10 Best Tiny House Space-saving Furniture Hacks

The appeal of tiny living goes way beyond the Instagram aesthetic of cute container homes and miniature mobile cabins. Tiny homes cost less than average-size houses, can be much easier on the environment, and promote a minimalist mentality. For me, building my 312-square-foot abode was a natural next step after years of van life and traveling for long periods with only a backpack. 

You don’t need a lot of space to live comfortably, but you do need to design your small space with intention, or else the challenge of tiny living could counteract its advantages. Below, I’ve gathered up my favorite space-saving hacks as a tiny house DIYer, from an $10 caddy that sticks to the inside of a cabinet door to a full-size kitchen table that folds down to take up almost zero space when not in use.

Yiukea Countertop Microwave Rack

Microwaves take up an annoying amount of countertop space, but this adjustable stand turns a bulky appliance into a storage opportunity. You can widen it depending on how big your microwave is. The top can then store plates, spices, or tea canisters. You can also keep a cutting board on the side rack and hang dish towels on the detachable hooks.

Cozy Essential Vacuum-seal Bags 20-pack

Ideal for packing down winter coats, extra linens, and towels, these reusable space-saver bags reduce volume by up to 80 percent. More than 40,000 Amazon shoppers have given them five stars, with some using them to shrink bulky items like pillows and comforters. The 20-pack includes four different sizes to suit a wide range of items. The valves can connect to your standard vacuum cleaner, but the set also comes with a compact hand pump for ease.

Muibe Wall-mounted Clothes Drying Rack

The smaller your space, the more problematic wet towels and clothes become. This wall-mounted rack can hold towels and jackets, and then it unfolds to a full drying rack with four rods. No more losing floor space to a traditional laundry rack and trying to hide it away when not in use. One reviewer said it’s “one of the best purchases we’ve made for our home.”

Camus Floating Desk

Desk space can become a luxury when the limited surface area you have is better used for eating, cooking, and storage. This patented “folding desk” is just a box that you mount to the wall and unfold when you need it. It even has a few hidden shelves, a corkboard, an angled paper organizer, and a small drawer, so your workstation is always set up and ready for you.

Azza Poly Chenille Floor Cushions

Sitting on the floor is a reality of tiny living, but it doesn’t have to feel as uncomfortable as it sounds if you use lots of chunky cushions. These five-inch-thick floor pillows are stackable, stowable, and give the space a cool bohemian look. More than 1,000 people have reviewed them on Wayfair, with one describing them as “plump” and “luxurious.”

Command Wall-mounted Caddy

These clear eight-inch baskets for the insides of your cabinet doors are a great organizational hack for storing dish sponges, toiletries, or loose snacks in the pantry. They’re actually quite sturdy, with a max capacity of four pounds. They latch on with Command strips, which don’t rip off paint or cause any damage to the wall.

Ebern Designs Rotating Corner Shelf

If you’re going to use precious floor space for a bookshelf, you might as well have one that rotates so you can use all sides. This one is column-shaped with four tiers measuring about a foot tall. Use it for books, plants, tchotchkes, or all the above. It spins on its axis, which means you can change up your room’s whole aesthetic with a quick 90-degree rotation.

Ordora Cabinet Organizer Rack

One important tip for saving cabinet space is to find ways to store items vertically. This organizer rack stacks pots and pans to prevent clutter and make use of a bigger area. It comes with eight tiers, which you can slot in wherever you want on the main tower. You can also lay the tower horizontally and store pots and pans on their sides. With more than 11,000 five-star ratings, it’s Amazon’s best-selling pot rack.

JayRex Countertop Corner Shelf Organizer

Maximize the potential of an awkward kitchen corner with a tiered organizer. This one stands 15 inches tall and spreads about 17 inches wide when set at a 90-degree angle. You can also adjust the shelves to a straight line so it sits flush against a flat wall. It gives you three small shelves for storing coffee cups, spices, and more. It also comes with a plate of steel hooks that you can attach to the shelving unit for hanging cooking tools or towels.

Mossy Laundromat Folding Table With Wheels

This four-seater kitchen table folds down to the size of an end table to save tons of space when not in use. But it also gets bonus points for coming equipped with wheels, making it easy to move next to your couch or bed when not needed. With both leaves propped up on their fold-out legs, it’s about 31 by 59 inches, while it’s just 14 by 31 inches when folded down. It even has a small drawer and cabinet for added functionality. You may want to invest in some folding chairs, too, that you can store under your couch when you aren’t entertaining.

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