Living in a tiny home comes with some big perks: lower costs, minimal maintenance, and an ability to create a space that’s completely and totally your own. That said, small spaces are notoriously tricky to keep tidy due to some inherent issues.
“In tiny homes, areas such as living rooms and workspaces often overlap so it becomes difficult to keep items in their designated areas,” notes professional organizer Lauren Moyer, who lives in a studio apartment herself and specializes in organizing small spaces. She adds that small homes often require a heightened level of imagination and intentional organization systems.
With a few tricks and tips up your sleeve, you can easily streamline small space and keep it organized for good. We went straight to tiny home homeowners for the best advice they have on decluttering a tiny home. Whether you own a tiny home, live out of a van, rent a studio apartment—or even live in a larger house—this advice applies to all spaces.
Embrace Minimalism
The very essence of tiny home living is that you’re adopting a “less is more” approach. While you don’t have to resort to a sterile or boring space, the idea is to really showcase the things you love and to be intentional about what you purchase and own.
“You have to be a minimalist of some sort to live tiny,” says Tina Burt, who lives with her husband in a tiny cottage-esque home located in Cornwall, England. “This is great as it means you limit your spending on new clothes, new shoes, and bits and bobs for the home!”
She says they have one wardrobe between the two of them, and when they do purchase new items—like a new outfit, for example—they’ll discard an old item versus adding to their stack.
Incorporate More Storage
As Moyer pointed out, storage is often an issue in tiny homes so it’s important to incorporate additional options into your space. “Storage systems are perfect for organizing a small home,” says Valentina Raviolo, an interior designer and tiny home homeowner in Italy. “Think boxes, baskets, shelves, and trolleys. They can solve many problems, but you need to choose them of the right size for the available space.”
Make Sure Everything Has Its Own Spot
On that note, keeping a tiny home clutter-free means that every single item has its own spot. “In a small space, there has to be a place for everything you own,” insists Liisi Väli, a tiny homeowner based in Estonia. “This is how I have been able to avoid clutter in my small home. Also, that way I can only keep the things I really like and need, and I love that.” If something doesn’t have a space? It’s either time to give it one or give it up.
Use Multi-Tasking Furniture
When space is limited, you’ve got to get created with the square footage you do have. For that, Burt says multi-use furniture comes in clutch. “We have a sofa with a storage chaise and towels and bedding are stored in it,” she says. “We also have a coffee table that can rise and turn into my desk for working from home and fold out to become a dining table if we want it.” Other options include storage ottomans, murphy beds, trundle beds, and dining tables that extend from the wall.
Create Defined Zones
Tiny homes often have open floor plans which helps create the feeling of more space (in some cases, these open concepts also allow for a bit more space, too). This is great, but when spaces start spilling into one another, things can start to feel chaotic.
“Creating zones for different activities helps everything have a place, making it easier to stay organized,” says Erin Hybart, a real estate agent who specializes in tiny homes. This includes a dining zone, kitchen, bedroom, living room, and even a “drop zone” by the door for shoes, bags, and keys.
Decorate With Intention
Living in a tiny home means you’ll consistently need to assess what items should stay and go. This isn’t just about tossing unnecessary objects, but about curating a beautiful space you love to spend time in, Raviolo says.
“Over the years I’ve learned that style coherence is fundamental in tiny spaces. It can be the key to making spaces bigger, or rather, making them seem bigger,” Raviolo explains. “I only choose objects, decorations, furnishings, and storage systems and stuff that can ‘dialogue’ with each other.”
Maximize Vertical Space
Along with larger storage solutions, Hybart is a strong advocate for maximizing vertical storage in small spaces. “You can use shelves, hooks, or wall-mounted organizers to free up floor space and keep surfaces clear,” she explains.
Wall-mounted storage can be particularly effective in kitchens and bathrooms where counter space is often limited. Hooks give clothing, bags, and essentials a place to live, and even ceiling-mounted racks or hanging organizers are great for items like pots, pans, or even plants.
Digitize Paper Clutter
Some framed photos and important ephemeral mementos are wonderful, but Moyer says that digitizing what you can will help clear up lots of space in your tiny home. “Switch to digital versions of important documents, receipts, books, photos and anything else that can be digitized,” she says. “There are some wonderful apps for scanning and organizing receipts and documents as well as digitizing photos. Make sure you back up these files and keep them on two separate devices for safe keeping.”