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No matter how big or small your home may be, we all collect ‘stuff’ over time that clutters up our space. While de-cluttering is a good way to avoid a major mess, finding a way to organize all the necessities of your day-to-day life is a more permanent way of keeping your space neat and tidy.

Here are simple but ingenious space hacks to maximize your living space and keep your home organized.

Functional Furniture

Storage isn’t just about closets and drawers. Some furniture pieces combine form and function in one unique piece. For the bedroom, choosing a bed with under-bed drawers or a hinged mattress platform can provide added storage space for seasonal clothing or linens. Some headboards double as a nightstand with built-in shelving, eliminating the need for additional pieces in a smaller space. Ottomans and hallway benches are an excellent way to store books, photos or winter hats and mitts while giving you some added seating.

Custom Closets

Take your closet from drab to fab with a custom closet organization system. Gone are the days of just a single plain old broom-stick style hanger rod. Sure we dream of having a walk-in wardrobe room like Carrie from Sex and the City, but for many of us, that just isn’t possible. With a few tweaks we can have a system just as functional and practical. Home renovation stores offer many custom storage options like ClosetMaid shelving systems. You can install various levels of shelving, hanging rods, cubbies and angled shoe racks to meet your specific needs. Or simply insert a dresser into the closet under your hanging clothes to make use of what could be wasted floor space.

Reclaimed Square Footage

Depending on your home’s design, there may be wasted space hiding behind closed walls. Often times a stairway is closed in underneath by a clean and smooth flat panel wall. Or a wall will be built out between windows to avoid being drab and flat. Turn these hollow closed in walls into recessed built-in shelving or drawer units to make use of what would be just wasted space. Or if you are lacking a quiet study space for children, create an office nook under the stairway.

Kitchen Hacks

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of the home to have an effective storage system. From pots, pans, and dishes to cutlery and food… the kitchen definitely requires a lot of useful storage space. To maximize cupboard space, hang hooks on the inside of doors to hang regularly used utensils. If your under-sink cabinetry has a faux-drawer front, turn it into a functional hinged shelf for cleaning sponges and nick-nacks. Make use of that wasted narrow space beside your refrigerator with a roll-away pantry. This clever compartment can be made with just a few pieces of wood and some wheels and can be stained or painted to match your kitchen’s décor. It can hold all of your spices and small jars that would otherwise clutter up your regular pantry making room for storage of bulkier food items and appliances. Small spaces should make use of every possible inch of storage, even the baseboards. Remove the baseboard kickplate, install some rolling drawers on tracks and benefit from added sheet pan and kitchen towel storage.

Finding ways to make your home both functional and comfortable for living are custom to each space and each person. Whether you’re a skilled handyman ready to reconstruct, or simply looking for quick, five minute solutions, these are tips and tricks everyone can use.

Got 15 minutes? Try one of these 10 decluttering projects you can do right now!

It's only fair to share...