Top 5 Organization Tips for Small Living Spaces
#1 Minimize.
This is easier said than done. I would classify this as one of the most difficult but most useful ways to keep a functional space. Most of the time we go about our daily rituals without putting much thought into whether or not each of our items are useful to us or make us happy to have in our home. And that’s totally normal since we focus our attention on a lot of different things. Oftentimes, kitchen utensils get lost in the shadows of the drawer, pieces of clothing get forgotten and scrunched in the back of our closet, and furniture acts as a landing place rather than a piece that is enjoyed and utilized to its fullest. Minimizing will set the foundation for upkeeping organization methods as well as give more purpose to the items we surround ourselves with.
But where to start?
Take some time to make minimizing a priority, one room at a time. I find it helpful to do this process throughout my home each time the season changes so that it is more of an upkeep rather than an overhaul. Pick a room, and start by assessing the larger pieces in the room such as tables, benches, dressers and decide if they are still purposeful for you or if you instead could use the additional space. Then work your way through closets, drawers, and shelves. This process calls for sifting through your stuff and only keeping the things that are currently useful. Once you have collections of the items that are not serving you any longer, decide whether you are going to donate or sell items, and before you know it, you will feel lighter as you enjoy a more intentional home.
#2 Choose furniture & decorative pieces that double as storage.
One of the most practical ways to add more storage in a small living space is to choose furniture and decorative pieces that double as storage. Tufted benches that open, coffee tables with roomy interiors, and ottomans all offer room to tuck away items while still offering style. If you do better with having your items more visible, try combination furniture that couples hide away storage with open shelving. See pictures below for more creative ideas!
Shabby-chic desktop drawers keep office supplies organized. This piece also functions nicely in an entry way.
These cubbies are some of the most versatile around! Mine serves as a pantry storing snack items & baking ingredients. Completely customizable, you can choose various functional style combinations including leaving cubby spaces open, storing items in baskets, inserting drawers, and even door inserts are an option. This piece can be placed either vertically or horizontally.
Vintage style suitcases keep wedding cards & keepsakes concealed while adding a sense of wanderlust. These would also be good to keep stationary stored or even hats and gloves at the ready for the cold seasons.
A white-washed, wooden framed tray with cool chalkboard feature keeps workspace essentials contained and available. Also a great tray to keep atop a coffee table or ottoman.
#3 Utilize vertical space.
Gaze upwards. Not only can you take advantage of the tops of closets and cabinets, but you can utilize your walls too. Walls provide valuable space that is often overlooked, and helps keep floor space clear. Check out my DIY hanging hampers (from HomeGoods) and floating shelves in the bathroom.
#4 Use bins, baskets, & boxes for storage.
Bins, baskets, and boxes are helpful supplements to closets for keeping belongings organized. Considering how accessible your belongings should be helps determine what kind of container to choose and where to store it. Seeing all of your items through a clear storage box helps to keep tabs on what is stored. Likewise, clearly written labels can do the trick too. Stick to what you know works for you in order to make your organizing system easy to upkeep.
I like to categorize the items I store in these types of containers into 3 categories (labeled below) to help me decide what type of container would work best.
Infrequent Use
Infrequently used items such as holiday decorations, extra candles, and piles of hangers get stored in clear, plastic bins on top of the closet and underneath the bed.
Daily Use
Extra throw pillows, blankets, and small workout equipment that get everyday use get stored in open baskets so they are easily at the grab.
#5 Repurpose jars & containers.
Repurposing items is a great way to keep your smaller items organized and easy to find. Not to mention it’s cost effective and green! Reuse decorative candle jars as a visually pleasing catch-all bowl, tea containers to keep extra toothbrushes upright in the cabinet, jam jars to store colored pencils on the desktop, mini plant pots to keep rubber bands from tangling in the drawer, and even a small ball of yarn to keep a pencil upright and available on the desk. Also, you can get artsy by upcycling your carboard shoe boxes. Cover them in a colored or printed wrapping paper - or burlap for a neutral, earthy vibe - and you have yourself some decorative storage boxes that can be kept on display. Get creative with ways to repurpose containers for personalized organization!
