7 Easy, Inexpensive Home Storage Hacks That Will Free Up Your Space

Even small spaces can feel spacious when the art of storage is mastered.  Here are 7 inexpensive storage hacks to free up space in your home.

 

 

1. Racks On Racks On Racks

It’s often the first mess you see when walking into someone’s home — a clutter of shoes sprawled out by the entrance.  Take care of this mess with a shoe rack, which will only take up a few feet of space but allow you to store numerous pairs of kicks.

2. Fold & Hang

Not your clothes, your chairs!  If you don’t use chairs often or rarely eat at the table, consider buying folding chairs instead as they can easily be put away when not in use.  Attach a few hooks to a nondescript area of your home and hang the chairs to store them.

3. Slide Into An Island

Need more counter space but can’t sacrifice your kitchen table?  Well now you can have both (without renovating!).  Install a small island that has a slide-in table: you can slide out the table during meals and slide it back in when finished.  Perfect when paired with folding chairs.

4. Make The Most Of Your Cupboards

Install small storage solutions inside of your cupboards to make the most of their space.  Hooks can hang mugs from the tops of shelves, and towel racks placed on the inside of a cupboard door can fit pot lids.  For a large cupboard, consider a hanging shoe rack for compartmentalized storage space from top to bottom.

5. Multi-Purpose Furniture

When trying to maximize space, choose furniture that also offers storage, such as a bed frame with pullout drawers underneath it, or an ottoman that opens up to store remotes, books, or toys.  There are countless pieces designed for small spaces, so find ones that meet your own unique needs.

6. Build Me Up Buttercup

When floor space is limited, you have no choice but to build upwards.  Shelves allow you to make the most of vertical space, and can fit into almost any area.  Corner shelves can help you take advantage of otherwise dead space, and tall shelving units can act as a room divider which is perfect for a studio.  If you want to create a more open concept, choose wall-mounted shelves as they have minimal design impact.

7. Hang It Up

Along with every door comes a fantastic storage opportunity!  Choose a door-mounted hanging storage system to keep clothes, robes, towels, or shoes off of the floor.  Feel free to be creative — you can use them to store whatever you like.

Want more tips on small space living? Contact a trusted real estate professional today.

3 Reasons You Might Decide to Retire to a Tiny Home – and Why You’ll Love It

Many people romanticize the idea of paying off their home mortgage early so they can enjoy their home in retirement, but when it comes to the later years of life, a big house can actually be too much to handle. If you’ve started to consider a smaller home and are wondering why it might be a good decision for you and yours, here are a few things you may want to consider.

 

It’s Much Easier To Maintain

 It is often the idea of the palatial estate with a pool that homeowners get excited about, but when it comes to reality, the larger the home, the harder it is going to be to take care of and maintain. If you don’t have a maid or a butler, a smaller home will enable you to spend a lot more of your free time doing things that you love instead of being bound to a house that is full of repairs and maintenance that needs to be completed.

 

Save On The Big Home Bills

 One of the worries associated with getting older is having the ability to maintain your lifestyle in old age, and a smaller home can actually alleviate many of the high costs that go along with having an oversized home. A smaller home will not only minimize your insurance and taxes, it can also positively impact the amount you pay each month for heating and electricity, so you’ll notice the savings right off the bat.

 

The Freedom Of A Downsized Lifestyle

 One of the best things about downsizing to a smaller home is the huge sense of responsibility that can be left in the dust. Instead of being held back by all of the stuff required to fill a big house, a small home means there is less to worry about. This may mean you’ll have the option to go on longer vacations or can even relocate to a hot climate for the summer months, and you’ll only need someone to come by and water the plants every once in a while!

There are plenty of people that decide to downsize later in life since it can actually be a great way to save money and have a lot more freedom. If you’re considering your smaller home options and are curious about what’s available on the market, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information.