As someone who has lived in a variety of small spaces over the years – from a cramped college dorm to a cozy one-bedroom apartment and even a tiny two-bedroom townhouse – I know firsthand the challenges of keeping a petite home organized and clutter-free. But let me tell you, it’s not impossible. In fact, with the right strategies and a little creativity, you can transform even the tiniest of spaces into a functional, zen-like oasis.
Purge, Purge, Purge
The first and most crucial step in conquering a small space? Decluttering like your life depends on it. I know, I know – it can be tough to let go of things, especially if you have that nagging “what if I need this someday?” voice in the back of your mind. But trust me, once you get over that mental block and start purging, it’s incredibly liberating.
I’ve been there, holding onto binders full of college notes for years after graduation (did I really think I was going to read through all of those again?), and you know what? I haven’t missed a single thing I’ve gotten rid of. In fact, I feel so much lighter and more at peace in my home now that I’ve ruthlessly let go of the excess.
When I was tackling our garage decluttering project, I had to embrace the mantra “it has to get worse before it gets better.” But once I got through the initial pain of sorting, donating, and tossing, the end result was pure bliss – an organized, clutter-free oasis that made my heart sing.
Maximize Your Space Through Zoning
Now that you’ve purged and pared down, it’s time to get creative with how you use every square inch of your small space. One of my favorite strategies is to designate specific zones within a room to define its function and keep it organized.
In our main living area, for example, we divided the space into a dining zone, a TV/hangout zone, and a play area for the kids. Sure, I’d love to have a dedicated playroom with a door I could shut, but that’s just not an option in our current home. By creating these defined zones, though, we’re able to keep the clutter contained and the flow of the space feeling intentional.
Even if you don’t have the luxury of an entire room to dedicate to a specific purpose, you can still carve out zones within a space. My friend Chelsea from Making Home Base did an amazing job of creating a toy zone for her daughters in a small corner of their living room. And in our very first one-bedroom apartment, Donnie and I made it work by tucking a little secretary desk into the corner to serve as our home office.
Vertical Storage is Key
When you’re short on square footage, the only way to go is up. I’m a huge fan of maximizing vertical space through the use of shelving, bookcases, and other storage solutions that allow you to stack things neatly.
In the kids’ room, for example, we’ve got bunk beds, a vertical shelving unit for their toys, and even a little arts and crafts zone that stretches all the way up the wall. And in my office, I brought in tall bookcases and mounted a pegboard to utilize every inch of that precious vertical real estate.
The same principle applies in the closet – don’t just rely on the hanging rod for storage. Install shelves, add cubbies, and take advantage of the space above your clothes to stash all sorts of goodies. I recently revamped my own closet organization system to include pull-out drawers, wall-mounted storage, and a designated spot for my laundry supplies. It’s made a world of difference in keeping that area tidy and functional.
Avoid the Floor at All Costs
One of the golden rules of small space living that Donnie swears by? Don’t use the floor as storage space. I know, it can be tempting to just pile things up in the corner, but that quickly leads to a cluttered, chaotic mess. Instead, get creative with furniture, shelves, and other vertical storage solutions to keep your floors clear.
In the kids’ toy area, for example, we used to have all their big toys just scattered on the floor, but now they’re neatly tucked away on shelves. And in our master closet, we used inexpensive bins from Walmart to corral our shoes and keep them off the floor.
Keeping the floor clear not only makes the space feel more organized, but it also makes cleaning a breeze. No more having to shuffle piles of stuff around just to vacuum or sweep – it’s a total game-changer.
Embrace Minimalism (with a Twist)
As someone who loves to browse the aisles of Target and HomeGoods, I totally understand the temptation to bring home all the things. But when you’re living in a small space, that’s a recipe for disaster. You’ve got to be ruthlessly selective about what you allow into your home.
Before I buy something new, I ask myself a few key questions: Does it serve multiple functions? Is it a duplicate of something I already have? And most importantly, where in the world am I going to put it? If the answer to any of those is “I don’t know,” then it’s a hard pass. I’ve even implemented a one-in, one-out rule – for every new item that comes in, something else has to go.
It’s not always easy, especially when well-meaning friends and family members want to shower you with gifts. But trust me, the clutter-free bliss is worth it. And who knows, maybe they’ll start taking the hint and give you the gift of no stuff instead.
Get Strategic with Storage
Even in a small home, there are always creative ways to carve out more storage space. Think vertically, think multi-purpose, and think outside the box. In our current townhouse, for example, we’ve added closet organizing systems to maximize the space in our pantry, bedroom, and even my craft room.
And in the kids’ room, where space is especially tight, I was able to fit two dressers by putting one right in the closet, utilizing that otherwise wasted vertical space. Before we converted our entry closet into a dedicated pantry, I even added an inexpensive cube unit at the bottom to stash the kids’ toys.
So don’t be afraid to get a little unconventional with your storage solutions. Just because a room is “supposed” to serve one function doesn’t mean you can’t adapt it to suit your needs. I’ve turned an 8×8 space in our basement into a mini home gym, and Donnie even used that same little nook as his office for a while.
Make Peace with Your Small Space
At the end of the day, small space living isn’t about making do – it’s about embracing the challenge and finding creative ways to make the most of what you’ve got. Sure, there may be times when you long for a little more elbow room, but there are also some serious perks to living in a cozy abode.
For one, it’s way easier to keep clean and tidy. And without all that extra square footage to fill, you’re forced to be more intentional about what you bring into your home. Plus, when you live in a small space, you tend to spend more quality time together as a family, rather than retreating to separate rooms.
So take a deep breath, let go of the comparison game, and start seeing your petite palace as the beautiful, zen-like oasis it can be. With a little decluttering, some strategic organization, and a whole lot of creativity, I promise you can make it work – and even love it in the process.
Now, who’s ready to tackle their own small space transformation? Let’s do this!
