5 ways to create extra space in small homes
It’s one of my favourite things to complain about, but living in a small home is hard work. There’s only so many times I can trip over a teletubby before wanting to chuck everything out the window. We only have two proper cupboards in our home, all my other storage has to be done through clever furniture choices, and thinking outside of the box when it comes to creating space.
So here’s a few ways you can create extra space in a small home, and (at least attempt to) keep on top of the clutter…
Revert a downstairs cupboard to toy storageSqueeze those toys in anywhere you can – seriously, it seems like they breed don’t they – and that includes thinking outside the box a little. Do you have an under stairs cupboard you can clear out and use to store toys? Just re-thinking how you store things (particularly toys – read more about how to organise kids toys in small homes here) can sometimes free up enough space to hide unsightly things away from view. The door in this very picture hides a mountain of tools, paint pots and the hoover/ironing board/mop
Utilise all space you’ve gotI’m talking under bed, on top of wardrobes and under sofas – these are all opportunities for storage. You can find slim baskets and storage boxes the will fit neatly into these spaces, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can squeeze in. The even better thing about this is that items are close to hand (particularly good for toy storage), meaning tidying up can be done quickly, as well as little and often. And even better, you don’t have to have lots of things on show.I mention it all the time, but these storage baskets which fill our TV stand really are a godsend. You wouldn’t believe the amount of books, DVDs and toys rammed into those four little boxes. I think choosing furniture that doubles up as storage space is key for me – my favourite space saving storage bits are over on this post here. I’ve also recently added a classic IKEA Ivar cupboard in the dining room, which holds lots of puzzles, building blocks and crafting bits. 
Declutter regularlyI’ve shared lots of de-cluttering tips previously, as I feel like I spend os many hours of my life clearing out junk, however my main tips would be to be brutal – get rid of as much stuff as you can, particularly before occasions such as birthdays and Christmas if you’ve got kids. There’s always charities looking for toys and clothes, so its a fab opportunity to have a clear out and benefit somebody else. I’ve currently got my eye on said TV stand baskets, and am determined to have a clear out of toys from there before we end up with another load for little ladies birthday.Baskets, baskets everywhereSeriously though, this is my main go-to solution. As you can probably tell, I keep baskets anywhere I can to store bits inside. If there’s a gap I’ll squeeze a basket in it. Nothing pleases me more than hiding ‘stuff’ away from view. Clear, uncluttered surfaces will always create a feeling of space so get yourself some baskets or boxes and start to pack away that junk.You can pick up some stylish storage baskets cheaply from places like IKEA, and I even had a go at making my own from a piece of rope.
Create a feeling of space even if you don’t have itChoose furniture on legs, or mounted on the wall, as having floor visible underneath will create the feeling of space within a room. I’ve previously blogged some tricks of the eye you can use to make a room look larger than it is, and these small tweaks can make a huge difference to how your eye views a room.
