This Is How a Professional Organizer Would Keep a Tiny Home Tidy

If you live in a small space, you know it’s important to keep things tidy and to maximize every inch of space. Amanda Titchenal, the founder of full-service organizing firm Well Organized, and her team help their clients make the most of the space that they have.

From intentional design choices to innovative organizers, here are Titchenal’s top recommendations for minimizing clutter and living large—no matter the size of your property.

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Lighten your load. 

Whether you’re downsizing or minimizing your possessions in a smaller home, take stock of your items. What are you holding onto but never use? Those should get donated or tossed.

“You can really live with a lot less, so I try to take the approach of what can you not live without?” Titchenal says. “You just want to make sure you only have what you need, not an excess of items.”

Courtesy of IKEA

Choose multifunctional furniture.

“Think of your entire house as a capsule wardrobe,” Titchenal suggests. “Everything has to have more than one function.”

A few of Titchenal’s must-haves? A sofa bed, a coffee table with hidden storage, and even Murphy beds (“They’ve come a long way and are way better than they used to be!” she says). She also loves IKEA’s Norden gateleg table, which collapses and features six pullout drawers.

Courtesy of The Container Store

Start stacking.

Vertical organizing is an easy solution for people living in smaller spaces. With any floor space, stacking shelves or drawers, cubby units, or even putting a dresser into a closet can give you more room for things like shoes, shirts, or denim. 

Courtesy of Article

Take advantage of any other free space.

When you’re space-saving in a small home, you need to get creative. Titchenal and her team often rely on over-the-door organizers from The Container Store—for their clients and in their own homes. “I had one in my linen closet with all of my medicine and first aid, and that was so space-saving,” she says. “They’re only about 6 inches deep, but you can fill up the whole back of the door with them.” 

Other more unexpected solutions include hanging items like aprons, hats, or handbags on hooks, or stowing away more infrequently used things under the bed… but proceed with caution.

“Be purposeful with what’s stored under the bed, so it doesn’t become a junk storage area,” Titchenal warns. “These are great for seasonal items, or extra shoe or book storage. Anything can go under the bed, you just want to make sure it’s a worthy category.” 

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