Hi Everyone!
Let’s talk about space for a bit today. Its the one thing we always seem to be in search of and whether you live in tiny apartment or a grand chateau the concept of “finding space” for our things is always in the air. It can especially be challenging when you live in a smaller home, so today I’ve partnered with Extra Space Storage to share some inspiring ideas for finding extra space in your home to help you maximize every square inch.
When we began our downsizing journey I was really worried about how we’d manage to fit all of our things in this small house. I mean, I was excited but I was also genuinely concerned. I am a designer & creative, after all, and also a bit of a maximalist so I love literally ALL the things. I really didn’t want to feel like I had to give up the things I love just because we were cutting our square footage in half. At the end of the day we are an active and busy family so storage was priority number one. This meant thinking a bit outside the box and finding the extra space where I could.
USE YOUR WALLS…AND YOUR CEILING
The number one piece of advice I give to people when they ask for an easy way to maximize space where its limited is to use your walls and ceilings. There are so many ways to capitalize on vertical space that I think gets overlooked. Where you cant spread out, try going up. In our home I’ve put our walls to good use in many places including opting for wall sconces instead of traditional table or floor lamps in the living room
building in wall niches for much needed storage in the bathroom and laundry room
and hanging our pots from a ceiling pot rack in the kitchen.
YES, YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR THAT
I often hear people say “we just don’t have the space for that” and in most cases they actually do, they just don’t realize it. Sometimes all it takes is the right piece to bring it all together. Our home doesn’t have a proper entryway. No foyer. No landing. No nothing. You just open the door and you’re immediately in the living room. But we really really needed a place to put shoes, drop keys, etc. I was able to carve out a just a little bit of space along the wall to give our home some much needed storage an function. A smart space saving furniture piece and mirror were the perfect fit. Upgrading the standard hardware makes it look custom and more expensive than it actually is!
SNEAK IT IN
One final tip I have for capitalizing on extra space in your home is to find ways to sneak and squeeze it in. There are tons of unused corners and cervices in our homes that are perfect for adding function where needed. Some of my favorites are under windows, under coffee tables and other furniture pieces, beneath vanities, and above doors. You’d be surprised what you can store on a shelf above a door or below a window! Here in the bungalow I’m all about the plant babies, but there isn’t a ton of places for me to keep them. I found a work around by adding a shelf under the window in the laundry room and now its the perfect place for propagation and smaller plants.
and in the bathroom baskets tucked under the vanity store toilet paper and extra towels
When it comes to finding room in our homes for the things we love most of the time its as simple as looking at our space from a different perspective. There’s usually more room available than you may think. As a small home dweller and small space advocate I’ve learned that little spaces can pack a really big punch if you know where to look. I hope you are inspired to look at your spaces in a different way to find the extra space you have available.
Make sure you head over to the Extra Space Storage blog and Instagram for even more inspiring small space living, organization and storage ideas for your home!
Until next time friends…
*This post is sponsored by Extra Space Storage. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support SG Style!*
Sheila D C-Borde says
Making more closet space
Lois Pollei says
Interesting and clever. We need to downsize and your information is so helpful. I want to learn more.