Organizing for small apartments
How to Organize a Small Apartment 2021
How to Organize a Small Apartment 2021 | The StrategistEvery product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
Photo: retailer
Tiny apartments are the running joke of New York City real estate. If you live in one, you know that every little square foot counts. So making it a functional, yet still open space does require some creativity. Don’t have a closet? Find a slim clothing rack. Have a tiny kitchen? Maximize your shelf space. And so on. To find some inspiration for creating order within the confines of a small living area, we talked to some of the people who would know best: Laura Cattano, a professional organizer in New York City who lives in a 335-square-foot alcove studio; Mecca James-Williams, a stylist and the proud renter of @itsapt4; interior designer Lisa Gilmore; Jamie Hord, the founder of organizing company Horderly; Jessica Shaw, the director of interior design at The Turett Collaborative; and Emmett Shine, the creative director of Pattern Brands, which studies what type of products are attracting millennial consumers.
Cattano’s philosophy on small spaces is all about living better with less. “Anyone with a small space should start by thinking about what activities they want their space to support first and then set things up accordingly.” For her, that meant making sure she had sufficient desk space, a sitting area, and a queen-size bed, and then working around that. “I wanted everything to feel spacious and still allow me to do what I need to do. That should be the basis of any space, but especially for a small apartment where you want things to be multifunctional and have purpose.” Below, our five experts’ favorite small-apartment ideas for sprucing up a cramped space, along with some Strategist-approved products based on their wisdom.
Leaning Edge Matte Black Wall Hook
$10
Cattano says that having an effective entryway is crucial to preventing oversize items from taking up precious space in your living area. “Having a couple of hooks or a coat rack is helpful for a few reasons,” she told us. “Even if you have a coat closet, most people (especially in the city), don’t have room in their closet for guest coats. And it’s great to have a spot to drop your coat and bag instead of tossing it on a chair.” She adds, “I’ve never had a client complain about the additional hooks I’ve added.”
$10 at CB2
Buy
Schoolhouse Natural Brass J Hook
$48
$48
For a slightly more upscale look, Cattano recommends this stylish solid brass option that she says looks good whether something’s hanging from it or not.
$48 at Schoolhouse
Buy
CB2 Brushed Brass U Hook
$9
$9
For a cheap (but expensive-looking) metallic hook, Cattano also likes this affordable option from CB2, which comes in a similar brushed-brass finish.
$9 at CB2
Buy
CB2 Gunmetal Wall Shelf, 24-Inch
$30
Keys and mail are other things that can clutter a space (and get lost) if you don’t have a place for them in your entry. For that, Cattano loves using one of these narrow floating shelves (they’re 4.25-inches deep), which she says are “simple, clean, and don’t take up floor space.
” She adds that you can hang a couple of them — for example, a lower shelf for the mail and an upper for a basket with your keys. They start at $30 for a two-foot-long shelf, but come in three-foot ($50) and four-foot ($60) lengths too.
$30 at CB2
Buy
West Elm Linear Lacquer Shelves
From $75
From $75
Unless it’s a studio, an apartment’s living room (or living area) is usually the next largest space after a bedroom. Sometimes, of course, a living room can be bigger than a bedroom — which is why it can also quickly become the dumping ground you use to make your bedroom clean. Both Cattano and James-Williams told us they’ve added additional shelving in every room in their house to create more storage space, and Cattano recommends this shelf set from West Elm.
The two-foot shelf is $35, or get a three-foot one for $10 more. At the same link, you’ll also find different brackets for the shelves, starting at $28.
Story Bookcase
$295
Photo: retailer
If you have only a little bit of floorspace to spare, this Sapien-style bookcase will make the most out of it. “It’s a great very-small-footprint bookshelf that stacks everything vertically in these little sections,” says Shaw. She owns it herself and has used it for “umpteen clients” because it works in “all environments — everything from a very luxe looking office space to a living room to a kid’s room.” It’s only about 16 inches wide, but it has nine shelves, all of which rotate, so you can swing them out to create a more dynamic look — or configure it in whatever way fits your space.
