1. Take an Assessment

Honestly, how many things can you really fit in one room or one closet? Take advice from experts like organizing guru Marie Kondo and Graham Hill, the founder of TreeHugger.com and LifeEdited. The concepts of editing your life and curating your possessions have become new trends thanks to these innovators.

We all have our favorite pieces from our childhoods, but according to Kondo, you don’t need to keep items out of guilt or for sentimental reasons. Letting things go if they are worn out or don’t “spark joy” can free them and make you feel better. Consider Hill’s idea that we don’t need an excess of stuff to be happy. People who have made these changes say that curating their belongings had a positive effect, changed their lives and fostered new interests.

2. Give Back by Giving Away

There’s no better way to pare down your belongings than to give back. As you take an inventory, note duplicate items and things that you rarely use. If you can, only keep items that you use regularly. If there are objects that you aren’t using, toss them. Try to drop off your donation quickly to avoid any second guessing. Whether you pare down your wardrobe, reinvent your pantry or donate spare furniture, this step will make it easier to organize the rest of your home.

3.Define Spaces

Whether you live in a 300-square-foot studio or a two-bedroom apartment, each room should have a purpose. Multipurpose spaces are excellent, particularly in small spaces. However, that doesn’t mean that different parts of your life, such as work and free-time, need to mingle. Ideally, mixed spaces should have enough storage so that they don’t overflow and invade one another. Visually separate different areas with furniture, curtains or a partition. Defined spaces minimize chaos.

4. Move Items into Zones

Once you’ve defined your spaces, it’s easier to organize the contents of your home and to make sure that everything has a logical place. Before you organize every room and cupboard, make sure that things are placed in the area where they will be used. Free up space in your bathroom or hall closet by storing blankets and sheets in a bedroom. Make sure that electronic cables, reams of paper and office supplies are stored near your workstation. Consolidating similar items will give you a better picture of what you have and what you need. This featured apartment has defined spaces for each activity, where it be cooking, dining, or watching TV.

5. Claim Empty Space

Spare corners and awkward spaces have a purpose too. There’s no shortage of products created especially for these challenging areas. Corners can become functional storage areas with a triangular accent tale or a set of drawers.  L-shaped desks can turn the corner of a room into a niche workspace. Consider ways that you can maximize the challenging spaces in your apartment.

6. Think Vertically

Vertical space is often forgotten in small apartments. The space between the ceiling and top of kitchen cabinets is ideal for larger items that aren’t required often such as platters and serving trays. Place these items in decorative baskets or boxes for a more polished look. Shelving is an ideal way to keep your storage areas out of you way. If you’re a renter and can’t make permanent changes, bookshelves provide the extra space you need. If you prefer a more drastic approach, think about building a loft in a high-ceiling apartment. You could even replace traditional stairs with a stylish spiral staircase that will save space on both floors

7. Use More Space

Vertical storage is only the beginning of unconventional space saving. Under bed storage is a storage solution that makes use of unused space and keeps it out of your way.  Adding hooks to the back of doors is an easy way to store jackets and free up space in your hall closet.If you’re an advanced DIY-er, you can renovate the kick board below kitchen cabinets for extra drawer space. There are so many creative ways to improve existing storage systems.

8. Multifunctional Items

Multifunctional pieces are becoming synonymous with small spaces. For instance, take your kitchen table. When living in a small space, that table quickly becomes a desk/dining area. If you’re known for hosting get togethers, consider an extendable table. You can open it up for parties, and keep it small for everyday use. Futons that can double as a sofa and guest bed are great, but daybeds with storage drawers underneath them are even better. It’s easy to find stylish benches and practical ottomans that conceal deep storage compartments and fit your style. All it takes is a little creativity to find the multiple uses for an object.

9. Strategy

It may seem extreme to employ a strategy when organizing your home, but it can become overwhelming quickly. If you’re working your way through your entire apartment, moving room by room can take the intimidation out of it! Start each project with a plan. For instance, take your bedroom one Sunday and your living room the next. The next part of your strategy is to keep up with the organization. Once you’ve done an overhaul of your apartment or home, you probably won’t want to go through it all again soon. The best way to keep up with this is to pick things up and put them away before bed. The first overhaul of your home may seem overwhelming, but keeping up with these small apartment organization tips will make you and  your home calmer!

Small spaces may feel like your storage and organization space is limited, but there’s more room there than you may think. By following these nine steps, you can create an organized space that will in turn feel much bigger than you originally thought. Create square footage in your small apartment or tiny home by simply reorganizing your belongings!

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Multi Use Sofas

Starting at the classic design of the sofa bed, couches have always been the most common pieces of double duty furniture. Pull out sofa beds has been a staple in living rooms since the 80’s when futons made their first appearance.

These simple designs are ideal for small spaces. Studio apartment typically take advantage of these couch-bed hybrids. Futons, daybeds, and pullout couches all have the same advantage of looking like a sofa during the day and easily transitioning into a bed when needed.

The most recognizable futon design features a basic metal frame with a cheap thin mattress pad. However, there are more stylish options that are cheaper than the other two options. Wooden frame futons have a more polished look and hold more substantial mattresses.

Your multi use sofas aren’t limited to sofa beds. Modular sofas are a great option for those who want flexible seating. Unlike a typical sectional, you can move the extra sections as needed for different seating arrangements.

For a truly innovative design, you can look for a piece similar to the one pictured here. It breaks down into a couch, chaise lounge, and a chair. This takes the total number of seats from 3 to 6. If you don’t need the extra seats, you can put all of the pieces together for a comfortable sofa with armrests.

Hidden Tables

Your couch may seem like a fine place to eat and do work, but you’ll quickly realize the importance of a table when you have company over. There’s no denying that a table will take up room in your small home. However, you don’t have to sacrifice any your square footage for a simple table design.

A popular way to hide your table when it’s not in use is to create a fold down table from your wall. You can either buy these designs as is or create a simple DIY project using hinges. One fold down table that’s gathered a lot of attention is this clever double duty table.

When not in use, this table folds up to lay flat against the wall and act as an art piece. This is ideal for those that have very limited square footage, but also want the option of a full table. The frame folds out into two legs while the table provides the other support.

The underside of the table can be completely customized to your desired design. As this is the section that will be displayed on your wall when not in use, you want it to reflect your space’s personality.

For a flat surface that can act as your side table, look to your current furniture. Your couch’s armrest is the perfect place to put remotes, drinks, and plates. If it’s rounded or heavily padded, you can invest in a wraparound shelf or table.

These designs give you the extra stability of a flat surface, but don’t take up any extra space. Some designs are just a wooden piece that fits around the armrest. Others have pockets and stands for your remotes, magazines, and tablets. If you’re particularly tight on space, you can even use this to eliminate your coffee table!

Broken Down Ottoman

When you’re entertaining, you know that you can never have enough seating. This can be a problem in tight spaces. There are plenty of options for extra seating that can easily be hidden. However, many of these lack the design aesthetic that you want for your home.

This featured ottoman actually holds five minimalist style stools. They have patterned cushioned seats that come in a variety of colors and designs to fit your space’s personality. There are also plenty of designs that you can reupholster as a fun weekend DIY project.

When these stools aren’t in use, they fit together to create a stylish padded ottoman. It doesn’t take up any more room than a small square in your space and can be used as a single seat or footrest when needed.

Multifunctional Storage Pieces

Finding the space for storage will always be a challenge in small spaces. The best way to find extra storage in your home is to incorporate it into pieces that you already own or will need.

You may want a bookshelf to hold your book collection, but you’d rather have more seating. You don’t have to choose between the two. There are a ton of different seating options that have open shelving around the frame.

This is perfect for those want to display their books or want to easily access them. If you want a more hidden storage solution, there are plenty chairs that have hidden storage underneath the seat itself. The cushion is hinged in order to create an out of the way compartment for DVDS or books.

Room dividers are popular for studio apartments that want to create the illusion of different rooms. It helps with organization and flow of traffic. Some people use privacy screens or curtains, but you there are other options that can have multiple functions.

Bookcases are the most popular way to really utilize your room dividers. They can be solid or open depending upon your desired design aesthetic. They give you privacy on the bedroom side and storage on the living room side of your wall.

Evolving Furniture

If you have kids, you know that their bedroom furniture needs to develop and grow over time as they do. While this may not have multiple functions at one time, a convertible crib has an investment quality to it. When you buy your baby’s crib, you may not be thinking about their future standard bed.

However, once they’ve outgrown their crib you’ll find that they need more furniture besides their bed. Some cribs come with the ability to be used as a play table or desk once they are no longer being used as a bed.

Other cribs can be converted into a full size bed and grow with the child. This is the perfect solution for parents who value longevity in their purchases.

Tansu Steps

Tansu steps have become a very popular tiny house stair option due to their multifunctional design. The base design is made up of staggered drawers and cabinets to create a staircase shape. This is a great solution for small spaces with second floors or lofts.

