How to Organize a Small House with No Storage on a Budget?

You can organize a small house with no storage on a budget! With smart planning and creative solutions, you can turn tiny spaces into organized, functional areas that work for your family. This guide will show you simple ways to make the most of every inch in your home.

You'll discover budget-friendly storage tricks, DIY solutions, and clever furniture ideas that help you stay organized without breaking the bank. Whether you're dealing with a tiny apartment or a house with limited closets, these tips will help you create more space and reduce clutter.

Why Small Houses Need Smart Organization

Small houses are becoming more popular each year. According to the National Association of Home Builders, builders are acting on this trend, with 38% indicating they built smaller homes in 2023 to help support home sales and 26% indicating they plan to build even smaller in 2024. But living in a small space comes with unique challenges.

For 34.1 percent of U.S. consumers the lack of space in their home was the biggest challenge to improving the organization in their home. This means you're not alone in struggling with limited storage space.

The good news? Research shows that the market size in the US was estimated at 28.8 billion dollars as of 2022 for home organization products. This shows that many people are finding solutions that work.

Start with the Right Mindset

Think Vertical, Not Horizontal

When floor space is limited, look up! Walls are your best friend in small spaces. Bring in a floor-to-ceiling bookcase or hang floating shelves to store books, bathroom products, or barware. This simple change can double your storage space.

Everything Needs a Home

The three golden rules of organization include visibility, accessibility, and flexibility. Every item in your home should have a specific place where it belongs. This makes cleaning faster and helps you find things quickly.

Less is More

While not exactly a storage tip per se, a "less is more" mindset can drastically improve the function of a small home. Research from UCLA's Center on Everyday Lives of Families found that families living in cluttered homes had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Before buying storage solutions, take time to declutter. You might find you need less storage than you think.

Budget-Friendly Storage Solutions

Dollar Store Organization Hacks

Dollar stores are treasure troves for small space organization. These dollar store organization ideas for small spaces will help you maximize your space throughout your home including kitchen, bathrooms, closets & more. Here are some smart ideas:

• Use clear plastic bins to sort items by category
• Repurpose small containers as drawer dividers
• Turn plastic cups into custom organizers for pencils and utensils
• Use magazine holders to store water bottles on their sides

DIY Storage Solutions

Creating your own storage doesn't have to be expensive. My most functional organization item has to be these less-than-a-dollar shoeboxes I found at Walmart. Simple items like shoeboxes can become drawer organizers overnight.

Try these budget DIY ideas:

• Paint wooden crates from thrift stores to make custom shelving
• Use tension rods under sinks to hang cleaning supplies
• Turn old suitcases into under-bed storage containers
• Repurpose glass jars as pantry storage containers

Thrift Store Finds

Much of the storage in our home came from thrift stores or sale groups on facebook. Look for:

• Old dressers that can become TV stands with extra storage
• Vintage suitcases for stylish storage
• Wooden crates and boxes
• Baskets of all sizes

Smart Furniture Choices

Multi-Purpose Pieces

Any dual-purpose, modular, or mobile piece of furniture is your best friend when it comes to organizing a house with no built-in storage. Look for furniture that serves two jobs:

• Storage ottomans that hold items and provide seating
• Coffee tables with built-in drawers or shelves
• Beds with drawers underneath
• Dining tables with storage compartments

Furniture with Hidden Storage

A storage ottoman that holds sneakers while doubling as an end table. A couch with an attached chaise lounge that raises to store extra paper towels and toilet paper. These pieces help you store items out of sight while keeping your space looking clean.

Mobile Storage Solutions

If you have smaller furniture on wheels, you can even keep it in front of a door—like your pantry, for example—and easily slide it out of the way when you need to access that space. Rolling carts and wheeled storage units give you flexibility to move storage where you need it.

Room-by-Room Organization Tips

Kitchen Organization

Small kitchens need smart solutions. Channel the legendary kitchen of Julia Child with a DIY kitchen pegboard. A Beautiful Mess painted it dark to modernize the look, tracing the shape of each item with a paint pen to make it easy to hang up items once they've been used.

Other kitchen ideas:

• Use magnetic strips to hold knives and spice jars
• Hang pots and pans from ceiling hooks
• Add shelves inside cabinet doors for spices
• Use lazy Susans in corner cabinets

Bathroom Storage

Bathrooms often have the least storage space. Use empty wall space above the bathtub in a smaller bathroom to store bath supplies. Simple solutions include:

• Over-the-toilet shelving units
• Shower caddies that hang from the showerhead
• Magnetic strips for small metal items
• Baskets under the sink

Bedroom Organization

Under-bed storage drawers are a great way to make use of the space under your bed. These drawers can be bought or made at home, and they help keep your room tidy by providing extra storage.

Bedroom storage ideas:

• Use the space under your bed for seasonal items
• Hang organizers on the back of your bedroom door
• Add shelves above your bed for books and decor
• Use drawer dividers to organize small items

Living Room Storage

If you walk right into your living room from your front door as many people do, a small chest or dresser as you come in the door not only gives the entry a little definition, but it offers attractive storage.

