Tiny house living has a lot of advantages. Maintenance is simpler, costs are lower, mobility is greater, and environmental impact is lessened compared to a conventional home. People who are looking to give up renting but who can’t afford a conventional house are finding that the tiny home is a perfect solution. But tiny homes are, well, tiny. And that can lead to storage problems. These 8 storage tips for tiny homes can help you manage your stuff and maximize your space.
Purge your stuff before you move in. This may seem like a no-brainer, but purging unnecessary things before you move into your tiny house is one of the best ways to avoid a storage nightmare. Pare down your possessions as you get ready to move into new home. Bringing less stuff in means you have less stuff to find storage space for. And you’ll want to continue to be mindful about you bring into your house, as well as continue to purge regularly, in order to keep your space liveable.
Make use of vertical space. This is a good idea no matter the size of your house, but is especially valuable in tiny houses. Think about vertical space. Can you fit a tall, thin bookshelf where a wider shorter shelf wouldn’t fit? Can you hang things on the walls or even from the rafters in your attic? Explore any open space between the top of cabinets and the ceiling, too. This is a great place to store things that you use less often but which you still deemed important enough to survive your pre-move purge.
Choose things that do double-duty. Everything has to work a little harder in a tiny home. You can maximize your space by choosing items that can do multiple things. An ottoman that opens up to reveal storage space is a great choice for tiny house living. A futon that has linen storage built in underneath will keep your blankets and sheets handy and out of sight without taking up extra space. Bed with dresser drawers built in underneath, coffee tables that offers inside storage, and even drop-down shelves inside cupboards can all extend your storage space.
Look low. You can use your floor space wisely to keep clutter at bay in your tiny house. You don’t want to store things out in the open on the floor, of course. But look to the space under your bed, under your couch, or beneath cabinets for unexpected space. You can use underbed drawers and other containers to compartmentalize that lower space in ways you never imagined. Some tiny houses even allow for underfloor storage!
Get creative with cupboards. The shelves aren’t the only useful part of cupboards! Hanging racks on the back of cupboard doors, installing cup hooks inside of cupboards, and even installing sliding baskets within cupboards can all help you make the most of your storage space.
Check under the stairs. If you have stairs in your tiny house — whether to a loft of just to the deck or front door — you have a storage opportunity. Create stairs that contain storage! You can have steps that each have their own top, which moves to reveal a hollow space. Or, you can use the space under an entire staircase to put in shelves, hanging space, or even a bathroom!
Use your outdoor space. Depending on the climate where you live, your outdoor space can be a wealth of storage for a tiny house. Built in storage units that double as benches, exterior steps that are storage boxes, and vertical space on porches or outer walls are all options.
Roll with it. Putting things on casters or wheels is a game-changer in a tiny house. Whether you choose to create rolling storage bins that fit under a table or counter, or to put your entire bed on casters so it can be rolled away during waking hours, casters can really maximize your space. Because the item only takes up space when you’re actively using it, you can use items (like a bed) that take up a lot of real estate for their intended purpose, but reclaim that space when you’re not using them.
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