The cabinets and drawers create storage space, while the stair step design provides a necessary means of access to their lofts. The staggered drawers have a place in single level homes as well.

The flat tops are a good place to display photos or added décor pieces, such as small statues or plants. If you can’t find the perfect design for your house or apartment, building your own Tansu steps can be a fun DIY weekend project.

Compact Rooms

If you want to take your multifunctional furniture to the next level, compact rooms are definitely some next level stuff.

A popular room to compact is a kitchen. This can be seen in different forms, starting with a basic micro-fridge combination in a dorm room. However, there are some companies that are making it possible to have your entire kitchen, fully outfitted in one small unit. Compact Concepts’ Circle Kitchen keeps your kitchen to 19 square feet and, depending on your design, can include a dishwasher and stove top. This one unit is the definition of multi-use furniture with its multiple capabilities of refrigerating, cooking, and cleaning.

Your bathroom can be compacted too. This may seem crazy when you think about all of the different fixtures in your bathroom. Design Odyssey Co. has managed to fit your entire bathroom into one tower with seven rotating pieces on a center column called the Vertebrae. Not only does it have the necessities, like a shower, sink, and toilet, but it also includes two storage areas. There are two shower heads at different heights as well. Compacting doesn’t mean you have to give up style or luxury. Both the Circle Kitchen and Vertebrae have sleek designs that can fit into any home.

Multi Use Furniture Sets

Some sets of furniture include multiple rooms in one place! This rivals the compact room for most innovative multifunctional furniture for small spaces.

This particular set has a couch, desk, coffee table, and ottomans all in one. It looks like a simple modular design of an L shaped couch and a raised platform with a work space. However, the platform is hallowed out to hold a coffee table and four ottomans that also open up to provide storage.

The coffee table can be expanded into a dining table. You can extend the couch fully to the size of a full bed. This furniture set truly takes advantage of all possibilities and space. They only thing it doesn’t have is a kitchen function.

At a first glance, multifunctional furniture may seem like it should be kept to a college apartment. However, new designs are making them trendier and elevating their styles. The category of double duty furniture has extended to include a full furniture sets that include tables, chairs, and shelving units. These condensed sets can help you maximize space in your small home!

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Walls

The base of any home design is your walls. They create the backdrop for any other design choices you make. You want them to be complementary, rather than overbearing. If you want to create a simplistic home design, lighter color palettes are a great background. They create add light to a small space making it feel bigger. Softer hues, such as lavenders and off whites, can keep your space from feeling like a basic white box. If you prefer a more luxe home design, dramatic accent walls are the way to go. Small spaces don’t have to mean simple choices. By adding a dramatic color, you can add luxury a small house.

If a wall has windows or glass doors, the drapery is a great way to make your space feel larger. Vertical stripes, either on the wall or curtains, make the space feel longer. If you want a solid color, matching the curtains to your wall color can create a seamless transition. Depending upon the color, this can make your home feel like it has longer rooms. Not only does the fabric design matter, but so does your curtain height. When you hang your curtains at the top of the window or door, you are cutting off your wall. By hanging the curtains above the window, you are lengthening your space. This creates long lines that give the illusion of a bigger room.

You can maximize your small house decorating by utilizing the walls to their fullest potential. Hanging décor is a great way to make the most of your small space. You are freeing up floor space, while not losing any of your design. For instance, by using wall sconces or a hanging light fixture, you are creating more room either on your table or floor. There are plenty of different designs and materials used for these light fixtures than can fit into your home design. Art is another way to enhance a small space. Strategic placement and grouping of art can create the look you want for your small house.

Storage Solutions

It can be hard to find the proper storage for your small home. You want a calm feeling in your house, not the uneasiness that comes with a cluttered home. Small apartment organization tips can be applied just as easily to small homes! One way to create storage without closing off parts of your home is to use shelves over cabinets. This open storage design is gaining popularity in kitchens, but it can be applied to any room in your home. A clean display of your items is the perfect way to secretly store things as well. It may seem like a trendy design choice, but it’s all for a practical purpose. It helps to keep your small space light and open. If you have a second floor, consider using the space under your stairs. This is a great place for storage and is often overlooked. If you don’t want a standard closet under the stairs, think about different cabinets or shelves in the wall. It’s also the perfect place to fit a small desk for an at home office when space is tight.

If your space is particularly tight, it’s time to use creative storage solutions. The first is to think vertically. Many people forget about the open space between the top of a cabinet and the ceiling. This is a great place to store things. It’s probably not best for commonly used items, as it is not the easiest to access. However, it can hold hat boxes filled with photos or extra kitchen settings and serving pieces. The backs of doors is another space saving storage solution. These spaces are perfect for racks of cleaning supplies or coats. This keeps them out of sight for the most part, but they are still easily accessible.

Furniture

Your furniture is the most defining feature of any home design. When you’re in the middle of small home decorating, you have to be more strategic than if you had ample square footage. Built in pieces are perfect for small spaces because they create room. By creating pieces that are a part of your home’s architecture, you’re not using the same square footage that you by having a standalone piece. Built in furniture is commonly found in the forms of a bench or shelving. If you want to keep your space light and open, consider lighter pieces, such as acrylic coffee tables. Because the table is clear, it allows the pass through of light. It doesn’t create a barrier in the middle of your room. Round furniture, particularly end tables, are another design choice that can make the most of your small home. Round tables fill a space without having the definitive corners and ends that square or rectangular tables do. They fit more easily into small spaces and can be easily fit into a corner without feeling bulky. A popular approach to furniture in small spaces is to use bigger pieces, but have fewer of them. The large pieces fill the space. By using fewer pieces, you keep the space from feeling overcrowded.
The most recent trend in small home decorating is multifunctioning furniture. By utilizing dual purpose pieces, you can make the most of your space. This could be a sofa that transforms into several seating options or a table with built in storage underneath.

Design Aesthetics

Once you have all of your walls painted and your furniture chosen, you have to fit it into your space. The final touches are want make your small space a home. Have centerpieces to your home to create a fuller design. For instance, if you have a second floor, a spiral staircase is a beautiful and functional piece that is the perfect addition to any home. Not only does a spiral stair have a much smaller footprint than a traditional stair, but it is completely customizable to fit your design needs. It has a sculptural quality that can be difficult to find in a straight staircase or a ladder, which is also commonly used in small homes. For smaller accents, add touches of elegance through fabrics and upholstery throughout your home. Small accent pillows are a great way to pull in color and patterns. Mirrors and metallic accents are commonly used in small homes as they make a room look bigger. A mirror’s image extends the room, making them common centerpieces above fireplaces. Oversized mirrors are also a trendy home design piece. If you want to keep the reflection to a minimum, consider small metallic pieces. When used in moderation, they can make a room feel more expensive. They also reflect light and create brighter spaces. If you want to add life to a small home, plants are the perfect way to do it. The green color is refreshing in the small space and they give a fresh look to any home.
If you have a very small space, multipurpose rooms may be the way to go. By giving a room multiple uses, you’re able to keep an open floorplan without overcrowding the space. Much like the multipurpose furniture, you are creating a space that fits your needs. When placing your furniture in the room, leaving a few inches of space between the back of your furniture and the wall. This may not seem like much, but by adding the extra cushion, your room will feel much bigger. It gives the illusion that you have enough ample room to not fill it with furniture. An area rug can also make the space feel bigger if you choose the correct size. It shouldn’t fill the space completely, but rather overlap the furniture just enough to create a centered space.
They key to creating a comfortable small space is to edit your design. Don’t feel as though you need to have all of your belongings on display at all times. By take a somewhat minimalist approach to your small home decorating, you’re allowing the space to feel more open.

Small homes are often overwhelmed with lots of belongings or bare to avoid the clutter. If you find the right balance of decor, storage, and open space, you can create well planned space that is equally as beautiful. We’ve outlined some of the most popular ways to make the most of your small home design, but there are so many more out there!

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Kitchen Hidden Storage

Most kitchens have built in storage between the shelves and cabinets. Common designs have cabinets and open shelving, but you may not want to display all of your belongings at all times. If you have company coming over, or just want a hidden way to store extra kitchen items, there are small nooks hidden all over the room! If you have limited space, a slide out pantry is the perfect solution. A thin vertical drawer that holds herbs and spices can easily fit between the fridge and counter, or you can have a wider drawer that holds boxes and cans that you would typically find in a pantry. This keeps your items easily accessible, but cleverly hidden in a smaller space.

