Too Little Space

Space-the finite frontier. No matter how much you have, it is never enough. At Key Transitions, we have had the experience of organizing garret apartments and McMansions with thousands of square feet of luxurious space. Whether the problem is a 100 square foot bedroom or a 600 square foot great room, the common theme is that the space is not large enough to house everything needed for its intended use. There is more stuff than the box can hold, but you have already rid yourself of everything that you can part with. You do not intend to alter the size of the “box” by knocking out walls or trading for new space, so what are the alternatives?

There are several options to consider:
Multiple use furnishing
Unused space on walls and under furniture
Better utilization of existing storage space
Alternate placement of furniture and appliances.

Multiple use furnishings: There are wonderful affordable furniture options for every room. Window seats, providing comfortable seating and accessible storage space, are one of our favorites. Storage hassocks also offer storage, seating and multiple use surfaces. Some have reversible tops that serve as sturdy trays to hold dinner or serve as a work surface. There are also beds, dining tables, nursery furniture that double as storage. A professional organizer will explore the best solutions for you. We always supply our clients with online sites where they can view items that might work for them.

Unused space: Unused space on walls is a great place for shelves, either hung or the bookcase variety. Another option is a pegboard for holding tools, jewelry or other suitable items that often end up as clutter. Also consider a magnetic board for messages, pictures, and reminders. Under furniture storage can be another way to claim additional space. Under bed storage accessories can be used under couches and there are imaginative ways to use under tables and counters for decorative storage space.

Better utilization of existing storage space: The space you have may be enough if you store things differently. Books can be stored stacked rather than standing, skate boards can be housed in a slotted pan rack rather than laid flat where someone can trip over them, there are custom designed and manufactured items that increase closet utilization. It is like getting all those circus clowns into the VW Beetle-the key is how they are positioned in relation to each other.

Alternate placement of furniture and appliances: All furniture does not need to hug the wall. Can you find space by repositioning the bed or pulling out the couch? Can some small appliances that are not frequently used be stored elsewhere or on a high shelf? When making these decisions think of how you live with your furnishings and put things in places that are convenient as well as aesthetically pleasing. You would never put the couch on the back side of the television set, so don’t put the reading light and chair on the opposite side of the room from the books and magazines. That is just a trap for creating clutter, not clearing it.

When you decide it is time to go where more than a few men and women have gone before and organize your space, remember to take projects one at a time and get help if you need it.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net