It’s 2018! The new year is here! And with it all of the things that we’ve accumulated from last year. Chances are, in the season of resolution, that you’ve resolved to win back the lost space in your home. That’s a hard battle to win, when you’re deciding between getting rid of past gifts to make room for new ones. That, and many of the little knick-knacks that we have throughout our homes have great sentimental meaning to us. Letting go of those things is like letting go of a memory, and that’s a struggle that we just don’t need among the stress of our busy lives.
We actually have a lot more space in our homes than we may think. Even if you have a small apartment, there’s a lot of unused room in nooks and crannies that allow you to store anything new you may have accrued last year. Think about it: there’s a lot of unused vertical space everywhere in your home, especially on your doors. There are many cheap solutions for creating storage space on your doors, and it’ll free up your home so it feels more open. You could use a hanging rack on your bedroom door to store shoes, or smaller items, or to hang coats on, or you could use a rack on a pantry door to store spices and herbs. Keep in mind that you want to match or accent the decor of your home, and to keep things in order on the rack. Since there’s not much there to hide unorganized items, it’s easier to seem more cluttered if you don’t keep it neat.
The same idea about vertical spaces can be true of narrow spaces. Shelves can be any length at all, but we seem to have in mind that there’s a minimum of a few feet for a shelf to be of any use. The truth, of course, is that any shelf space can be used, and the narrow nooks in your home can be utilized as a valuable storage area. Installing said shelves are usually a simple task, and you can find any style of shelf to suit your home’s own theme. In smaller spaces in, say, a restroom, search for sized-down furniture. While it may be smaller, it doesn’t mean that it has less utility. Some small shelving units can be perfect for storing toiletries and towels, or can be used in a living room to store books and remotes. It’s a practical solution that doesn’t sacrifice style.
Some items, though, are meant to be stored inside of drawers, so having tons of shelves or open storage won’t really work out. And, as we all know, our drawer space gets eaten up very quickly! Everyone seems to have a ‘junk drawer’, where we throw everything that we’re not sure where to put. Getting some furniture that has a mix of cabinets and drawers solves this issue well, where you have more space to accommodate everything you need to store. There’s a lot to choose from, so matching your own personal decor style is easy - and there’s a lot of them that don’t have a massive price tag. 
There’s a new trend everyday it seems, but one that’s lasted the test of time is minimalism. It’s more of a mindset than a style, but its practicality speaks for itself. It’s helped popularize multi-purpose furniture. A really common example are hollow footstools, serving two functions: storage and comfort. There’s so much to choose from, and each serve at least two functions. There are desks that double as a fold-out bed, beds with drawers and storage built into its base, even chairs with shelves built in. The point behind each of these pieces is that they’re focused on functionality, without sacrificing style. You can save cash by buying one item that’s really two or three in one, and save a lot of space while doing it.
Keeping with the minimalist perspective, one of the most practical, cheapest solutions is just to purge the things that you don’t need or use. For some of us, it can be one of the hardest things to do, but letting things go will only benefit you. The less clutter you have, the more open and relaxing your home will feel. It’ll allow you to give your house a consistent theme, with decor that matches from room to room, making your house feel more like a home. These things don’t always have to end up in the trash though: there are many places where you can donate your unused items to those in need, like Goodwill, or some items can be recycled for future use. Putting some thought into your purging can be a win-win for everyone!
New year’s resolutions can be tough to keep to. Hopefully this will spurn you onward to holding to it, if you want to de-clutter and create more space in your home, and it’ll only be a blessing to you and your family. Here’s to a spacious 2018!
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