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Our home is just over a thousand square feet, and we are both pretty clutter averse. So we take our storage and organization seriously. I am not anti clutter, it’s totally a part of life, especially if you have children.

The trick isn’t to have a perfect house 24/7, it is knowing that when you have the time to put things away you know exactly where they go.

Things get out of hand because we run out of space and that is how we end up with crazy closets and piles in the corner of the room.

When we decided to take on our kitchen renovation I knew we would have to drastically increase the amount of storage we had, and also get smart about what tools we needed and didn’t need. Spoiler alert single function random kitchen things need to go, I’m looking at you salad spinner and tortilla warmer..

For example when we did our kitchen reno, I literally took everything out of each cabinet and drawer and listed it in a spreadsheet, then categorized everything. One big goal that I had was keeping “like” things together. If it was anything used regularly to set the dining table, like plates, silverware, bowls, serving flatware etc it was in the same section. All of the items needed for baking were together, and all of the items that were used less like larger serving pieces were furthest away from the core of the kitchen. Most of all, no appliances on the countertops. This is my personal preference, I do not blame anyone who has them out on the counter, it’s totally fine, you should do whatever you prefer.

You can read more about removing our load bearing wall by adding a massive exposed steel beam, or about the layout and tiling of our kitchen remodel here.

Here are some ideas for finding “extra” space in your home:

Use vertical space: Take advantage of your wall space by installing shelves, hooks, and other storage options. This can help you maximize your storage without taking up valuable floor space.

Utilize furniture with built-in storage: Choose furniture pieces that have built-in storage, such as a bed frame with drawers underneath, an ottoman that opens up for storage, or a coffee table with storage compartments.

Create storage under the stairs: If you have a staircase in your home, consider turning the space underneath into storage. This could be in the form of built-in shelving or cabinets, or even just adding some baskets for storing items.

Hang items from the ceiling: Install a hanging system from the ceiling, such as a pot rack or hanging baskets, to free up floor and counter space.

Use multi-functional furniture: Look for furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as a storage bench that can also be used as seating or a desk that folds up to become a cabinet.

Optimize closet space: Make the most of your closet space by using organizers, hanging shelves, and other storage solutions to maximize storage space and keep everything organized.

Optimize closet space: Make the most of your closet space by using organizers, hanging shelves, and other storage solutions to maximize storage space and keep everything organized.

Utilize space behind doors: Install over-the-door organizers or hooks to make use of the space behind doors for storing items like shoes, hats, or accessories.

These are just a few ideas for unique storage solutions for small spaces in your home. With a little creativity, you can find many other ways to maximize your storage space and keep your home organized.

I’ll dig into my favorite storage products later, but you can shop and browse The Container Store, and Food52, for some additional inspiration.