Has it ever happened to you finding yourself walking around the room from side to side with some object in your hands, let’s say a hair cutting machine, not knowing where to shove it? The worst case is when you have only some poor square footage to cross with no clue… I don’t know in which situation you are in, I have only 140 square feet to deal with, so I went to check for some space saving solutions in order to bill myself out of this terror. You must be aware to the fact that not resolving this problem brings you to the start point of the clutter horror zone in which you start to grow piles of stuff everywhere. If you don’t take control of your space, your space will take control of you. I will touch this subject in another article, but for now, small space dweller, you must know there are some really cool solutions increasing your precious space.

In order to overcome this problem, the first thing you have to do is a check list.

1. Check list

Before you run to buy or do something, make a check list. In order to create more space, you will first of all, have to think of all the things you really need and all the rest you can do without. I know it’s a tough one, when I did it, I asked one of my friends to help me out. It made it much easier, fast and fun.

I started to list all the things I didn’t want any more in my life. Oh boy, the first one was the TV. Yes, I was already sick of the brainwash besides the fact that it took me much space. I believe it’s important to stay tuned to what is going on, but still, in my case I needed everything to be compact! So here is the second advice for space saving solutions:

2. Get rid of your TV and have it all on your PC!

The internet killed the TV stars! Not really. The clever ones in our days are connected to the internet. Again, I don’t know how much space you have but in my case, a TV set with a satellite decoder, DVD and all the cables just didn’t fit into my place without taking much of the space. If you still want to have TV programs you can get one of those services that connect directly to your PC. You save space and money! And if you are worried for those special occasions where you want to have your film marathon night, you can get a projector connected to your PC. There is nothing more cool to impress your new date or friends, then to screen a movie on one of your small but big enough walls.

3. Squeeze your footage

It is time to think how to convert all the space you have into a storage place. Pictures are worth more than a thousand words, check out this idea to open your mind…

Image via Apartment Therapy

4. Pop up furniture

The next video I popped in one day, brings a cool solution for space saving. It is the POP UP project created by Austrian designers Liddy Scheffknecht and Armin B. Wagner. It is something that made me think in a new way. You know that feeling of something tickling your brain…:

(Check out the full article for more amazing pop-up furniture on Dwell magazine).

Pop-up books and pop up greeting cards became the inspiration for furniture. It really gives a good positive response to the disturbing pop ups online advertising… So let’s see how Japanese industrial design student Shin Yamashita from the Kyoto Institute of Technology figured it out with his Land peel.

As described in an article on designboom, the Land Peel “is a flat three piece mat set from which a table, seat or rest can be made simply by lifting the panels. When done using, the furniture can be discreetly tucked away.” (Read the full article with more pics of Land Peel on designboom). There are much more pop up space saving solutions out there that might fit your place.

5. Decorative space saving furniture

Decoration is needed in every space, big or small. Another great space saving solution I ran into is furniture that can be a decorative item and functional furniture too. There are lots of ideas out there but check this cool Picture table by Ivydesign:

Image via Momoy

6. Inside the box

Living in a small space makes you think out of the box however, on the other hand it is very useful to start thinking in boxes. Searching for storage boxes for my small space I found this precious item designed by architect Sigurd Larsen called The Shrine.

As described in the article on the architect’s site regarding this beautiful and magical box: “The Shrine is a hub of drawers and doors accessible only with keys. Private items can safely be locked away in small spaces. For the very most personal items a secret room can be reached behind one of the drawers.” (Read more here). You can also watch the video describing how small apartments inspired the architect in his work:

7. Room dividers with built-in storage

In my small apartment, I didn’t want to have walls to separate space functions because they reduce the vision and thus create a smaller space. In order to keep the flow but in the same time have more storage, you can use a room divider with built-in storage such as bookshelves. In this fantastic item, the FlexiTube Modular Shelving created by Doris Kisskalt and in any other item of this kind, you can close some of the shelve units by a decorative plate in order to achieve a more private zone.

Image via Bonluxat

Space saving solutions are infinite. I find it exiting to discover great new ideas for small spaces. Our journey will continue and I will be happy to hear the ideas that worked for you!

Related articles:

Storage for small spaces

Space saving furniture