Living in a small home often means compromising on storage: it's much easier for clutter to build up in a tiny space, so utilising every nook and cranny and available surface area can make a significant difference.
Decluttering influencer Tyler Moore, aka @tidydad, knows a thing or two about space-saving storage. Tyler lives in a small 750 sq ft two-bedroom apartment with his wife, Emily, and their daughters Mabel, Matilda and Margaret. In his debut book, Tidy Up Your Life, Tyler shares practical solutions, along with tips, tricks and techniques for decluttering and organising a busy family home.
There's usually always untapped potential when it comes to storage, but what areas in the home are often overlooked? 'The back of doors,' Tyler tells House Beautiful, 'they’re valuable real estate in storage terms. We’ve added things like sticky hooks, maybe six different hooks full of bags, coats and purses, all off the floor.'
Tyler also recommends 'hanging organisers with pockets' for stuffed toys, particularly useful for children's rooms, but it could equally work well in a bedroom, bathroom or utility room. 'We’ve also gone vertical, so we utilise the top of cabinets or wardrobes,' he adds. 'But precise measuring here is so important; you need to measure the space first so you can plan exactly what to put where.'
Once you've got your storage sorted, maintaining an orderly, streamlined space can be a bit more challenging. So what's the key to organised small-space living? 'The one in, one out rule – bring one thing in, get rid of another,' Tyler recommends. 'I’m also super keen on the idea of a decluttering calendar. There are certain months of the year where it can make sense to get rid of certain things. You have to declutter like a consumer. So for example, look at your winter stuff in September because that’s when people are shopping for those new items, boots, warm clothing, and so on. Sort them out and donate them, and then people will welcome them. Don’t wait until March when the warm weather comes.'
• Follow Tyler Moore on Instagram, @tidydad. His new book, Tidy Up Your Life (Ebury Press, £20), is out now.
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10 books to inspire you to clean, declutter and organise your home
Marie Kondo's Spark Joy is an in-depth, illustrated, room-by-room guide to decluttering and organising your home. If something sparks joy, keep it, if not, expel it from your home. This book covers every room in the house, as well as a wide range of items in different categories, including clothes, photographs, paperwork, books, cutlery, cosmetics, shoes, bags, wallets and valuables.
Famous home organisers to the stars, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin give you a masterclass in paring down your belongings in every room, arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-find way (they love a label), and maintaining the system so you don't need another do-over in six months. You can also watch their show, Get Organised with The Home Edit, on Netflix.
If you need to revolutionise your home routine, try the popular The Organised Mum Method (TOMM). The concept by Gemma Bray promises to help you 'clean smarter not harder' by spending 30 minutes cleaning a different room each day of the week – and it'll spare you your weekends, too.
Tracy McCubbin delves into the root of why many of us struggle to keep our homes decluttered. McCubbin's powerful answer lies in the 7 Emotional Clutter Blocks – obstacles she will help readers overcome in order to declutter their homes and improve their overall wellbeing.
Dana K. White explains, clearly and without delusions, what it takes to get – and keep – your home under control. Her strategies include where to start to tame the chaos, which habits deserve your focus and will make the most impact, and practical tips you can implement immediately to declutter a huge amount of stuff with minimal drama.
Marie Kondo's successful KonMari Method will help to keep your home clear and clutter-free permanently. If you follow the inspirational step-by-step, you're promised to see results.
Manage your home with Lynsey Crombie, Instagram sensation and TV's Queen of Clean, as she creates a system of speed-cleaning challenges, organisational habits and natural cleaners. Lynsey aims to share what she's learned to help you take the stress out of everyday life, so you can focus on what brings you joy.
Described as bursting with practical and relatable advice, this book injects enthusiasm, energy and humour into the essential and often mundane task of decluttering. Debora Robertson also helps you declutter your mind for an easier and more efficient life.
Banish Clutter Forever's Toothbrush Principle is a simple approach to decluttering your home – whether you live in a huge house or a small flat. It will show you how to: organise according to the unconscious blueprint that naturally tidy people have, know what to throw away with confidence, set up your wardrobe so you get much more use out of the clothes you have, and work from home productively in a clear, designated space.
Stay on top of your cleaning routine with Sophie Hinchliffe – better known Mrs Hinch – and her book, Hinch Yourself Happy. Mrs Hinch shares how cleaning can soothe anxiety and stress, plus step-by-step guides to hinching your home.
