How limitations in the home can be a blessing in disguise
Here are some great ways to make the most of a small space (or small budget)
When I think about some of my favourite homes I’ve been inside, or the homes I’ve saved in my favourites folder on Instagram, they’re rarely big, fancy or created with enormous budgets. More often than not, the homes I’m drawn to are quite the opposite. Maybe they’re small but full of charm, maybe they lack built-in cupboards but instead use beautiful vintage wardrobes, or they’ve embraced clever storage solutions that double as design features.
Last year I got to spend time in 24 different family homes as we gathered ideas and photos for our book, and I was blown away by how many creative ideas we saw. Literally, each house left me feeling more and more inspired, and I came back home and made lots of simple but effective changes to our own home.
I’ve come to believe that restrictions — whether it’s limited space, a tight budget, or the absence of modern amenities — can actually be a gift. These so-called limitations often lead to creative ideas that make homes feel more characterful, more personal and even more practical.
Our own home is fairly small for a family of seven, and while that can be frustrating at times (I won’t pretend I love that our children’s bedrooms are directly across the hall from ours…), I’ve learned to see the upside. Our kids have had to share rooms, which fosters connection and builds character. A lack of storage keeps our belongings in check — we simply can’t accumulate more than we need or use regularly. And I always joke that one of the best perks is I can vacuum the entire house without having to change outlets. (It’s actually so handy.)
I thought it would be a fun exercise to share some of the benefits that can come from limitations in the home. Many of the images below come from the homes we featured in our book, The Family Home. I hope some of these ideas offer you inspiration for your own home, or perhaps the ability to reframe a limitation into an opportunity to get creative!
As I mentioned with our own home, limited storage can force you to live more minimally, with less stuff and less clutter. The photo above is our entryway and we’ve added two rows of hooks to maximise storage (coats and hats on top and backpacks below).
Fewer bedrooms can mean that siblings have to share, which can help bring kids closer to each other, build resilience and encourage compromise. Plus, shared bedrooms are the cutest!
Budget constraints can lead to creative or innovative ideas — like a cute curtain on a rod instead of cupboards or built-in kitchen storage. Or, instead of expensive built-in closets, you can hang up a curtain to hide your clothing.
Limited storage in the kitchen can lead to fun ways of storing utensils that actually make a statement on the wall and add character to the room.
If you don’t have space in closets, why not display your hats on the wall? It offers both a practical and beautiful solution. (We’ve done this in our bedroom — see photo below.)
Small homes encourage you to make the most of every square inch of space. I love the ideas above for creating a bed nook in small spaces. How cosy!
If you don’t have built-in wardrobes, why not embrace the beauty of vintage wardrobes — they bring so much warmth and character to a room.
My friend Mo squeezed in a single bed into what was originally a small office, and it makes for the cosiest bedroom with a sunny window seat for reading and afternoon naps in the sun. There are even pull-out drawers beneath the bed for clothing storage.
My friend Judith lives in a small flat in London, which doesn’t have a proper entry hall or closet. She’s made the most of a hallway in her flat to store coats, shoes and skateboards and it adds character to this otherwise quite basic space.
A fireplace in the middle of the kitchen is perhaps not the most practical use of space, but I love how Vanessa has used it to display decorations and artworks. It brings so much character and charm to this kitchen.
My friend Michelle lives in a two-bedroom home, which means her two daughters share a bedroom. This makes for the cutest bedtime stories with little girls bouncing from one bed to the next.
Our book, The Family Home, is now available to pre-order and will be shipped out to you on publication day. We can’t wait to share this book with you and hope you’ll order your copy now. (Preorders are incredibly helpful, especially for first time authors like ourselves. It encourages the smaller book sellers to order copies of our book and gets the book out there in as many hands as possible.) Thanks so much for your support. 💛
I'm so excited to see your book, if these pictures are a snippet! We definitely need to improve our small space solutions and I'm so eager to add more creativity. Love these ideas. So much inspiration ❤️
This is so affirming. We're raising 8 children in a 3-bedroom home, so there has been lots of sharing. Our oldest 3 have moved out, but we've had to use triple bunks in some rooms when they were all home, and it has always somehow worked out. I'll look for your book, as I do like to make things beautiful and space-efficient in our small home.