Living room solutions:

• Use decorative boxes to hide remote controls and cables
• Add floating shelves for books and decor
• Choose a TV stand with enclosed storage
• Use baskets to corral toys and magazines

Closet Organization Without Built-Ins

Create Your Own Closet System

If you live in an older home, you may find yourself without a closet, even in a large bedroom. Lea Johnson for Emily Henderson Design turned a corner into an open closet thanks to the addition of a bracketed shelf and clothes rod.

Basic closet solutions:

• Install a tension rod between two walls
• Use a clothing rack with shelves underneath
• Add hooks to walls for frequently used items
• Use shoe organizers for more than just shoes

Maximize Existing Closet Space

Take a good, hard look at your closets. Is there empty space? Commonly underutilized parts of the closet are just above, and just below, the hanging clothes.

Make the most of closet space:

• Add a second rod for shorter items
• Use shelf risers to create more levels
• Hang organizers from the closet rod
• Store items in clear containers on high shelves

Creative Storage Ideas

Use Unusual Spaces

There are three potential storage areas hidden in your stairs: the stairwell, the space under the stairs, and inside the stairs themselves. Don't overlook these areas:

• Under staircases for seasonal items
• Behind doors for cleaning supplies
• Above doorways for rarely used items
• Inside furniture for hidden storage

Repurpose Common Items

Repurposed a vintage piece of furniture into a standalone coffee station to maximize space. Get creative with what you already have:

• Use ice cube trays as drawer organizers
• Turn cereal boxes into magazine holders
• Use egg cartons to organize small craft supplies
• Repurpose baby food jars as storage containers

Think Outside the Box

We have an 8′ x 8′ space in our basement that was intended for storage, but since we've purged and can fit all of our stored items in the garage, we've been able to use that space for other purposes. Consider:

• Using rooms for multiple purposes
• Converting closets into workspaces
• Creating zones within larger rooms
• Using furniture to divide spaces

Budget-Friendly Organization Systems

Storage Containers and Bins

How to organize your house with no storage is easy with storage baskets. They are a great way to organize your home and do not need to be hidden away. Choose containers that:

• Can be labeled clearly
• Stack well to save space
• Are transparent so you can see contents
• Fit your available space perfectly

Labels and Systems

Use clear or labeled storage containers so that items can easily found and you are not wasting your valuable time searching for something. Good labeling:

• Makes finding items faster
• Helps family members put things back
• Keeps systems organized over time
• Reduces stress and frustration

Maintenance Tips

I aim to do a full house declutter whenever I feel like I have been bitten by the shopping bug. Keep your systems working by:

• Doing weekly 15-minute tidying sessions
• Having a monthly declutter routine
• Putting items back in their designated spots
• Adjusting systems as needs change

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't Over-Organize

There is nothing quite as overwhelming as when tools that were designed to help you get organized begin to turn into clutter. Avoid:

• Buying too many containers before planning
• Creating systems that are too complicated
• Organizing items you don't actually need
• Forgetting to measure spaces before buying storage

Keep It Simple

When Donnie (who is actually WAY more organized than I am) what his favorite small space living tip would be, he immediately said, "Don't put stuff on the floor". Simple rules like this work better than complex systems.

Don't Forget About Accessibility

Make sure frequently used items are easy to reach. Some of my favorite storage supplies include shelf risers, stackable drawers or drop-front shoe boxes, two-tiered lazy Susans, and slim hangers. These items make accessing stored items easier.

Making Small Spaces Work for Your Family

Involve Everyone

Organization works best when everyone in the family participates. Teach kids to put toys back in their designated spots. Make it easy for family members to maintain systems by keeping them simple and clearly labeled.

Plan for Growth

As your family grows or changes, your storage needs will too. Choose flexible systems that can adapt. In our current house we also swapped our entry closet with our pantry, giving us a much-needed larger pantry space and a mini "mudroom" so we could still hang coats.

Consider Your Lifestyle

So it comes as no surprise then that 77% of experts say that having a multifunctional space is the biggest home office trend in 2024. Your storage solutions should match how you actually live. The Mayo Clinic notes that organized spaces can reduce stress and improve mental health. If you work from home, create organized spaces that serve multiple purposes.

When to Call in Help

Sometimes you need professional help. According to Harvard Health Publishing, cluttered environments can lead to increased stress, difficulty focusing, and poor sleep quality. It really depends on the person and the location, but it ranges from $30 to $130 an hour. The average cost is $55 per hour for professional organizers. Consider professional help when:

• You feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff
• You've tried multiple times but can't maintain systems
• You need help deciding what to keep
• You want to organize an entire house quickly

If you're moving to a new home, this is the perfect time to get organized. Professional movers can help you start fresh in your new space.

Final Thoughts

Organizing a small house with no storage on a budget is totally possible. The key is to be creative, think vertically, and choose solutions that work for your family. Start with one small area and build from there. Remember, the best organization system is one you'll actually use.

Don't try to organize everything at once. Pick one room or even one drawer and make it perfect. Then move on to the next area. Small wins add up to big changes in how your home feels and functions. Studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology show that people who described their homes as organized and tidy had lower cortisol levels throughout the day.

With these budget-friendly tips and tricks, you can transform your small space into an organized, peaceful home that works for your family. The investment in time and creativity will pay off in reduced stress and more enjoyable living.