35 Clever Hideaway Projects for Small Homes

By Wendy Lemos

Small homes need furniture and storage that disappears when you’re not using it. But most hideaway solutions look flimsy or feel like you’re living in a dorm room.

The smart projects – Murphy beds that don’t scream “Murphy bed,” fold-down desks that double as wall art – give you the function without making the space feel temporary or cramped.

1. Maximize Space in Your Bathroom with Under-Tub Storage

Bathtub Storage for Small Bathrooms #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

This is a great way to organize your bathroom. Use the space under the bathtub to store toiletries and beauty products.

Install a cabinet where each hinged door has metal holders.

2. Bed Stowage with the Ceiling-Mounted Murphy Bed System

Ceiling Mounted Drop-Down Platform Bed #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Try a different take on the Murphy bed – one that slides up into the ceiling instead of into a wall. This wooden platform is secured with ropes for smooth movement.

3. Maximize Your Bathroom Storage with a DIY Metal Stand

Clever Hideaway Projects for the Bathroom #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Every cabinet door can hold extra storage. A metal stand fastened with screws gives you a simple, affordable holder for cosmetics or other bathroom items.

4. Organize Your Backyard with a Simple Wooden Closet

Clever Hideaway Projects for Garden Storage #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Gardening tools, hoses, and trash bins scattered around your backyard instantly make it look cluttered. A compact wooden closet with two sections can turn that mess into tidiness.

5. Maximize Storage with Custom Drawers Under Your Staircase

Clothing Closet Beneath a Stairway #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

The area under a staircase is often generous and usually goes unused. Add custom drawers here for seasonal clothes and shoes.

6. Upcycle a Dresser into a Multifunctional Coffee Table

Coffee Table with Hidden TV Mount #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Need a coffee table? Looking for extra storage?

Get both with this handcrafted coffee table. Just repurpose a dresser to create a versatile piece like this one.

7. Utilize Space in Small Homes with Innovative Storage Solutions

Convertible All-In-One Chair, Bed, and Table #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

People living in small spaces really appreciate clever storage ideas and adaptable furniture. This example nails both.

8. Incorporate Non-Integratable Kitchen Appliances into Cabinets

Custom Cabinet Coffee Station #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Most kitchen appliances can be built into cabinets for a cleaner look. But what about ones that can’t be integrated?

Just enclose the niche where they sit with a cabinet door. That door can swing, slide, or push up.

Either way, the niche blends right in with the rest of the room and stays protected from dust.

9. Pull-Out Drawer Dustbin Hideaway Projects for Small Homes

Custom Pull Out Kitchen Garbage Pails #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

A pull-out kitchen drawer isn’t just for dishes and utensils. Remove the sides and bottom, and it becomes a hidden dustbin holder.

10. Organize Your Laundry with Bathroom Cabinets

Dirty Laundry Storage in Bathroom #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

“Dirty laundry” means a lot of things, but nobody wants to see it – literally or figuratively. Use one bathroom wall for cabinets.

Dedicate the lower half to laundry baskets.

11. Enjoy Drinks and Meals in a Clever Space-Saving Murphy Bar

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar and Table #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Even if your backyard has room for storage and seating, this Murphy bar is still a great addition because it doesn’t take up any floor space. It gives you an organized, convenient setup for two people to eat and drink, with everything stored in one compact spot.

12. Organize Your Kitchen with a Magnetic Knife Hideaway

Hidden Drop-Down Kitchen Knife Rack #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

With a drop-down mechanism, the base of a kitchen cabinet becomes a hidden spot for knives. Attach magnetic strips to hold them safely and neatly.

13. Utilize Your Staircase Landing with Creative Storage Solutions

Hidden Linen Storage in Stairway Landing #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

The landing of a staircase is a great storage opportunity that many overlook. It’s wide and deep enough to turn into a storage compartment for things like linens.

14. Transform Your IKEA Mirror into a Stowaway Table for Dinners

A Hideaway Dining Table Using IKEA Mirror #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

With the right heavy-duty hardware, an IKEA mirror can become a hidden table that seats six. It’s a clever solution for small apartments where you still want to host dinner parties.

Worried about the mirror cracking? Cover it with a wooden panel, or use a framed painting or poster instead.

15. Create an Ironing Station within Your Bedroom Dresser

Hideaway Ironing Board Storage #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

If you prefer interiors that hide most appliances, this idea might work for you. Build an ironing board right into your bedroom dresser.

Remove the top drawer, install a pull-out mechanism, and reattach the drawer front to conceal it.

16. Transform Your Kitchen Island Into a Pull-Out Table

Hideaway Kitchen Table #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Ever run out of seating? Turn your kitchen island into a hidden pull-out table so you can fit more guests at once.

17. Modern Clothes Drying Rack for Laundry Management

Hideaway Laundry Room Clothes Drying Racks #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

This clothes drying rack is a modern idea that works in almost any room with cabinets or dressers.

