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Last updated: 5 February 2024
10 clever storage ideas for small spaces
Storage ideas for small spaces must be practical, but that doesn't mean they can't be creative and stylish too. We show you how to max out on the storage potential of your home with a selection of inspiring solutions for every room, nook and cranny.
Installing clever storage ideas for small spaces will transform your home. Whether it's finding a solution for your growing shoe collection, better organising your overflowing kitchen cupboards, or figuring out where to put all your children's toys, effective storage is key.
But when you're staring into an abyss of chaos and clutter, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees, especially in a small space. If you're keen to restore order and calm, read on for a selection of creative storage ideas that will help to make the most of even the smallest of spaces.
How do you store a lot of things in a small space?
If you have a lot of stuff but not a lot of space to work with, the task can seem overwhelming. So before we dive into our gallery of ideas, here are our top tips to help make the process more manageable.
Step one: Categorise your belongings
The best way to work out your storage requirements is to divide your belongings into categories and sub-categories. For example, utensils, clothes, books, shoes, bric-à-brac, toys etc.
Step two: Evaluate your belongings
With your belongings in piles of easy-to-see categories and sub-categories, decide whether you need to keep all these items and have easy access to them. For example, are there toys your child has outgrown? Are there items of clothing you never wear? Are there things that you don't use, but keep for sentimental reasons? Having a declutter allows you to potentially strip back the amount of storage you need and create better organisation within your home.
Step three: Assess your needs
By now, you'll have a clearer view of the amount of storage you need and how accessible you need it to be. For example, do you need easy access to the sentimental items or could they be stored away and pulled out occasionally on a rainy day?
Step four: Decide on the type of storage you need
Finally, you'll be able to see what type of storage options would be best suited to your belongings and how you need to access them. This could include shelves, fitted wardrobes, shoe racks, chest of drawers, storage boxes, or even an ottoman or divan bed. Keep scrolling for storage ideas for the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and everything in between.
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Small room storage ideas to maximise square footage
1. Storage solutions for small spaces in hallways and corridors
Maximising your vertical space is one of the best ways to declutter your home. For busy households, made-to-measure, floor-to-ceiling, built-in wardrobes mean you'll never run out of space.
Other ideas include storage benches with built-in drawers, which have coat hooks above them (whether attached as one unit or not) and open shelves above the hooks. As a result, you end up with a multifunctional storage solution.
Related content: 16 brilliant coat storage ideas to organise your entrance hallway.
2. Small bathroom storage ideas to clean and declutter
There are several ways to tidy away your bathroom clutter. Whether you choose from a myriad of tall boy designs, floating shelves, baskets, back-of-door hooks, cabinets, caddies, or etageres, the options are endless.
Just make sure you measure out your bathroom space and work out what will fit where. For example, under-the-sink units work well when you choose a design that slots in nicely with a D-shaped cutout.
Related content: Bathroom storage ideas: Clever designs for minimal clutter.
3. Small bedroom storage ideas for a peaceful parlour
Your bedroom is your sanctuary, which is why choosing storage solutions that limit the amount of mess you can make is your best option. Consequently, choosing a bespoke design such as a unit with built-in shelves, cupboards, and drawers is the best way to make sure you're able to put everything snugly away.
Furthermore, under-bed storage boxes or divan beds that open up also work well for tidying away your belongings. Other ideas include overbed or partition shelves, floating bedside drawers, and wardrobe tidies.
Related content: Bedroom storage ideas: Smart and stylish solutions for clutter-free haven.
4. Small kitchen storage ideas for home hub harmony
As the hardest working room in your house, your kitchen deserves order and harmony. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to achieve this. For example, kitchens with enough floor space benefit from kitchen islands with extra shelving units and chairs to create a breakfast bar. This also eradicates the need for a dining table!
For those without the appropriate square footage, ideas include hanging baskets, floating shelves, and suspended storage racks. Also, consider maximising your cupboard space with clever storage solutions such as caddies, pull-out shelves, organisers, and Lazy Susan turntables.
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Storage ideas for small spaces and obscure places
5. Clever shoe storage ideas for small spaces
Piles of shoes are a surefire way to clutter up your hallway. This is a bigger problem for larger households with multiple occupants, as finding somewhere to put everyone's kicks becomes more and more difficult. Consequently, shoes end up being thrown off by the door or kicked into a cupboard under the stairs.
The latter is probably why under-stair storage was invented! Utilise this hollow space and turn it into a smart solution that tidies away items including shoes, umbrellas, cleaning equipment, and anything else without a proper home.
Related content: Cunning cupboard storage ideas.
6. Consciously designed wardrobes for small spaces
For those who've fallen victim to shrinking square footage in their homes, industrious designs are here to save the day. For bedrooms with limited space, a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe design – carefully crafted to accommodate all your storage needs – is advised.
Sliding doors are perfect if you want to avoid opening them into your bedroom and hitting other furniture. Those with mirrors also help open the space and reflect more light around the room. Consider installing shelves and organisers within the wardrobe, such as a pull-out shoe rack or a thin jewellery and watch drawer, to help declutter your bedroom.
7. Small kitchen organisation ideas for easy access
Layering your kitchen storage is a nice way to keep everything neat and aesthetically pleasing. Shelves with glass jars and Tupperware are aesthetically pleasing, while bespoke cabinetry (whether upper or lower) makes sure everything in your kitchen has a home.
The key is to make sure you have the right number of cupboards, drawers, and shelves for everything you want to keep in your kitchen. If you're still short on space, a caddy on wheels is manoeuvrable and lets you put it wherever you want at any given time.
Related content: Clever kitchen storage ideas.
8. Easy and neat small pantry organisation ideas
The great thing about a pantry is that fact it's hidden away – often behind a door. This means you can worry less about clutter and more about function. Of course, you'll still want to be able to find what you're looking for, which is where labels and airtight containers will come in handy.
Like the example pictured, this blue pantry is neat, stylish, and functional. Glass mason jars store a multitude of grains, pulses, and cereals, while fruit, veg, and bread are put in the seagrass baskets on the lower shelves.
Adding a stool or small ladder would improve the ease of access, while drawers could be another welcome addition for items such as cutlery, placemats, and chopping boards.
9. Small closet storage ideas for maximum value
Organising your closet requires a shelving system and thin hangers! This is when knowing the number of items you want to store comes in handy. Then, once you know how much space you need and the type of storage required, you can find the perfect closet solution.
This might include drawers for your underwear and gym wear; a shoe rack for your party heels or trainers; shelves for your hats, storage boxes, and tops, and rails for your clothes. The latter might require varying verticals, including longer sections for your dresses and shorter ones for your shirts.
Related content: 9 clever small walk-in wardrobe ideas.
10. Storage ideas for small apartments
It's all about multifunctional and smart storage solutions in small apartments, which includes all the aforementioned tricks in this blog.
For a small apartment living room, built-in media units are an easy win for maximising space. This is because they often have plenty of cupboards, shelves, drawers, and space for a TV. You can also buy them from multiple retailers or have them custom-made to fit the dimensions of your room.
Another trick is to make use of an alcove by building shelves to store books, storage baskets, or other decorative accessories. Always think about adding storage solutions that utilise vertical space versus floor space.
Related content: Toy storage ideas to curb the clutter.
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FAQs
How do I get the most storage out of my small room?
When it comes to storage ideas for small spaces, there are more than you might realise. From bespoke designs to multi-functional furniture and modular units, the key is to maximise your vertical space by employing clever design tricks.
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