Clever Storage Solutions for the Tiniest of Homes

Even if you are diligent about getting rid of items that you no longer need, when you live in a small house, having sufficient storage for things you really do need can be a problem. However, there are some clever storage solutions that can make your life a little easier and in case you’ve never thought of these solutions before, we’re going to discuss them here.

Behind-the-Door Storage

The back side of your door can provide a treasure trove of storage space. If you check at your local hardware or home improvement store, as well as online sites, you can find pre-made organizers and kits to make your own behind-the-door organizer. Behind-the-door organizers come in several styles: shelves, bins and pockets. Shelf and bin units are particularly handy in the kitchen and can be used on the inside of a pantry door to hold food wrap, cookbooks and recipe boxes, and other staples. Pocket units are well suited for a bathroom or bedroom for holding accessories and personal items that can easily get lost in drawers or the back of a closet.

Under-the-Bed Storage

Kids are naturals at storing items under their beds; just take a look under any 5-year-old’s bed! However, it’s better to utilize this space in an organized fashion. Bins, baskets and boxes are specifically designed for under bed storage. Many of them slide out on rollers or casters, making it easy to access the unit.

Choose clear under-the-bed storage units and label them so that you can easily find what you need without having to rummage through each unit. They are a great solution for out of season clothing and shoes, as well as extra blankets and bedding. In addition to under-the-bed storage units, consider vacuum sealable bags that collapse down to nearly nothing when the air is suctioned out. Simply insert your items then use an ordinary vacuum cleaner to suck out excess air. Vacuum bags store bulky items like quilts and blankets in a fraction of the space.

Functional Multi-Use Furniture

You need furniture anyway, so why not choose pieces that offer storage along with their regular function? You can find coffee tables, end tables, TV cabinets and entertainment centers and even fish tanks and couches or loves seats with storage space. Beds with storage drawers below are a great choice for a small bedroom where there may not be enough room for a dresser or chest of drawers; just be sure that there is enough room to pull the drawers out to access the contents. Even when choosing items like a table for a foyer, choose one with drawers instead of one without; the table with drawers won’t take up any more room, but will offer lots more storage space. Similarly, if you add a bookcase to a room, choose a tall one instead of a short one; it will use the same amount of floor space, but offer twice as much storage space. Bins and baskets on open shelves will result in a neat, coordinated look.

Now that the room is organized and clutter free, bring in some beautiful wall art, like framed art or a metal wall grille or add wrought iron door toppers for style that doesn’t intrude on your floor space.