18. Pull-Out Kitchen Worktop for Meal Prep, Serving and Storage

Hideaway Projects for the Kitchen #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Like the drying rack, this extra worktop slides out from your kitchen cabinets when you need it. Use it for food prep, as a side table, or for holding dishes before serving.

19. All-in-One Outdoor Hose Storage Solution

DIY Hose Holder with Pallet Wood Planter #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

When thinking about hideaways, don’t forget the outside of your home. Do you have a spot for your hose, or does it usually just sit coiled on the ground?

This cabinet is both practical and decorative.

20. Transform Your Kids’ Desk with a Hideaway Solution

DIY Kids Homework Hideaway Wall Desk #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Do your kids hate cleaning up their homework desk? With this clever hidden desk, that won’t be a problem anymore.

The DIY design has compartments for all homework supplies. It’s wall-mounted, so it saves space too.

21. Maximize Your Kitchen Space with Pull-Out Furniture

Kitchen Cabinetry with Built-In Table and Benches #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

If you don’t want to sacrifice comfort because of limited space, try pull-out furniture. Most people know this as a solution for small bedrooms.

But there are clever ideas for kitchens too.

22. Conceal Your Washing Machine with Cabinet Doors

Laundry Room with Hidden Washing Machine #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Hiding your washing machine isn’t just about looks. It also has technical and practical benefits.

Putting it behind cabinet doors is one of the simplest, cheapest, and best-looking ways to do it.

23. Give Your Staircase Extra Storage with Pull-Out Drawers

Loft Stairway with Built-In Drawers #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Any staircase can become extra storage by turning the steps into pull-out drawers. The top of each step needs to be securely fastened since you’ll be stepping on it.

The rest is like a box with an opening so you can pull it out easily.

24. Use Shelves To Enhance Your Wall-Mounted TV

Media Console with Hideaway Shelves #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

When you mount a TV on the wall, there’s always a gap between it and the wall. Make use of those few inches by adding shelves around the TV.

They can hold cables, remotes, books, decor, game discs, and more. For a cleaner look, add doors to close the shelves off.

25. Elevate Your Small Kitchen with a Foldable Door Cabinet

Micro Kitchen Hidden in a Cabinet #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

If you don’t cook much or have very limited space, this hideaway kitchen could be perfect. The foldable doors hold all the essential kitchen gear.

When closed, it just looks like a regular cabinet.

26. Creative Solutions for a Murphy Bed in Small Spaces

Murphy Bed Disguised as Cabinet #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Living in a small space comes with challenges. One is making a Murphy bed blend in when you’re not using it.

Cover the bottom with closet doors so it looks like a normal part of your living room during the day.

27. Impress Your Guests with a Hidden Liquor Collection

Pull Out Liquor Cabinet #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Hideaways aren’t just for small spaces. They’re also great for anyone who likes extra comfort and style.

Picture your guests’ surprise when you reveal a secret drawer – maybe in a cabinet or bench – filled with classic aged liquors.

28. Unlock Your Kitchen’s Potential with a Rolling Cooking Island

Roll Away Kitchen Range Top Island #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

A cooking surface that appears when you need it and disappears when you don’t. That’s a smart idea, especially if you want to keep your kitchen looking streamlined.

A cabinet, table, or bar can become the top of a rolling island, as long as the island has the right size and sliding or rolling mechanisms.

29. Store Your Books in a Hideaway Headboard Drawer

Secret Bedroom Headboard Storage #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Use your headboard as a hidden spot for books. The storage is a drawer that fits right inside the headboard.

Use push-to-open mechanisms for easy access.

30. Use Movable Walls and Sliding Doors for Hideaway Room

Secret Bookcase Doorway for Hidden Room #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

Movable walls and sliding doors can carve out a small nook that’s separate from the rest of the room. To make the wall blend in with both spaces, decorate it to match the overall design.

If the wall is in a living room, it can double as a bookshelf.

31. Extra Workspace in Your Kitchen with a Hidden Countertop

Space Saving Hidden Counter Top #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

You can add more food prep space by tucking a hidden countertop above your island cabinets. One corner extends out with a simple push.

Slide it out diagonally from its recess, and you’ve got an L-shaped countertop instantly.

32. Compact Apartment Kitchen with Folding Doors

Tiny Hideaway Kitchen for Small Apartments #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

The photo shows a kitchen in a 15-square-meter apartment. It’s got everything you need, including a functional and good-looking kitchen.

When you’re not using it, the doors fold down to create dining space and cut down on visual clutter.

33. Create Extra Storage Space with DIY Toe-Kick Drawers

Under-Cabinet Drawers #hideaway #projects #decorhomeideas

If you’ve got unused space under your cabinet drawers, install toe-kick drawers for extra storage. They open with a nudge and are surprisingly easy to build.

This project is also budget-friendly – making them yourself costs way less than hiring a cabinetmaker.