$295 at Design Within Reach
Buy
Hay Box Box Stripe, Set of 4
$49
To keep shelves neat once they’re installed, both Cattano and Shine recommend using boxes, noting that stylish ones can also double as décor. Shine’s favorite storage boxes are these, from Hay, which he uses all over his apartment. “We keep these for paperwork, receipts, tax files,” he told us. “Things that aren’t pleasant, but in these boxes they feel a bit nicer.”
Smartstore White Nordic Storage Baskets With Handles
From $8
$10 now 20% off
From $8
A truly bare-bones alternative to Hay’s boxes would be these Container Store storage bins, which Barbara Reich, the founder of Resourceful Consultants, recommended when we spoke to experts about the best storage bins for every room.
Small holes along each basket’s exterior make it easy to see what’s inside, and the boxes are made with polypropylene plastic, so you can label them with a dry-erase marker (and wipe them clean again whenever you’d like). The Container Store sells the baskets in multiple sizes; the smallest goes for $7, and it also sells the lids shown separately, for $8.
From $8 at The Container Store
Buy
Round Lift-Top Coffee Table with Storage & 3 Ottoman
From $999
From $999
When it comes to space-saving furniture, Shaw says “nesting inside of nesting is great.” This may look like your average coffee table, but it’s hiding three stools underneath, and the top can be raised to work or eat from the couch. And inside is even more storage — for magazines, remotes, and whatever else you want to keep out of sight.
From $999 at Homary
Buy
Ferm Living Cluster Tables - Set of 3
$655
The same nesting concept works for a side table situation as well. You can save on footprint space by tucking the tables under one another when you don’t need them, but when the occasion calls for it, you can spread them out and add additional tabletop surfaces wherever you need them.
$655 at Danish Design Store
Buy
Adesso WK2444-22 Alice Floor Mirror
$130 now 28% off
$93
$93 at Amazon
Buy
$93 at Amazon
Buy
West Elm Sunkissed Landscape Rug, 5 x 8
$320
$320
Gilmore told us that when her clients have small apartments, they often make the mistake of buying a small area rug, which ends up looking “dwarfed” by the furniture around it. Instead, Gilmore recommends buying the largest rug your space can fit. “It grounds the room, and makes everything look more unified,” she says. Gilmore says she likes using rugs from West Elm in clients’ tiny apartments, noting that the retailer sells them at various sizes, depending on the space you’re working with.
$320 at West Elm
Buy
Yamazaki Tosca Dual-Handle Storage Basket
$38
Much like the living room, a tiny kitchen can quickly become littered with things, too (not to mention that, in many small apartments, the kitchen and living room can be one and the same).
To restore some order, Cattano recommends stashing some baskets above cabinets and the refrigerator because, according to her, people will otherwise “just throw stuff up there, and it looks terrible.” She specifically likes the Yamazaki Home Tower White baskets which are steel, meaning they are easy to clean should any food or liquid within accidentally spill, but those are sold out everywhere. These slightly taller Tosca baskets, also from Yamazaki Home, will serve a similar function.
Elfa Utility Mesh Closet Over the Door Rack
$145
$145
If you have a pantry (or a nearby closet doing a million jobs), this over-the-door rack will help you maximize that space even more. “It can be completely customized to fit your needs, whether it’s a shoe rack and hat rack combo in your closet, or a spice and oils rack in your kitchen or pantry,” says Hord.
This one comes with two medium and two large baskets, making it perfect for a variety of pantry goods. It fits a standard seven-foot door and can be easily assembled without the use of any tools.
$145 at The Container Store
Buy
Hashtag Home Astrid Dining Table
$311
$311
Shaw says that the softer edges of a round dining or coffee table will make it feel like there’s more room in a space, but in really small spaces, she recommends a drop-leaf table. “You can really compress it and just have it out of the way, or lift one leaf if it’s just you and a friend. And then if you’re having company, pull it out and let it be a larger thing,” she says. When collapsed, this one is just 11 inches wide, but fully extended it grows to 41 inches and can seat up to six people.
