I have a small house, so most of you have seen a lot of this before. But for the purposes of showing how to live in a small space, you’ll see them again.
You don’t have to have a big coffee table. A bench takes up far less room. I have two here together. These were so narrow I shifted one slightly beneath the other.
Also in my living room is a small table I’ve decoupaged that has virtually all of my crafting materials on it. The rest are in the book cases. Use suitcases and baskets to corral things so they’re not taking up much space. They’re easier to locate that way also.
Opposite the couch I have this little area. I like to store items in picnic baskets. I recently painted my two picnic baskets red and blue. You’ve got storage that serves a purpose and looks great.
Also see that the mirror slightly overlaps the painting. They’re both related to the sea. Overlapping establishes a relationship between objects and draws the eye from one to the other. It also helps on space.
Did you see the magazines in the vintage wooden box? Store them where you can look at them again, just your favorites. You can’t beat old boxes for looks.
I have book shelves in my dining area. Since I have just a few kitchen cabinets, a lot goes in here. Joining them at the corner means they don’t take up a lot of horizontal or visual space.
I laughed the other day when a commenter asked if I had all my cabinets with the doors off. I guess they assumed I also had cabinets across the room. What they saw was virtually all of my cabinets. Above the stove is a small one.
The point in the photo above is that if you don’t have enough space, pick up a couple of little shelves like these. They were about $3 a piece. I painted them, then mounted them above the stove. A great place for things related to stirring and narrow objects you don’t have a place for.
There’s a dual purpose here…
Right next to that stove and those shelves is my coffee bar, a kitchen cart left by the previous tenants. I store dog food down beneath behind one of the doors. On the other side I store all my canned goods. So if you don’t have a pantry, you can create one.
I change this area up a lot, since I love my coffee and like to change things up. One way to gain space is to turn a vintage wooden box on its side, and then you have double the space.
So you see having those $3 dollar shelves above the stove means coffee mugs are nearby. Plus the ones I have next to the mini Keurig. I like a 60 watt or thereabouts lamp here. It gives off soft lighting. I hate overhead lighting. Let me repeat: I abhor overhead lighting.
If you want to create a cozy ambiance, invest in some pretty lamps or paint some you have and give them some pretty lampshades. There’s another plus here: you rarely have to climb the step ladder to change the overhead light bulbs!
Keep what you need and get rid of the rest. These pots are sufficient for my needs. I have nowhere to store them but this $10 wall rack. It’s behind the back door out of the way. Saves a lot of space with bulky pots.
Work with what you have. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
If you’re pressed for extra seating, put a quilt on an old trunk and you’ve got instant room for more guests to sit down.
I’m searching the internet for other space saving ideas for small homes and apartments. So next time I’ll probably be showing you some of those.
Tomorrow contributor Dawn from Creative Cain Cabin will be here to display a cozy space.
Hi Brenda,
I’ve said this before and I have to say it again, I love your quilts! I never get tired of seeing them. I love this series, and the vintage wooden box is a wonderful idea! I need to find one of those. These pictures are all so lovely, your home is truly warm and cozy!
Xo,
Charlotte T
There is so much wisdom here! I love your photos and your cozy space. (I guess I never realized before just how cozy it is!) Your photos are like a good design book; every time I look, I see something new. My idea of a really good time is seeing how others organize their living spaces. I just love the pops of red and the whimsy and fun in your rooms. (And I’m definitely with you about hating overhead lights; yuk.) I’m excited to see Dawn’s guest post tomorrow. Have a great day!
I love your quilts, they are so beautiful. I missed getting the quilting gene, so will just enjoyr the ones I’ve picked up over the years. Did you hang that one quilt by the black book cases over the window? Those black book cases make me drool, great use of them.
I love how you utilize every inch of space in your small home. Creative and fun to look at!
hugs,
Linda
Great ideas Brenda! I especially like how you arranged your bookshelves and your use of baskets. Beautiful quilts, too:)
LOVE IT…WISH I COULD FIND A RACK LIKE YOU HAVE FOR POTS AND PANS…THE ONE I FOUND IS HUGE FOR MY GOODIES…I DO NOT HAVE CABINETS DOORS…LOVE IT THAT WAY….LOVED THE OVER LAP IDEA.
