Do you live in a tiny property? Come and talk to me!

[CleanShirt]

Hoping to complete soon on my "starting over" home - a tiny 1 bed basement flat with next to no storage!

It's just me and the cat so will be trying to keep clutter at a minimum, but please share any tips on how to maximise space / storage in a teeny flat!

I have a double loft bed/high-sleeper - they are not for everyone but I love it and the space it creates.

My house is quite small, it's a 2 bed end terrace, 2 up 2 down and I live there with my partner, Labrador and two cats AND I'm pregnant with no plans to move any time soon!

Always looking for space saving solutions and I can't stand clutter

I use Vinted a lot for selling and always have a charity shop bag on the go

Other things are get anything that you can off surfaces. Like the pot plants in hangers from the ceiling a PP said. Also, floor lamps rather than side lamps sitting on tables, wall-mount your TV, put shelving up on the walls for extra storage etc.

Hated the fold down chairs too so got four real ones that stacked, at least they only took the space of 1! I was living in a studio so had to look at it all the time and needed it not to drive me crazy

Dh and I used to live in a one bed flat. I don't remember struggling with fitting everything in. You could always pay for self storage if you needed.

Those IKEA trones shoe cabinets hold a lot of stuff and are shallow wall mounted. I use mine as extra food storage. Bit I’ve seen them used as wall mounted laundry baskets and Paper files.

You used to be able to get half size ironing boards that sit on a table, from IKEA if you really want one.

And if you limit the colours of furniture and furnishings, paint etc to a similar neutral/natural palette then the overall impression will be much better than a mish mash of strong colours.

@CleanShirt

Congratulations on your 'start over' flat. Mines a 2 bedroom flat, but might be overall the same size?! it was a 'flip' that didn't. (Long boring story).

I think the first thing to do (with everything) is to decide IF you really need it first, before looking for the smallest/most space saving version of things.

So do you really need a table & chairs?

Dana K White is your woman for decluttering. Lots of free you tube & podcasts. Libraries have her books ( she pushes this herself!!)

No to ottoman beds or cramming in storage- they just make a tiny flat seem even smaller. Certainly no uncomfortable sofa beds etc invest in a sofa that you can sit on- you will reusing it most of the time. You can get a blow up bed if needed-or sleep on the sofa and give your bedroom to guests. Dont hang stuff all over. I started with storage boxes under beds etc- it was misery

The key is not having a possessions. It is that simple. I have a tiny central London flat. I have 4 mugs, 4 plates, 4 knives etc. Get rid of 95% of your stuff. 1 chest of drawers, 1 wardrobe (height matters if you have decent headroom). If you try and cram stuff in then you will just end up unhappy in a dysfunctional space. Only buy what you need- I have 2 kitchen cupboards with all of the food/water/wine and use the other 2 for bedding /Christmas decs etc

Avoid Ikea at all costs. You will end up with piles of crap unneeded storage.

But everything on that shelf is unneeded clutter? Surely much better to own less?

I also got rid of almost 100% and bought everything new/new to me so that it fitted in rather than trying to squeeze in stuff. I have the same colour furniture running through which means that the rooms flow.

I have a table that folds (but I never do as a table matters to me, I dine and work at it) with 2 lovely chairs and 2 more folding ones which hang high in the tiny cupboard out of the way.

What size is the flat in square feet?

I'm doing exactly that (partly because I didn't want any marital furniture!) and hope the colour scheme helps.

It's 512 sqft - my bedroom is actually a decent size but zero storage again.

Like the idea of 2 nice chairs and 2 folding ones!

Think creatively about what you can do without specifically because it’s just you in the space. I don’t have a TV and this saves a lot of space with the layout. It’s just me so if I want to watch something I watch on the iPad. Of course if a TV is important to you have one!

I also don’t have a microwave because I don’t like them. It’s things like this that you can customise to your preferences.

@BrownFlowerCarpet Do you have a link to the table and chairs that you have, or a similar design? I’m looking for a replacement for my table and chair set and haven’t found the right thing yet.

Mine is about that- maybe slightly smaller.

I have :
Bedroom:
double bed- open frame and nothing underneath - 1 started with shoe. storage boxes and spare bedding- that was a nightmare and just felt so cluttered and hard to clean under.
I wardrobe with a large drawer for spare bedding and towels
1 small bedside cupboard
1 chest of drawers- chose the highest to fit in the space- 3 big drawers rather than smaller ones
Full length mirror mounted on wall
Clock

Sitting room
Sideboard- long goes along 1 wall and has books, games, cocktails glasses , Christmas decs in it
Sofa bed (g plan and so uncomfortable- should have bought a comfy sofa)
Small drawer unit
2 moveable side tables -ercol
1 comfy chair
Rug and 3 cushions
Clock
There were 2 fixed shelves which I have left up and have a small collection of objects on.
Dog bed

Hall
Table and 2 chairs
Eufy
Dog bowls

Bathroom and kitchen have no furniture - they are only about 6 foot wide.
In the tiny kitchen cupboard there is a small hoover , mop, bucket, drying Rack that fits in the shower/a bath , 2 hanging chairs, shopping bags, cycle helmet. No microwave- hob top coffee machine

I have nothing shoved under cupboards. I have 1 first aid tin, 1 stationary tin, 1 DIY tin in the cupboards. Everything gets put away when it has been used.

If you really need to iron… you can get ironing mats to iron on a table or worktop.

Hanging rails for things like pots and pans, spice racks etc are good for making use of wall space where there isn’t room for a shelf eg behind doors. They work for extra bathroom storage, stationery, bags, scarfs etc. Picture ledges (a very narrow shelf with a lip) make good shelves in awkward small spaces eg behind a door or where a shelf would block a cupboard door opening. I store Kilner jars of dry goods on a wall of them behind the kitchen door. It utilises the dead space and looks pretty. It does make extra dusting though 😂

Saw this table & chairs in a small flat, ate a meal and chairs are surprisingly comfortable

DVD/CD shelves are also good for squeezing into tight spaces because they are very narrow compared to bookcases, bathroom and kitchen cupboards. Standard paperbacks and hardbacks fit exactly, toiletries, food, glasses, anything small. They would probably work hung on a door too!

Like this:

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/gnedby-shelving-unit-white-40277143/

I moved from a 6 bed , 4000 square foot house which was rammed with stuff

A dishwasher is essential- mine is slimline but generous. short cycle to reduce the noise in a small space
I have a washer dryer but never use the dryer- most important is a variable spin- so you can wash at 30 degrees in 30 mins but do a 1400 spin- wet clothes take longer to dry and risk damp

We have this table from Ikea, it’s great. We use Ikea folding chairs with it.

Declutter ruthlessly and built in wardrobes if you're buying it