Another kitchen cabinet modification idea is to add more vertical storage space. The space between a standard cabinet and the ceiling is typically unused. By adding in another cabinet, you are able to store things without having them on display in an open space. If you want to keep the space a little more open than a solid cabinet, the addition of a frosted glass panel can break up the dark wood. If you have an island as the centerpiece to your kitchen, consider using any empty space at the base as storage. Installing drawers in the baseboards is one way to hide the extra storage space. For some truly hidden storage, consider remodeling your range hood over your stove. This can be a DIY design that extends the range hood out to create a large space in front of the actual hardware. For some temporary hidden storage, your oven is an option. If your guests are coming soon and you need to hide some cookware, your oven is a no brainer. It’s out of the way and in a place where guests aren’t going to be looking. It’s also the perfect place to get hot pots off of the counter. They can cool without risking anyone burning their hands.

Living Room Hidden Storage

Your living room has ample opportunities for hidden storage spaces. The one thing that’s in every family room is either a couch or bench. This can easily be transformed into a multifunctional piece with hidden storage for extra blankets, movies, and pillows. Benches and couches with hinged cushions create a trunk like space for bulky blankets and pillows. If you have a wooden bench, you can always add cushions and a slipcover. This would be a better option for items that aren’t commonly used. If you want a place to store your DVDS without using bookshelves, consider installing drawers underneath your couch frame. This is space that is probably being unused and is out of the way. While it may not be completely hidden, it is definitely out of plain sight. If you want to keep your storage a little more hidden, a pop out coffee table is the perfect place for small items, such as remotes and books. If you want more storage in your coffee table, consider using hinges to create a trunk. Old trunks are a trendy rustic option for those looking for extra storage in their coffee table.

Many homeowners use their living room as a gathering place with large entertainment systems. This means lots of wires, electronics, and mess. A technology closet is a great way to hide the tangle of wires. If you don’t want to draw attention to the closet with a traditional door, a mirror or piece of framed art is a great cover. It can be fastened to the wall so it can be swung open like a door. This is also a popular place to hide safes and valuables, such as jewelry. If you have a wireless router on a shelf in your living room, consider hiding it behind false books. This is an easy DIY project that can really change the look of your shelves. Cut the spines off of old hard cover and attach them to the front of a basic wooden frame. This leave a small nook that’s the perfect size for your wireless router.
Your staircase is another great place to have a hidden storage space. The cupboard under the stairs is a normal storage spot, particularly in old homes. However, you can make the door blend into the space with strategically placed molding. Another stair storage option is to have a modified false step design. You can either hinge the treads to create small trunks or use drawers as the base of each step. Not only does this save space, but it also hides the eyesores that are usually left at the bottom of the stairs, such as shoes and toys. If your staircase has a landing, consider a trap door style storage space. This creates a completely hidden space that can hold bigger items like extra duvets and pillows for a guest room.

Bedroom Hidden Storage

Many homeowners want their bedroom to be a place of calmness and order. It’s hard to feel at peace when your room is cluttered and overrun with stuff. Hidden storage can help you feel more organized and calmer. A headboard with built in drawers and shelves is one way to take the clutter off of your floor. Under bed storage is a common form of hidden storage. It takes the same idea as the drawers under your couch and applies to your bedroom. There are the standard storage bags and large containers that are made to fit under your bed. However, you can have truly hidden storage by using a hinged mattress. By utilizing this small space organization tip, you can have a hidden space at the center of your bedframe that can also utilize storage. If you want some extreme under the bed storage, you can raise the floor around your bed to create many different trap door storage opportunities. By doing this, you’re not only creating a very large hidden storage space, but you can also sink the bed into the platform to create a cozier feel. These spaces can hold everything from extra bedding to out of season clothing.

Bathroom Hidden Storage

While it may seem like your storage options for a bathroom are limited to open shelves and medicine cabinets, there are a few unexpected hidden storage ideas. The most unexpected design is a hinged bathtub frame. This is probably one of the most clever hidden storage spaces. The design uses the basic bowl of the bathtub and creates the square frame around it using tilt out drawers. This is the perfect place for cleaning supplies and frees up space under the sink or in a hall closet. You can use this design and apply it to your bathroom counter as well. Many counters feature false drawers above their cabinets. Create a tilt out drawer that can hold hair styling tools or makeup, freeing up a traditional drawer. You can also create a tilt out hamper to keep your bathroom clean and organized.
If your bathroom features a half wall at the end of your bath or small nooks where the wall juts out, you have the perfect place for pull out shelving. This is the same design as the small pantry in the kitchen, but repurposed for the space! If you don’t have room for a bathroom closet, this can be a place for extra toilet paper or other supplies you need in your bathroom. This can also be used as a pull out towel rack. This is creating space by using the inside of your home’s walls.

Hidden Rooms

You don’t have to limit your hidden storage to small spaces. If you have the space, hidden rooms can be a great addition. Not only does it give you the storage space you want, but you get that square footage without sacrificing a full basement or your garage. The first type of hidden rooms are ones that are on the same level and simple have secret entries. This can be part of a walk through closet or hidden behind a built in bookshelf.

The more complicated designs feature hidden rooms that are on another floor. Popular designs for hidden rooms feature wine cellars. These rooms have a trap door style entry and often lead down to the basement. If you’re a wine collector, or just an avid wine drinker, this frees up space in your kitchen that would otherwise be taken up by bottles. Another multi-level hidden storage option is a storage loft. These are typically tucked into the back end of a house and create square footage with a lofted space.

If you choose a multi-floor design, you’ll need to access that space. A ladder is a popular option because it has the smallest footprint of all the options. However, it’s often times not stable and it’s difficult to carry things up and down your ladder. A spiral stair can solve these issues for you. They have a small footprint and can be maneuvered to fit your space.

If your home doesn’t have a garage or basement, you may feel like your options are limited when it comes to storage. While open shelving is a popular design trend, you may not want to display all of your belongings throughout your house. These hidden storage ideas can be as small as a compartment in your coffee table and as involved as a storage loft! With a little cleverness, you can find storage solutions anywhere in your home.

The post Hidden Storage Ideas & Designs appeared first on Salter Spiral Stair.

There are a lot of considerations that go into tiny house storage ideas. Because the space is small to begin with, avoiding clutter is essential to living comfortably. You also want simple design to compliment the minimalist lifestyle that comes with a tiny home. These small home storage ideas will give you some inspiration when looking for organization!

Built In Storage

Storage Lofts

When you live in a tiny house, you’re always look for a way to add space without adding square footage. Lofts are common in tiny homes because they utilize previously unused space. While they are typically used for bedrooms, lofts are a great tiny house storage idea. The space above a door or a kitchen is the perfect place to add a storage loft that is out of the way. This keeps your floor space open, which helps the home to feel larger. It’s also a great way to use space that you can’t use as a bedroom due to steep sloped ceilings. This particular storage loft uses baskets to keep the space organized. By keeping the storage loft small, you’re not sacrificing any minimalist style that you would otherwise be looking for in a tiny home.

Ladders & Spiral Stairs

When you decide to incorporate a storage loft into your tiny house, you’re going to have to find a way to access the space. Tiny house stairs are as important as any other piece of decor in your home. You want something that is safe and stable, but isn’t going to take up all of the floor space that you just created. Ladders are the most common choice for tiny homes because they have the smallest footprint. They can be moved out of the way when they’re not in use and are usually cheap. However, it’s very difficult to carry things up and down a ladder. This defeats the purpose of installing a storage loft. A spiral stair gives you a great solution to this problem. Not only is your footprint kept to a small circle around your spiral stair, but you have full steps and a handrail. This gives you a safe and stable way to access your storage loft while carrying things up and down the stairs.

Built In Shelving
Built in shelving is the perfect way to create storage in your house. By incorporating the shelves into the walls of your home, you’re taking the shelving units off of the floor and using previously unused space. The key to maximizing space using built in shelves is to keep them shallow. Your shelves should just be wide enough for one layer of cans or jars. This keeps it close to the wall. Many tiny homes use these shelves as a pantry in the kitchen. Because kitchens have the most extra appliances and usually take up the most space, shallow shelves help to minimize the footprint of an extra pantry.

Floor Storage

If you want to keep your floors open, why not add storage underneath your floor? Trap door storage is a great way to keep your belongings that are in storage out of the way. These hidden compartments can hold anything you want to store! They can easily be built into your home by incorporating raised floors into your floor plan. If you don’t want to raise the entire floor, create a platform in your home. For instance, if you raise a section of your floor, you can sink your bed into the platform and use the surrounding area as floor storage.

Slide Out Shelving

Part of owning a tiny house means finding space that’s built into your home and repurposing it. When you start to look at your home’s walls, there are plenty of spaces between studs that are open for extra storage. If you want to keep the solid wall look, you can install slide out shelving. While most tiny homes use this space for a pantry, you can incorporate this hidden storage into any room. The picture above shows shelving in a bathroom that’s hidden in the nook behind the shower. Most alcoves are located around a piece of furniture, making your home fit together perfectly. The key to an efficient and organized tiny home is fitting everything together like puzzle pieces.