$311 at Wayfair
Buy
Ikea Hallbar Bin
$6
If you’ve got a small kitchen, James-Williams recommends putting your trash can under your sink to both save floor space and hide something that’s usually unsightly from view. “It condenses trash around the kitchen area,” she told us, and since there is no practical need for a hidden trash can to be aesthetically pleasing, she opted for this very basic model from Ikea, which has a top-handle handle that makes grabbing it a touch more sanitary.
$6 at Ikea
Buy
Lynk Roll-Out Under-Sink 14-Inch Single Drawer
$65
Cattano recommends installing a roll-out drawer like this to tame any unruly stacks of pots and pans overtaking a small kitchen’s precious cabinet space.
“Clients call it life-changing,” she says, adding that they appreciate never again having to crawl around on the floor to find an old pan. “Just be sure to measure the space between the cabinet hinges and the back of the cabinet to ensure a good fit,” she adds. James-Williams also likes roll-out shelves, noting she installed a similar one to make accessing her undersink trash can even easier.
$65 at Amazon
Buy
$62 at Wayfair
Buy
Home Depot Triple Pull-Out Trashcan
$159
If James-Williams were doing it all over again, though, she told us she would purchase this rolling unit from Home Depot, which includes three trash bins (with lids) as well as a steel rack. The unit comes preassembled, and installs with only four screws, so while you’ll need to be somewhat comfortable with a screwdriver (or need to call a friend who is), there’s no need to hire an installation guru.
[Editor’s note: This item is currently sold out, but you can sign up to receive a notification for when it’s back in stock.]
3M Command Clear Caddies
From $9
$10 now 10% off
From $9
Cattano also likes these clear caddies for the kitchen, which she says stick to the wall quickly with no installation required. While she recommends them for the insides of kitchen cabinets, “so people don’t have too many packets of tea and spices lying around,” we think they would also be good for additional shelving space in the bathroom (or shower).
From $9 at Amazon
Buy
Acrylic Risers
From $6
As our own Rio Viera-Newton has said, creating smart storage solutions in the bathroom is an art form. Cattano swears by these acrylic risers for creating more room in the medicine cabinet. “You can stack them on top of each other to give yourself more shelf space,” she told us, adding that the four-by-two and six-by-three sizes fit in almost all cabinets (they also come in eight-by-four and ten-by-five). Hord is a fan of these too and agrees they can be helpful in the bathroom, along with the rest of the house. They can be used to separate piles of dishes in kitchen cabinets and even act as another shelf inside the fridge.
From $6 at The Container Store
Buy
Ikea Godmorgon Wall Cabinet
$69
$69
Should you need even more medicine-cabinet space, Cattano says you can always affix a second one to your wall.
“I often add additional cabinets in bathrooms, usually over the toilet for extra toiletries, or to separate roommates so they don’t need to share storage space,” she told us. If this sounds like the solution for you, she recommends Ikea’s Godmorgon cabinet, which comes with four tempered (i.e., stronger) glass shelves, and can be mounted to open from the left or the right. She adds that “the high gloss means it’ll blend into the wall better than a mirrored cabinet.”
$69 at Ikea
Buy
Goodfellow & Co Olive Diagonal Zip Kit
$15
Shine told us that a hack he’s found for smaller bathrooms is to have a few toiletry bags on hand. “People typically only use these for travel, but you can put together lotions, makeup, dental stuff in different bags and have them stored on a shelf nearby so when you do need to dip into your backups or secondary items, they are right there and easy to get to.
” When we asked experts for the best Dopp kits, menswear writer Tim Melideo praised this one for its “premium look” at an affordable price, and the fact that its unique diagonal zipper allows it to open up much wider than other Dopp kits (which, if you’re using it primarily for storage, means you can likely shove even more in).
