8 simple storage solutions to help organise small spaces

During the past year or so, with us all spending so much more time at home, we’ve probably become more aware of the limitations of our spaces and how they’re serving us. Likely that has much to do with storage, or perhaps the lack of it. I think everyone – whether you live in a cramped one bedroom flat in the city or a five bedroom manor in the countryside – has issues with storage and the simple, but most frustrating, problem of wondering where to put everything. I’d say it’s the number one problem that client’s come to me with.

How does stuff just accumulate? I’m sure I’m not the only one that struggles against the daily tide of clutter and things needing to find a home. My house may seem calm and serene, but trust me, there are stair piles waiting to go up or down, and delivery boxes getting in the way of the hallway. In an ideal world, there would be a place for everything and everything in its place. But often that’s a bit trickier in practice.

Despite this, over the years, I’ve figured out a few tricks to help hide things away and optimise the space I’ve got. In today’s post I’m sharing 8 simple storage solutions to help organise small spaces. These are really easy, impactful ideas that you can implement yourself, from adaptable, multi-purpose furniture to quick DIY’s.

1. Utilise the back of doors to hang easy-to-reach items
When floor space is at a premium, you may have to look elsewhere for your storage needs. In tight, small spaces, doors can be so much more than just a functional threshold between rooms. Use wall hooks to hang storage baskets to collect tote bags, hats, scarves and other everyday items within easy reach. Here I’ve used two Lustigkurre natural jute baskets from IKEA – they would be perfect for a spare room to hold a towel, hair dryer and mini toiletries for guests to use.

You might not think there’s anything useful about the inside of a cupboard door but it’s the ideal place to secure narrow shelves for spices, cleaning products in the laundry cupboard or like I’ve done here, a canvas pocket holder for utilitarian items. This is our hallway cupboard where we have our washing machine, coats and shoes; the pockets are perfect for organising all those small items that can get tangled up together, from wash cloths to shoe brushes. I found this one at IKEA (I don’t think they do it anymore), but you could easily make one yourself using some sturdy material and a sewing machine. La Redoute have one similar here [affiliate link] or there’s this beautiful one from June Home Supply (currently sold out – they’re popular!).

2. Hide things away under furniture using pull-out drawers and baskets
Often in small spaces, once you’ve got everything in the room, from a sofa to a bed, there’s not much room leftover for storage. There can be a lot of wasted space under and above items, just gathering dust. It was for this reason that we chose to run our kitchen cupboards right to the ceiling to gain an extra row of storage. But you can also think on a smaller scale, whether it’s a pull-out box on wheels under the sofa or baskets under a sideboard that children can bring out to access their toys. Even the slimmest of spaces can be useful. We use a bread basket for our dog toys that slots neatly under our sofa – not what it was intended for but it works a treat when we want to clear the floor and have a tidy up at the end of the day!

Second image: Passionshake, third image: IKEA

3. Use the space above doorways and around furniture for extra shelving storage
I’ve seen this trick used before in small bathrooms, where a shelf is installed above the back of door to store extra loo paper. Utilising the otherwise lost space above doorways and around furniture is also ideal for tight hallways, in-between spaces and tricky living rooms. It works well to frame thresholds, giving character, visual interest and a greater sense of depth to small spaces. And it frees up space on the floor, which might be better utilised for bulkier items. Fixing shelves above a sofa or bed can also help create a cosier, more intimate setting, giving a cocooning feel when you sit underneath them. Even better if there’s not enough room for a coffee table or bedside table.

First image: Stadshem, second image: Fantastic Frank, third image: IKEA

4. Choose slim designs for narrow spaces like hallways
The hallway can be one of the most difficult spaces to work with – tight, narrow and often lacking in personality. First impressions are everything and a hallway can really help set the tone for the rest of your home. They’re also the first place where you might dump things, from coats and bags, to post and boxes, so you need some way to sort everything and create the illusion of visual calm. Even if you have the tightest of hallways, there are plenty of solutions out there to maximise storage. Look for slim wardrobes where clothes hangers are stored on a rail that comes out to face you rather than taking up too much depth in the traditional way, or space saving shoe cabinets that are less that 30cm deep.

Our hallway, typical of a Victorian terrace, is very long and narrow, the only storage we have is actually at the end, which isn’t so handy for coming in and out of the house. We have this IKEA shoe cabinet for the shoes we use everyday, leaving enough space to get comfortably through the hallway. It also handily doubles up as a surface to display flowers, trinkets, and of course, now, hand gel!

5. Optimise the space under your bed
This has been a bit of a game changer for us – swapping a double bed for a spacious king-size ottoman bed from Button & Sprung. The Poppy Ottoman bed opens up to reveal a whole base of storage. Twin pneumatic gas lift arms aid the lifting, you just have to pull up the fabric handle. We’ve used fabric storage bags and old cardboard boxes to hold seasonal clothes, extra blankets and a spare duvet. We can get so much in it!

In fact, ottoman beds can store up to three times more than a bed with drawers. And when you close the bed and everything is concealed away, out of sight, out of mind, it creates a much neater appearance to help you rest easy at night. Even storage boxes under a bed can start to get disorganised and become magnets for dust.

6. Dry your clothes on a ceiling rack
Drying clothes is the bane of my life – I haven’t found the optimum space for the clothe’s horse and it’s always in the way. In my dreams, I long for a dedicated utility room with enough space to hide laundry away from the nicer areas of the house. But that’s just not going to be possible in a small terraced house, where the majority of space is given over to living areas and bedrooms. A ceiling rack is a good alternative for small spaces. Saving floor space, it can be hoisted up or down to dry laundry above head height – perfect for hallways, bathrooms or spare bedrooms. We all know hot air rises, so it might even help your clothes dry quicker. 

First image: Garden Trading, second and third image: George & Willy

7. Choose furniture with hidden storage compartments
It’s often the ugly little things that can clutter up a space – the charging cables, the remote controls, the other odds and ends. There’s not often anywhere to put them except out on display, as they’re needed everyday. But a coffee table with hidden storage can help tidy away clutter before you relax in the evening. Woud’s Arc table features a circular lid, divided in two halves, that can be playfully turned to reveal a generous compartment below. Likewise, Menu’s Turning Table has a lid that opens by rotating it around one of the legs. You can also find side tables with built in baskets and ottoman benches with lift up storage.

First image: @itskjakobsen, second image: Menu

8. Choose hard working, multi-functional pieces
Finally, choose clever, multi-purpose furniture that can really work hard for you and your space. Look for designs that can easily adapt or serve several functions in one, while not taking up too much space. That way, you won’t need to clutter a space with lots of different pieces of furniture that don’t serve you well. This might mean a bookcase with a fold-out shelf where you can work from a laptop and close it at the end of the day, an extendable dining table with an extra leaf that can be used when friends come round, or anything on wheels that can be easily moved out of the way.

First image: Urban Outfitters, second image: La Redoute [affiliate link]