Even though small homes have plenty of advantages, there’s one glaring problem with this living arrangement: a lack of storage. Rather than get rid of some of your most prized possessions, consider whether any of these space-saving storage ideas below could be worth a closer look.
Put Everything Behind You With a Storage Headboard
One of the primary advantages of a storage headboard is its ability to declutter the bedroom. Books, glasses, electronic devices, and personal keepsakes can be neatly stored within arm’s reach, eliminating the need for additional furniture pieces like bookshelves or nightstands, thus freeing up valuable floor space.
Moreover, these headboards often come equipped with cable management systems or integrated lighting, adding to their functionality and enhancing the overall ambiance of the bedroom. Photo: IKEA/BRIMNES
Free up Floor Space With a Wall-Mounted Shoe Cabinet
If you’ve ever found yourself with a mountain of shoes at your front door, then it’s time to make a change. Consider investing in a mirrored shoe cabinet for your wall. While it just looks like a mirror, you can open it and house your most used pairs of shoes. Photo: Latitude Run®/Shoe cabinet
Use vacuum storage bags for seasonal clothing and bedding
Space-saving vacuum storage bags allow you to significantly reduce the volume of your items by removing the air, which compresses the contents and makes them much easier to store. This is particularly useful for bulky items like seasonal clothing, bedding, and towels, which can take up a considerable amount of space in closets and drawers.
To use, you simply fill the bag with your items, seal it, and then use a vacuum cleaner or a hand pump to extract the air from the bag. The result is a compact package that can easily be stacked, stored under beds, or tucked away in small storage spaces.
Moreover, vacuum storage bags can help protect your items from external elements. By creating a sealed environment, these bags protect their contents from moisture, dust, and insects, ensuring that your items remain clean and fresh. This is particularly beneficial for storing seasonal items that may not be used for several months at a time. Photo: GONGSHI/Vacuum storage bags
Build Cabinets Into the Staircase
Staircases allow you to get from one floor to the next, but they take up an awful lot of space for this convenience. Consider building cupboards, drawers, or even a cat toilet into your stairs to maximize your available storage space. Photo: Ida Johansson
Keep Your Shoes in the Ottoman
Ottomans can be a gorgeous accompaniment to any bedroom or living space. If you are going to buy one, make sure it has internal storage. You can then use it to house shoes, family board games, blankets, and other bulky items you can’t seem to find space for. Photo: Sole secret/Shoe storage bench
Store Stuff Under the Stair Steps
Most people are now aware of how convenient stairs can be for storage. But did you know you can use the steps themselves as storage, too? Turn the top into a hinged lid for easy storage of those small items that need a home. Photo: Atmosphères Design
Let Your Stools Work Overtime
Small stools are perfect as flexible seating when space is at a premium, but they are also great as side or bedside tables. Squeeze even more use out of them by choosing stools with built-in storage. Photo: Dining/5-piece dining set
Hide Your Furniture Under the Bed
Tiny home living is catching on, but that doesn’t mean space still isn’t an issue. Fortunately, if you construct your bed on a raised platform, you can have more of it. The underneath component can house furniture that’s not needed right away, such as sofas, tables, stools, and more. Photo: UKO
Keep Plates and Cutlery in the Dining Table
You’d be alarmed at just how many items are required to set the dinner table. You’ve got condiments, plates, placemats, cutlery, the list goes on. Where are you supposed to put them when you’ve got limited storage? Purchase a dining table with drawers, and you’ve got your answer. Photo: Trisha Yearwood Home Collection/Drop leaf dining table
Look to the Ceiling for Storage
When you’ve filled every nook and cranny with items, and you’ve simply run out of storage, it’s time to look up. Purchase a ceiling storage solution and mount it over your bed. You can hide this storage solution by fitting a canopy to the bed. Photo: IKEA/MULIG Clothes bar
Hide the Stuffed Toys in a Bean Bag
As much as children love stuffed toys, there never seems to be an ideal place to put them. Consider whether inside your bean bag is that ‘ideal’ place. Rather than purchase messy beans that aren’t environmentally friendly, stuff a bean bag full of soft toys. Every time they want to play with one, they can unzip it and remove it with ease. In the meantime, the bean bag can remain a comfortable seat. Photo: Soothing Company
Store Your Clutter Under the Sofa
There’s a surprising amount of wasted space under sofas, beds, and armchairs. Make use of it by purchasing rolling storage. These narrow trays on wheels tuck away under a surprising number of furniture pieces. Your clutter can be out of sight and out of mind in no time. Photo: IKEA/RÅVAROR utility cart
