If you've landed on this page you've likely thought about tiny living once or twice before. In fact, if you're here, we'd bet that you're starting to get pretty serious about what tiny house living might look like for YOU! Maybe you've even put a deposit down on your build already (uhm, congratulations and welcome to the club!). This means that you're starting to dig into the details and reality of your tiny house life. One of the biggest questions you may have is: "where does all my stuff go!?"
Don't worry. We've got you.
Read on to get some of our top tips to help maximize your space and make the most of your tiny house storage. From multipurpose furniture to clever organizing ideas, incorporating smart design will help you create an efficient storage plan and make your tiny house feel like it fits just right!
Get Rid of Clutter
The first step in shifting to tiny house living is getting rid of clutter, and that begins in the home you're already living in. If you can, give yourself plenty of time for this stage as it can often be one of the trickiest/most daunting steps. A handy tip? Go through one room or one room category per month. For example, in February you tackle all bedroom and clothing items. Maybe March is for the kitchen? April, well that's living room stuff! This approach will also give you time to rehome the things you're clearing out (rather than tossing them into the garbage). Consider listing items for sale/free on digital marketplaces, donating to local charities, or sending hand-me-down items to their next owner. (After all, what is tiny house living if not an attempt at a more conscientious lifestyle?)
We recommend going ‘Marie Kondo’ on your items and genuinely asking yourself “does this spark joy?” when making decisions about what you keep. You don’t have to get rid of all your knickknacks and trinkets, just whittle it down to a few meaningful items that feel like they represent you or hold a special place in your heart. If you can, try organizing your must-keep items into categories like recreational, seasonal, kitchen, etc. This will help you better understand where you need to focus on storage solutions. This way you can eliminate some items from your list and keep only what really makes you happy.
Invest in Multi-Purpose Furniture
Multipurpose furniture is one of the most effective ways to maximize storage in a tiny house or other small living space. When it comes to tiny home design, the best way to make use of the limited square footage you have is by investing in quality items that can serve multiple purposes. For example, a couch that converts into a bed with drawer storage as a base is an ideal solution for a small living room. Coffee tables that lift up to become work desks with hidden cable storage are also a great way to save space and increase functionality. By opting for multipurpose furniture, you can save yourself from the hassle of having to buy multiple pieces of furniture that take up a lot of space. With creative thinking and the right pieces, you can transform your tiny house storage into something much more functional.
An important tip here: make sure it is QUALITY furniture pieces you are investing in/building. For example (and speaking from personal experience) if the main seating in your tiny house is a fold-down sofa couch, make sure it has quality thick foam. You don't want your only seating option to be worn flat to the wood within a year of regular use! Quality items may cost more up front, but trust us when we say that it is worth the investment!
Create Hidden Storage Spaces
One of the greatest challenges of tiny home living is finding room for all of your belongings. Smart design and preplanning are essential when it comes to creating storage solutions in a tiny house, as it allows you to turn what is traditionally “dead space” into useful storage. In Domek, our flagship tiny home and personal residence, we’ve used hidden storage solutions to maximize our small living space.
One way to create hidden storage spaces is by utilizing toe kick storage in kitchen baseboards. Toe kick drawers are drawers installed beneath the bottom cabinets of the kitchen, providing an extra storage area for items that don’t need to be easily accessible or regularly used. This is especially helpful for storing kitchen items such as baking supplies or extra dishes.
Another way to make use of any available space is with a flip-up stair option. Many tiny homes are designed with stairs that have steps that can open up to provide extra storage space. This can be a great way to store seasonal items that don’t need to be accessed regularly.
Finally, adding a hidden spice rack can be a great way to make use of wall space. Flip-down racks can be installed beneath cabinets or loft space floor boards and pulled down when needed. This makes it easy to find spices when cooking, but out of the way when not in use.
Utilizing these clever storage solutions, along with multipurpose furniture and smart tiny house design, can help make your tiny home feel larger and provide the perfect spot for all of your belongings.
Think Vertically
One of the most important aspects of tiny home design is thinking vertically. When space is limited, using unused wall space can be a great way to maximize storage. Consider adding shelving or hanging storage on walls. This can help make use of awkward spaces and create extra room for items like books, dishes, plants and other household items. Loft areas in a tiny house are also a great place to store items that are used infrequently such as seasonal clothing, holiday decorations, and other items. Multipurpose furniture is especially useful in tiny homes because it gives you more flexibility with your available space.
When it comes to tiny house storage, the most important takeaway is to make the most of your space and to think outside of the box. Utilizing multipurpose furniture and finding creative storage solutions are key elements to a successful tiny home design. When it comes to storage, the sky is the limit. With careful planning and the right pieces, you can create a tiny house that is both stylish and spacious.
Need help planning out your space? We've got your back! Check out our commitment free design packages where we sit down with you a help you blueprint the house of your dreams.
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