You love living in your tiny house, but it’s a struggle to fit everything in, so what’s the solution? Streamlining your stuff is a good start, but don’t sacrifice too much – chances are you’ve got more storage potential than you think.
Our organizational experts have successfully increased storage in inner-city apartments, cute cabins and cool campervans, working with clients living in all manner of tiny dwellings, and uncovered plenty of space-boosting storage tips along the way.
The first thing they’ll tell you is that when it comes to successful small space storage ideas, creative thinking is key. With limited square footage on offer, everything needs to work that little bit harder – we’re talking walls and doors as well as nooks, crannies and everything in between. There’s no room for wasted space, literally.
8 space-boosting tiny house storage ideas
Employing effective decluttering tips is always worth doing, but even more so when organizing small spaces, where every inch counts. Be sure to do that ahead of employing the storage ideas below to ensure you’re only housing the items you really love, want or need.
1. Choose double-duty furniture
Without the luxury of square footage, you’ll need your furniture to work as hard as your home does when it comes to storage. If you’re in the process of buying new, choosing pieces that tick more than one box is the way to go.
Good examples include coffee tables with concealed compartments for remotes and games, upholstered benches with shoe storage inside and ottoman-style beds with space for spare bedding.
If your tiny house is already furnished, professional organizer Lauren Saltman, founder of Living. Simplified suggests looking at what you’ve got and thinking about what you could add to maximize storage without minimizing floor space. ‘When organizing a small bedroom, a small bookcase could double up as a nightstand, or you could introduce pull-out storage bins [RubberMaid’s underbed storage boxes, available at Amazon, have a durable design and sturdy wheels]’.
This ‘multipurpose’ approach can be taken to more than just furniture. Lauren explains, 'If you’re in the early stages of planning a small kitchen layout, opt for built-in appliances where possible – a microwave or a hot tap, for example. Tools that only have one purpose should also be on your kitchen decluttering checklist. Getting rid of those will free up space in cabinets for smaller appliances, leaving countertops clutter free, too’.
2. Make walls (and doors) work harder
From walls and ceilings to the back of a door, vertical space is your best friend in a tiny home. Shelving is the obvious go-to, but there’s plenty of other wall storage ideas you can use. Which solutions you choose will depend on which room you’re organizing and what you’re storing.
Professional organizer Michelle Urban, founder of The Organized House, says, ‘Over-the-door organizers, ceiling racks, hanging rods and hooks add valuable, streamlined storage to kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. I love using this EVDBOBO pegboard organizer kit, available at Amazon, when organizing a kid’s room as you can customize it over time as their needs change, for a budget take on bespoke storage’.
It’s also important to bear the look and size of your wall storage in mind – anything too bulky will protrude into the room, making it feel even tinier than it is. Professional organizer Melanie Summers, owner of I Speak Organized, recommends the Umbra Conceal Floating Bookshelf from The Container Store. ‘It’s such a clever piece’, she says. It makes your books look like they’re floating for a sleek, modern touch, plus it saves using valuable floor space’.
If your tiny home is one that moves (motorhome, campervan and narrowboat owners, we’re talking to you), always remember to secure wall-mounted items before you travel. The same goes for items inside cabinets and drawers; Gorilla Grip’s powerGRIP shelf and cabinet liner is an Amazon bestseller for a reason, it keeps items firmly in place, no shifting or rolling.
Over-the-door organizers are great, but if you can't shut your cabinet door you're in trouble – not an issue with this super slim version. Just the right width for cooking sheets, cutting board and small bathroom supplies, it adds valuable storage space. Use the hooks or there's a more permanent wall mount option if you'd prefer.
3. Stack things up
Using stackable storage boxes is another way of utilizing vertical space; clear designs are perfect for stashing items of any kind (opt for breathable versions if you’re using them to organize clothes and/or shoes), allowing you to see what’s inside at a glance.
These Costway collapsible storage bins, available at Target, are handy for temporary storage in tiny holiday homes; they be folded completely flat when not in use and tucked away until you need them again.
When organizing a small kitchen, it might be more efficient to stack wider items (such as baking trays, chopping boards, and plates) vertically, side by side, using Vive Comb clear acrylic shelf dividers, available at Walmart; they take up less room and they’re easier to access.
Professional organizer Tina Priestly, owner and CEO of Ready, Set, REFRESH! recommends ‘stacking’ your shelving, too. ‘Mount them all the way up to the ceiling, then store items you don’t use daily up top (think special occasion dishes or holiday decorations) to give out-of-reach space a purpose. Keep frequently-used items lower down for easy access’.
4. Combine function and flair
Without the luxury of hidden storage aplenty, you’ll need to get a little creative with how you’re displaying things if you want your home to stay stylish.
Anything you have out should contribute to the overall aesthetic of the room, as well as being functional. Get toilet rolls out of their plastic wrap and into pretty baskets, decant washing liquids into stylish bottles and pour bulk-bought pantry staples into airtight glass jars.
