Many among us have often dreamed of owning a vacation home in the French riviera. You may have dismissed this idea as a an extravagance only available to the stars and the fabulously wealthy. The reality, however, is that you can feasibly own a vacation home in or near St-Tropez. If a villa does not fit into your budget, you may be very comfortable in an apartment. The key is organisation. So here are 4 tips on how to organize your small space:

1. Aim for functionality

Always aim for functionality in your furniture. Not to worry, this in no way means sacrificing style! Aiming for functionality simply means to make sure that your furniture is as useful to you as it is attractive. For example, instead of buying a couch, buy a daybed or a sofa – something you can turn into an extra bed. You may also want to buy a bed tall enough that you can put bins under it for easy storage without any clutter, or even a bed with built-in drawers, for the same reason. If buying a new bed is not an option, you can always opt for bed-risers, which will achieve the same effect for a fraction of the cost.

2. Think vertical

One of the most obvious solution to organize any space is shelving. Shelves do not take up much space and can store a vast array of things, anything from books to plants to trinkets. However, make sure to buy a shelving unit tall enough to reach the ceiling. This obviously allows you to store more things in the same amount of space, but it also creates the illusion of high ceilings as it draws the eye upwards. If you find a unit to be too bulky and are a bit of a handyman, you can build shelves directly into your wall. Simply make sure your shelves go as high up as they can, so as to draw the eye upwards and create the illusion of tall ceilings.

3. Have options available

Opt for furniture that you can easily move and even stow away, if need be. Examples include wheeled kitchen carts, which can be used to store spices, herbs, plants, anything you want! Kitchen carts are ideal for things you use often, and like to display. Foldable tables and kitchen islands also fit into this category, as they can be used when the counter space you have isn’t enough, and be easily put away when they are no longer needed.

4. Hang everything

When living in a small space, hooks and storage racks are your best friends. Place a few hooks near the door to hang keys, coats, purses, anything that would otherwise end up on a coat rack, or worse, on the ground. Hang storage racks or shoe organizers on your doors. This allows you to store your cables, beauty products, whatever would clutter your space otherwise.

So there you have it! 4 tips to organize your small space, and fulfill your dream of having a vacation home in the French riviera.