Living in small spaces: tips and ideas

[Laugs]

I wonder if anyone would be interested in sharing ideas on this thread.

We are in a two/ three-bed flat (we use the 2nd bedroom as living space) with a 3.5-yr old DD and a 6 month old DS and it's starting to feel really cramped!

It's partly to do with the fact that we have way too much stuff for the amount of space and are untidy, but also that our rooms aren't the best shape. For example, the sitting room is not only fairly small, but also has 3 doors, so it can feel a bit like a thoroughfare! Also, our kitchen is a galley one, so there's no space for a table, which means we have to fit that in the sitting room too.

My main problem is where to put the things that have no obvious home: luggage, the hoover, the clothes horse, piles of laundry, bikes etc. These things always seem to be out and in the way as there is nowhere to store them (except possibly on top of a wardrobe - we are piled high). We are lucky enough to have loft space so at least we can hide away stuff like Christmas decorations.

This sounds like a big moan, but actually I think our flat could be nice if we just decluttered, streamlined etc. Where we live, most people with families live in houses, but I'm sure in London and other places it's pretty common to be in a flat with a family, so it would be great to know how others manage with small homes.

Having been to Ikea yesterday I am currently coveting a full wall of extra height Billy bookcases to store all our books, cds, dvds etc.

oh you have a shed already Clear everything to the back, organise it, cover the junk with throws and make it into a 'summerhouse' . If you have a shed in it, it is bigger than ours!

Is it your own flat or are you renting? If it's yours could you maybe make some changes to the layout, like knocking the kitchen and living room together? This was done in our flat and the dining table now divides the two areas, it's extendable so will fit quite a few guests if necessary. So instead of 2 cramped rooms there is now a single open space, it's much nicer, and I am forced to keep it tidy.

Another thing the previous owners did which was great was create a kind of loft space by adding a false ceiling which runs all the way along the corridor. It can be accessed from 3 different places and it's perfect for luggage, boxes of out-of-season clothes etc.

We have 2 bedrooms and have given the kid's the larger one, ours is just big enough for the bed, a double Ikea Pax and another single one squeezed behind the door. Not even a bedside table though we could probably squeeze a small one in if I could find one I like. I keep jewellry and other bits in a basket next to the bed.

Are there any unused corners or wall space in your flat? We have a second bathroom which is windowless so not used much, the washing machine is in there and we found room for a tall kitchen cabinet next to it which houses tools and another over it which houses cleaning supplies. Both from Ikea and not that expensive.

Pull out those 4 year-old boxes and take a look inside, maybe you can get rid of some of it. I am sentimental about books too, but have decided to get rid of any books I don't think I'll read again. Just wish DH could bring himself to do that with his collection of random cables, transformers etc.

laugs re your books. If they are sentimental and you can't bear to chuck them, do any have value? The local second hand book store near us takes all books apart from readers digest and he will come and collect, he comes to get them, offers a price, you accept/haggle/decline. I am doing this with some of my mum's books. I cannot bear to just give them away but I am no roman historian like she was, I want them to go to a good home though, he will give me a good price for them, and I am donating that to charity (kept the ones that mean something to me, ie stuff with her handwriting in etc).

You might find you get a better job lot than at a car boot.

I keep the books I will read again, and a few of sentimental value, anything else goes (agree you won't get a good price for books at a car boot). We have a very slim bookcase that fits in our tiny hall.

I am slightly gutted today as we have been given notice to quit, our LL wants to move back in,.

I'm really sorry to hear that FiveOrangePips, how disappointing. I hope you find another nice place. Has the LL given you long to find somewhere else?

I'm a bit manic today as my SIL is in labour and I'm try to get everything packed up to travel down to London this evening, but I didn't want everyone to think I was ignoring all the great ideas and suggestions - thanks so much. I might well take my Ikea catalogue with me to read on the train

LOVE the false-ish ceiling idea... We actually took down a false ceiling on our landing as it made it dark, but now I am thinking we could put wide shelves up at that height around the four walls. This would also disguise the fact that the walls from where the ceiling was upwards are just bare plaster that we haven't done anything with!

