How to Organize Small Spaces
As a professional organizer working for over 7 years in the city of San Francisco, I've seen some really wacky spaces. Old apartment buildings and homes started out with very little storage space - and then over the years as they were updated by various owners, they just got weirder! So trust me when I say that I understand the struggles you might be having with a home that’s smaller or more frustratingly shaped than you’d ideally like.
I mean, exhibit #1 is the closet in my guest room (the primary bedroom in the original home, before we renovated). It opens up with folding doors as you might expect… and then suddenly you realize there’s another doorway with… another smaller closet inside! There’s no off the shelf closet system that was designed for a closet like this - and even though the previous owners installed some custom storage, it was still a pretty weird situation.
Looks like a perfectly normal closet, right?
Nope! Surprise closet within a closet.
So, trust me - I know what it’s like to live in a small home, and I help people organize their small spaces every day!
If you’re struggling with getting organized and feeling like the only solution is more space, don’t despair! There are three major concepts I use when organizing small spaces that just might help you get organized.
Minimize the amount of stuff to be stored. You KNEW I was going to start here! In a small space, everything counts. Make sure that each belonging you are storing is both useful and valued in your life. If you own things that you only use every so often, consider renting those things when you need them instead of owning and storing them. This could be anything from outdoor recreational gear to power tools.
Keep furniture small in scale and flexible. Small scale objects allow you to be more creative in your use of the space, and will be flexible as your needs shift over time. It also helps to purchase things are do not have singular specific uses, but that can be repurposed. For example, a unique shelving unit is less flexible than a simple one with adjustable shelves.
Go vertical. Think about ways to use the vertical space in your home. This means both high (high shelving, hooks on walls, back of door caddies) and low (under bad storage, storage ottomans). When every square foot counts, you need to get creative outside your usual line of sight!
Pretty much every client I’ve ever had has complained to me that they know they could get organized… if only they had more space! But if you just don’t have the budget for more real estate in your desired location, you can still get organized by keeping these three simple concepts in mind.
I think it’s totally possible to make the best of whatever space you’re working with - and to even turn that small space that bugs you into a functional space you love. I organize small and awkward spaces all the time, and I can help you do it too. Just click here to schedule a consultation!
LMW
Trust me when I say that I understand the struggles you might be having with a home that’s smaller or more frustratingly shaped than you’d ideally like.