Small-Space Storage Ideas That Actually Work
Smart ways to find storage in an apartment or small home, from vertical space to furniture that works twice.
In a small home, every inch has to earn its place. The trick is not to buy more containers, but to find unused space and make everything easy to reach.
Look up
Walls and the area near the ceiling are the most underused storage in most homes.
- Install shelves above doors and windows for books and baskets.
- Take shelving to the ceiling in a closet, using the top for items you need rarely.
- Hang hooks and rails in the entry, kitchen and bathroom.
Look under and behind
- Use under-bed space. Shallow bins or rolling drawers hold off-season clothes and extra linens.
- Add over-the-door organizers for shoes, cleaning supplies or pantry items.
- Use the back of cabinet doors for lids, wraps and small tools.
Choose furniture that works twice
- A storage ottoman holds blankets and doubles as seating.
- A bed with built-in drawers frees a dresser's worth of space.
- A bench with a lift-up seat belongs in an entry.
- A console or narrow table behind a sofa gives surface and storage.
Make closets work harder
Use slim hangers, add a second hanging rod for shorter items and keep shoes in stackable racks. Dividers keep piles from toppling.
Keep it visible and simple
Clear or labeled bins show what is inside. Store items near where you use them. A storage system you can use in ten seconds beats an elaborate one you avoid.
Edit regularly
Storage cannot solve having too much. Do a quick review each season, and let go of what you do not use. A small home feels larger when surfaces are clear and everything has a place.
Rule of thumb: If you cannot picture where a new purchase will live, wait before buying it.