Got a small home?? Check out these creative storage tips and space-saving tricks shared by your frugal friends on The Frugal Girls Facebook page!
Lisa said: “I have small closets and one room has no closet. I lay my winter blankets between my mattress and box spring. It even gives the bed a little extra padding and height!”
Lisette said: “I used to live in a super small home (less than 1100 sq.f) and we converted the hall closet into our “office.” It fit both a small desk and chair, and we also hung up a cork board on the closet wall and added a mail-sorter to the side wall. When it was not in use, we just closed the door and the office was hidden 
We always got compliments on that being a smart idea to save space and still have the office.”
Andi said: “Our small guest room is also the nursery. In order to fit a full size bed, a crib, a rocker and a night stand, we took the doors off the closet and put the long dresser in there. The dresser doubles as a changing table and even with all that furniture, this tiny room doesn’t feel crowded!!”
Glenda said: “Be sure to have furniture that does double duty. For example: we have a coffee table that has 10 drawers and the back half lifts up to store blankets or larger things. And yes, it really IS a coffee table (we got it years ago from Sam’s).”
Kelly said: “We have coffee and end tables with storage; I label all the shelves in the kitchen; My hubby built an island out of recycled fencing material and an old butcher block table top (looks just like the $400 one at IKEA); We use shelves out in the garage w/ labeled bins; We don’t hold on to stuff we don’t need… we sell it; Put dressers in closets; And I recently bought closet organizers and use them as nightstands for our ridiculously tall 4 poster bed.”
Shelly said: “Kitchen booth with storage drawers, instead of a traditional table & chair set-up. And storage ottomans in the living room, instead of more recliners. Both of these things really help.”
Rhonda said: “We put shelves all the way to the ceiling in all the closets, bought furniture that has ton of storage capacity, shelving and peg board from floor to ceiling in the laundry room, and clear bins with a legend in a binder of what is where in my sewing room (15 bins & 9 drawers full). Space is a limited so my husband built attic space in the carport and lets me use his shed for my “overflow.” I know where all my stuff is!!!”
Mary said: “Use wicker hampers as night stands. They hold seasonal clothing and blankets/beach towels.”
Monica said: “We made a table out of a new metal trash can (lid removed), and covered with a 24″ round of plywood. I covered the table with a long round tablecloth, and it looks just like a “decorator” table (and stores an enormous amount). No one would ever guess what it’s made from. It’s been in different rooms, and has held things like blankets, Lego’s, and out of season clothing! ”
Mary said: “Bookcases! I buy the bookcases that you put bins in and use those for my clothes instead of dressers. You can fit sooo much more in them.”
Melissa said: “I use plastic baskets and tubs (from the dollar store), and reusable shopping bags to organize our closet. What doesn’t get hung up has it’s own place. I also use baskets in the pantry to keep snack foods together and easily accessible. I keep out of season clothes in a storage tote… when it is time to get them out (and put the other clothing away), I weed out items I no longer want.”
Erin said: “I store my kids’ books and toys in plastic dish pans and colorful plastic file crates from Walmart.”
Christa said: “I rotate my kids toys. I store the extra toys on a shelf in the basement and bring up “new” things (if Lego’s come up, then the Lincoln Logs go down). If they haven’t played with something in awhile, I trade it for something else. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just throw half of everything in a garbage bag or bin, and hide it from the kids. The best part is the kids can pick up their toys without getting overwhelmed, and they actually “play” with their toys! I’d recommend this for even to those that have a big playroom, you’d be surprised how the kids gravitate to something they haven’t seen in awhile!”
Debbie said: “I found the clear empty VHS cases perfect for all my cords I have lying around the office. I just label the cases to identify the contents (i.e. video camera, cell phone, etc.) and line them up on the book case.”
Blanca said: “I love plastic bins stored under the bed.”
Dorene said: “I have bed risers under all my beds that provide an extra 9 inches of space. Instead of using drawers, I use under bed boxes on wheels. My daughter’s room doesn’t have a closet, so we use a thick wooden curtain to hang all of her dresses on.”
Mandy said: “We are getting a bed frame with drawers underneath.”
Candice said: “With 5 people in just under 1,000 sf., we got rid of our huge TV and replaced it with a projector. The screen pulls up when not in use, and the projector still plays regular TV. This really opened up our living room.”
Sally said: “We are a family six, and our house is only 1200 sq.ft. Since I have not gotten rid of any baby clothes (cuz we still need them), we have packed them (literally) into every nook and cranny we can find in the house. The are in, under and on top of any space that can possibly hold things!!!”
