With lots of us living in smaller homes these days, space is often tight. It can be a challenge to fit in everything you need and still live comfortably.

If you feel like your possessions are taking over, one or two of these ideas might click and help you regain control over your living space.

Less is More

You may have dozens of decorative items that you love, but it doesn’t mean you should display them all at once. Having lots of items on surfaces, even if they all have meaning, ends up looking like clutter.

Large items make a stronger decorative accent than small items. You could choose bigger pictures, larger vases, statement lamp stands or ceramics. Larger pieces are also easier to keep clean and polished. Gleaming surfaces bounce light around and add depth to the room.

If you love your small items, restrict the number on display. Group related items in odd numbers and vary the heights where possible. Limiting their numbers means you can frequently change your display, so they always feel fresh.

For safe keeping large collections of decorative items, consider a self storage unit. You can get lockers as well as rooms if you don’t need very much space.

Bounce Light Around

Light is so important. Not only does it brighten up any room and make it feel more cheerful, it’s also damp repelling and vital if you’re keeping houseplants.

While creating more light won’t give you any more space, it will make it feel like the room’s opened up. It might be an illusion, but it’s one worth creating.

• Use light colours in your decor. That doesn’t mean you have to paint everything a bland magnolia, but rather avoid deep, dark, shades in too many places. Save these for accents.

• Use mirrors. Not a new tip by any means, but one that’s often overlooked because it’s so familiar. Mirrors make spaces feel bigger by reflecting the room area, and they bounce light around the room so can help to banish dark corners.

Choose table or wall lights rather than relying on one, large overhead light fixture. Smaller lamps create interesting pools of light and add charm as well as warmth to a room. Use them to brighten dark corners on dull days for a cosy ambiance. One overhead light can cast harsh shadows which are often overbearing and uncomfortable.

Have More Shelves

There’s always room for a shelf or two, and they’re great for creating storage and display areas while opening up the floor space to make the room feel bigger.

Shelves placed high on a wall create the illusion of a higher ceiling, so the room feels less cramped.

Picture rail height is a good starting place, with the added advantage of keeping precious possessions out of kids’ or pets’ reach. Use it for pictures and books, as well as ornaments.

Look for alternative places for shelves, such as on the side of a kitchen cabinet for spices or recipe books. Add an extra shelf in the wardrobe either at the top or bottom for folded items or shoes. Put a shelf over a doorway. This area is nearly always overlooked, but it’s a prime place for added display or storage.

Create Space with Storage Furnishings

Ottoman beds and divans, occasional or bedside tables with shelves and drawers, footstools, decorative trunks and chests, even traditional sideboards and cabinets can all add style and function to your living space.

The more storage furniture you have, the less clutter you’ll have on your surfaces. Clear surfaces have a magical way of creating a more spacious feeling.

Seasonally Adjusted Storage

Sometimes even the most organised of people need more space, even when everything is neatly sorted.

A solution is seasonal storage, with a self storage room acting as a home from home for possessions not in use. It’s a simple concept where you pack up summer things during winter (and vice versa), putting those items in storage until the seasons change again. The storage rental process is simple too, making self storage an all-round convenience.

Bulky items, such as garden machinery and furnishings or sports gear are prime candidates. But you can also do the same with seasonal clothes to help keep closets organised and functional. It’s more eco-friendly too since we’re all trying to cut down on waste and get more use out of what we already have instead of constantly buying new.

Things not in use stay pristine, and the items you currently need have space and are easier to find. With less crowded cupboards and surfaces your home feels much more spacious.

Organising possessions can be quite challenging, especially if you enjoy collecting. It’s a process rather than a ‘once and done’ exercise. And needs change over time so what works today might not work so well in the future. Never be scared to change things around or try something new when you’re trying to create more space at home.