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As we close out our Small Spaces & Simple Living month here on Re-Nest, we're rounding up a list of tips and ideas provided by YOU via this post. Everyone has a bit of a different take on coping with small spaces: it's all about purging your stuff. No, it's all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it's all about storing your stuff! Pick and choose what works best for you, but check out the best 25 list:

  1. Install wall-mounted shelves above other furniture, and shelves above doorways.
  2. If you don't love it or need it, get rid of it.
  3. Remove doors for an open layout. Hang up curtains where needed for privacy.
  4. Use the "One In, One Out" strategy.
  5. Buy infrequently and with great care. Focus on high-quality and long-lasting pieces, even if you have to save up for them. Make sure they fit your space perfectly.
  6. Buy a bed with storage capabilities, either drawers underneath or a one you can jack up or loft.
  7. Use a pot rack.
  8. Get rid of your microwave. Use the oven or stove top instead.
  9. Hang cup hooks of different sizes everywhere. They're inexpensive, don't take up a ton of space, and keep things off the counters and floor.
  10. Install vertical storage and built-ins.
  11. Bring in natural light as much as possible.
  12. Get small appliances and small pots and pans.
  13. Go for a fairly neutral color scheme, involving shades of the same color (with a few pops), or...
  14. Go for a bold color scheme because it provides some 'wow' and dark colors hide corner shadows. But more than bold or neutral, go for a cohesive colors scheme.
  15. If a particular spot seems to attract clutter, devise a shelving or other type storage solution to contain it.
  16. Choose upholstered and case goods with legs that give them floor clearance. Air (or negative space) provides the visual illusion of spaciousness.
  17. Buy multi-functional furniture, like an ottoman with storage inside the base.
  18. Rip your CDs to a secure and reliable hard-drive and sell off your albums.
  19. Put anything you don't use daily in a storage container.
  20. When you finish a book, immediately post it on Paperbackswap.com to get it out of the house.
  21. Play with a room arrangement on paper until you figure out what works best.
  22. Use the corners. Don't let the precious space go to waste.
  23. If you're a collector, rotate your collections in order to keep visual clutter to a minimum.
  24. Add an orchid or fresh flowers seasonally.
  25. Use mirrors or any reflective surfaces to give the illusion of added space.

(Image: Whitney's Well-Organized Home)

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