Small homes come with numerous benefits, but ample storage space is usually not one of them. Thankfully, there are many easy ways to make better use of the space you have.

If you live in an apartment or a smaller house and you’re always running out of places to put things, then it’s time to get into organization mode and put some new storage solutions in place. There are many simple ways to keep all of your belongings neat, tidy, and organized. Here are some easy storage solutions that you can implement in your home.

Make Use of Vertical Space

Chances are that your home has a lot of up-and-down square footage that is never put to much use. You might have hung up some paintings here and there, but you likely have plenty of leftover wall space for extra shelving. While you don’t want to make your walls appear too cluttered, a few well-placed shelves per room can help to significantly de-clutter the rest of the space. Don’t forget about the back of your doors, either. Consider purchasing some over-the-door hooks and baskets where you can neatly organize clothing, shoes, and toiletries.

Use Seating That Doubles as Storage

Choosing furniture that doubles as storage is one of the easiest ways to create extra storage space in a smaller home. Storage ottomans tend to be the best choice for this purpose, as they are incredibly functional both for sitting and for holding a good amount of items. You can incorporate one or two ottomans into your seating layout or you can simply tuck your ottomans away when you don’t have any guests over, saving even more space.

Don’t Forget About Nooks and Corners

Put nooks and corners that aren’t large enough to hold any furniture to good use by outfitting them with narrow shelves or shelving and drawer units. You won’t be losing any usable space and you’ll get use out of a corner that previously served no function. For even smaller nooks and crannies, such as the spaces between cupboards or the spaces underneath cabinets, consider adding a line of hooks. In the kitchen, you can hang up pots and pans and other kitchen utensils, clearing up drawer and cupboard space. In the bathroom, you can hang up items such as your hair dryer, clearing up counter space.

Create an Under-The-Bed Storage System

Utilizing the space under your bed is a handy and popular storage solution. However, you don’t want to be tossing things under the bed willy-nilly, as you’ll have a hard time finding what you need and you risk damaging your belongings. Look into storage options such as containers, baskets, and pull-out drawers to keep all of your belongings neat and organized.

Once you’ve trained your brain to see storage opportunities in places you may have never noticed before, you’ll have an easier time finding even more novel storage solutions in the future. With just a bit of extra thought and effort, small living can be both cozy and spacious.