Small rooms can be cosy - and often make houses and apartments more affordable - but they can cause major headaches when it comes to storing all of your belongings.
Of course, decluttering can solve many problems of this kind - but you shouldn’t be forced to live with little more than the very basics. In this article, Property Solvers offer a range of clever storage solutions to help you enjoy your bijou living arrangement with minimal mess.
Go Multifunctional
There are plenty of great pieces of furniture that offer storage alongside their key function. Divan beds and ottomans are a case in point, as are “hollow” footstools and coffee tables with small drawers or storage spaces below.
You can make the most of your existing space with a sofa bed or futon, too!
Use “Dead Space”
The term “dead space” refers to areas in a room that aren’t immediately usable, such as corners. You can put these areas to work by investing in corner units and shelving designs as well as vertical racking systems and other clever creations.
Employ Walls and Doors
Speaking of vertical storage, there may be many features of your home that could be put to good use. FOr example, you might decide to invest in over-door coat hooks and shelving racks or wall mounted mirrors with underslung trays or shelves.
Put Up Shelves
Open-fronted shelving is a great way to make the most of any space. You can install a shelf or two almost anywhere, and the avoidance of cabinet fronts or doors will stop rooms from appearing too small or crowded.
Get Labelled Containers
Organisation is key when it comes to neat storage. Label jars, baskets, trays and any other containers so that your whole household knows where to find certain items and belongings. What’s more, once they’ve finished what they’re doing, they’ll know just where to put them back.
Rotate Items
Not everything has to be out on display. Why not rotate items such as clothing and ornaments seasonally?
Warm coats, jumpers, boots and cold weather gear can be stored away in the attic, garage, under beds or elsewhere until the weather starts to turn, at which point you can use them to replace your spring and summer items and keep everything clutter-free.
Things you’ll need throughout the year, like certain cooking implements, toiletries and so on, can be stored within closer reach.
Install Small Units
If you arrange storage in small increments, you’ll be able to fit units neatly into your living spaces without making a room or area feel smaller.
You can also organise items more distinctly, making them quicker and easier to find.
Use Functional Items as Art
Some attractive items can be kept out on display, doubling as “art”.
Why not hang your jewellery in a picture frame to add a little sparkle to walls, or arrange pretty pots, pans, mugs or glasses out in the open in your kitchen for interest?
Keep Counters Clear
Another thing you need to consider in your kitchen is the use of surface space. This is vital for cooking, and the areas in corners or up against walls can be very handy for storing the items with which you regularly prepare food.
It is usually preferable to keep lesser used items and small appliances stored away. By carefully prioritising, you’ll be able to arrange your storage sensibly and ensure you always have enough room to cook.
One ingenious way to free up kitchen storage is to install racks or hooks under overhead cabinets. There, you can hang pans, mugs and utensils, keeping them out of cupboards and off surfaces.
There are even some compact shelves and racks that will fit around cooker hoods, inside cabinet doors or over the backs of sinks.
You can also pick up some very clever kitchen units like carousels and “magic corners” that you can install to help you store more items in tight spaces.
Make the most of smaller rooms and free up more space in your home by following some or all of the suggestions above. There’s no need to feel cramped when you have so many options available to you!
