Downsizing from a family-sized home to a smaller place means having to reassess your belongings. There’s a whole methodology surrounding this topic. Let’s say you’ve downsized your belongings, you’ve done the decluttering, you’ve donated to charity, and decided what you’re going to keep. Even after all of that, you will inevitably still need designated storage space in your new place.
Under bed boxes
If you like to sort your clothing and footwear by seasons, under bed boxes cannot be topped for an organized storage space. I have always been skeptical about under bed storage boxes. Probably because they come as clear plastic bins with ill-fitting lids, or open-concept ‘drawers’ on casters. Neither of these options appeal to me and because of that, I’ve always just bypassed the under bed box.
When we moved to our apartment, underfed storage wasn’t something I considered at all. First of all, it wasn’t necessary at the time. We were commuting between the apartment and our house, I could swap out clothing and shoes as needs changed for the seasons. But once we settled into one location more permanently, I quickly realized I could not store it all in our closet. I needed a seasonal storage solution; I needed an organized storage space for our small space!
We found these storage boxes on Amazon, and let me just say, “What a game changer!” They fold flat when not in use, the lids velcro closed but can open or be removed easily, and are even stackable when filled. I was astonished at how much they can hold. I have my entire summer wardrobe in one single box, and all of my summer bags and shoes in another.
They are gray, which happens to match the carpeting in our bedroom, but they come in other colors as well. I cannot recommend them enough! They’ll be linked in the resources section below.
Velvet Hangers
Like the under bed boxes, switching to velvet hangers was another game changer when looking for storage spaces for small places. We were using typical plastic hangers, and I really didn’t see how a hanger could make that much difference – or save that much space. Boy was I wrong!
First, having the same color hanger calms visual space and decreases the perception of clutter. Second, clothes hang perfectly on velvet hangers without slipping off or falling to the floor. In fact, I have several satin slip skirts; I can hang up to three on one single hanger without worry of wrinkle or displacement. We also love that these hangers do not leave hanger marks on the shoulders of our garments. They are truly something that has changed the way we store our clothing.
Cabinet Organization
After living in our apartment for over a year, and slowly trickling items from our house, we started to need a little more organization in our kitchen cabinets. We were needing storage space for items like cookware lids, extra boxes of sealable bags, and those seldom-used items.
We purchased a set of these under cabinet storage baskets and immediately improved the organized storage space in our small space. No longer were we rearranging cookware lids, but items like boxes of tiptop bags, and parchment paper were tucked neatly out of the way. We even found them to be sturdy enough to hold a cake pan and cardboard cake rounds.
Basic Organization
Now that we have a few useful items out of the way, let’s talk about basic organization. Storage space in a small space has to begin with basic organization. Keeping like-items stored together really can save you time and money, not to mention your sanity! We have one area in our bathroom cupboard where we store any overstock items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and toilet tissue. Knowing where to look when we need a restock has saved time and money because we aren’t constantly searching for the extras, or out purchasing more of what we already have.
For things like sheet sets, we fold the flat sheet first, then the fitted sheet, then the pillow cases. The fitted sheet and pillow cases stack atop the flat sheet, and then we fold everything up inside like a little packet. When it’s time to refresh the bed linens, we can grab a ‘bundle’ and know all the necessary items are stored together. Some people fold everything together and then store them inside one of the pillow cases. It’s another great basic organization solution.
Less Is Always More
Coming from a nearly 4,000 square foot house with over 650 square feet of designated storage space, I knew we were going to have to pare down, stay organized, and downsize any where we could. I took a lesson from Benita Larson. She’s a minimalist living in Sweden and taught me so much about what things I owned that were probably not necessary. As I watched and learned from her simple minimalist ways, I quickly started to recognize that having and owning less really did offer me so much more.
Another influencer I learned so much from was Shannon Torrens. Here decluttering processes encouraged and inspired me to not only live with less, but to enjoy the freedom it afforded me to do so.
Capsule Decor
Years spent decorating a four bedroom family home left me with bins and bins and bins and bins (on repeat) of decor. I had over a dozen large (body sized) bins for Christmas decor. There were bins for Spring and Summer. I had multiple bins for Fall, and another couple for Halloween. That was just my seasonal decor.
What I learned from MyQuillyn Smith was to decorate for the season first. When you decorate for the season, you don’t need so much seasonal decor. That led me to really consider the concept of a capsule decor. I’m a firm believer in a capsule wardrobe, but hadn’t considered it for my home. However, when your home is cohesive and filled with things you love, you really can get along with far less, and refreshing rooms is an easy task. You already own what you love, and what you love can fit seamlessly into any space. Capsule decor is an evergreen storage space tactic. You don’t have to store or organize what you don’t own!
Consumables
One thing I have learned is that when it comes time for gift giving, I am more likely to enjoy a gift if I know it is easily consumed. I would rather receive a gift that could be consumed than to receive one I had to store or display. What I found interesting when talking to friends, is that the majority of them felt the same way.
https://amzn.to/4fTS65LI have a few gift guides for hostess gifts, Father’s Day, and housewarmings. Each of the gift guides include one or two options for consumables. A couple of our favorite go-to options are coffee and luxury hand soap. We also love a good baking mix, candle, or body wash. These items are lovely gifts for one to receive, and the recipient doesn’t have to worry about storage space, or where they can display the items.
Experiences
Lastly, focusing on experiences instead of things is the ultimate storage space for small space solution. You don’t have to store what you don’t own. As the holidays approach, no doubt you’ll be looking for gifting options for friends and loved ones. Why not think outside the box and opt for an experience?
Things like movie tickets or gift cards can be combined with a dining gift card for an entire date night. What about a meal containing organic Italian pasta, sauce, and a dessert mix? You could easily put together a gift containing luxury hand soaps, and disposable guest hand towels.
Since we’re talking about storage spaces for small spaces, why not put together the ultimate gift containing some under bed storage boxes, a few velvet hangers, and the Welcome Home book? Get your loved one started on their own organizational journey with some practical and inspirational ideas.
Your Master Class
Now that you’ve completed your master class in organized storage spaces for small places, you’re well on your way to start making progress in your own home. Whether you have thousands of square footage, or only a few, each of these tips will help you create and maintain order in your living quarters. You’ve done well learner! Now go and amaze yourself at how organized you can really be!
And remember, no matter where the road leads you, practice good basic organization, remember that less really is more, and don’t forget to forward your mail!
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