization is a huge industry, and new ideas and products for keeping your home decluttered are introduced all the time. Maximize your limited storage space by using it as efficiently as possible. Instead of a jumble of pots and pans in a kitchen cabinet, use organizers to store them together with their lids. Use risers in a kitchen cabinet to stack canned goods, or an over-the-door storage bag or rack in your closet to store shoes and accessories. When you organize your small space, you may find that you have more space than your thought.
Tags: living room, storage space, your home, coffee table, kitchen cabinet, space store, store items