With property prices being as high as they’ve ever been, many of us have to settle for something a little smaller than we’d ideally like. London is one of the most expensive places to live in the UK, so our first tip is to look elsewhere to get more for your money – you can still enjoy city life in places like Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. With our small island and lots of people, space costs! With all this being said, its important to have some idea about how you’re going to store your things or reduce the amount of stuff you already have. Here are some storage ideas for small houses and flats..

Sofa and Under Bed Storage

Under furniture is the best, tidiest and most efficient way of keeping your stuff out of sight. Whether that’s storage within the sofa or bed or even neat boxes that slide underneath. Sofa storage is tidy and easily accessible, making it ideal for items that you need regularly but not everyday such as: cables, fold out chairs or games consoles. If you’re keen on having somewhere for your guests to sleep, then a sofa bed is always a good bet. Under bed storage is the perfect place for out of season clothes, spare bed sheets and suitcases. 

Make use of tables and cabinets. Instead of using a table to put your tv on, consider a cabinet with drawers or cupboards. The good news is that these are relatively inexpensive and can be found in most appropriate shops such as Argos and Ikea. 

Shelves

All homes have shelves and they’re not just used for decoration! You can keep pretty much anything on shelves, but perhaps save it for items that you use quite often so you don’t have to rummage through boxes and drawers. If you’re worried about your room looking cluttered, then use large mirrors and bright walls to give the illusion of more space. Brighter coloured floors such as solid oak can also allow you room to appear bigger. 

Hanging Wardrobe Shelves

The ideal solution to maximise space in your wardrobe! Ideal for socks, underwear and any small garments that you’d usually keep in drawers. The best thing is that they’re so cheap! 

Self Hangers

For most of us, floor space is limited and it’s the last place we want to store stuff. Hooks or shelves which hang on the back of the door could be the answer! They’re ideal for towels, dressing gowns and shower caps! 

Declutter 

It goes without saying that there’s no better way to save space than decluttering. If you’re downsizing, you’re going to have to reduce the amount of stuff you have and there’s not really any way round it. Don’t fill your surfaces with stuff – everyday life means stuff will get dumped on them anyway! Be ruthless – if you’ve not used or worn something in months get it gone!