Guest Blogger: 5 Clever Ways to Save Space in your Small Home

Guest Blogger #302, Entry #844, December 18, 2011

As more families and individuals move to crowded cities that have small dwellings, saving space in any room becomes a necessity to avoid clutter. While cleanliness and getting rid of unused and unneeded items helps minimize clutter, without cleverly saving space in the room the clutter will gradually add up. Fortunately, it is possible to eliminate that clutter and make the small room feel cozy and comfortable.

Space saving solutions can be as simple as niches in the wall

Image via: Pinterest.Bathroom Make Over

1.) Storage Furniture:

Investing in furniture that has built in storage is one of the easiest ways to minimize the clutter, clean up the rooms and make the most use of the space. For example, instead of the coffee table that has the basic four legs and top design, opt for one that has some small drawers. This provides a space to put small items that are commonly used in the living room without buying a separate piece of furniture.

It is possible to get almost any piece of furniture with some extra storage space. Many leather sofas, tables, desks and even beds are available with built in drawers or shelves that make a single piece of furniture double as a storage area as well. That opens up the room and eliminates the need to crowd the space with a separate piece of furniture that is solely for storage or leave items out.

Utilize space that you may have forgotten about!

Image via: Apartment Therapy

2.) Try Loft Beds:

In the bedroom, storage space is not the only option to make the most of a small area. For those who do not like the look of a bed with drawers or for a pre-teen or teen bedroom, using a loft bed is a great way to make the most use of the space.

The loft bed is raised like a bunk bed, but it leaves the space below the bed open. That space can then have a book shelf, dresser or even a desk. By using the open space below the bed for other bedroom furniture, it builds up vertically and leaves other furniture options. If the furniture below the bed has drawers, such as a desk or dresser, it is even better because it opens up storage options while also keeping all of the furniture to one side of the room and leaving the other side open.

3.) Build Up Vertically with Wall Shelves:

Another option to save extra space in the home is building up vertically with wall shelves. This idea applies to any room and works on using the wall above furniture. For example, putting a few shelves above the couch in the living room makes a convenient bookshelf that does not take up extra space in the room.

Wall shelves use screws, nails and similar tools to hold it directly to the wall rather than building up the bookshelf on the floor. They come in a wide range of styles, colours and designs to match any personal preference. Furthermore, the shelves are convenient for decorative pieces, books and any other items that do not need to hide in a drawer.

What about a pulley system tha utilizes ceiling space?

Image via: Apartment Therapy

4.) Hooks in the Bathroom and Closet:

Hooks are a convenient way to hang up items like clothing and towels without taking up large amounts of space. In a small bathroom or closet, adding a few hooks provides a place to keep items like clothing, towels, washcloths and robes without wasting the wall space or adding unnecessary pieces of small furniture.

5.) Put Storage Bins Under the Furniture:

If buying furniture with drawers is not an option, it is still possible to make use of that space below the furniture. This is particularly useful under the bed, but can work under other pieces of furniture that have spaces below.

Obtain a few storage boxes that can easily slide under the open space. Fill these storage boxes like the drawers and then slide them under the furniture. It keeps the items organized while also making use of that otherwise unused space.

Bins, baskets, and pretty boxes make for great space saving tools

Image via: Myidealhome.Tumblr

Saving space in small rooms and apartments requires a little extra thinking and planning. Whether it is using wall shelves above the furniture or using furniture that doubles as storage, opening up that small space makes it feel open and comfortable. Small spaces do not need to look cluttered and crowded; instead, it can look open and inviting.

Jonathan is a keen interior design blogger who loves nothing better than hunkering down in his leather sofas writing a cracking blog post.

For more space saving ideas on Stagetecture, click here.