Big family, small house. My tips

We’re currently a family of four, soon to be five, with a small dog and a cat.

We live in a two bed house. The house has a living room / diner, and a separate kitchen.

The rooms are good sizes, but I know we will outgrow this house soon. However, with mortgage rates as they are, moving is not really an option.

Like most people, we have to find ways to make do in a small house with a big – and growing – family.

Thing is, you’ll always want something more. Even if you had your dream home with a room for each kid, you’d probably still think, “An extra bedroom for guests would be nice.” Or, “I quite fancy a boot room.”

We looked to move, but decided to stay. We love it here. We just have to make it work. Here’s my tips for living in a small house with a big family.

Systems

Small houses can get messy really really quickly, especially if there aren’t systems in place. I let the kids get as much as they want out in the day, but I usually do a mid day reset. This encourages them to get different toys out, and helps them see what they have again. Make sure you have easy ways to tidy up, boxes for certain toys etc.

Storage

Everything that can be storage in a small house, should be. Don’t be getting an ordinary coffee table. No. Get one with built in storage. Same for your sofa. Did you know you can get ottoman sofas? Beds too. Don’t overlook these storage superheroes.

Kalax units from Ikea are good. Especially for kids toys. I also really rate my 1970s sideboard that fits the kids toys, the electrical, and cables, all in their own designated areas. When everything has a place it makes it so much easier to tidy, and to keep tidy.

Think about what you buy

You’re in control over what you bring into the house. If someone offers you something, don’t be afraid to say no if you don’t need it. Think about what you buy, too. Avoid bulk buying as this takes up your valuable storage space.

Have a quarterly clear out

Get a charity bag on the go and have a good sort out. Sell stuff on Vinted and Facebook. Be ruthless. Swap over the kids seasonal wardrobes and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit anymore.

Be smart with your furniture

We’ve gone through three different dining tables in our five years in this house. The one that’s worked best is a round one with chairs that tuck in properly. Square took up too much space, and the farmhouse chairs stuck out too much. Think sleek. Avoid bulky arms on your sofa, too. These serve no purpose (except for the cat to sit on). The sofa should be 99% seating area. Get rid of the random chair in the corner that no one sits on and just gathers washing.

Don’t have too much ‘stuff’

I’m taking ornaments and decorative stuff. Having lots of things hanging around or taking up surface space can quickly make you feel costraphobic and the house feel untidy.

Open up your outside space

If you have an outside area, think about how you can make it an extension of your home. Can you build a pergola with shade or shelter? Could you add a dining table or sofa outside? Maybe even add a heatlamp so you’ll be happy out there all year round.

Board the loft

If you have a loft, have it professionally boarded with ladder access. Making this storage space accessible will give you more incentive to put things up there – and take them back down! If something has been in there for years, untouched, it might be worth getting rid. We try to do an annual clear out of the loft. It quickly accumulates stuff!

Think about furniture placement

How can you make the most of your space? Can you change the room around to make it look bigger? Avoid beds in the middle of the room for kids bedrooms. Same goes for sofas. Draw up floor plans before you make the move, just to save your energy if it’s not going to fit! Think about colours you paint it, too. Avoid colours that make rooms look darker.

Put seasonal clothes away

Get some decent vacuum bags and store your winter/summer clothes. Bulky coats don’t need to be downstairs in the summer. keep them out of the way. For kids coats, stick them on Vinted if they’re unlikely to fit next season.