Storage Furniture

Storage Bed

When you think about it, a storage bed is the perfect piece of multifunctional furniture for a tiny house. If you’re going to need a bed anyway, why not give it multiple uses? Under bed storage isn’t a new concept, but there are new ways to incorporate it into your tiny house. The first way is to incorporate hydraulics into your bedframe. Create a bedframe that has hinges at the head of the bed. This allows you to raise your mattress and open up the space underneath. Another way to incorporate storage into your bedframe is to use drawers as the base. By using drawers as the bed frame, you’re killing two birds with one stone. Not only are you creating a sturdy bedframe, but you’re creating storage space in your tiny home.

Storage Seating

The combination of storage and seating is a great way to save space in any home. Tiny homes take advantage of this furniture design by using built in seating that has a multifunctional purpose. Built in benches hold a few different options when it comes to added storage. The first is a classic toy bench design with a lift up seat. This is the most popular design as it provides the most storage of out the bench itself. While some choose to store extra blankets and pillows, tiny homes have other things they need to hide in a small space. The storage bench pictured above is the hiding place of a small water heater. Some choose to use the same slide out shelving idea and incorporate it into their bench design. These drawers are usually as long as the bench itself and pull out the endcap of the seat. If you want a more mobile storage seating option, ottomans are the perfect solution. The small pieces of furniture can be moved around to create space in a common area or provide seating somewhere else in the home. The cubes can be opened to create a storage container for anything you’d like.

Storage as Décor

One way to use storage without clutter is to incorporate it as part of your décor. This help you to create a beautiful space, while finding places for all of your belongings. If you have an interesting collection, don’t hide it in the hidden storage options listed above. Take advantage of their unique nature to decorate your home! As previously mentioned, open floor space helps your tiny home to feel larger. Take full advantage of your wall space to create storage without a large footprint.

Floating Shelves

Shelving units are an obvious storage solution for any home, but when your floor space is at a premium your options may be limited. Bookshelves provide lots of space, but they tend to have a large footprint. Floating shelves are the perfect answer to this problem. By attaching the shelves directly to the wall, you are freeing up the floor space without losing any storage. The heights of each shelf are completely customizable, which gives you the ability to create a dynamic and interesting shelving unit that features different heights and shapes. Open shelving also helps your space to feel bigger. You’re not closing the space in with cabinet doors or walls of a bookshelf. This new open storage space is the perfect place to create interesting home décor out of things you would usually store, such as dishes or cups.

Baskets

Baskets are one of the most flexible tiny house storage ideas. They come in a wide range of styles and sizes that can complement any home design. You can keep your baskets open for easy access if you’re storing things like blankets or pillows. If you decide you want a more hidden storage option for things like electronics, you can add a lid. This gives them the same function as a plastic storage bin, but in a more aesthetically pleasing design. The wide range of sizes means that they can fit wherever you need them in your home. They can fit in small nooks between furniture or be a larger accent piece to your home décor.

Hooks

The simplest tiny house storage idea is to incorporate hooks into your wall décor. They’re small enough that can be installed anywhere in the home to provide extra storage without taking up floor space. The hooks can also replace furniture that would otherwise take up valuable floor space. An obvious use for the hooks is clothing storage. Hooks up against a wall can be used as a replacement for a full closet that would otherwise take up floor space. If you want to keep a more traditional clothing storage solution, you can still use hooks to organize your space. Smaller baskets can be hung for decorative storage solutions. Hooks can also be used in your kitchen to free up cabinet space. By hanging your pots and pans on the wall, you can create more space for pantry items. This will also give your tiny home an industrial touch that is similar to an urban apartment.

Peg Boards

One aesthetic that many owners of tiny home want to avoid is a shed or garage. Just because a tiny home is small, doesn’t mean it should feel any like any less of a home. Because of this, many homeowners stay away from peg board walls. They are usually found in garages and are used for tools storage. However, peg board has different design styles and uses for any room in your home, tiny or not. You can incorporate peg board into your kitchen walls and use it to display pots and pans. The famous chef Julia Child was the one to popularize this design idea. For extra design, take another tip from Julia and outline your pots and pans on the wall. Not only does this add an interesting aspect to the otherwise boring wall, but it also tells you where each one fits! You don’t have to keep the peg board plain white either. Paint the board to add a pop of color and brighten your home. You can then stencil each pan in a complimentary color. If you want peg board storage for larger items, you can make a large scale peg board as a DIY project. These larger pegs can support full shelves for even more storage.

Owning a tiny home doesn’t have to mean stripping down all of your belongings! With clever storage solutions, all of your collections and necessary items can be comfortably stored in your tiny home without overwhelming your space. The design ideas range from hidden compartments to open shelving and can easily be molded to fit your tiny home design!

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Bus Conversions

Living in a bus may seem like a crazy idea, but bus conversions have become popular DIY tiny home projects. When you think of a school bus, you don’t picture a spacious home. However, once you get the bus and take out the rows of seats, you’re left with a long home that has plenty of space for your home design! There are a few different sizes of buses, so you should decide what you want to include in your home before buying the bus. The widths will remain consistent, but the lengths have a wide range that goes up to 40’. Many people might associate an old school bus with retro and dated home décor. However, once you completely empty your bus, you have a blank canvas. A school bus allows plenty of natural light into your space, as the walls are lined with windows. For times when you want more privacy, you can add curtains.

Many bus conversions cover their windows to add insulation and privacy. This bus conversion takes advantage of the large amount of windows by keeping the coverings translucent. They add coverage, but also allow the pass through of some light. This particular picture was taken from the back of the bus, giving you a full bus shot. The floor takes advantage of tiny house storage and has trap door panels in the floor for extra storage. The benches are also multifunctioning pieces of furniture. The seats lift up to create a storage trunk. The all wood interior is simplistic and compliments the minimalist lifestyle of the homeowner.

Cob Houses

The idea of a home may seem intimidating to some, but cob houses are much more than a small clay hut. Cob, a mixture of clay, sand, and straw, is the perfect all natural material for your tiny home. Not only is it cheap, but it is also durable. Many homeowners assume that natural materials will deteriorate over time, but if you take the right measures in your tiny home design, you can have a home that will last for a lifetime. There are known cob structures in England that have been standing for 500 years. The key is to have an overhang roof too keep too much direct moisture from your exterior walls. A strong stone foundation will also help keep the bottom of your walls dry and safe from the elements. Cob is definitely the material to use if you want a one of a kind tiny home.

This cob house is probably what you think of when you think of a tiny home that is made of all natural materials. It has a fairytale look to it with its uneven roof and quirky design. You can see the large overhang of the thatched roof that is designed to protect the walls from excess moisture during a rainy day. The stone foundation is also pictured. Cob houses are built in stacks of stones that elevate the home above ground level and keep the bottom of the walls from absorbing any moisture in the ground.

Vardo Tiny Homes

It doesn’t get tinier than living in a small wagon. Vardo tiny homes take the classic British Romani wagons and fit them into their minimalist lifestyle. Traditionally, vardos were horse-drawn and ornate in design. They had intricate carvings with rich color schemes on their interiors and showcased the work of woodcrafters. Modern vardos are commonly towed behind vehicles. They keep their iconic design which features a bow top and large wheels on the outside of their frame. The rounded top maximizes the space by keeping the widest part of the wagon where the bed would most likely be placed. This design also helps to minimize the side effects of strong winds.

This vardo design takes advantage of every opportunity for natural light. The skylights and large window over the kitchen sink help the space feel more open. There are lights built into the cabinets that line the top of the wagon. It keeps the classic design features of an all wood interior with lots of cabinets and storage space. The bed is placed at the back of the wagon against a large window. The light color compliments the rich wood tones and makes the space brighter.

RVs

It can be said that RVs are the original tiny house. Their small living quarters have been used as campers and low budget housing long before microliving trends came to be. If you’re looking to downsize or you want to live simply, an RV is a standard option. They have the benefits of mobility and no construction. You can easily find a ready-made RV that is ready for you to move in. An RV is also a good test to see if you want to commit to tiny house living. One drawback to living in an RV year round is that it is reserved for mild weather and shouldn’t be used during cold winters unless you have made some serious renovations.

This RV design is light and airy and proves that a small space doesn’t have to feel cramped and dark. The all white walls and cabinets open up the space. The homeowners steered clear of any dark color accents to keep the space feeling open. There is a clear walkway down the center of the RV and there is plenty of seating in their living room area. This fresh RV design also features lots of storage space in the form of cabinets built into the counter and above the sink.

Trailer Homes

The name of this tiny home design is deceiving. While it may sound like the same thing as the previously mentioned RV, a trailer tiny home is very different. Trailer tiny homes are full tiny houses that have been constructed on a trailer that’s hitched to the back of a truck. This tiny home design is the most common and the first tiny home plan to gain a lot of media attention. You can either hire a contractor or DIY with a plan you purchase online or simply draw your own. The frames are usually made of timber for cost effectiveness. This particular design is usually chosen for its mobility. If you’re a homeowner that likes a change of scenery, this mobile tiny home is perfect for you.

