17 UHeart Organizing: Living Comfortably in Small Spaces

Living in a small space always poses specific storage challenges and really requires you to think big when organizing.  Casey of Pretty Organized is a pro when it comes to getting creative with tight spaces.  She is here to share some tips that have been crucial to her in her own home.

Hey guys!  I'm stopping in today to share a few of my favorite ideas for living more comfortably in small spaces.  Here are my top three guidelines & some examples of how I use them.

TIP 1: MAKE USE OF AWKWARD SPACES

When space is at a premium, every single inch counts.  We noticed that we had some extra space in the back upper corners under our kitchen sink, so we installed small shelves to add extra storage.

We also have an awkward little space between the microwave and the cabinets, and our dust buster tucks away perfectly in that spot!

Lastly, (and this one is my favorite!), we have very little closet space upstairs.  It is an older house with very small, shallow closets.  It is also a cape cod style house, and the upstairs is technically a "half" story because the roofline comes down so far into the ceiling.  We were left with a lot of awkward space in the eaves, where it is too short for storage furniture, so that space was pretty much wasted (about a third of the floor space in the room!).

Our solution?  We built a closet with enormous pull-out storage drawers, so we could take advantage of the space without bumping our heads to reach into it.  (The hanging shoe organizer is from Wal-Mart.)


TIP 2: MAKE EVERYTHING MOVEABLE & MULTIPURPOSE

Everything we own is on casters, felt pads, and furniture movers.  Want to do aerobics in the kitchen?  Boom.  The island is instantly shoved out of the way & there is more room for activities!

Our dining room table folds away and doubles as an entryway table, and our storage benches pull double duty as seating.

Even our laundry sorter is multipurpose! We found this little beauty at Wal-Mart, and the lid is actually an ironing board.

TIP 3: HAVE LESS STUFF

Owning a lot of multipurpose items is a huge helping factor for this.  We also tried to get in the habit of creating a capsule wardrobe, where everything we own pretty much works with everything else.  (Flattering basics in solid neutral colors make up the majority of my wardrobe, and then I use accessories to add color and style.  It makes getting dressed SO much easier, and I have saved a ton of space in my closet!)

I also try to store as many items (books, paperwork, music, etc) in digital format as possible, and when it comes to holiday decorating, I try to use a few key pieces for each season and repurpose items around the house so that I don't have as much to worry about with storage.

What are your favorite ways to save space and organize your home? Please share your ideas in the comments!


"My name is Casey, and I live in a sweet, tiny little house in Delaware with my hubby & our two adorable rescue dogs. As a longtime fan of Jen's phenomenal organizing skills, I am absolutely THRILLED to be a contributor for IHeart Organizing! I used to be a total mess, but after I let go of the idea of “perfect,” I found freedom. I stopped trying to fit the mold & learned how to make organization work with my natural habits, and I have become obsessed with creative organizing solutions ever since! When I'm not drooling over the latest amazing project features over here, you can find me happily tinkering away on my own blog, Pretty Organized, where I share my addiction to aesthetics, small space storage ideas, DIY projects, and all things aqua!"