How to get more space when you have none

Adore your house but wish there was more space for storage? Don’t despair — a woman who knows how to use every square metre shares a few useful tips. Tiny House Builders’ owner Rebecca Bartlett says: “You have to be creative and think differently.” Getting rid of clutter and cleaning the house is the first step. Second, analyse your lifestyle. “Before you make changes to the space analyse where are you going to put the broom or keep that clothes rack,” says Bartlett. Having everything in a designated spot shifts your life in a happier direction. “It's a big thing knowing where everything is, because it increases your time management.” Here are Bartlett’s favourite ways to maximise storage: Mudroom: Organising the hallway by the front door to provide a transition between the outdoors and the indoors, also known as the mudroom, is key. One way is with a built-in wall shoe-rack with a cube for each pair of shoes. It can be covered to reduce visual clutter or open so you can quickly spot the pair you need. Install a bench to plop down on when tying shoelaces and have more hidden storage under the bench seat. Add hooks above the bench to hang coats, umbrellas, hats, bags, even the lead for the dog. Kitchen: Bartlett says the way to optimise storage in the kitchen is opt for shallow, not deep, cabinetry and customise it. “There’s no point having super-deep or high cabinets that you cannot get to,” she says. Install a rotating wire basket in a corner cabinet so that items don’t get lost in the back corner. Add a free-standing shelf to stash pots and appliances, or create shelves inside cabinet doors. “Understand what your dayto-day living is like. How often do we actually use all the burners on the stove? Maybe you just need two burners?” Bedroom: It’s where most of our belongings live but it often has minimal storage space. The old trick of putting plastic containers underneath the bed looks tacky, but there are more aesthetically pleasing and efficient ways to store stuff. Check out couches, beds or ottomans that open up for storage, thereby avoiding further clutter. Or look for beds with built-in storage drawers to keep seasonal gear, such as winter coats or summer camping equipment, that you don’t need to use very often, but can easily access. It’s also a good place to store bed linen or blankets, free of dust.