This trailer home doesn’t sacrifice any traditional home features for a tiny home size. Not only does it have both a front door and a side door, but there are large windows that allow in lots of natural light. The covered porch with a singular seat is a comfortable place to enjoy the outdoors. You can see the wheels along the side of the trailer home, which are covered during when the house is stationary. The trailer is supported by cinderblocks to keep the house from rolling away. The steps leading up to either door can easily be moved and placed back into position as needed.

Shipping Containers

Shipping containers are probably the most mainstream tiny house design. People are very familiar with shipping containers themselves giving the large structures an easier transition into residential construction. While most homeowners use the large steel boxes that people are familiar with, there is a wide variety of materials for shipping containers. You can have a large scale wood shipping container if you want to build your tiny home with more traditional materials. Because it’s original commercial uses, shipping containers are both hurricane and fireproof, making them a durable option for your home. They coming different sizes which makes them ideal for a wide range of projects. If you choose a smaller container, you can make your space feel bigger by added windows and doors to let in natural light. These prefabricated frames are great for single container tiny homes, but they can also be combined to create a modular average size home.

This shipping container home brings some industrial design to the outdoors. With the addition of a porch, this shipping container is the perfect tiny house for those looking for a simple lifestyle. Most of the wall is glass doors and windows, extending the living space. There’s lots of shelving for extra storage and the bed fits perfectly in the center.

Houseboats

Houseboats are essentially the RVs of the water. These tiny homes have an element of fantasy by allowing the residents to live on the water. While they’re aren’t mobile on land, you can easily move through a body of water if you want a change of scenery. The small space is perfect for those looking for a simple lifestyle in an unconventional setting. You can’t deny that a houseboat gives you a unique lifestyle.

This houseboat embraces its nautical surroundings and used a navy, white, and teal color scheme. As you saw in the RV, white walls help a space to feel bigger. This is particularly important when you are surrounded by dark water at all times. The bed frame as the built in storage of the cabinets underneath the mattress. The houseboat also has an upstairs deck that is perfect for the homeowners to enjoy the outdoors. The large windows can be opened to let fresh air into the small space, making it feel bigger that it really is.

Yurts

If you want to be truly connected to your surroundings, a yurt is the tiny home design for you. Yurts are the traditional round tents that Mongolian nomads lived in. They were made to be portable with a basic wooden frame and felt covering. The walls were usually constructed with wood or bamboo latticework for a stable frame. Modern yurts are made to be semi-permanent. Construction takes a few days and they are able to be moved with some work. Many yurt builders use traditional lattice work for walls that is then reinforced to ensure that your home is structurally sound. They keep their traditional round shape and perfect for those looking for a minimalist lifestyle.

This yurt is definitely one that’s been modernized from the traditional tent frame. Not only does it have a closed off bathroom, but it also features a fully functioning kitchen with a stove. Because of the interior structure, this yurt isn’t mobile, but it still allows for simple living. The floor is a poured concrete that’s been finished and sealed to support the heavy foot traffic. Small rugs were added as accents and for comfort in places where the resident may stand for a period of time, like in front of the kitchen sink.

A-Frame Cabins

A-Frame cabins have a defining geometric shape to their home design. They have a classic cabin design that is usually made up of all wood. The simplicity of the cabin is appealing to those looking for a tiny home getaway with rustic charm. The interesting slanted walls give your tiny home a unique architectural element. The steep slopes are perfect for supporting bedroom lofts, a common feature in tiny homes to maximize space. The exterior is characterized by a steep sloped roof with large overhangs. This creates a covered porch aesthetic for your classic cabin.

Right away, you can see the defining slanted walls of this A-frame cabin. The all wood panel walls give the cabin a rustic décor. A common feature of rustic décor is the mixture of metal with organic materials, such as wood. This is present throughout all of the furniture in the home. This particular A-frame cabin has a second floor in the point of the house’s frame. Tiny house stairs are one of the most important aspects of a two floor tiny house design. This particular floating stair helps keep the floor plan open which makes the space feel larger.

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Before Organizing Your Garage

Sorting & Consolidating
Before you start to organize all of the items in your garage, it’s important to know what you actually have. Many people just throw items into their storage space and forget about them. This leads to having a lot of duplicates and unwanted items in your garage taking up valuable space. To start the organization process, take an inventory of everything you have in your garage. Not only should you get rid of any duplicates, but you should also let go of any items that you don’t want or need anymore. This could be through a yard sale, giving them away to charity, or simply throwing them out. It can be difficult to let go of things that you’ve had for a while, but this can help you to streamline your space and make your garage organizing last. This can kick start any garage organization ideas that you may have.

Zoning
Because many garages are the size of a small apartment, you can utilize some small apartment organization ideas and apply them to your garage. Instead of zoning your space into rooms like you would in an apartment, you can zone all of your belongings by function or activity. This helps to keep the space organized after you’ve gone through all of the hard work. It also makes items much easier to find later. Start the zoning when you’re consolidating and taking your inventory by sorting your belongings and keeping like items together. This will help to maximize your space and have a flow to your garage’s organization. For instance, keep your everyday items, such as dog food  and canned goods, close to the door and easily accessible. Sporting equipment can be kept together so you can easily find it all later.

Garage Storage Systems

Organization Benefits
Storage systems come a ton of different shapes and sizes. All of them hold the same organization benefits. When you start to wade through the many different garage organization ideas, storage systems are probably one of the first things to come up. No matter what form they take, they usually line the walls leave the middle of your garage open. It may be a tight fit, but you can still keep your car’s parking spot and have your storage space. They often come in a variety of sizes to cater to the different things you may be storing in your garage. This allows you to maximize your garage’s storage space by only using spaces that fit the items you’re storing.

Design Options
Storage systems come in two basic designs and then different combinations of the two. The first is a standard shelving unit. You can buy these premade in a variety of materials and sizes. They range from PVC kits that lock together to welded metal shelving units. These are probably the most common form of garage storage that homeowner’s use. The second storage system that homeowners commonly use in their garages are cabinet sets. These can be found on garage walls that also house work benches. They can be used to hold tools and hardware in a somewhat organized fashion. The benefit of cabinets is that they can have opaque door that’s can hide any mess inside the unit. If you want to make the most of your garage storage system, you can use a combination of both. This gives you the flexibility of closed cabinets and open shelving.

DIY
Building your own garage storage system is easy! The simple frames make it an easy weekend DIY project. The shelving unit can be constructed from lumber from any home improvement store. It’s a simple frame that can be made from 2×4”s and oriented strand board. Cabinets will be a little more complicated, as they have more hardware involved, but they’re still an easy DIY project. One of the major benefits of making your storage system a DIY project is the complete control over size and shape that you have. If you can’t find a premade unit that fits your space or you have found one but it’s out of budget, you can easily make one yourself. If you’re concerned about the stability of your shelving unit, you can always bolt it to the wall as well. This stabilizes your storage system and gives you a permanent garage organization solution.

Garage Wall Storage

Organization Benefits
Just like the small apartment organization tips, tiny house storage ideas can give you a lot of inspiration for organizing your garage. Tiny homes have to use every part of their available space including the walls themselves. Wall storage and displaying items are common features in tiny homes that are looking to maximize their space. Wall storage uses the wall space for its storage space without taking any floor space. While it may seem like the same garage organization idea as a storage system, wall storage design have virtually no footprint in your garage. This gives your car a large parking space and frees up the walking path surrounding your car. Wall storage solutions give you the opportunity for more aesthetically pleasing storage options. You can add small baskets or metal bins to your walls for an organized storage wall in your garage. Wall storage is also a popular option for garages that hold a lot of recreational equipment, such as bikes, surfboards, and skateboards.

Design Options
There are two common design options for wall storage. The first is peg boards. These boards can easily be attached the wall and feature small holes that can hold hooks and pegs to hang things on. The versatility of the pegboard design option is featured in several different ways. Because it’s completely open and you choose where to insert the pegs, your peg board can hold a wide range of sizes. It accommodates larger collections, such as different tools that would normally be housed in the garage. One way to be sure that all of the items fit back onto your peg board is to draw outlines around each item. This makes sure that you know where each item goes, and if anything is missing.

Slat walls are another wall storage option. They have the same basic concept of open storage on the wall by creating spaces to hang storage materials in the wall itself. It differs from the peg boards by creating tracks in the wall where you would slide the storage systems on rather than hang them on pegs in the wall. This may be a more stable option as it is held by the weight of the wall itself, rather than an individual peg. These storage solutions are often hooks or wire baskets that are made with the piece on the back to fit into the ridges of the wall. Because of the wide spaces between slats, the outline design would be very different to achieve with this garage organization idea.

