Advice on organizing my small house

**Palooka** · 04-01-2009, 06:57 AM

Our house is a split level ranch with a very small living room, okay size kitchen, one bath and three small bedrooms with small closets, and a basement and garage. Not sure if you got a visual pic from that. lol

We are a blended family so we have 4 kids coming and going but mostly three most of the time and the one is almost two. My teens room is in the basement and that takes up all the space.

Our bathroom is like a Hollywood style with two doors so one could be in the shower and the other using the sinks with the door in between.

Ladies, I have no where in this house to put my makeup on or like my little space to get ready in where I keep my makeup/products. There is no place in our room and I now sit at the kitchen table with my mirrow and makeup to get ready. This drives me bonkers! I just want my own space, ya know. I mean a place to sit because I hate standing doing that beauty stuff.:p. The bathroom is so small even.

My only choice that I see is in the bedroom. We have two dressers, two nightstands, and a big jewelry box, bed, hamper and that is it.

We have a headboard so I would like to do away with the nightstands and maybe put books or stuff in the holes in that along with the alarm clocks. I am racking my brain here.

I just want like a table with a chair and I can buy those cute plastic drawers for like 12 bucks at K-mart and put all my girly stuff in that.

Maybe I should take a pic of my room later so that you could help me find space.(I need to get new batteries for my camera first) We really don't have a lot of junk because I hate junk and I am always cleaning out stuff, but it's like we are 'outgrowing' this house but obviously we are not moving.

I just want a little space for me!

If ya got this far, thanks.

**hotprincesscm** · 04-01-2009, 07:20 AM

For small spaces, I have learned, less is more....anything that is not loved get rid of, including furniture, clothing, appliances, dishes, etc. Anything not being used regularly, get rid of...Anything that has worn out it's welcome(you used to love but now have gotten tired of) get rid of. It's really freeing to get rid of a bunch of stuff and have space to breath! BTW I live in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment with my two kids...so I know what you mean, by not having any room!

**Momto2Boyz** · 04-01-2009, 08:34 AM

I have become the queen of small spaces over the years. We have 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs in a 900 sqare foot house! I've learned to use things wisely, and lots of things in our house have double duty going on!

As far as beauty goes...keep an eye out for a small dressing table or a small desk. You can actually find them very small and skinny. Then maybe replace your bedside table with it. Add a small (big enough to sit on but not too bukly) chair to go under the desk/dressing table and you've got an area to do your makeup that is all yours. You can still put your alarm clock or things on it if you need too. If it doesn't come with a mirror, then scour garage sales and find a good sized mirror that you can set on top of the desk against the wall (or hang on the wall) to make a vanity type thing!

I think with small houses, it's all about how you use your space. The more creative you get, the better you can use the space!

**Palooka** · 04-01-2009, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Momto2Boyz

As far as beauty goes...keep an eye out for a small dressing table or a small desk. You can actually find them very small and skinny. Then maybe replace your bedside table with it. Add a small (big enough to sit on but not too bukly) chair to go under the desk/dressing table and you've got an area to do your makeup that is all yours. You can still put your alarm clock or things on it if you need too. If it doesn't come with a mirror, then scour garage sales and find a good sized mirror that you can set on top of the desk against the wall (or hang on the wall) to make a vanity type thing!

Yes, that is what I am looking for is like a small desk type thingy. I have so many mirrors of so many shapes so I am set there! I also have my old chair on rollers from my other computor that is sitting getting lonely. So basically I need some space, a cheap table, and something cool to put all my girly stuff in.

My headboard over my bed has lights and both sides has places for books, pens, clocks, etc..and the things we all like to keep by our bed.

So I guess it's a matter of taken out the wicker night stands with doors that cost a lot money years ago. I was thinking of using them in our living room as end tables. I love wicker so much! Changing the room around and also I have one of those big tall jewery(I can never spell that word) that takes up about 3 feet. My ex bought it for me years ago and it's nice and all but I am over that kind of furniture stage and I can't simplify all my diamond earrings. lol. kidding, but ya know what I mean. I don't need it at all and that is the right space to put our hamper in that area.

**Ceashels** · 04-01-2009, 09:18 AM

Do you have wall space? Can you hang baskets on the wall that will hold small items? I have some wicker flat back baskets that I use to hold little bathroom items in the powder room. There are also metal baskets available like the one pictured.

I used to hang lots of stuff on the walls of my apartment. Since nothing was too heavy I could get away with small brad nails.

**monkeywrangler71** · 04-01-2009, 09:26 AM

Sell the jewellery box. When you get the camera out can you take a picture of your closet as well. Most people have wasted space in there.

**geckoace** · 04-01-2009, 09:36 AM

i would buy myself a pretty mirror and a nice set of small drawers (cover them in scrapbook paper to pretty em up) and a (folding) bar stool then i would claim the top of the dresser

**Palooka** · 04-01-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Do you have wall space? Can you hang baskets on the wall that will hold small items? I have some wicker flat back baskets that I use to hold little bathroom items in the powder room. There are also metal baskets available like the one pictured.

I used to hang lots of stuff on the walls of my apartment. Since nothing was too heavy I could get away with small brad nails.

OMG, yes I have wall space and I didn't even think of that. Thanks! Good idea. My dh is a handy man so maybe he could put some cute baskets up for me.

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Sell the jewellery box. When you get the camera out can you take a picture of your closet as well. Most people have wasted space in there.

I would love to sell it. Any buyers? heh. Sure I will take a pic, but we have a closet organizer and my shoes and his/her clothes takes up 99% of the closet. I even don't have that many clothes and neither does dh.

**Patty A** · 04-01-2009, 09:58 AM

Put your night stands together (one on one side and one on the other with room inbetween for the chair to slide under) and add a painted board to the top. You now have a desk at no cost! Add your makeup and the mirror and you now have a great place to do you makeup plus room in the doors of the night stands to store it.

**heartofmine** · 04-02-2009, 03:41 PM

Patty that is a terrific idea!!!

Another thought. Do you have room in your bedroom to attach a small table size board to the wall that you fold down when not in use?? You could attach a mirror above it with pretty baskets on either side for storage.

BTW I feel your pain. I live in a small split foyer home too with only 2 bedrooms upstairs and 1 in the basement. There are 4 of us but my dd and ds are 21 and 22. Tight for 4 adults but we manage.

**Contrary Housewife** · 04-02-2009, 06:09 PM

I know exactly how much space you have, because every house in this town has the same freakin' floorplan.

We don't have any storage either.

Have you thought of getting risers for the bed and putting big drawers under it? That might enable you to get rid of one dresser and replace it with a small vanity. One of our dressers is in that corner of the kitchen by the back door -- I don't know if you have a door or sliding glass windows? I keep the extra sheets, beach towels, and all the table linens there.

Last year we got a wooden bath cabinet (on clearance) from Lowes and had it installed over the toilet. There was only a mirror when we moved in. It's just big enough to hold a couple towels and the bubble bath, but at least it is out of sight. I got some rectangular baskets that fit on either side of the sink to hold all our toiletries, and I got a towel for each one of them. The towel is folded so it fits right inside the basket on top of all the little bottles, and it looks very tidy.

**Palooka** · 04-02-2009, 11:54 PM

Okay, this morning I did this. It was taken from my cell phone so the colors don't look that great. The circle of light is from my makeup mirror and I had a wicker table that worked out great with the computor old chair. I bought the plastic doors from Kmart this morning. Okay I had to get the kiddie colors. lol. I think it's cozy and all my girly stuff is in the doors. I am a happy camper now. Watch think? This is my first only space I have made for me in this house. Thanks for all the great tips!