Saving Space in a Small Apartment
Students and those living in big cities find that square footage is a commodity that few have the capital to obtain. Whether you are confined to a small studio apartment, or you live in a small room in a shared apartment while going to school, there are many space-saving alternatives for you to implement in your life today. Below is a list of 6 things that you can do or buy to make your life fit in a small space.
Convertible furniture
Also known as modular furniture, convertible furniture comes in all different shapes and sizes (and then changes to different shapes and sizes). The most popular and well known modular furniture is the futon. You can find shelves that hide tables and chairs within their negative space.
There are couches that double as bunk beds, sofas that become a kitchen table and chairs, and sectionals that can swivel into a queen sized bed. If you don’t have room for a couch, you can use over-sized pillows on the floor, or put pillows against the side of your bed.
Utilize stair space
Stairs are necessary, but they also waste a lot of real estate. There are a few ways to reclaim that space, besides just creating a closet-under-the-stairs. Turn the corner into a reading nook by placing a few bookshelves and a comfy love-seat. Place all of the children’s toys in the space and create a toy room.
Not only is it the perfect height for them, it lets them feel like they have a super-secret hideout. Create shelves and drawers under the stairs to organize storage, or set up a small workspace. If you can set up the plumbing, put a mud room-type sink under the stairs, or create a small guest bathroom to occupy the space.
Furniture with storage
Instead of having the normal chairs and coffee tables around your space, use furniture that also doubles as storage space. Instead of chairs, use storage ottomans for guests to sit on, but also as a place for you to place blankets, books, etc.
Instead of a coffee table, put a chest in the center of your living room for a footrest as well as a place to store things. Buy hollow chairs and store toys or stuffed animals in the negative space. There are even couches that are hollow and offer storage solutions underneath the cushions.
Shelves along the wall
If you don’t have a lot of space, you need to utilize every inch, including the walls. Bookshelves can take up space, so hang shelves along the walls, high enough so that they won’t be in the way. If the contents are organized, the shelves can look quite classy. Put the things that you’d like to store on the shelves in storage boxes to keep the shelves from looking cluttered.
Mount things on the wall
Instead of having things sit on the ground, mount them on the wall to tuck them away when you don’t need them. Some things you could tuck away and fold down when you need to use them are: kitchen tables, desks, baby changing stations, barbecues, beds, drying racks, etc.
Instead of putting knives or spices in a drawer, get a magnetic knife rack or spice rack to save space. There are also mirrors that can fold down and become ironing boards. If you are concerned that hanging things up may make your wall look cluttered, place a picture in front of the area that folds down, revealing the jewelry wall or medicine closet.
Consolidate
We all have more things than we need. If you are moving into a small space and you don’t want to rent out a storage unit, it is important to consolidate your belongings. If you have kitchen utensils, bowls or containers that are mis-matched, invest in a set that nests together and ultimately saves space. (For more ways on how to organize a kitchen without a pantry, check out this blog.)
If you have a lot of reusable bags or plastic bags from the grocery store, get rid of them. Donate clothes that you have not worn in over a year to a local charity. If you have toiletries, including lotions that you don’t use, donate those as well, or just throw them out if they are over 5 years old.
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Category: Housing