DIY
A peg board is one of the easiest DIY projects that you could use in your garage. In the most basic form, a pegboard is a wooden board with uniform holes drilled into it to hold pegs of a certain size and support different storage ideas. If you want the traditional tiny hole pegboard, that’s easily achievable with the right drill bit size. However, if you want a unique peg board that you can’t find in a store, you can use a larger drill bit to create a jumbo peg board. Jumbo pegboards tend to be able to support more weight as the pegs are larger. The process is the same for both designs. Mark off where you’ll drill the holes with a pencil, being sure to make all the spaces even. One way to make sure it’s even is to draw a grid and mark the meeting points. Once you’ve drilled the holes, you can leave the board in its natural state or you can paint it to give it a clean and polished finish.
There are DIY versions of a slat wall for your garage, but it’s a little more complicated than the basic pegboard. The project can be completed in an afternoon if you’re an experienced DIY-er. The easiest DIY slat wall design starts with plywood boards that you cut and sand down to form T boards. Once you have your desired number of T boards, fasten them to your baseboard from the back. This will create the tracks in between the different slats. While it’s a simple DIY project and very possible, DIY slat walls should always be tested to ensure they can hold the weight that you intend to hang on it.

Garage Vertical Storage

Organization Benefits
If you have a particularly small garage, you can maximize the space by using vertical storage techniques. Garage organization ideas don’t have to stay on the ground. You can use the open space in your garage’s ceiling for extra storage. This keeps the entire floor open for your car or even more storage. Attics in the main house are commonly used for storage. You can apply this idea to your garage for extra storage space.

Design Options
The first ceiling storage design is a sliding storage system. This storage solution is made up a series of tracks attached to the ceiling of your garage that fit around the lips of plastic tubs. This can be as simple as a singular straight track that is long enough for one or two tubs. However, you can also install tracks that run along entire ceiling. Obviously your plastic bins won’t fit around curves, but you can install several straight tracks to maximize your ceiling space. Many people fit these in the negative space between the ceiling and the garage door when it is fully open. These tubs should be limited to lighter items, such as seasonal decorations. As access to these items can be difficult, you don’t want to store plastic bins that you will need to regularly use.

The second ceiling storage design is a storage loft in your garage. Garages with storage lofts are taking a hint from tiny homes and creating square footage by creating a raised platform in the garage. While this option is on a much larger scale than the sliding storage system, it is more stable and is better for items that you will want regular access to. Built like a mezzanine, your storage loft has an open face that is lined with railing for safety. You can use other garage organization ideas in your storage loft, such as shelving systems. Garages with lofts also need a means of access to their new space. There are several loft stair options, but the two most common are ladders and spiral stairs. A ladder is a great option for small spaces because of its small footprint and mobility. It can be moved around the space as you need it. However, if you plan on accessing the space often or carrying heavy boxes up and down from your loft, a ladder won’t be the most stable option. The lack of handrails can also make it dangerous for those carrying boxes. A spiral stair has a larger footprint than a ladder, but it’s still smaller than almost any other staircase option. It’s kept to a small circle in the corner of your garage and out of the way of your parking space. It has handrails for safe use and full steps that are more stable than ladder rungs. If your garage lacks the space for a spiral stair inside, consider an outside entrance to your second floor. A spiral stair can stand up to the elements and still take up a very small space in your yard.

DIY
Ceiling tracks are a simple DIY project that can be completed in a day. The frame is made from 2x4s and plywood. You want to measure the plastic bins you plan on using to make sure the tracks fit the space and the bins themselves. If you plan to install your sliding storage system between your garage door and ceiling, you want to make sure your bins will fit in this space. If you plan to install it somewhere else in the garage, measure to make sure the tracks aren’t too long. After you’ve measured and constructed the tracks, stabilize the frame and secure them to the ceiling of the garage.
Building a storage loft to your garage may seem like a large project, but you can easily do it in a weekend. Garages with lofts are becoming more popular as people are looking for square footage in their homes and DIY-ers are finding easy ways to build the frames. Most garages with storage lofts feature a basic square wood frame. The project typically takes two days and requires some intermediate skill level.

Your garage is the usually the place that unwanted or seasonal items are stored in. This also means that it can quickly become the most cluttered space in your house. These weekend organization tips give you easy fixes to an otherwise overwhelming room. Get a head start on your spring cleaning with these quick projects.

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Minimalist Interior Design

Minimalist interior design is defined by wide open spaces and simple style. By using minimalist characteristics in your wall and flooring design choices, you are creating a frame that can stand up to the simplistic design that will be pulled in with your furniture and accents.

Walls
The key is to keep the room open, but not bare. Use plain walls to your advantage by adding interesting design elements to the walls themselves. If you want to keep the wall treatments simple, you can paint them a neutral color. You don’t have to limit yourself to white walls! Consider off whites for a softer color. One way to add a dynamic visual element to your room while maintaining the minimalist style is by adding a texture to your walls. There are several different tiles that you can add to your walls for different effects. The first is oversized solid tiles that can be added to any interior wall. The matte finish is similar to a smooth concrete tile and adds a touch of industrialism to your home. It’s not a material you normally see on interior walls which creates an interesting focal point for your home. If you want to add texture to your interior walls, wood or faux stone tiles can be added to the surface of your wall. The neutral colors fit into your minimalist interior design, while the textures add a dynamic element to the room.

Flooring
You want your flooring to support the minimalist frame that you started to create with you wall treatments. Minimalist home design features flooring that is simple in design and color. There are so many different types of flooring design within each category that you can have almost any type of floor you want in your minimalist home. If you want wood floors, bamboo is perfect for light and airy rooms. It’s a durable material that is resistant to the moisture and warping that you typically find in other hardwood floors. White washed wood floors is another option for those that want the organic material of wood, but want a lighter finish. It may seem like an unconventional interior design option, but polished concrete flooring makes an incredible statement without being overdone. One of the major benefits of polished concrete is the lack of maintenance that it needs. It’s easy to clean and is polished to reflect light and make the space look bigger. Simple all black or white tiles are typically used in kitchens and bathrooms. The basic colors keep the design simple and away from ornate designs. You can use a neutral color carpet, but it can take away from the sleek lines that you create with the rest of the interior design.

Design Accents

There are other design accents you can include to create the perfect minimalist space for your furniture. A defining feature of minimalist home design is an open floor plan that is filled with light. This helps the space to feel bigger, and therefore more open. Every design aspect should lend itself to the open and uncluttered feeling of your home. Large windows and glass sliding doors are two ways to allow the maximum amount of natural light into your home. Many minimalist homes choose not to use any window treatments on their windows. If you want the added privacy of a window covering, you can use a simple roller shade. This keeps the design minimal and doesn’t intrude on the surrounding home design.
Another way to keep the flow of light and energy fluid in your home is to use an alternative staircase design. The traditional staircase design can be clunky and overbearing in a light and open space. Spiral staircases have the advantage of a small footprint. They can easily be tucked into the corner of your home and away from the center of your floorplan. If you want to place your spiral stair closer to the action of your floorplan, you can choose minimalist design options. By keeping the spindles to a minimum and using simple colors and materials, such as an all-black steel stair, there is plenty of open space left. If you want a straight staircase, but not the large frame, a floating stair is your solution. This modern stair option gives you the full steps of a straight staircase, but a completely open space underneath. This allows the pass through of light and opens up space that you would otherwise lose.

Minimalist Colors

When most people think of minimalist home design, they probably picture a strict color pallet of black and white. This can be intimidating and can make a room feel uninviting. Think of minimalist color pallets as complimentary neutrals, not stark contrasts. Just like the wall section, use just off whites as your lighter colors. There’s nothing wrong with using white, but off whites create a warmer environment. If black is too definitive for your liking, use a more muted charcoal instead. The tone is softer and won’t be as harsh of a contrast. Lighter greys are another great core color for your minimalist home design. Similar to modern home design, you can use pops of color to accent the space. Keep it to a singular color and minimal accent pieces. You can either use solid bright colors or more muted patterns to create a contrast in your space. For singular bright colors, smaller pieces, such as pillows and table lamps. You can incorporate patterns in small pieces of textile throughout the room. The patterns should be tone on tone and be a subtle small pattern. For a pop of color on the walls, use a singular piece of art as a focal point. The piece can have either a portrait or landscape orientation, but it should match the lines that you’ve created with furniture and wall treatments in your room.

