Making the Most of Small Spaces on a Budget

Making the most of small home spaces is relatively easy and cheap to begin with. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg on fancy "organization" systems or go all out buying storage containers and whatnot. The key is minimize what you do have, if at all possible. Don't keep old stuff "just in case", donate things to your local charities and shelters, keep clutter down, and make sure your home is clean and tidy. I guarantee that keeping clutter to an absolute minimum will make your home feel like there's more space. My husband and I live in a two bedroom apartment with our two children, we're having baby number six soon, and I have three older children who spend the weekends with us. While this isn't the ideal, and we are searching for a larger place, it definitely is manageable and isn't nearly as bad as what one might think. Use the space you do have wisely. Don't cram things that you never use into corners and closets, don't clutter your kitchen counters, drawers and cabinets with unused appliances and dishes. Don't keep clothes that no longer fit or are in unwearable condition, they take up WAY too much space in closets, and really waste a lot of space. If you must use storage containers, remember that you don't have to buy the most expensive brand out there, and make sure to use storage containers wisely. They don't do you a bit of good if they're crammed full of stuff you will never use and then take up all the space in your closets! Underbed storage boxes are a good choice for those clothes that you seldom wear or that are out of season, most people forget about the extra space under their beds. Honestly, what else are you going to use that space for? You can usually buy underbed storage containers at most dollar stores or major discount retailers for less than $5.00 a piece. These are really a good option for making the most of unused space. They're also great for children's rooms to store extra toys or books.

Don't buy over-stuffed furniture. If you are limited on space, try to avoid buying over-stuffed or excessively heavy furniture. Over-stuffed furniture takes up more space and really makes a room feel excessively small. And let's not mention how difficult it is to re-arrange or move! If you have a small living-room, you can always use end-tables and skip the coffee-table altogether. Coffee tables in the middle of the floor can really cut into your usable space! Try to find furniture that's also functional. For example, instead of your standard television stand, I've got a small dresser in my living room which my television sits on. There are four good-sized drawers in it. I use these drawers for storing dvd's, vhs tapes, music cd's, computer software, and other electronic items that we use in the living-room. It's amazing how much space I've saved by doing this. If you must have a coffee table, try a cedar or other type of wood storage chest, and use it to store extra bedding or other items. Or, there are several different types of coffee tables out there, easily found at thrift shops and yard sales, that have "cabinets" or shelves underneath, so even though you lose floor space, you actually gain storage space.

You can find reasonably priced bathroom cabinets or shelves, to either mount on the wall or go over the back of the toilet. These can be used to store towels, toiletries, cleaning supplies or other items. I've noticed that no matter how large your home, most bathrooms don't have enough cabinet space for the average family! A mid-height narrow book-case or other type of shelf is great in a laundry or utility room as well. These can be used to store cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, tools, etc. They provide extra storage space without taking much from an already limited space. A good sturdy "shower caddy" to hang over the shower head is also a good way to save space and gain extra storage space for shampoos, soaps, shower gels, body washes, etc. All of these items can be bought reasonably cheap at thrift shops, dollar stores, or discount retailers.

Use the "6 Month System". If you haven't used something in 6 months or more, chances are, you never will. So get rid of it! Try not to hold onto things that aren't used, because all you're doing is taking space away for something else that you actually do use. Keeping clutter or excess "baggage" to a minimum goes a long way towards helping to make the most of small home spaces. You can donate unused items to your local charity or shelter; you'll be freeing up space in you home, and best of all, helping someone else at the same time. Having a yard sale or garage sale is another great way to get rid of un-wanted/un-needed items, and you can make a little money in the process... Money that you could put towards making your limited space a better place!

Take a minimalist approach to home decorating. Don't decorate with a lot of heavy fabrics, heavy furniture pieces, excessively large decorating items or pictures on the walls. This will only make your home feel smaller and can actually be depressing! You can, however, decorate with lighter-colored quilts, tapestries or throws on the walls or over furniture pieces. When done properly, these will only add warmth and an inviting atmosphere to your home. Find items in thrift shops or at yard sales that are not only pretty, but also functional, in some form or another. Use your imagination. I've used a baker's rack for a computer desk, I'm currently using a dresser as a television stand, I've used plain narrow boards along with simple metal brackets to make simple shelves mounted on walls for small books or knicknacks.

There are many different ways to make the most of small home spaces on a budget, and I've only begun to scratch the surface. Be creative, look at something from all angles, and be open to new possibilities! There are also many benefits to having a smaller home... More energy efficient, less space to have to clean up, and, you can organize and make the most of any space, no matter how small!