Are you struggling for space in your home? Here are 10 tricks for maximising space and creating more room in your house.
Mount your ironing board to the wall
Ironing boards can be awkward to store. Attach yours to the wall of your laundry room for quick and easy use.
Hide storage containers under the bed
Don’t waste that space under your bed. Buy low and long storage containers (preferably with wheels) to pack away things like bags, shoes and winter clothes or anything you don’t want to be seen.
Lego-style storage boxes keep the toys under control in this Scandinavian-style cottage. Photo: Felix Forest / real living
Attach a shoe hanger to the back of your door
The backs of doors are a under-appreciated storage space. Hang a shoe storage unit to the back of your bedroom door to stop cluttering your floors and using up valuable wardrobe space.
Customise your closet
If your wardrobe is cluttered and constantly messy you’re never going to be able to find anything. Invest in a customised wardrobe – you need your wardrobe to work for you and your needs.
Build your closet so that it suits your style: if you have a lot of dresses make sure there’s plenty of hanging space, and if you’re a shoe collector, add shelving to the bottom of your wardrobe will keep them organised and easily accessible.
Hang pots & pans from the wall
If you’re short on cupboard space, consider hanging your pots and pans. You still want to make sure it looks tidy, but having them accessible will not only save you space but also time when cooking.
Install a rod with hooks to hang yours along the kitchen wall – if you have nice pots this can be a great feature!
Colour-coordinate your kitchen utensils for a cohesive look, similar to this coastal style kitchen. Photo: Maree Homer / homes+
Add a rack for extra cupboard storage
Cupboards can often have a lot of wasted space. Add in extra shelves to yours, whether permanent or simply plastic temporary ones, to make the most of what little space you have. Under the sink is a good example: use a temporary shelving unit to organise your dishwashing and cleaning supplies.
Swap a standard mirror for one with a cupboard
Mirror cabinets are the perfect storage place for cosmetics, toothbrushes and medicine. They can be neatly hidden away and will help keep your bathroom counter clean and tidy.
Keep it neat with boxes
Boxes are great for stacking your storage in style. Move odd shaped items into boxes to avoid wasted space.
Boxes in all shapes and sizes are a great way to implement storage with style. Photo: Will Horner / Australian House & Garden
Install a high shelf
If you have high ceilings, you could be missing out on utilising valuable space. Install shelves above eye level for showcasing books and knick-knacks – just remember these will still be in view so keep it tidy and limited to items that look nice. Small decorative boxes are a great option for hiding unsightly objects.
A narrow shelf holds an attractive collection of knick-knacks in this charming weatherboard home. Photo: Toby Scott / homes+
Put your winter or summer clothing into space-saver bags when the seasons change
Unworn clothes can take up a lot of room. When you only need them for a few months out of the year, it’s worth packing them away properly when the weather changes. Vacuum bags are perfect for shrinking bulky winter coats and scarves into an easy-to-store size.