Minimalist Furniture

The right furniture is the perfect last step to completing your minimalist home design. After you’ve created the perfect surrounding space, it’s time to fill your space with furniture that finalizes your desired style. You want to use furniture that is simple in all aspects. The forms of each piece of furniture should be simple with clean lines. You don’t have to limit your seating options to stiff benches and plastic chairs to achieve this look. You can have upholstered furniture that’s comfortable and perfect for your living room. The key is to keep it tailored and close to the cushion. Overstuffed furniture is great for rustic homes that have a country charm, but they can look bulky and out of place when surrounded by minimalist interior design. The same can be said for tables in your space. You can use pine tables for a light wood that adds warmth without looking too heavy in your space.
You can keep the theme of openness by choosing open frame furniture. This can usually be found in the form of clear tables and basic metal frames. A glass coffee table allows light to pass through it completely. If you want a clear table option that is more budget friendly, there are several different acrylic table designs. These provide the same look, but at a much lower price. Side tables with open frames are usually made from a metal base that is then brought to a flat platform as the table top. The open frame keeps the table from looking too bulky in the room. You can also find open frame couches and chairs. These pieces have metal legs that create a then rectangular frame at the bottom of the couch or chair.
Décor accent pieces can help your minimalist space to feel more like a lived in home. Minimalist home décor is often seen as empty and bare. Accents can add softness to the crisp lines that otherwise fill your space. Keep these accents small and simple. You never want to add anything that with overtake the space. The purpose of minimalist home décor is to keep all of the pieces working in tandem and as simple as possible. One simple way to add softness is to use light fixtures that have rounded edges. It adds a nice contrast to your otherwise angular room. You can also use your light fixtures to be sculptural pieces in your home. If you want to take advantage of more of the natural light coming into the space, you can use large mirrors to reflect light around the space and make it feel even bigger. You can use an ornately carved frame for your mirror if it is a neutral color. You can also find large mirrors that are in simple traditional frames. These giant mirrors can be leaned against a wall as a focal point in the room. Never be afraid of white space in your home décor when you’re looking to achieve a minimalist aesthetic.

Minimalist Storage

Finding storage space in your minimalist home may seem counterproductive. The whole purpose of adopting this home design is to simplify your life, and narrow down your belongings. However, minimalism is subjective. It may not mean having the bare minimum amount of belongings, but rather simplifying your life to the point when you feel comfortable. This being said, you may need to find ways to store your belongings that won’t fit into your minimalist home design. Keep the clutter down by using hidden storage ideas. One of the most popular designs is to create small spaces in your floor and install a trap door. You can then store extra items in the floor in a seamless and unassuming way. Trap door storage doesn’t impede on your minimalist home design at all. If you don’t want to use hidden storage, or don’t have the infrastructure in your home to create it, you can use open shelving. Putting things out in the open may not seem like it fits into the minimalist design style, but open shelving embraces the idea of open space that allows the pass through of light. They are the perfect alternative to closed off cabinets. To better fit into your minimalist home décor, simplify the items on the shelf. If you plan to store books on the shelf, cover the different color covers with a uniform neutral fabric.

Minimalist design aesthetics can help you make the most of your space without overwhelming it with complicated designs. The right colors can help to take your home’s design to the next level. However, if you want to make a more extreme minimalist change, the opportunities are definitely there. If a spiral stair is the right minimalist design choice for your home, give one of our consultative designers a call for pricing in five minutes or less.

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Paint

This seems like an obvious way to update your home, but many people associate painting with a full weekend project. Keep your decorating on a budget by using small amounts of paint around the home. However, there are several small painting projects that you can use to update your home décor.

If you’re looking for a simple way to update your lighting, changing a light fixture can be budget friendly and an easy DIY project. Brass light fixtures can tend to date your space, no matter how updated the rest of your décor may be. Spray painting an old light fixture to a more modern matte black. Not only does it make your home décor look more expensive, but it’s an easy weekend project. This small update can change the entire feel of a room.

Old furniture can easily be brought into a new home décor style with a fresh coat of paint. Wooden furniture that’s been stripped of their original finish can be painted to fit your new home design. If you decide to create a more rustic or vintage feel in your home, you can distress the new paint job using steel wool and vinegar. This gives you a distressed reclaimed look without the hassle or expense of finding vintage pieces.

You can use paint to make more drastic changes to your home décor as well. Painting the walls doesn’t have to be your standard one color project. Use a mix of finishes, such as matte and gloss, to create different patterns. By using the same color keeps the wall from looking too busy in your space. Chalkboard paint has been a huge trend in home design. One popular application for chalk paint is to turn a small section of your kitchen wall into a practical grocery list station. New paint colors aren’t limited to your walls. Floors and ceilings have become popular places to add punches of color too. Wooden floors are the perfect place to use a muted color and distress it for a rustic look in your home. Your floor painting isn’t limited to hardwood. Tiles can easily be updated with the right paint and finish. Taking a dated blue or yellow tile to a chic black can change the entire look of your bathroom without changing anything else.

Fabric

The fabric used in your room can define the home décor style. Most homeowners use different fabrics to create the focal points in the room while the rest is kept neutral. Because of this, a simple change of fabric can redefine your space in an afternoon. Different colors and mixtures of patterns create unique spaces in your home.

Window treatments are one of the easiest ways to update your home décor. Changing out the curtains from a dark color to a light and airy fabric can instantly make the room feel larger and brighter. If you want to add a touch of luxury to your home design, a valance at the top of your window is a polished edge. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get this beautiful home feature. Using fabric and a cardboard box to create a valance is an easy DIY project. You can quilt it for an expensive look or keep it a simple flat piece for a modern edge to your windows.

If you want to update your upholstered furniture, new fabric can keep your furniture frame and update an old cushion. This is the perfect fix for a thrifted chair that may be sporting its original cushion. A simple update to a bright pattern or a sleek solid color can instantly modernize the piece. If you want an update to your couch without a full reupholster job, throw pillows add a new element to your seating. Throw pillows are easy to make, even for the amateur DIYer. A new pattern introduced to your room can liven up an otherwise simple decor. The beauty of a throw pillow is that it can easily be switched out for a new pattern or color story the next time you want a change.

If you can’t find a fabric that fits into your dream design, creating a custom fabric is easier than you think. With the right paints, you can stamp or hand paint a pattern on a solid color fabric. It can be used in cushions, lampshades, and curtains to create a one of a kind home décor that fits into your home’s personality.

Wallpaper

When many homeowners think of wallpaper, they picture a dated pattern that they’ll never be able to remove from their walls without a lot of work. However, wallpaper has come a long way from your grandmother’s house. Not only are there a lot more design options, but it’s also easier to remove, making it an ideal material for inexpensive home décor. Renter’s wallpaper is a contact paper like material that peels off the wall like tape. It comes in a large variety of designs that can fit into any room.

Patterned wallpaper is a great material to use on accent walls and focal points. A busy pattern can overwhelm the space if it’s used on all four walls. However, when you use it on one wall it adds interest rather than clutter. If you want that visual interest, but want to keep your walls plain, consider using the wallpaper on your ceiling. It’s typically a smaller space and can help enclose the room for a luxurious feel. Your wallpaper isn’t limited to standard materials either. One popular repurposed material is to use maps as wallpaper. This is typically used in smaller spaces because maps can be busy.

Wallpaper isn’t just for the walls and ceilings. If you find a wallpaper that has a pattern you love, use it as a décor accent! You can use it in small spaces, such as the back of bookcase or inside of drawers. This adds a touch of visual interest without overwhelming the rest of the space. Another popular accent is to create art pieces for your walls. Whether you decide to frame small samples of complimentary patterns or create large art panels of wallpaper, you can use it to put the finishing touch on your room. You can also add wallpaper to risers of your stairs. This is a space that is typically left plain and lacks visual interest. If you think a color pattern may be too busy for your home, you can always add a textured wallpaper instead. These are typically all white baroque style pieces. If you want a different solid color, they’re easily painted.

Mirrors

Mirrors are a cheap and easy way to add flair to your home décor. They have one of the widest price ranges starting at dollar stores design and going all the way up to custom designs that cost hundreds of dollars. The wide price range also includes a large variety of designs as well. This makes it an inexpensive home décor essential. If you can’t find the exact mirror you want, you can always find a basic design and enhance it to fit your dream design.

Mirror tiles are a versatile material in inexpensive home décor. When used as a backsplash, they can instantly add luxury to any bathroom or kitchen wall. You can also create a full mirrored wall without the cost of an oversized mirror. A gallery wall full of mixed and matched mirror designs can create an interesting focal point in your home design. The different frames complement each other and can be painted to match the rest of your home. A large mirror with a decorative frame is the perfect addition to a simple but lavish living room. You can paint or distress the frame to fit your design needs. If you want touches of reflection without a huge piece, table top accents are perfect. One popular DIY project is to take an old framed mirror and add felt backing to the frame and use the piece as a tray. Other people use mirror spray paint to take inexpensive glass vases and make unique reflective pieces. This is also a great upgrade for cheap votives and jars.

Mirrors serve a practical purpose in most rooms. Whether you decide to use a large oversized mirror or fill a gallery wall with different designs, mirrors have several benefits in the grand scheme of the room. Mirrors extend the end of the room and help it to feel larger. This is a great trick to keep a small room from feeling cluttered and cramped. Mirrors also help a room to feel brighter. By reflecting light back into the center of the room, it completely fills the room.

