HGTV Host Scott McGillivray's Top 5 Small Space Hacks

Scott is a big believer in not wasting a square inch — even if you have to grab a ladder! He advocates building shelving right up to the ceiling, claiming the "dead space" above closets, and rearranging the racks in storage spaces so no space goes unused. "Maximize all the way to the top," he says.

If you live in a small space, it's best to bring in furniture that can serve multiple purposes. "Double duty anything is brilliant to me," Scott explains. He suggests looking for beds with drawers underneath, benches that open up to reveal storage, and even tables that are hinged to the wall and can be folded up when not in use.

A table doesn't need to be surrounded by chairs on all sides. Save space by adding a bench. "We have done a lot of built-in benches," Scott recalls. "If you don't have a lot of room for a dining set, we will build a bench against the wall because then you don’t need any room behind it."

Tiny bathrooms can present their own logistical challenges, but Scott has a solution — look to the kitchen! "Most standard vanities are twenty-three or twenty-four inches deep. But if you have a narrow bathroom, you can custom make your own vanities using kitchen cabinets, like upper cabinetry, which are twelve to eighteen inches deep." He recommends adding a vessel sink atop the vanity, which can hang sightly over the top of the cabinet.

So much square footage is lost to the area in which hinged doors swing. That's why Scott's a big fan of pocket doors. "Traffic patterns are a big deal in tight spaces, especially when you’re trying to get bathrooms in and the door is going to hit a toilet or a vanity," he says. "I always suggest putting a pocket door in; then there is no swing at all."