$15 at Target
Buy
Clear Stackable Large Shoe Drawer
From $10
“When implementing products in small spaces, it’s important to get creative with how you use them,” says Hord. Even though these boxes are intended for shoes, she says you can use them anywhere. Where they really make a difference is under the bathroom sink. “Horderly loves using these to stack and maximize the awkward spaces with plumbing that seems to always get in the way,” she says.
They also come in a smaller size to accommodate even more spaces.
From $10 at The Container Store
Buy
Beistle Jumbo Paper Lantern, 30-Inch
$29
“Lighting is so important in any space, especially a small space,” Cattano says. “It helps set a mood, and who couldn’t use more light in their homes?” But, according to her, “a lot of apartments don’t come with overhead lighting, so I’ll always add some.” (Cattano told us that she moved into a place with 9 light sources and now has 16. ) An overhead paper lantern — which also made our list of under-$100 home improvements — will save floor and table space without breaking the bank.
$29 at Amazon
Buy
$29 at Amazon
Buy
Casper Glow Light
$129 now 10% off
$116
If the smaller size of your apartment means you have less natural light coming in, lamps that artificially mimic the sun can help to simulate daybreak or nightfall — even in bedrooms that face brick walls. That’s why Shine likes Casper’s newish Glow Light. According to him, it emits soft light that both extinguishes and brightens slowly, which can help ease you to sleep at night or wake up in the morning. The Glow Light also has a corresponding app that features a timer, so you can set it to turn on at the same time (or before) your alarm goes off every morning. “It’s great to wake up to,” he told us, “to get melatonin going as you open your eyes for the first time.”
$116 at Amazon
Buy
$129 at Casper
Buy
Humanscale Nova 27” Desk Lamp
$455
$455
“This is a great looking desk lamp with an articulating arm,” Shaw says. “It’s a modern piece that can fit in with a lot of different design sensibilities. Plus, it’s functional and it’s small.” The base is only five inches wide, so it won’t take up too much of your precious desk space. It uses an LED light that won’t cause a glare, and it can swing in any direction to illuminate exactly what you need it to. The light’s also adjustable, so you can find the level that’s right for you, and if you ever leave it on for too long, it automatically turns off when it doesn’t detect any motion.
$455 at Wayfair
Buy
Delta Children Under Storage Drawers
$119
While many of us hate storing things under our beds (“For many, it’s like putting things in the basement,” Cattano says) sometimes in small apartments you just don’t have a choice.
“If it must happen” Cattano says, “can we make it beautiful?” She recommends these rolling underbed storage drawers from Wayfair’s children’s line, which she says will work for anyone who wants to turn their underbed area into additional, efficient storage space.
$119 at Wayfair
Buy
Ikea Malm Underbed Storage Box, Pack of 2
$60 for 2
If your bed frame has legs in the middle as well at the four corners, James-Williams suggests these underbed storage bins from Ikea that come in two parts. “I have four under my bed,” she told us, “and I use them for my sweaters, out-of-season clothes, and workout clothes.”
$60 for 2 at Ikea
Buy
Mainstays Home 8-Shelf Bookcase
$80
$80
If your bedroom closet isn’t the biggest — or if you don’t have one at all — James-Williams recommends getting a bookshelf that can function as additional clothing and shoe storage. When we trawled Amazon to find the best-reviewed bookcases under $50, this sleek étagère-style bookcase made the list, with one reviewer noting how it can be used “for proper storage as well as décor.”
$80 at Walmart
Buy
Yamazaki Home Tower Leaning Ladder Rack
$66
In the same vein, a wall ladder can also do double duty as décor and storage, and might be just the ticket for anyone familiar with the concept of the bedroom “clothes chair,” where outfits lay in an increasingly tall heap as the week gets busier and busier.
This one is a favorite of writer Laura Perciasepe, who says it’s like having a whole extra closet.