Crown Molding

If you want to add a Victorian flourish to your home design but you’re decorating on a budget, the addition of molding can go a long way. While most people add molding at the meeting place of the wall and ceiling, it has many other uses. Overall, it adds a finishing touch to an otherwise raw edge. This give your room polis that it may not have had before.

When adding molding to your walls, you’re not limited to the standard tops and bottoms of the wall. You can create architectural features in your home that weren’t a part of the original build with the simple addition of molding at different heights. Add a small lip above your standard molding on the base of your walls. By painting this now empty space, the molding, and the lip the same color, you can create a faux baseboard around the foot of your room. If you want to add interest to your walls at a higher level, you can use the same lip but mid-way up the wall to create a faux chair rail. You can also create wall panels within the wall itself but installing the molding in a way that creates a square or rectangle. By keeping the molding a contrasting color, you’re adding a built in interest that looks like it was a part of the original home design.

Crown molding is limited to just walls. You can combine the molding with a shelving unit to create a faux built-in look. These pieces are usually very expensive and won’t fit into a small home décor budget. However, if you use crown molding to enhance a standard bookshelf, you can create a traditional home design at a fraction of the price. If you have dated cabinets in your kitchen, you can give them a quick update with oversized crown molding. The large piece will close off any space that is open between the top of your cabinet and the ceiling and give your kitchen a more custom look.

You can create a gorgeous and luxurious home design without going way out of budget. Not only are these simple projects, but they’re made with materials that are easily found at any home improvement store. Each of these five materials can be used in alone or in combination with one another to create beautiful home projects. Take an afternoon and add some new home design features to your home!

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Modern Home Design

There are a few design elements that you will find in every modern home, big or small. Simplicity is the driving characteristic in any modern design. Much like minimalist home design, the function shouldn’t be interrupted ornate designs, but celebrated with a clean design style. When it comes to the floor plans themselves, the home should be kept open to maximize the flow of light and air. This means lots of open archways connecting rooms and open floor plans. You also want to incorporate the maximum amount of natural light into your home. It will make your home feel larger, even if it is on the smaller side.

A lot of modern homes leave large windows and glass doors uncovered so sunlight can fill the space. They can feature full floor to ceiling windows on the same walls as sliding glass doors. By keeping it completely open, you can extend your home and blur the separation between your indoor and outdoor spaces. However, there are a few modern home design ideas when it comes to window treatments. Translucent curtains allow some light in while still giving you the privacy that you want. Interior shutters are another design option for added privacy. You can control the amount of light coming through and have the maximum amount coverage.

For a smaller home, lofts can help you to maximize your interior space. You can create square footage by creating a space above the ground level of your house. When building a loft, you will need to enclose the space somehow for safety purposes. Glass panels are a popular option for loft railing. The transparent design option allows the maximum amount of light to pass through. It also creates a more cohesive home design by not installing a solid barrier between your spaces.

There are several different loft stair designs that can fit into a modern home design. If you can, opt for a design other than a traditional stair. While this is the most common stair option for any home, it has a very large footprint that may not be ideal for a smaller home. Traditional stairs also typically have very heavy frames that interrupt the light and airy space that you want with modern homes.

A modified version of the traditional stair that could fit into modern home design ideas is a floating stair. This modern staircase design features traditional steps but an open frame underneath the staircase. It allows the maximum amount of light to pass through and doesn’t take up a lot of room. There are a few drawbacks to a floating stair design. The open steps can be a safety hazard for some homeowners. The steps can also look bulky in an otherwise light space.

A spiral staircase can give you a small footprint and a light design. The best spiral stair design for a modern home is a Classic Steel spiral stair. This design can be powder coated a custom color to fit seamlessly into your existing home design. The clean lines of the spiral keep the stair to a small circle in the corner of your home. With customizable options, such as spindle design and the texture of your steps, you can create a piece that will fit into your modern home design dreams.

Modern Home Décor

When looking for modern furniture, you always want to find pieces that are functional with simple designs. Clean lines are a defining feature of modern design. This is particularly important in small spaces. You don’t want overly ornate furniture to crowd your space and overwhelm your small home. This plays into the idea of geometric shapes in your furniture designs.

Whether it is a sleek straight line or smooth curve, your furniture should be kept simple. If you decide on a larger piece of furniture, such as a wraparound sectional, you may want to sacrifice another large design in the room. A common characteristic of modern home interior design is an open floor plan. You don’t have to lose this if you’re working with a small space. Keeping your room uncluttered with a focus on one or two larger items helps the room to feel bigger.

When it comes to materials used for your modern style furniture, you want to keep it simple just like the frames. Most homeowners choose to use pieces that are glass or stainless steel. Glass pieces allow the pass through of light and keep the room from feeling too heavy. Homeowners usually use glass coffee tables and side tables to keep the function of those surfaces, without impeding the open look of the room.

If you’re looking to keep your home decorating on a budget, acrylic coffee tables are very popular. Acrylic is typically less expensive than glass and is lighter weight. It has the same look as a glass table, but is more manageable in both budget and weight.

Most textiles used in modern home interior design ideas are kept simple. You want to keep the room monochromatic with pops of color to keep the room as open as possible. Whites and neutrals are best for a small space using modern home design ideas.

Monochromatic patterns are a great way to add visual interest to your home design. By keeping the pattern in the same color with different textures, it adds subtle complexity to your interior design. You can incorporate pops of color into smaller pieces of décor, like throw pillows. These small pieces are just enough to add an extra dimension to your home design.

If you want to really make the most of a small space, multifunctional furniture is the perfect solution. These pieces are typical built with clean lines to keep the design simple and transition between uses easy. If you have a small space, they can help you to make the most of your rooms. The most popular designs are multifunctional couches and ottomans. A couch’s flexibility doesn’t have to be limited to a pull out bed. There are several designs that feature couches that split into different seating options and maximize your space when they’re not in use. A multifunctional ottoman can either be a storage piece or a ton of seating combined into one.

Modular Stairs and Multifunctional Furniture

Multifunctional furniture like this comes in especially handy in modular homes such as tiny homes. That’s because these homes that are either on-the-go or provide a minimum of space must still accommodate a plethora of uses, so anything occupying them must be easily convertible from one type of furniture into another. The furniture must be just as modular as the homes. This modular property applies to more fixed structures like stairs. “Modular” stairs allow a modular home to maximize use and provide a compliment to the usefulness of modular furniture. A spiral staircase is an excellent solution for modular stairs needs as a spiral stair easily fits in any modular home or tiny home. Both provide high use and space-saving benefits.

Mirrors are popular home décor accents for both modern design and small homes. One of their biggest benefits is that they can reflect light back into your room to ensure that your space is completely filled with light. It adds a visual interest element to your walls without adding heavy and cluttering artwork. The different frames can give you variety in your design. If you like the look of a gallery wall, but you’re worried that your wall will look cluttered and overwhelm your space, replace each piece of art or photo with a different mirror. For a simpler take on a wall full of mirrors, you can use an oversized mirror that is leaned against the wall. This can make your room feel bigger and can easily be customized to fit into your space with different DIY projects.

Modern Home Storage Solutions

Small homes are in constant need of storage space. Because you have a smaller amount of living space, you’re trying to find places where you can store items without making your home look and feel cluttered and messy. Your storage options are very similar to those found in minimalist home designs. The simplicity of storage solutions in modern home design ideas helps them to fit seamlessly into your home’s décor.

The most important part of your storage is the material used to create the space. Sleek materials such as a light finish wood or metal frames create a storage solution that goes well with minimalist interior design ideas. The clean lines they create mirrors the rest of the furniture in your space. Avoid visually heavy pieces just like you did with the home design and décor.
Open frame shelving is one of the most popular storage solutions for modern home design. The open design keeps the room open and not cut off from other areas by solid and blocky shelving units. You can create the look of built in shelving units by painting them a matching color to your walls. If you want to add some extra visual interest to your storage solutions, you can use shelving units that are in different geometric shapes, such as triangles and shapes with interior angles.

Storage furniture can help your small space stay clutter free. It keeps your lines sleek by keeping your storage items out of sight. This doesn’t have to be an involved hiding place. It can be as simple as a side table that has a drawer for your remotes. To keep the design simple, keep your drawer hardware to a minimum. This isn’t the design style for ornate drawer pulls. Many people prefer to have no hardware at all and have a small notch carved into the drawer instead. If you do want a handle, keep it limited to a simple metal bar that won’t take over the design of the table or drawer set. This lack of hardware can be applied to any cabinets you may have in your space as well. Ottomans are another popular option for storage furniture designs. Not only does it give you an extra seat if you need it, but it also can open up to hide things that you may not want to display.

Modern home design can easily be implemented into a small home with the right modern home design ideas. The bright and open spaces that can be found in modern interior design are an ideal choice for a small home that is looking to maximize space. Modern home design doesn’t have to be cold and daunting to the average homeowner. It can create a beautiful space that helps your home reach its fullest potential.

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