We have just had retractable clotheslines fitted in the bathroom (one over the bath and one along a wall) and it makes such a difference - I bloody hated having one room or another forever full of clothes horses.

Vacuum bags are superb for out-of-season clothing and bedding.

Buy a couple of those book-like folders for CDs and DVDs and get rid of all the jewel cases. It makes a huge difference.

Books have to be sorted regularly and charity shopped, as do clothes. Both have a habit of building up like snow drifts if you let them.

Chuck anything broken immediately, and everything associated with it, so you don't end up with a drawerful of phone chargers for phones that died in 1999, or Barbie shoes for dolls that were coloured in and decapitated long ago.

If you're looking for inspiration there are loads of small living spaces here.
Been thinking about it and I really like some things about my small flat. It's easy and quick to clean (once you've decluttered), when we finish eating you just have to turn around and fill the dishwasher. It costs very little to heat in winter. DCs (nearly 6 and nearly 3) are so far very happy to share a room.

Yes I once viewed a flat where there was a high shelf running along the corridors and into the living room, they were kind of rustic wood and looked great.
Also a flat with custom built dividing walls which were actually shelves. In this flat they had played around with levels and the kitchen area was raised, creating storage underneath, very clever.
I am lucky enough to have a balcony for drying clothes however in winter it doesn't get much sun so it ends up in our bedroom, not ideal.

a friend has a giant cupboard/wardrobe with a key that she keeps all the toys, games and jigsaws - her children have to ask for one toy at a time to play with then it's whisked away.
Cruel yet efficient.

If you've no room for extra storage, have you thought of a shed?

I've lived in both big and small houses and have to say I prefer small as there's just less space to manage and keep clean.

Love tiny house blog

Laugs I hope your SIL's labour went well, how exciting!

The LL has given us lots of time.

I think you said that your loft was a problem as it's a two-man job. Ours was the same until we had a loft ladder installed.

It's been terrific and I can go and up and down myself mostly and have managed to tidy it out too.

Our loft ladder cost about £170.00. This was for a 3 section metal ladder and a new hardboard hatch board and installation. Ours was done by Surrey Lofts and I would really recommend them.

sputnik I love our flat too (well, now we have the loft converted!), it is bright and airy now we have painted it light colours (white mainly!) and sorting out the storage. We have the courtyard for outdoor space and in the summer it is good, winter its a bit more stir crazy here but probably the same even in a house. It is cheaper as you said to heat, council tax is cheaper, easier to clean, it keeps us organised and reduces our rubbish as we throw things out instead of hording stuff. I was thinking today, once we have sorted out our little urban oasys of as courtyard, I am not sure we will want to move!

Bunk beds with storage under the bottom one is fantastic!

If your wardrobe is tall you could put shoe holders in the bottom or a rail in the middle so that shirts are on the top rail and short skirts on the bottom (2 in 1).

Furniture that doubles as something else i.e. coffee table with draws to store items.

In the kitchen - add cupboard space on top of your existing cupboards (it's usually a false wall just for looks).

Bathroom - strategically put in mirrored cupboards. This hides your medicines from kids but also makes it look bigger. Our bathroom is only 1 ft wide by 3 ft long with shower, toilet and sink (plus a 2ft long mirrored cupboard). Amazing effect.

It's not common here (I think people went overboard in the 70's) but sliding doors save alot of space as you don't need to leave room for the door to swing. With a 3 door room it would make it seem more spacious. And save on the slamming of the doors.

TBH without seeing a floor plan and knowing your lifestyle needs its a bit hard to advise.

There are services you can get where people come and do this.

you could be very radical with the CDs and put them all on your computer, then put them all in the loft.

Put shelves in all little nooks and crannies. We put shelving in, in our tiny under stairs cupboard and use it for books. In my previous place, we had a couple of hall cupboards. One of them had this really annoying bit that you just couldn't do anything with, so I just bunged in some shelves in there and stored thinks likes vases etc.

Would anyone you know appreciate any of your books? I tend to hand on nearly all the books I read as if I've enjoyed it, I like to pass it along to someone who has similar taste. My taste in books, though, is very middle of the road, though.