Go for Benches With Open Shelving
It’s so simple, yet it’s only been in recent years that such a solution has been available: a bench on wheels with open shelving. You can use it for the storage of almost anything and move it anywhere in your home. Such furniture is helpful for offices, children’s rooms, kitchens, and more. Photo: IKEA/RÅVAROR bench on casters
Get a Bed With Lift-up Storage
If you’ve got spare bedding, blankets, winter clothing, and other bulky items to find homes for, consider buying a bed with lift-up storage. Within just a simple lift function, you can access it with ease. Photo: DHP/Storage bed
Or a Bed With Plenty of Drawers
Beds have so much wasted space. After all, you’re only using the mattress! Swap your old, non-functional bed for one with drawers. All of a sudden, you’ve got far more storage space than you did before. Photo: Prepac/Storage Bed
Keep Your Living Room Tidy With a Storage Coffee Table
Space-saving storage coffee tables are ingeniously designed pieces of furniture that merge aesthetics with functionality, catering to the modern demand for efficient living, especially in compact living spaces. These tables are not just the centerpiece of living rooms where friends and family gather but also a smart solution to declutter the area, making them indispensable for small apartments and homes.
These tables come in various designs, each tailored to meet different storage needs and aesthetic preferences. From minimalist tables with hidden compartments to those with shelves and drawers, the options cater to diverse storage requirements, whether for magazines, remote controls, or even board games and blankets.
In addition to their practicality and style, space-saving storage coffee tables often incorporate innovative design features. For example, some models include built-in USB ports and electrical outlets, making it easy to charge devices without adding clutter. Others might feature adjustable height settings, catering to different needs and activities throughout the day. Photo: Sauder/coffee table
Build Pull-Out Drawers Into Your Dining Bench
Bench seating is a popular option in many tiny homes being built today – and for a good reason. It allows plenty of space for storage. Consider making pull-out drawers into your bench to store blankets, board games, extra clothing, and more. Photo: Studio A3/A3 Byggprojekt
Wrap Your Bed in Storage
There’s often quite a lot of wasted space around a bed, but there doesn’t have to be. If your bedroom or home has no storage, encapsulate your bed in nothing but storage. You’ll be amazed at just how clutter-free your home will look when everything has a home. Photo: INT2architecture
Select a Sleeper Sofa With Built-in Storage
In the quest for maximizing living space without compromising on comfort or style, the space-saving sleeper sofa with built-in storage emerges as a game-changer for small homes and apartments. This multifunctional furniture piece ingeniously combines the comfort of a sofa, the utility of a guest bed, and the practicality of storage space, all in one sleek design. It’s an ideal solution for those who wish to optimize their living area while maintaining a clutter-free and inviting environment.
What sets these sleeper sofas apart is the built-in storage they offer. Hidden within their design, you’ll find spacious compartments suitable for storing bedding, pillows, and blankets, or even items that aren’t frequently used. This built-in storage feature is particularly beneficial for those with limited closet or storage space, as it keeps necessary items within reach but out of sight, maintaining a neat and organized appearance. Photo: Three Posts™ Teen/Sleeper Sofa
Give Old Army Boxes a New Lease on Life
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from unique storage solutions in your home. Track down old army boxes and give them a new lease on life. Sand, paint, repeat. You can then use them as benches or coffee tables with built-in storage. Photo: INT2 Architecture
Squeeze More Storage Out of Your Kitchen Cabinets With Toe Kick Drawers
Even though toe kickboards are essential for cabinetry, they can be a bit of a waste of space. Turn them into pull-out drawers for things you don’t need to access very often. You may be surprised at just how much everyday clutter you can remove from your home. Photo: Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses
Store Your Bath Essentials in Your Shower Curtain
Designed to address the clutter that often accompanies limited bathroom space, these shower curtains come with multiple pockets. These pockets are strategically placed to be easily accessible from inside or outside the shower, allowing for the storage of items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, loofahs, razors, and even small toys for children’s bath times. The transparent nature of some pockets ensures that items are easily visible and reachable, reducing the time spent searching for products and enhancing the overall shower experience. Photo: Plutreas/Shower curtain
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