Andrea said: “Space bags for all my daughters old clothes! They really work, and Lazy Susan’s to make your stuff accessible and look tidy.”
Jennifer said: “Never forget vertical storage!!!”
Sarah said: “We have wire closet organizers that have 2 bars for hanging clothes, one above the other (summer clothes on one and winter on the other). I also use old book shelves in the garage for extra shelf space.”
Danielle said: “Use lots of shelving!”
Vivian said: “Get a stackable washer & dryer, place a shoe rack over the door, use a table that folds down on the sides.”
Maggie said: “I love those over the door shoe organizers (with the pouches). I use them for EVERYTHING. One on the inside of the pantry for office supplies; one in the nursery for powder, lotions, clippers, etc.; two in my daughters room for hair accessories; and another for art supplies under her loft bed.”
Debbie said: “1) Don’t hoard, 2) No one needs 12 pair of jeans, 3) Make use of hidden storage (such as under the bed), 4) Add shelving to closets, 5) Add hooks to inside of doors (closet/cabinets).”
Melinda said: “Minimize! It turns out the kids don’t need so many toys! 
”
Naomi said: “Don’t be a clutter bug! Be willing to get rid of stuff on a regular basis.”
Patti said: “If you haven’t used it in a year, Throw It Out! (unless it’s a keepsake or heirloom).”
Annalisa said: “Leave a basket by the front door for donation items and take the basket once a month to Goodwill or your favorite place for donations.”
Mercadies said: “Hold a bi-annual garage sale and price your stuff to SELL. It’s extra money and clears out a lot of space. Do one sale in the Spring and another one in the Fall. Go through every room, and if you find something you don’t use and have outgrown, sell it! If you don’t have garage sales, take everything you want to purge to the Goodwill and donate it!”
Alyssa said: “Use an extra paper towel holder for headbands! It’s a pretty way to display them, and takes almost NO space. ”
Beth said: “Take all your old cabinet knobs that you’re not using and screw them to strips of wood (I actually used a paint stirrer). Paint them or don’t, then mount them to the wall for a pretty display for necklaces, bracelets, hairties, whatever… and you can get rid of your jewelry box. (earrings/rings can be stored in ice trays in a drawer, or in plastic craft bead compartments.”
Rachel said: “Sticky clips and hooks help make use of wall space. Just put the clips up on the side of the cabinet for toothbrushes. You can also place hooks on the stairwell wall for jackets.”
Melissa said: “3M Command hooks. For apartment use they come off with no damage. Keys by the door. Necklaces on the closet walls. Brooms and dust pan on utility room door. Paintings hung. IKEA bookcases with the rattan/wicker cubes also hold a ton out of sight.”
Elizabeth said: “Living in 300 sq. ft. and having 3 kids under 3, we have learned about this!! We live in a camper, by choice, til we sell our house. We recently moved and plan to buy a house where we will live for my husbands new job.
You don’t need as much space as you think you do!!! Most people wear the same things over and over again, so donate the extra clothes. Minimize toys and be creative with storage. Boxes, sticks and pie tins are more fun and encourage creative play, which is very important.”
Amanda said: “I just light a match when it gets too cluttered and start over…lol…just kidding! ”
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I JUST LOVED THE IDEAS FROM EVERYONE, I LIVE IN A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT. THIS IS NOT A LARGE SPACE, IF I DON;T WEAR OR USE SOMETHING OUT IT GOES OR I GIVE IT TO MY DAUGHTER OR HER FRIEND. I ALWAYS SAY AT MY AGE SENIOR IF I CAN’T WEAR IT OR EAT IT I DO NOT WANT OR NEED IT. THANKS EVERYON AND THANKS FRUGUL GIRLS.
A friend gave me a great suggestion for weeding out clothes. First, go through your closets and put the hangers backwards on the rod. When you wear something and wash it, hang it with the hanger the correct way. At the end of season, any outfit still hung with the backwards hanger was never worn and should be removed and sold or given away. For every new item purchased going forwards, you must remove one of your old to be given away, sold or thrown away. You can declutter your closet with little effort in just one year.
Great tip, Ronnie… I love that idea!
~ Heidi
Take down the traditional towel rod in the bathroom and use hooks instead. You can hang more towels in the same amount of space and it is great for kids. Putting a towel on a hook is easier than folding it over a bar. Hooks can be as simple or fancy as you like for your decor. This is also great for multiple kids – each child has their own hook for towel, robe, washcloth.