The number one benefit the majority of homebuyers want in their first or next home is more space, but in today’s tight seller’s market, that’s often not possible. Higher prices, higher interest rates and low housing availability are causing many homebuyers to compromise on the size, age and amenities of the home they buy. If not enough storage and space is a problem for you, you’ll enjoy learning these tried and true home organization tips to make your smaller home much more functional and attractive. You may find that you don’t need a bigger house after all!

Organization tips for homebuyers and homeowners

Older homes tend to have smaller closets which makes storage challenging. What can you do? You can hire a professional organizer, take your extra stuff to a storage facility, or sell, throw away or donate the stuff you don’t need, but the most important step is to change your buying habits so you’re not paying to move things you won’t miss.

Closets

Fast fashion is expensive, and shopping online is too easy. Closets can fill up quickly, so try these home organization ideas:

• Create keep, donate, and throw away piles. If you haven’t used an item in a year, sell or donate it. If you have stained, out-of-shape, or otherwise unwearable clothes, throw them out.
• Keepers should only be clothes you love. Keep items that are multi-purpose and can be dressed up or down and transitioned into the next season with a sweater or jacket.
• Make clothes last longer and look better – no wire hangers ever! Fold sweaters and place them in drawers. Use a clothes shaver to get rid of pilling. Turn clothes inside out and wash and dry them on cool settings. Use color catcher sheets in your wash to prevent dyes from bleeding.
• Reinforce your homebuying goals by choosing a photo of a home you’d love to buy and making it your screensaver.
• Reallocate funds you’d spend on clothes, going out to dinner, etc. toward a down payment. In one year, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve saved.

Furniture

There are wonderful options in furnishings that can help you organize your belongings and give you more space.

• Ottomans can quadruple their use as footrests, extra seating, coffee tables (with a tray on top) and as storage for toys, throws, pillows, etc.
• Nesting tables can house two smaller tables underneath the largest table, that you can bring out when needed.
• Wall beds are a great space saver, allowing you to use a guest room as an office or nursery when the bed is put away.
• Sofa beds for short-term guests have come a long way in comfort and style.
• End tables and coffee tables can come with storage shelves or drawers where you can keep games, coasters, books and magazines.
• Try wall sconces and ceiling fans with light kits instead for more utility. Reflective surfaces like mirrors or polished wood floors can bounce more light into any room and make it brighter.
• Glass-topped tables look light and show more of the floor, which makes any room look bigger.

Small rooms, kitchens and baths

If the home you want is the right price and location, you can remodel the kitchen and bath to be more functional.  The key is being clever about home organizing.  

• Do you need more counter space? Appliances such as coffee makers can be built into the wall. Incorporate attractive open shelving into the backsplash or open wall space. Most appliances like 27-inch wall ovens are available in small sizes.
•  A new look for cabinets is to bring the cabinets all the way down to the countertop. Keep clutter to a minimum by installing an appliance garage.  You can also have cabinets go up to the ceiling to store your holiday or formal dishes and serving pieces.
• If you have room for an island, make it taller so you can add extra drawers. Extend the countertop beyond the cabinetry about 12 to 16 inches so you can accommodate barstools underneath.
• A built-in banquette is more compact and charming.  The bench seating can extend from a wall or island and offer you more storage in the kitchen.
• Cabinets can be custom-made to be more shallow than standard cabinets, giving you more walking-around space. The room will also appear larger and no one will notice the difference of a few inches.
• For a small bath, pedestal sinks aren’t practical. Install a sink on top of a roomy cabinet instead, so you can store extra tissues, cleaning supplies, and hygiene items etc. out of sight.
• You can buy medicine cabinets that are extra wide and go deep into the wall. Throw out old medicines so you’ll have room for creams, lotions and soaps.
• In baths, make use of wall space to place toilet paper rolls, hand towel racks, candles and other niceties with cabinets and open shelves. Hanging baskets on the shower head or drilled into the ceiling can hold shampoos, conditioners and body washes.
• Move curtain rods up to the ceiling and replace heavy drapes with lighter fabric, blinds, or shutters.

Organizing tips for home sellers  

Since you know that homebuyers purchase a home is to get more space, you need to organize and stage your smaller home to its most advantageous. Use these tips to appeal to homebuyers:

• Decluttering your home to sell is time-consuming but worth it in terms of your home’s appeal to homebuyers. If you’re selling a smaller home, remove all out of season decorations and clothes, family mementoes, and valuables and store them in the garage or off site.
• Traffic flow is very important in a home. Remove any furniture that the buyer has to walk around to get to another room.
• Reduce the number of pieces of furniture in the house, especially bulky pieces, floor lamps, and furniture with skirts. Stage your home with sleek furniture with visible legs and simple lines. Your home will look on trend and appealing.
• Donate excess books and magazines to your local library or senior care facility.
• Buy organizer tubs with locking snap covers and start room by room. Pack away anything you know you won’t need for a few months. Label each box with the room it belongs in and a rough idea of the contents. Just think of it as packing to move a little early. You’ll be glad you’ll have less to do later when you really are moving.
• Buyers open every closet, drawer and cabinet. Hire a home-stager or home organization specialist to help you redo crowded or unorganized spaces.
• An organized home is going to appeal strongly to the right buyer.