Great post Brenda! I love all your small house hints (especially since we downsized). I love peaking into your cozy corners. Love all that red!
Renting or owning… these tips are great for small spaces. Thanks Brenda! ~Sally
Your home is so cozy, Brenda! I just love it.
You really do have a cozy little house, Brenda! I love the way you store and organise things, how you have plenty to look at but it all looks well balanced and pleasing. I do always love to have a look at your lovely quilts too!
Helen x
Loved this post., I got a lot of ideas…now if I’ll just DO IT!! I liked the chest with the pretty quilt over it and all the pillows! Really cute!
I also love your cozy home! You have great ideas!
I think you did a wonderful job, Brenda, transitioning from a big house to a much smaller place. I know it was not easy to do and you have soldiered on remarkably well- xo Diana
Really useful ideas. I too love the red.
Great ideas!
Using the picnic baskets is a great idea, Brenda.
OMG – you are so darn neat and organized!! How could we possible be such good friends? Oh well, they say opposites attract. LOL
Judy
Brenda no one uses space as well as you do. I love the mugs on the little shelves on the wall.
Brenda, every time I see pictures of your home, I drawn in by the color. Especially the red. You’re pictures alone have encouraged me to add more red (with still more to come). As always, I love your cozy little house.
Brenda….I am a lamp girl, too! Quiet lighting. You layer items in your home beautifully. I am renting and trying to love it while I am here but ….well, I want my very own. Thanks for the space saving tips.
Brenda it’s always so cute in your house…and I adore those two benches used as a coffee table.
We lived in our little condo for 12 years together..and it was well cosy…
Everything had it’s spot, and it was easy to clean, and tidy up, so it’s quite possible to live comfortably in a smaller space.
Renting, or owning, it’s good to personalize.. And yes, no overhead lights..they are so rarely turned on in our world…it’s table lamps, and wall scones where we live.
Jen
“Tidy Little House”….That’s surely another description of your “Cozy Little House”…A place for everything and everything in it’s place!
Smiles,
Carolynn
Brenda, I get so charged up when you do segments like this…love it. THANK YOU!
I love how you have used your benches… what a great idea!
I always enjoy viewing your quilts and spaces. I like the box on side trick. I have a tiny galley kitchen with about 18 inches or less space on either side of the sink unit. I could try this trick on one side ….
You’ve really turned this house into a home, Brenda. I’d forgotten that you are renting. I do love the bonus that coffee bar cart turned out being. Love your bookshelves in the kitchen as well as your buffet piece.
I like how you’ve created storage that looks charming, too. It just goes to show that you don’t need a huge house to fit all the things you love.
I live in a small cottage, at least small by American standards. It’s sometimes difficult to find a place for each thing, but I like the coziness of it. You gave really good ideas in that post and I’m looking forward to reading your next post on the subject.
You are so tidy! And I think that is one thing that makes your small spaces work beautifully. Maybe I’m noticing that even more so today as half of my bathroom is gutted right now and stuff and building supplies are stacked around my bedroom, and yes, other rooms, as we decided to also paint the dressing room too. And it is driving me crazy!
It is such a rest to my eyes to look at your rooms here.
Hi Brenda…I just love how you organized all your crafting supplies in your old suitcase…I need to find me one to do the same..its such a clever idea..my stuff is here there everywhere in my house..I also have a small house..just 2 bedrooms with one downstairs off our family room…so I do not have much space…thanks so much for sharing all your neat ideas with us!!Carol
Hey Brenda; You Always have the very best ideas on the most creative ways to Decorate!!! I enjoy seeing all of your Pictures daily.
Thank-You so much for sharing
I always love seeing how you organize your space. I try and try but never can seem to get that organized. Wishing you a wonderful day. Tammy