19 Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
You can’t have a stylish home without adequate storage. Clutter can distract from even the most beautiful decor. But what options do you really have when square footage is limited?
The good news is that you don’t need a ton of floor space to lead an organized life. You just need to prioritize storage space throughout your home design.
Keep reading for some of our favorite examples of storage ideas for small spaces that won’t detract from your personal style. (Of course, these ideas will work for large spaces, too!)
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1. Utilize Vertical Bathroom Space
To maximize space and still create usable storage in small bathrooms, over-the-toilet shelves are the perfect option. Floating shelves can also be hung to provide extra vertical storage possibilities that don’t overbear the room size.
You could also think outside the box and invest in accessories like stackable boxes or wall-mounted shelves that can hold toiletries and towels in order to maximize the use of vertical space.
2. Add Extra Storage To Your Vanity
Creative vanity storage can be a great solution for small bathrooms. For starters, you could consider buying a wash basin with drawers. This allows you to combine two items – the vanity unit and the sink – into one product, making it a great space-saving option.
3. Organize Items In Visually Pleasing Organizers
Basket organizers come in many sizes and textures, allowing you to customize to your style. The items inside them can be easily coordinated with fabric covers or containers. You can also opt for items in aesthetic organizers — stackable shelves or containers offer a modern touch with easy access for items like books and magazines.
4. Take Advantage Of Under-The-Bed Storage Space
Beds are also great for storing seasonal clothes and other belongings – find one with built-in drawers under the mattress or install cubbies under the frame to maximize underutilized area. Try investing in under-the-bed organizers and boxes to keep items where they won’t take up precious space on your floor.
5. Add Cabinetry To The TV Wall
For efficient use of space, install a low-profile cabinet below your TV. This cabinet can serve as a multi-functional storage solution, offering concealed space for electronics, media, and other small items while keeping them easily accessible. Opt for a design with sliding doors or drawers to minimize the space needed for opening, making it ideal for tight spaces.
6. Invest in a Cabinet to Make the Most Out of Any Space
Investing in a versatile, multi-purpose cabinet can transform any small area into a highly functional space. Look for a cabinet with adjustable shelves and modular compartments, which allows for customization according to your storage needs. This flexibility is key in small spaces, where the ability to store a variety of items from books to kitchenware in a single, compact unit is invaluable.
Choosing a cabinet with a sleek, minimalist design can help maintain a sense of openness in the room.
7. Consider Seating To Your Closet
Put a bench in the closet and add plenty of closet organizers or shelf dividers. You can also make use of tall cubbies and baskets in order to keep things neat and organized.
Or, if you have some floor space available, consider investing in a shoe shelf with a bench. It’ll give you extra storage for your shoes while providing an additional seat when needed.
8. Customize Storage With Modular Shelves
Modular shelves can help you get organized and make the most of your square footage. With these customizable storage options, you can create customized cabinets, drawers, and shelving units specifically designed around your unique items and needs.
9. Diversify Storage With Racks & Organizers
If you live in a small space, diversifying your storage is key to adding much-needed order without the bulky furniture pieces. For starters, having a hanging shoe rack takes up no floor space and provides handy storage for shoes or other items.
You can further diversify your storage with items like a hat rack for all those caps cluttering your shelves, add-in drawers for kitchen gadgets you don’t use often, and a few extra hooks here and there to hang aprons, bags, or other accessories – even decorative items if you want to give more character to your home!
10. Get Smart With Hidden Pull-Out Storage
If you’re having trouble finding storage options for your small space, pull-out storage could be the answer to your problem. From pull-out pantries and pull-out shoe shelves to pull-out hampers and pull-out wine racks, all these storage options are cleverly hidden right inside a seemingly tight place like beneath a staircase or in between a wall of cabinets.
11. Utilize Base Cabinets
Base or floor cabinets are great for utilizing otherwise unused space such as beneath furniture or near baseboards, and they offer a great way to store items while keeping them out of sight.
Creative shelving can also prove invaluable in smaller spaces; think beyond bookcases and look into wall-mounted shelves and corner shelves that fit tight against walls with the clever use of brackets and other hardware.
12. Use a Pegboard to Hold Pots & Pans
A pegboard is a perfect solution to maximize efficiency and creativity when stashing away frequently used tools, pots, and pans. By adding several hooks to pegboards and attaching them to a wall near your kitchen counter or tool bench, you can easily hang up those important kitchen utensils or small tools that you often use but don’t have enough space to store neatly.
13. Make Room in the Kitchen With Wall-Mounted Shelves
To maximize kitchen space, consider adding some wall-mounted shelves for food and kitchen equipment.
Floating shelves are an additional excellent option – use them to store plates, dinnerware, kitchen ingredients, and utensils, allowing them to be instantly accessible when you’re cooking.
14. Pick a Minimalist Take on Cabinetry
Consider adding minimalist shelves and cabinets with seamless handles to build sleek, modern storage capacity. This look is chic and functional, suiting all types of minimalist design needs while maximizing the available space. You’ll gain storage that enhances the look rather than detracts from it and maximize value for your space.
15. Keep The Washing Machine Snug
Are you looking for creative ways to store your washing machine in a small space? You can always build a washing machine cabinet or recessed area. It may require some remodeling, but it can be the perfect addition to an underestimated corner or alcove of your home.
If you don’t have the time or money to invest in this large project, you can also go for something less labor-intensive and add a supply shelf above the washing machine!
16. Build a Coffee Table With Extra Storage
If you are looking for creative storage solutions in a small living room, why not invest in a coffee table with trunk storage? This way, your coffee table can double up as a space to store various items like books, magazines, and even extra bedding – perfect for keeping your home tidy while still enjoying its subtle style.
17. Get A White Shelf For A Seamless Look
Adding white shelving to a small space can be a clever way to make the most of any limited square footage. A white shelf in particular can help create a seamless look that won’t add to the clutter of the room.
f you opt for a white bookshelf, be sure to stick with coordinating white hues or other light colors; this will ensure your shelving system has less visual clutter and fits in with the overall aesthetic of the room.
18. Organize & Label Pantry Essentials
A pantry space with labeled organizers is an ideal way to store items in the kitchen, bedroom, or even office. You can find organizing systems that come in colorful designs and handy features such as adjustable shelves so you can customize each organizer according to your needs. If you’re working with limited countertop space, opt for transparent wall-mount organizers.
19. Mount It On The Wall
If you’re looking to make the most of your garage space, wall-mounted storage could be a great solution. Whether you have pegboards with racks and shelves, or just hanging wall racks, it’s a great way to store items out of the way in a garage that previously seemed too small to properly organize.
Wall racks help you make optimum use of vertical space and are an ideal solution for narrow areas in the house; great for display purposes like displaying knick knacks or souvenirs from trips as well as being especially suitable for storing books, gardening supplies, and similar items.
Storage for Small Spaces FAQs
Clothing can take up far more room than many people realize. This is true even if you own a relatively small wardrobe!
You can save room by prioritizing hanging space for items that absolutely shouldn’t be folded. Everything else can be stored on shelves, in totes, or in a dresser.
If space is really tight, consider moving out-of-season clothing to a rented storage unit or garage. While you’ll need to swap out items a couple of times per year, you’ll have much more space for your favorite items in your closet.
There are pros and cons to removing your closet doors. On the one hand, removing a closet door can make the entire room feel larger. On the other hand, closet doors help hide unsightly clutter and can even protect items from dust and light.
If you choose to remove a closet door, be sure that everything inside is well-organized and presentable. Keep light-sensitive items in opaque storage totes for added protection.