Do you live in a small home – a townhouse, a basement suite, an apartment?
Do you have a tiny laundry room, a little kitchen, or a crammed bathroom that you just can’t seem to organize?
We want our homes to be functional – to work for us. But sometimes it’s tricky to get there.
Small spaces can feel challenging to organize, but I believe they can also be incredibly functional and beautiful. With just a little thought, intention, and creativity, they can be what you need them to be.
Let’s break it down.
Here are 10 Hacks for Organizing a Small Space. These are tips I have learned from others and picked up along the way.
I think you’ll find these steps helpful, even in the most challenging rooms.
So here we go.
Organization Hacks
1. Declutter.
Get rid of what you don’t need.
You can’t properly organize a space if it’s full of unnecessary and unwanted items.
Start with one surface, cupboard, or drawer. Take everything out, and look it over with a careful eye. Only put back the things you really love or need. Everything you own needs to earn its keep. Prioritize the things you use every day, and be very minimal with everything else.
In a small space, you only have room for what’s essential.
2. Put like items together.
Now that you’ve decluttered what you don’t want or need, put your items into categories.
Make piles if you have to.
Put all your clothes together. Your toiletries. Your books.
In most cases you’ll want to store these items in the same place.
3. Utilize hidden storage systems.
While open shelving can be pretty, hidden storage is the most practical. This is especially true in a small space. I mean nobody wants to display their dirty boots and bag of all-purpose flour if given the option.
Cabinets, drawers, and closets are your friends! Let them help you.
Utilize your hidden storage for your ugly but important items. Think shoes, clothes, toiletries, Tupperware, and cleaning products.
Find cabinets and drawers for each category.
4. Buy beautiful organizational pieces.
Invest in some quality organizational tools. Woven baskets, wood crates, and a lovely bookshelf can really be used anywhere. Baskets can sit on the counter, in a corner nook, or on the top of your kitchen cabinets to house any extra categories for which you may not have a place.
They can even be used where no one but you will see them. It’s not a waste to add a little a beauty to your work spaces.
Here are some examples!
Metal and Bamboo Counter Shelves
5. Work within boundaries.
If you don’t have room for more socks in your sock drawer, don’t buy more. If your towel basket is at capacity, resist getting another set.
Establish realistic boundaries for your items. Designate drawers, cupboards, and bins for each category, and then work within those parameters.
6. Use large storage bins for non everyday items.
Buy a few totes for non everyday essentials. Fill them with like Christmas decorations, not-currently-used kids clothes, or memorabilia. Label them clearly, and then stash them in the basement, crawl space, or shed.
You don’t need to store all your items in the space you use everyday. Large totes can be a great way to organize the things you want to keep but don’t need close at hand.
7. Establish tidy habits.
Learn how to be a tidy person. You can have a well-ordered home, but if you don’t maintain it, it will get out of hand again.
Pay attention to your habits. Do you leave your clothes on the floor after showering? Do you go to bed with a dirty kitchen each night? We don’t have to have perfectly clean homes, but perhaps we could implement some new routines.
The more we do something, the more it will become second-nature. The more we learn to pick up our clothes and wash our dishes, the easier it will be to keep our spaces organized.
8. Meal Plan.
Meal planning can help keep a kitchen organized and decluttered.
When you meal plan, you end up only buying things you need. You buy your ingredients and then use them right away. Food won’t often go to waste, and you can be intentional about using up what you have.
You may find you don’t even need as much pantry or cupboard space for excess food, because you will be constantly using up ingredients and keeping track of what you have.
9. Get creative.
You don’t have to organize the way everyone else does or even the way you always have. If a space feels chaotic or not very functional, don’t panic. Brainstorm creative changes you could make, and then try a new method.
You may be surprised by your innovation!
10. Review often.
Decluttering and organizing isn’t a one and done deal. Make a regular practice of sorting and re-assessing the things in your home.
Ask yourself, Do I still want or need this item? Is this particular organizational method working still working for me?
Don’t be afraid to make changes as needed. Declutter. Re-organize. Find a new system.
The way your home operates can and should change over time.
Small spaces don’t have to be cluttered and crazy.
With just a little intention and diligence, they can become organized, calm, and beautiful spaces in which you can thrive.
FAQ about Small Space Organization
1. What if I feel overwhelmed to even begin organizing?
Start small. Pick one space that you can reasonably tackle from start to finish. It may be a cupboard, a counter, or a sock drawer. Just do one small thing. You will feel so accomplished when you do, and it may spur you on to do one more space tomorrow!
2. What if I just want a BIGGER space?
A bigger space isn’t always the answer. You can have a big house and still be disorganized. Ask God for contentment where you are, and choose to tend to the home you have. The more you nurture your space, the more you’ll enjoy it.
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