10 Tips to Maximize Storage in a Tiny Home

One
of the first things people ask when they decide to live in a tiny home is, “How
much will I have to downsize?”

Surprisingly,
it may be less than you think.

Tiny
homebuilders, and the owners who live in them have become storage savvy. The
following 10 tips help tiny homeowners maximize their limited space, and help
the rest of us make the most of the space we have.

1. Go Modular

You’ve
heard of modular sofas where cube-like pieces get reconfigured multiple ways
depending on the space. Imagine if each of those cubes doubled as a storage
chest. Modular cubes work well in tiny homes because they do double duty, transforming
a sofa into a bed, or if the homeowner needs more space, they can stack the
units against a wall. 

2. High Shelving

Instead
of crown molding, try high shelving, which means constructing a shelf near the
top of a wall or around the perimeter of a room. High storage options perfectly
stores items you don’t need every day.

3. Cabinets Under the Stairs

Many time homeowners use the space under their stairs
for cabinets, drawers, and cubbies. Take it one step further by using the higher
steps to accommodate a hanging closet. If you prefer the look of a spiral
staircase, build the steps with drawers underneath that swing out.

4. Outdoor Storage

When
it comes to finding extra storage space in a tiny home, there’s no rule that
says you only have your interior to work with. Tiny homeowner Bela Fishbeyn,
who chronicles her family’s tiny home life on thisxlife,
recommends setting up an outdoor storage area. “Switching to a tiny home generally
means access to more outdoor space,” Fishbeyn says. “Do yourself a favor. Stop
thinking that your living space needs to be storage space and set up an outdoor
storage area instead. This may free up an entire room in your house!”

5. Cubbies and Drawers Under Sofas and Beds

These
are a no-brainer, and one of the most utilized storage solutions in tiny homes.
Depending on the size of the room, you can opt for drawers that go the full
length of a bed and really make the most of the space.

6. Below the Floorboards

This
is easiest to do when you’re building new, but it makes a lot of sense. Having
a trapdoor on the floor to house things like sports or cleaning equipment isn’t
just a fun feature, it stores things out of sight, and doesn’t take an inch
away from your living space.

7. Nooks and Crannies

Look
around any tiny home and take note of where you see empty space, like the spot
above your refrigerator or between a bed and a nightstand. We get so used to
seeing these dead spaces it becomes easy to overlook them, but these provide
great opportunities to install shelving, cubbies, or custom cabinets that can
house all sorts of things.

8. Under Shelves and Cabinets

It’s
easy to forget the space below shelves and cabinets as a potential storage
solution. In a kitchen, for example, try gluing Mason jar tops underneath a
shelf or cabinet to take advantage of the storage space below the shelf, too.
Fill the jars with spices and just twist them to lock them in place. You can do
the same thing in a bathroom to keep Q-tips, cotton balls, and more essentials
handy.

9. Overhead Cubes

Most
people think of cabinet-style storage as having to go against a wall, but
overhead storage cubes can work just as well as cabinets, especially in a
kitchen where you tend to have a lot of items to store. (Just place them high
enough to avoid accidental head bangs.) Since kitchen and pantry items tend to
get used daily, consider foregoing doors and leaving them open, so everything
is within easy to reach.

10. Rolling Cabinets

Putting
casters on cabinets and bookcases instantly makes them mobile, so you can move them
around depending on where you need them. This may not add extra space to your
tiny home, but it makes the space itself more flexible, so you can make it work
for you how and when you need it. 

Do you have any tips or tricks to maximize space in a tiny,
or regular, home? Let us know in the comments below.