‘Keep sink spaces clear by mount a shelf nearby and lining with neatly-presented essentials and use an over-the-sink drying rack. For those items too unsightly to be on show, mount an Umbra Hide & Sink Under Sink Caddy from The Container Store to the back of a cabinet door to maximize hidden storage opportunities’, says Lauren.
These preprinted jar labels add a sleek and stylish look to well-organized kitchen and pantry shelves. The set includes 192 pantry labels, 18 oil and vinegar labels, 125 spice jars labels, 23 blank labels of 3 different sizes, and 45 expiry labels. Made from vinyl, they're durable and waterproof and don't leave sticky residue when removed so you can update jars easily.
5. Use baskets as overflow storage
Whether it’s tiny or not, keeping on top of everyday clutter is an easy way to make your home look more organized. Setting up ‘drop zones’ keeps floors clear and prevents prime storage spaces from overfilling.
'These rainbow seagrass storage baskets from The Container Store are both practical and pretty. They add a lovely natural texture while keeping things tidy’, says Melanie. Position them in clutter hotspots, such as in entryways, playrooms and living rooms, or assign a basket to each household member to keep items neatly contained.
We also recommend the Bay Isle Home™ wicker basket, available from Wayfair as it lies flat against the wall, making it a great option in tiny homes, particularly those with wheels – it won’t swing about when you’re on the move.
6. Go bespoke
If you’ve got the budget for it, all our experts recommend commissioning bespoke joinery in a tiny home. ‘Custom-made shelving, cabinets and drawers all blend seamlessly into nooks and crannies, providing ample storage without making the room feel cluttered’, says Michelle.
Tina agrees, and takes it one step further, suggesting you transform an entire area of your home into more usable space. 'Under stairs ideas can be a goldmine for hidden storage. For example, consider commissioning custom-built drawers and pull-out shelving to store shoes, cleaning supplies, or seasonal items like winter coats’.
Why stop there? Home office or playroom ideas are merely a dream for most tiny home owners, but with a bit of clever thinking thinking (and some advice from your local carpenter) a large closet could be transformed into either – simply shut the door at the end of the day and you’d never know it was there.
Punteha van Terheyden, head of solved at Homes & Gardens, says, 'We bought a newly built home with a tiny footprint of just over 900 square feet. It lacked storage entirely so we had custom built floor to ceiling closets made in the primary bedroom so every inch of the allocated wall could be used, exactly as we needed it, right up to the awkward light switch. I looked around for a while until I found an amazing, talented carpenter local to me and the price was extremely competitive. It's the best money we've spent since moving in.'
If you haven’t got the budget for a professional build (or you’re living in a rental), don’t panic – there’s shop-bought solutions you can use that create a similarly sleek effect. Michelle recommends the BESTÅ Storage range at Ikea. 'It includes wall-mounted and floor-standing options with a choice of fronts, so it really is the next best thing in my opinion – all pieces are sold individually, so you can pick to fit your budget, space and storage needs’.
7. Enlist organizational helpers to max out existing space
When space is tight, the last thing you want to be doing is bringing in more storage, so enlist the help of a few home organizers to make the cabinets, shelving and drawers you’ve already got work a little bit harder.
'A Franklin corner shelf riser from The Container Store combined with shelf dividers, pull-out storage and carousels can pretty much double your storage capacity, whilst keeping everything within easy reach, handy when organizing a small kitchen without a pantry’, says Meaghan.
When it comes to organizing drawers, we’d recommend opting for adjustable dividers, or you could commission niche inlays to store niche items like coffee pods and herbs and spices, or when organizing jewelry, for example.
Always measure the space you’ve got before investing in an organizer of any kind, so you’re not left with dead space.
Store all sorts in these neatly-sized carousels, ideal on high shelves and in tricky corners. Made from easy-clean plastic, the smooth rotation makes for quick and easy access and a high rim stops items falling off. Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, you'll easily find use for all four.
8. Be flexible with where you store things
Prioritizing storage space for items essential to the room’s purpose is sensible, but if you’re struggling to fit everything in, you’ll need to be more flexible with where you store things in order to remain organized.
Grouping like-items together into baskets and containers means they can be stored anywhere in your tiny home, then easily moved around as you need. To make things easier, opt for lightweight designs with handles, such as the DECOMOMO Storage Bins, available at Amazon.
According to Meaghan, portable storage options are also worth considering. ‘This neatly-sized Origami rolling cart from The Container Store creates extra counter space in a small kitchen and has storage space underneath for organizing pots and pans', she says.
‘Those narrow gaps between appliances? The perfect place for this IFANNY slim rolling cart, available at Amazon, to sit. Use the four tiers to store spices, tins and dried foods so they’re close to hand when cooking, then simply slide it away when you need the floor space. You could even store it in another room altogether, depending on your small kitchen layout’.
Getting your storage ideas spot on means you can fit a lot into your tiny home, but it’s well worth encouraging minimalism at home to keep clutter from building.
Check out the decluttering strategies minimalists swear by; they’re surprisingly easy to stick to, and you – and your tiny home – will be much happier for it.
