Small home living ideas – making the most of a small space

We want our homes to feel welcoming and not crowded and cluttered. Making a small home that is inviting and not overwhelming to step into is what I am going to share about.

Our family of 4, almost 5, lives in a 950 sq ft home. The average American size home from a study done in 2021 was 2480 sq ft. That is over double the size of what we are currently living in!

If you are like our family, then you are thinking, “okay, then how do I make my space work for us, but still feel livable and lovable?”

Let me share my ideas for you of how to make a small home have function, space, storage and a beauty to it that you will enjoy.

Why Live in a Small home?

Why would we want to live in a small home? Now let me clarify, a tiny home is different as it is 450 sq ft space or less. Our house, as stated earlier, is a little less than 1000 sq ft, but still substantially smaller than most American homes.

Here are several reasons why a small home is beneficial:

• Less area to clean!
• More energy efficient.
• cost of living expenses is lower
• Less furniture to need for the home.
• Lower morgages
• More intimate living experience

These are just some ways we have found to be true by living in a small home. Now let’s get into the ways we can make to most of a small space.

Less is more

This concept applies to all areas of the home. When we have small spaces, there is not a place to have a dedicated play room or an entire room just for storage. We have to bring items into our homes that will fit the space and that we also enjoy. Minimalist is not what I am, however, I do try to incorporate some of those concepts when thinking through my decor, kitchen wares, clothing, etc.

Let’s use kids toys for example as this often seems to be a hot topic in many homes. In our home we limit what amount of toys are brought in and declutter them often. When new toys are given, we evaluate what older toys are not being played with and donate those or give them to cousins who may enjoy them more.

Declutter Often

When we have small homes the idea of continually rotating items out of the home is a must. January is not the only month when decluttering is necessary when we have small spaces to maintain. My thoughts on this are to keep a donation box, or two, where I can toss items in that are no longer serving a purpose in my home. Kitchen gadgets that I thought I would love and really don’t, clothing pieces that no longer fit right or have holes and stains, and decor that I am not truly enjoying, all get put into these boxes or resold on Facebook Marketplace.

Have a “home” for each item in your Home

This idea can be one that I do struggle with sometimes. Making sure every item we have has a proper place and is put back accordingly is truly important for small home living. I’ve had a label maker for a few years now and I have organized my home in a way that my family and even guests can put items back where they belong. NO, I do not have every shelf, bin, and drawer labeled exact, but I do have a simple system in place to assist in creating “homes” for most items.

Here’s a simple idea for you to consider. When we walk into our homes think about where our coats, shoes, purses and sunglasses go. Do we just throw them on the floor, or do we have a dedicated location for each item?

Simple steps we take to maintain a “home” for each item in our small homes can truly help us manage our spaces. If we don’t know where the item are to go, do we really need them?

Use bins, baskets and labels

Bins, baskets and labels have been a game changer in making the most of our small home. As mentioned before, I use my label maker and greatly appreciate it! My refrigerator has labels on the shelves, which my husband honestly has thanked me for. Now he knows where each thing goes and can find the certain items more easily.

My small home organization includes multiple bins and baskets. All the closets have bins, whether second hand or dollar store finds, with labels for making storage easier. In the main area of my home, thrifted or antique store baskets contain blankets, books and kids toys. I find it important for me to contain items that are out in the open, but to have it done in a beautiful way.

Get creative with storage

When we have small homes, the idea of large storage spaces does not exist. We need to be able to use multifaceted pieces to store and contain things. Picnic baskets stacked next to a chair can hold puzzles and toddler toys. A beautiful vintage dresser can be used as a decorative piece, but can also contain home decor, extra linens, candles, etc. An old military trunk works as a television stand and a storage unit for some less frequented items. Find items for your home that work for beauty and for functionality.

Maximize your space

When I think of maximizing the space of our small home, I consider the furniture, the layout of the rooms and what I need in each space. Furniture for small spaces cannot be large. A couch, love seat and a side chair is all that our living area can fit. It does not feel crowded because they are not overwhelming and large pieces, but second hand finds that suite the small area well. In the kitchen we have created an eat in space with our main dining table in the center. Our kitchen is honestly pretty large for the size of home we have, so a table works well for eating and as an extra preparation station.

When I think of how to best lay out our two small bedrooms for almost five people, I have to think of functionality. Our two toddler girls share one bedroom with a twin bed, crib and dresser being the main large pieces in the room. Our master bedroom, which is the same size as the girls’ room, has a queen bed, chest of drawers, rocking chair and future bassinet. With having a new baby almost here, we reconfigured our bedroom to make the most of our space. (Blog post to come soon on this!) A smaller rocking chair a three drawer vintage dresser and a bassinet instead of a crib all play a part in making the most of a small space.

Make an outdoor space an extention of your home

When working to make our small homes feel larger, we can use our outdoor spaces. We live in South Dakota where we only get six months of warm weather, however, in those months I make sure our patio deck is ready for use. Patio chairs, an area rug, plants, side tables, etc are all added to make a second seating area that is welcoming and part of our home.

Even if you just have a cement slab, or a small deck on the back of your house, make that work as part of the square footage of your home. Pull out some chairs, hit of some rummage sales for outdoor pieces and put them in your space. Our family has found that we use the outdoor space very frequently and love having this extension to our small home.

Well friends, I’ve touched on some ways to make the most of a small space. I really enjoy living in a small home and I making the space work for our almost family of 5.