Are you running out of room but not quite ready to move to a bigger place? Do you need to buy a little time until you upsize to your forever home? There are plenty of ways to organize and decorate your home to make it feel and look larger than it is. It’s all about perception and making the most of the space you have. These organizing tips for small spaces will give you some breathing room until you’re ready to find your forever home.

1. Declutter (regularly)

It’s amazing how much ‘stuff’ we accumulate over the years! We see this often as we help our clients clean and stage their homes to sell. All those unused belongings are taking up valuable space and making your home feel smaller than it actually is.

The first step in organizing a small space is to purge. Get rid of everything you don’t use regularly. If you get into the habit of clearing out the extras every six months or so, you’ll be amazed at the extra space you find. Your home will feel larger. You’ll gain extra storage space for the things you need and will have less to clean.

2. Organize problem areas

What areas of your home always seem to accumulate the most stuff? We all have those little pockets that become a ‘drop all’ in our homes. One common culprit is the entranceway, when everyone comes home and drops their bags, shoes, wallets, and keys as soon as they walk in. A good place to start when organizing your home is with the problem areas that are bothering you. Look for the quick wins! Create easy to use systems like baskets, hooks, and shelves to help keep you organized.

3. Look for storage in unlikely spaces

When you don’t have enough space to store the things you need, it all spills out into your living space, taking up room and causing clutter. There’s often a lot of unused space that can be transformed into more storage. If your area is slim on closets, it’s time to get creative and create that extra space. Every little bit helps! A few ways to create more storage include:

• Add shelving around and above door frames.
• Fill empty floor space with tall, skinny end tables that can be used as storage.
• Use a coffee table with storage underneath.
• Use baskets, bins, and boxes to keep things out of sight.
• Place extra hooks in the bathroom, closets, or entranceway.
• Add a shelf for toiletries above the toilet.
• Make use of your corners with shelves or a corner bookcase.
• Put an over-the-door storage holder on the back of closet doors.

4. Build up, not out

If you are short on floor space, look up! Using the walls keeps clutter off the floor, gives you extra storage, and draws the eye up, making the room look bigger. Floor-to-ceiling shelving can make a space feel larger and create a focal point in the room.  

5. Create multi-use flex spaces

What areas of your home can pull double duty? How can you repurpose spaces in your house? Creating a flex space that can be used for more than one thing, such as an office by day and a guest room by night, helps you make the most of the space you have. Many of us had to get creative during the pandemic as we shifted to a work-from-home life. If you haven’t yet, look at each of the spaces in your home – what areas do you use the most? What’s missing, and how can you reimagine an existing space to give you the room you need?

6. Maximize furniture placement

The size and placement of furniture significantly impacts how big a space feels. There are lots of little tricks that can help make a room feel larger than it actually is.

• Use fewer larger pieces, rather than a lot of small furniture.
• Choose furniture with legs to allow your eyes to flow through the space underneath.
• Choose clear or transparent items that the eye goes right through.
• Pull the furniture out from the walls.
• Consider the flow of the room – how will people use the space?

7. Get multipurpose furniture

Anytime furniture in your home can be used for more than one thing is a win! Use a coffee table, ottoman, or bench with extra storage, or try a day bed or bed with drawers underneath. Look to maximize the purpose of everything in your home.

8. Organize your closets & storage areas

When you are short on space, you want to make the most of your storage areas. Maximizing closet and storage rooms will help make sure it doesn’t spill into your living space. Create an easy-to-use system, and you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

Décor Tips to Make a Space Feel Bigger

• Use light paint colours because a bright and airy space feels larger.
• Let the light in with sheer curtains so the eye travels outside.
• Use lots of mirrors – they reflect light and make a room feel bigger.
• Maximize lighting with flush mounts rather than hanging pendants, place floor lamps or sconces in dark corners.
• Use pattern intentionally – vertical stripes bring the eye up, and small-scale patterns can balance the size of the room.
• Keep a consistent colour palette throughout your home for continuity and flow.

If you feel like you’re outgrowing your space, starting with a good purge and organization can help give you some breathing room! Often, we have more space than we realize. When you step back and look at your house with a fresh perspective, you can maximize the room you have. And we’re here to help when it’s time to upsize to a bigger home!