5 Tips for Organizing a Small Home
Back in 2005, my husband and I began the process of buying our first home. Through lots of ups and downs, we were able to purchase a small condo in an up-and-coming part of town. When I first heard about this condo, I was hesitant to consider it because it was a 650 sq foot, “open” one-bedroom layout. I thought for sure it would feel too cramped and tiny. But, to my surprise, the builders did a wonderful job making the space feel a lot bigger than it really was by using mirrors and half-walls and by making the bathroom roomy. So…I was sold! Here we are today, 19 years later, still living in, and loving, our small condo. We are fortunate that this was our “starter” house so we didn’t have a ton of furniture or other things to bring with us. Though we have grown into the space over time, we have also learned to live a minimalist lifestyle out of necessity. Even though your living situation may be different, I do believe there are a lot of small- living “hacks” we have learned over time that can be used by people living in any size of home. But, if you are thinking of downsizing, start implementing some of these tricks to help you learn that you can live in a smaller space than you think!
Here are 5 tips for how we have managed to successfully live in a small space for so long.
Declutter like you mean it- In the world of small home organization, every item must earn its keep. Be ruthless in your editing process, purging anything that doesn't serve a practical purpose. Remember, less is more in the land of limited square footage. It is important to declutter regularly to stay on top of all the items that find their way into your home. Be diligent about the “one-in-one-out” rule and make monthly trips to donation centers.
Multi-tasking is a must- the main rule in our house is that if the item can only do one thing…then it better be worth the space it takes up! We don’t have space for specialty kitchen appliances so we stick to the appliances that are a bit more pricey but do several things really well. The same is true for the furniture we use in our homes. While a nice end table is aesthetically pleasing, if it can’t also be a storage vessel, then it’s a no-go.
Harness the power of hooks and hangers- don’t be afraid to use these tools to help you utilize all the space you have available. Use the inside of cupboards and doors to help contain awkwardly shaped items. Or add additional hooks to your closet to increase your hanging space.
Think vertical- floor space is valuable, so be sure to think about ways you can use the space above the floor! Install floating shelves to display your treasures without eating up valuable floor space. Hang pots and pans from a ceiling rack in the kitchen to free up precious cabinet space. Also, make sure to maximize the tall space in upper cabinets and closets.
Use unexpected spaces for storage- In our home, we raised our bed a few extra inches so that we could maximize what we store under the bed. Now, the space under the bed is our linen closet, our home office storage, our sports storage and so much more.
I know small space living is not for everyone and it does take some work. But, it also helps you live a much simpler life when you have to be more intentional about what you bring into your home and how you use your space.
Happy Sprucing!
