Now that children are back at college, I have a good amount of free time to freshen up the house. I have a pretty small home, but am able to keep it tidy by a lot of space-saving ideas. You want things in their place, but also visible and accessible for when you need them.

If you have a small home and are looking to optimize your space, check out these ideas!

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Spice Racks.

I was keeping my spices on the back of the stove, and not only did that not look too great, but they would fall behind the stove when I pulled one out- ugh. I found these racks at Amazon. They are magnetic and stick (really well I’ll say) to the side of the refrigerator. What an awesome idea! Two racks were enough to hold many spices, and they are now easy to see, but out of the way!

Wine Rack.

I’ve made a good number of visits to wineries over the years and have collected wine glasses,  as well as receiving martini and wine glasses as gifts. So suffice to say, I have a lot of glasses. This link will show you lots of varieties from which to choose, there are so many sizes and styles. This rack shown is compact but holds four rows of glasses. The top has spots for four bottles of wine as well. I mounted this (well my husband did) on the wall over the cabinet where I keep liquor, so it turned the area into a cute wet bar.

Pots and Pans Rack.

I think there’s something so cute/quaint about these racks. They add some charm to your kitchen, while giving you easy access to your most used pots and pans. Depending on the size you want, you can hang from like six (which I have) to maybe 15 pots. I also hang a basket where I have my onions and potatoes. My husband sometimes hits his head on it, but it’s the perfect height for me!

Stove Cover.

I have a ridiculously small amount of counter space in my home. I found (again Amazon) basically a piece of wood with handles, that sits on the stove top when you aren’t using it, but can be easily removed when cooking. I bet if you know a handy person, someone could make something like this without much difficulty. I was pleasantly surprised by the height, which is perfect for chopping and prepping food without hurting your back (does anyone else struggle with countertops being too low?). It can also be used as a holding area when removing dishes from the oven. I like to keep things I use a lot in little bowls here too- like lemons and garlic.

Knife Rack.

I first saw this in a friend’s kitchen, and thought was a great idea. Just a magnetic strip where you easily attach your knives. I put my most loved/used knives here, and the small spatula I use repeatedly too. A space saver for sure, and the idea that I can just pull a knife off when I need it- perfect.

Hooks. For cups, scarves, jewelry. I’m a big fan of hooks in my small home. I have them under the shelf for easy access to my most used coffee cups, and in the bedroom to hold scarves and necklaces. By my front door, I have a pretty one to hold coats. If you get one with a shelf, you get some extra space for stuff too. Again, the idea that you can easily see everything is so convenient-putting everything in a drawer where it’s out of sight leads to confusion. I don’t want to keep asking myself, “what do I have?” or, “where is that knife, cup, or scarf I really want right now?” No rummaging around drawers of chaos! You can have fancy hooks like this, or honestly just plastic command strips if it’s not too heavy, like these necklaces.

I hope you find these space saving tips helpful! I’m always looking for ideas, so let me know if you have any of your own you’d like to share!