Learn how to get organized when you live in a small house with these simple Small Space Organization ideas in 2025tricks and ideas!
I’ve spent a lot of time living in small spaces over the years. When I first went to college, I was in what they called a “converted triple”—essentially a dorm room meant for two people, but they squeezed three of us in there. Thankfully, my roommates and I got along well, because we were pretty close to each other!
After James and I got married, we moved into a typical one-bedroom apartment. With just the two of us, it wasn’t too bad, but “cozy” was an understatement.
When our son Noah came along, we were in a super small two-bedroom townhouse. We had to shove our dining table into the corner to make room for the pack-n-play.
Now, we’re in a three-bedroom townhouse, where we’ve been for nearly seven years—longer than we initially planned, but it’s been a fun journey to truly make the space our own.
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I’m grateful for our home, but there have been moments when I’ve thought, “We need MORE SPACE!” It can get tight with four of us, especially as Noah and Eli grow, but we’ve figured out how to make it work, and the fact that we still all enjoy each other’s company is a big win in my book!
After hearing from many of you about your small space challenges, I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite small space living tips to help make things a little easier.
1. Purge Like Crazy. Declutter Often.
After years of organizing in various homes, one thing is clear: the issue in small spaces isn’t the size, it’s the stuff we accumulate.
I get it, it’s tough to part with things. I kept binders full of college notes for seven years after graduation, even though I never used my teaching degree. But eventually, I realized I valued a calm, uncluttered space more than holding onto things “just in case.” And guess what? I’ve never needed anything I threw out.
When I declutter, I go all in. For example, during a kitchen renovation, I pulled everything out and realized I was holding onto a George Foreman grill and a blender I never used. Both were gone, and my kitchen instantly felt more organized.
I get rid of broken items or things I no longer need, either by throwing them away, selling them, or donating to Goodwill. I also try to avoid passing on clutter to my family, so I don’t just create more mess for them.
The Bottom Line:
To keep any space organized, be ruthless about decluttering. Keep only what’s truly useful and let go of the rest. Purge, purge, and purge some more!
2. Separate Rooms into Zones.
In a small space, one room often has to serve multiple purposes. Instead of mixing everything, I love to create “zones” within a room to define its function, making it easier to stay organized and use the space effectively.
For example, in our main living area, which is one big room, we’ve divided it into a dining area, a TV space, and a toy zone for the kids. While I’d love to have a dedicated playroom with a door to shut, that’s just not an option right now. But this zone system works great. Plus, since we all spend time in the same space, it’s become a hub for family bonding!
If you don’t have enough space to create a full zone, try using a corner for a specific purpose. My friend Chelsea from Making Home Base created a toy zone for her daughters in a small corner of the room.
And when Donnie and I lived in our first one-bedroom apartment, we didn’t have room for an office, so we tucked a secretary desk into one corner. It served as a work zone when we needed it, but we could close it up when we weren’t using it, so it didn’t take up much room.
Rolling carts are another excellent option for creating a zone. They’re compact, hold a decent amount, and can be easily moved out of the way when not in use.
The Bottom Line:
Dividing your space into zones helps define each area’s function and makes your small home feel more organized. Whether it’s a toy corner, a mini office, or a mobile cart, creating zones lets you maximize the space you have!
3. Maximize Closet Space.
In our current home, storage is limited, so we’ve put a lot of effort into maximizing every inch of closet space. We’ve recently installed closet systems in our pantry, bedroom, and my craft room, but even if you can’t add a permanent system, there are still plenty of ways to make the most of what you have.
For example, the kids share a room, and space is tight. To fit two dressers, I placed one inside their closet, right under their clothes. This turned otherwise unused space into valuable storage.
Before we transformed our entry closet into a pantry, I added a simple shelf to hold extra items that our tiny pantry couldn’t handle.
Our old neighbours used their entry closet for extra storage, placing a small cube unit at the bottom to keep their children’s toys organised. If you have empty space at the bottom of a closet, consider using it for a practical purpose.
The Bottom Line:
Maximizing closet space is a game changer in small homes. Whether it’s adding shelves, utilizing unused areas, or installing a closet system, there’s always a way to make your storage work harder for you!
4. Look for Ways to Use Space Creatively.
Just because a room is labeled for a specific function doesn’t mean it has to be used that way. In our basement, we have an 8′ x 8′ space that was originally intended for storage. After we purged and moved our items to the garage, we were able to repurpose this space for other uses.
Before Caleb was born, I turned it into a workout area. With a small TV and DVD player for workout videos, plus room for weights, mats, and bands, it worked perfectly for my exercise routine.
When Caleb arrived and had his room, we moved Donnie’s office into that basement space. It wasn’t luxurious, but it gave us an office “room” we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
In our current home, we swapped our entry closet with our pantry, creating a larger pantry space and a mini mudroom, which still allows us to hang coats.
The Bottom Line:
Don’t be afraid to repurpose rooms or spaces creatively. With a little thought and effort, you can make any area in your home serve a purpose that works for you.
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5. Get Items off the Floor.
When I asked Donnie (who’s way more organized than I am) what his top small space living tip would be, he immediately said, “Don’t put stuff on the floor.” Of course, we put furniture and rugs on the floor, but what he meant was to avoid using the floor as storage whenever possible.
This was especially true for the kids’ toy space. We used to keep all their big toys in the corner on the floor, but it quickly turned into a cluttered mess. After some purging (see tip #1!), we added some simple shelving units to store the larger toys, and the area now feels so much more organized and less chaotic.
The Bottom Line:
Keep the floor clear of clutter to create a cleaner, more open space. By adding shelves or storage units, you can keep things off the ground and make your small space feel more organized.
6. Utilize Vertical Space.
This one might seem obvious, but when you’re dealing with small rooms and can’t expand out, take your storage up instead! We do this a lot in the kids’ room with their bunk beds, a tall shelving unit for toys, and even a vertical arts and crafts corner.
In my office, we also made the most of vertical space by adding bookcases and mounting a pegboard on the wall to store craft supplies. Not only is it practical, but it also doubles as a decorative element. Win-win!
The Bottom Line:
When space is tight, look up! Using vertical space for storage and organization is a great way to maximize what you have without taking up extra floor space.
7. Be very selective about what you allow into your home.
This is one of the most important tips. It’s easy to walk through the aisles at Target and want to buy everything in sight. Trust me, I’ve been there—way too many times a week! I also know that well-meaning friends and family often gift us things that are hard to say no to.
And let’s be honest, your kids (or even your significant other) will have their eyes on those cool toys and gadgets that seem impossible to resist. It’s tough to say no to these things. But if we want to keep the clutter to a minimum and maintain the tidy, organized spaces we’ve worked so hard to create (like I mentioned in tip #1), we have to be extremely choosy about what we bring into our home.
Before buying anything new, I ask myself if it serves multiple purposes and if it’s something we really need, or if it’s just a duplicate of what we already own. When we bring in a new item, I try to make sure that something else gets donated or thrown away (especially with toys!!!).
I also take time to think about where the item will go in our home. If there’s no space for it, or if it would mess up the organization systems we’ve set up, it doesn’t come home with me. Being selective is key. The clutter just isn’t worth it!
Living in a small space can be challenging, but it’s not impossible! By purging regularly, getting creative, and finding ways to maximize the space we have, we can make it work, no matter the size. Plus, there are perks to small spaces too! For one, there’s less to clean! 😉
Let’s embrace our small spaces!