When I first moved into my current rental home, I quickly realized I had chosen a property with almost no storage space. As someone who owns a lot of stuff, this became a problem almost immediately.
The only storage available in my small home was a compact bedroom closet, a tiny cabinet above the TV, kitchen cabinets, and a set of shelves in the dining room. It was a dire situation, and I had to get creative fast to find smart ways to stash my belongings.
Now, two years later, I've experimented with various methods to organize a small home with no storage, and these five smart solutions have truly made an enormous difference.
5 storage solutions I swear by in my small home
1. Under-bed storage bags
My under-bed storage bags house my off-season clothing, gym wear, and bedding.
By far the hardest working storage solution in my home is my under-bed storage ideas. The trick, I found, is not to limit them to just under the bed. Rather, I have used them under my bed, under my living room sofa, and a small version under a chair in my home office ideas.
Often used in conjunction with vacuum storage bags, these handy out-of-the-way storage ideas help to keep everything from clothing, bedding, blankets, and home tech tucked out of the way, reducing visual clutter around my home while keeping it all readily accessible.
These rolling storage bags slot neatly under sofas and beds. Their clear zip-up lids also make it easy to see what is inside, so nothing is forgotten or lost.
Smaller fabric storage cubes can create storage opportunities beneath occasional chairs, such as bedroom corner chairs, or arm chairs in living rooms.
I use vacuum storage bags all over my home. They are perfect for seasonal fabrics, including blankets, bedding, and clothing, creating extra storage space in under-bed bags while protecting items from damage.
2. Opaque baskets
Tucked next to my cookbooks, you would never know that this woven basket is hiding hats and scarves.
It sounds obvious, but the best storage baskets really are lifesavers in a home where closed storage is limited, and a lot of items are on display. The trick is to use storage baskets correctly, putting them in play to limit visual clutter and organize essentials, rather than collect up items you should really be decluttering.
For example, I use them inside my limited storage cabinets to help categorize items, especially as I have fallen back on some unconventional organizing methods and keep lots of random categories together, such as board games beside my DIY tools.
I also use them to organize items on open shelving, especially in my dining room – a space that doubles as my entryway. Baskets here help to keep outdoor essentials such as hats, gloves, and scarves neat but easy to pick up on the way out of the door.
They are also a great way to keep home storage clean by limiting mess and making it easy to lift items out to clean.
I use plastic storage bins in my kitchen, as they are easy to clean and do not absorb smells or stains should food or products spill or leak in my kitchen cabinets.
Baskets are the best go-to for creating drop zones. Be they in your entryway, living room, or hallway, they can quickly corral clutter making it easier to put away at the end of the week.
Large storage baskets are perfect for storing soft furnishings such as blankets and pillows when not in use in living rooms, bedrooms, or guest spaces.
3. Room divider cabinets
This cabinet has instantly made my open-plan space feel more contained and cozier, while offering invaluable storage.
The lower level of my home is all open plan, which makes storage even trickier. One of the more expensive solutions I invested in was a large standalone cabinet unit that also acts as a room divider idea, splitting the dining room from the living room while offering concealed space to hide a myriad of clutter.
While it is often recommended to opt for bespoke built-in storage when incorporating storage into open-plan spaces, that is just not an option in a rental home (nor would it be within my current budget were this my property), free-standing pieces help to pick up a lot of the slack – and are far better than not having any storage at all.
With sliding doors and two color options, a smart sideboard offers plenty of concealed storage while helping to split up a room, making open-place spaces feel cozier while adding functionality to the space.
4. Slimline shoe cabinets
This slimline cabinet keeps shoes off the floor with ease.
Hiding shoe clutter in small spaces was one of the biggest problems we struggled with when we first moved in. Initially, we had an open shoe rack which was only just large enough to hold six pairs of shoes at best. As a couple who owns multiple pairs of boots and shoes each, plus gym shoes and specialized hobby footwear, this was impossible to maintain.
The solution was to take the plunge and buy a slimline shoe cabinet instead. The standalone unit easily keeps shoes hidden in my small entryway, holding 18-20 pairs of shoes depending on the size and how I stack them. Plus, it reduces visual clutter in an entryway for a less stressful exit from my home.
With two flip down drawers and a top shelf, this slimline storage cabinet doesn't take up too much space in small entryways, helping to keep shoes neat and off the floor, without having to limit walkways.
5. Over-door storage hooks
Our comfortable bathrobes are easy to grab first thing in the morning before we head down for breakfast.
From one item that limits visual clutter to one that adds to it – over-the-door hooks are a workhorse in my home, helping me to use vertical storage to save space, especially when organizing coats. A large storage rack, such as this six-hook over-door rack from Target, has a 20 lb capacity for heavy items such as coats and towels.
To help keep things neat, I only use them in my bedroom to store housecoats, and in my home office to offer up some extra storage for outdoor coats, usually coats that are out of season.
They are certainly not the most aesthetic organizing tricks I have ever used in my home, but they are one of the most powerful for saving space in high-traffic areas.
Door storage need not be limited to hooks. This over the door basket set can be used to organize everything from cleaning supplies to shoes and accessories.
These key storage lessons from small-space living have certainly served me well over the last two years. If you have the same issue as me, you might also benefit from minimalist-approved storage solutions for your home to make the most of your space.
