I live in a tiny house with minimal storage – these are the clever clutter busters I use to keep my home tidy and organised

When my husband and I bought our first home in 2020, we were very naive. Our budget didn’t allow for a huge house, but we were so drawn to the character and cosiness of the small Victorian terrace that the lack of built-in storage didn’t even cross our minds. But as you can imagine, it didn’t take us long to realise that a small home + a lack of storage = clutter everywhere.

Of course, we considered using various decluttering methods to get rid of the visible clutter that wouldn’t fit in the small built-in cupboards, but the reality was that we needed to keep many of those items. Most were practical things we used regularly, so we had to find a way to store and organise them to keep the house tidy while still keeping them readily available.

Six years later, I would now consider myself somewhat of a small-home clutter queen, as my house has never been neater, tidier, or more organised. So, these are the clever clutter busters I swear by in a small house with minimal storage that you can use, too.

1. Clutter buckets

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that it’s impossible to curb the clutter completely - unless you decide to have a purge party and get rid of all of your belongings. However, it is possible to hide clutter in a way that doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed or disrupt your home’s aesthetic, and that’s with the help of a ‘clutter bucket.’

A clutter bucket is essentially a storage basket that holds the ugly-but-practical belongings you need nearby, but don’t want on shelves or worktops. In fact, a clutter bucket is something that people with a tidy hallway always have, and Sophia Lorimer, founder of Fine-Tuned Wardrobe, says, ‘A small ‘landing tray’ or basket near the front door for keys and daily essentials can help to contain clutter before it spreads.’

I swear by this Woodluv Set of 3 Seagrass Storage Boxes (£24.99 at Amazon) as they have lids to quite literally shut out the clutter, and they come in three sizes to suit different rooms around my home. I’ve put one in my kitchen, one in my living room, and another in the bedroom - and they really have been a game-changer.

2. Self-adhesive hooks

Some of my favourite clutter busters for a small home are the cheapest, and you can buy self-adhesive hooks like these Command Clear Medium Wire Toggle Hooks are just £10.50 at Argos. You can also buy them in so many different shapes and forms - from larger hooks that can hold heavier items to picture hanging strips for family photos.

They’re also ideal for renters, as they don’t require drilling and can be easily removed without leaving any residue or glue. And I can’t deny that I’ve used them to my advantage in my small home with limited storage. I’ve banished visible clutter by sticking them inside cupboards and on walls to tidy everything from my dog’s leads and harnesses to bath towels and hanging storage baskets.

Take it from someone who has used a lot of Command hooks over the years, though; you need to make sure that you choose the right ones for the amount of weight you’re trying to hang. Although they can easily hold heavy-duty items, they can also fall down just as easily if you push them too far.

3. Furniture with hidden storage

Although I live in a house with limited built-in storage, my floor space is limited as well, so adding giant wardrobes and cupboards just doesn’t quite work in my space. Because of this, I’ve had to get creative over the years and choose furniture with hidden storage that has multiple uses.

Perhaps the best clutter-busting upgrade we’ve made has been switching out our regular bedframe (which was quite low to the ground, so storing things underneath was difficult) with an ottoman bedframe - the Ascot Ottoman Storage Bed, £299 at DUSK, to be exact. The extra storage space this offers has been incredible, and the bedroom is completely clutter-free.

However, there are so many other pieces of furniture you can buy with hidden storage for smaller homes. This includes ottoman storage benches, slimline console tables/room dividers, storage footstools, and even bathroom mirror cupboards - something that people with tidy bathrooms swear by.

4. Tension rods

I have tension rods all over my small house, and these cheap and affordable additions are extremely handy - especially if you want to tackle clutter efficiently. That’s because tension rods like this AIZESI Extendable Tension Rod (£14.99 at Amazon) can be tailored to any space in any room and instantly offer more storage.

I’ve used them to organise my wardrobe and create extra space for hanging items, I’ve used them to hang bottles of cleaning products under my sink, and I’ve even used them to hang mugs under my kitchen cupboards. I have this 10 Pack of S Hooks (£14.99 at Amazon) to help me do that - and I genuinely think it creates an impressive focal point in my kitchen, too.

These tension rods also give everyday items that could clutter up my worktops and visible space a new home, without taking up space that’s already there. So, they’re well worth it, and now I wouldn’t live in a clutter-free home without them.

5. Over-the-door organisers

When you live in a small house, you need to take advantage of any available space. And while the backs of doors are often overlooked, I’ve come to realise they are ideal for over-the-door organisers that help banish clutter that would otherwise have nowhere else to go.

This is echoed by Sophia, who says, ‘Over-door hooks or rails for coats, bags and dressing gowns are perfect for removing clutter from chairs and floors.’ However, the beauty of over-the-door organisers is that they aren’t just what people with tidy bedrooms have. They can also be used in any room.

I’ve used them to store everything from shoes on the back of my under-the-stairs cupboard door to towels on the back of my bathroom door, and I I even have one that serves as a ‘junk organiser’ to hold random bits and bobs on the back of my home office door so I don’t have to sacrifice a drawer in my kitchen as a junk drawer. They really do work.

I couldn't be without these small home clutter busters now, so hopefully they can transform your house, too.