Lots of people enjoy the convenience of modern life, but they might feel like they want a change over time. Some professionals might want to reconnect with nature, and other people might feel the urge to live a more sustainable lifestyle that involves less waste. There are countless reasons to begin living off of the grid, whether you want to become healthier, avoid consumerism, or live a different lifestyle in a specific phase of your life.
What does it mean to live off the grid? The main idea is to live a life without the “support of remote infrastructure,” such as an electricity grid. Believe it or not, many families live off the grid, which essentially means that they avoid public utilities. Many individuals choose this lifestyle because it is sustainable and emphasizes the importance of autonomy and self-reliance. One thing is for sure: this kind of lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
Ultimately, living off the grid can get quite messy very quickly without the right approach. Many individuals who live off the grid also live in smaller houses, which means that their lack of organization can often be a stress source.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Here are some tips to make sure that your life is still organized, even if you live off the grid.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
If you are interested in living off the grid, there’s a good chance that you are passionate about “going back to your roots” as a human being. If you are serious about this goal, there’s no need to bring along every belonging you ever had. If there isn’t a clear purpose for your belongings, consider getting rid of them. You should also take into account how portable and durable specific items are, as well.
You might have finally decided to live in a van or a tiny home. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve been living in houses and apartments before that. It might take some time but make sure to think critically about what you’re bringing along – it can end up saving you headaches down the line.
If you want an organized off the grid life, you can start by just bringing the basics. Living off the grid might sound fun, until you realize that you have to get rid of the majority of your wardrobe. This is an essential organizational step that has to be prioritized before anything else.
Use Hooks
Off-grid living requires a significant amount of storage, and there’s a good chance that you will have to choose what is going in your drawers wisely. What’s a great way to organize your life that doesn’t take up much space? Hooks! Hooks can be great for hanging clothes, towels, keys, hats, and more – and they don’t take up an excessive amount of space.
Hooks also are very inexpensive to purchase, and you can even choose fun and quirky hooks to add some character to the space. There’s a good chance that your van or tiny home can benefit tremendously from some well-placed hooks.
Dual-Purpose Furniture
There are plenty of people drawn to the “off the grid” lifestyle, but they might not understand how much storage they need. If you are purchasing furniture for your van, tiny home, or cabin, you should make a point to buy furniture that can store items in some form or fashion. It doesn’t matter whether you are purchasing a desk, sofa, or bed – if you are living off-grid, you should make sure that your furniture can offer storage.
If you can’t find dual-purpose furniture, you might want to opt for folding chairs. The great thing about folding chairs is that they don’t take up nearly as much space when stored. You should always have furniture that can even be stored easily, or that offers more storage solutions for other items.
More Drawers Than Usual
You might be used to storage spaces of all kinds in modern life, but the fact remains that you might want to switch those spaces out for drawers. For example, in a condo, you might have all sorts of silverware and kitchen products that take up all your kitchen space. If you plan to live off the grid, you will have to get more versatile when it comes to space. You never know what you will need extra space for – and you should have as many large drawers as possible.
Why is a drawer important? Unlike cabinets and cupboards – you can pull the drawer out and immediately see everything that’s inside. If you want to live off the grid, you never know if you will need an extra drawer for dirty laundry, food, equipment, or first aid materials. As a result, you should make sure that you have as many drawers as possible. Drawers can help anyone stay organized, but it is even more crucial for those living off the grid.
Use Space Above Doors and Windows
Again, you will require a lot of storage if you are living off the grid. Why not use the space above doors and windows to create a shelf space? This will allow you to store more items than ever before, but it’s important to use the space wisely. The space above doors and windows can be a great spot for tableware, books, and more. It might be a nook that many others forget about, but it’s the kind of space that can really come in handy if you are living off the grid.
Use Wall Space
Another obvious way to remain organized while living off the grid is to use as much wall space as possible! Some families even decide to hang up all of their cookware on the walls in their tiny home so that they have more space to move around. It can also be a cool way to turn your kitchen products into decorative items if they’re unique!
There are all sorts of different ways that wall space can help with storage. For example, one might use a wall to hang shoes, clothes, kitchenware, towels, tools, and more.
Get creative with your off-grid storage space! There are so many ways to keep your home organized, many of which only take a bit of time and energy.
