7 Genius Tricks for Decluttering Small Spaces, According to Pros

Design Vertically

When floor space is limited, leverage your walls and ceiling. “One thing I see all the time in small spaces is people trying to ‘fit more’ instead of designing smarter. The biggest shift comes from using vertical space intentionally,” says Jennifer Q. Williams, professional organizer and president of Saint Louis Closet Co. 

For example, she says swapping a single closet rod for double-hanging rods—for tops and pants—immediately doubles your closet's capacity without adding any additional square footage. You can also use floating shelves, hooks, or narrow wall-mounted cabinets. 

Raise Your Bed

Many folks purchase long, low plastic bins to store clothes beneath the bed, taking storage pressure off of the closet and dresser, but Rhea Becker, a professional organizer based in Boston, Mass., says you can go one step further by adding risers beneath each leg of the bed frame. 

“You’ll increase the space below the bed exponentially,” she says. “All you need to do is purchase adjustable bed risers, which offer options of three inches, five inches, or (the high-altitude) eight inches of height.”

Stick to Reset Routines

A quick reset each day—or even every other day—allows you to stay on top of clutter before it spirals out of control. It’s way easier to tend to a few dishes in the sink than a pile that spreads across counters, and it’s much easier to simply wipe down the bathroom sink instead of scrubbing weeks-old gunk. 

Set aside 10 to 15 minutes each day to do a quick tidy-up. This might look like picking up items out of place, wiping down surfaces, tending to papers, folding blankets, and grouping like items. 

Create Micro-Zones

Instead of relying on a single catch-all drawer, divide drawers into very specific categories, such as everyday jewelry, hair accessories, or workout items. "When everything has a defined space, it’s much easier to maintain organization and avoid clutter building back up," Williams says. 

For an extra touch, her team uses velvet-lined drawer inserts for lingerie, tights and socks, jewelry, and eyewear. "You can also use adjustable dividers to customize each drawer to your lifestyle," she adds. "I always tell my clients: the more specific the category, the more likely it is to stay organized long-term."

Edit Routinely

Think about how often you bring something home, and juxtapose that with how often you permanently take something out. There's often an imbalance here, and it’s what leads to clutter in any home. (You just tend to feel and see it more in a small space.) 

You can start small here. For example, Becker says to take a look at any old boxes you’ve kept and to get rid of them—even if they’re the "good boxes." Also, edit your clothing to remove items you haven’t worn in a year, trinkets that no longer bring you joy, and stuff that’s no longer functioning well or isn’t being used. 

Choose Double-Duty Furniture

Having less square footage calls for creative use of space. Double-duty furniture that combines function with organization helps tremendously with this. This could be an entryway bench with storage underneath, or an ottoman that opens up to store blankets and games. It could also look like a Murphy bed that folds away when out of use, or a desk that doubles as a nightstand. 

Factor in Routine

One of the most overlooked strategies is organizing your space based on how you actually move through your day. For instance, if you get dressed in the same order every morning, your closet should follow that flow. And in your kitchen, you should keep items you reach for most often within reach. 

"Design your space for the actual users," says Williams. "If you have small children, install hooks for coats and book bags at their level. If you have teens who prefer to fold jeans and sweats, then install more adjustable shelving and less hanging." These small tweaks can have a big impact.