$66 at Amazon
Buy
$78 at West Elm
Buy
Nest Storage Bed
From $3,295
From $3,295
If you’re moving into a brand-new cozy space, and are able to splurge, Cattano loves this storage bed from Nest, which she notes will help the things you’re storing stay dust-free, as the mattress acts as a sealant over them. “I do not believe in storing things under the bed because people don’t clean under the bed,” she says. Cattano says this bed is particularly great for people who live in climates that require constantly changing wardrobes, or for kids, so parents have a place to stow and easily retrieve their toys.
From $3,295 at Design Within Reach
Buy
Resource Furniture Showroom Beds
If you’re willing to custom order your bed, Resource Furniture has “taken the Murphy bed to a whole next level,” Shaw says. “They’ve got a lot of really clever ideas for hiding away things and having a piece of furniture be multifunctional and multipurpose and chameleon-like.” Anyone with odd shapes or uncommon dimensions might want to look into custom furniture too.
Buy at Resource Furniture
Buy
3M Command Nickel Modern Hooks
From $7
Cattano says that too many small-apartment owners underutilize the inside of their closet doors.
“Adhesive hooks are game changers,” she told us. “Use them in closets for belts (the small utensil ones), or get larger ones for handbags, tote bags, hats, scarves, umbrellas, and necklaces.” She swears by 3M’s collection of adhesive hooks, which come in all manner of sizes.
From $7 at Bed Bath & Beyond
Buy
24-Pocket PEVA Over the Door Shoe Bag
$18
$18
The closet door is a great place for a larger organizational tool like this one. “This over-the-door shoe bag can hold 12 pairs of adult shoes, or even more pairs of smaller kid’s shoes,” says Hord. Unlike other over-the-door shoe racks with horizontal pockets, these vertical ones are also great for smaller accessories and random household items that you won’t have to worry about falling out.
$18 at The Container Store
Buy
40 Pack Stainless Steel Strong Metal Coat Hanger
$29
“Felt hangers are not the be-all and end-all,” Cattano explains, noting that despite their space-saving thinness, many users complain that they make clothes harder to get on and off. Instead, she suggests using some equally slim tubular metal hangers, a style that she says has been in her closet for the past 20 years.
$29 at Walmart
Buy
AmazonBasics Velvet Suit Hangers (Pack of 50)
$25
While Cattano may be against fabric hangers, Strategist writer Hilary Reid swears by them.
She specifically swears by these AmazonBasics velvet hangers, which she praised for their durability, and the fact that they helped her fit “about 25 percent more clothes in my closet.”
$25 at Amazon
Buy
$25 at Amazon
Buy
Muji Cotton Linen Clothing Case, Large
$36
If you’re looking to maximize storage on a closet floor or built-in shelf, Cattano suggests using these softer, zippered storage boxes from Muji. “I like them for blankets, for off-season clothes, for anything really,” she told us, adding that they also look a lot nicer than your average cardboard box.
$36 at Muji
Buy
White 2-Tier Stackable Mesh Shoe Shelf
$30
There are a couple ways that Hord recommends using these shoe shelves. In addition to making space for shoes in narrow closets, you can also use them to create free-standing shelving units. “You can stack them and put bins on the shelves to organize accessories in areas that don’t have shelving, or somewhere you need to maximize height.”
$30 at The Container Store
Buy
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More Stories10 ways to neaten a studio |
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(Image credit: Alamy)
By Tara King
last updated
If you’re organizing in a small apartment, you’ll know that every inch counts. Without the luxury of plentiful space, finding space for everything (and keeping it neat, orderly and looking good) may feel like an impossible task. But it can be done. By getting a little creative with your organization and storage solutions, you can double your small apartment’s square footage – or feel like you have at least.
Rule number one when organizing small spaces – ensure everything has a home. From cutlery to clothing, medicines to makeup, toys to toiletries, we mean everything. This is the case for home organizing ideas of any size, but particularly so when organizing small spaces or looking for apartment layout ideas for compact spaces. When space is at a premium, there’s simply no room for clutter – literally.
From streamlined layouts and multi-purpose furniture to space-saving storage ideas, tips and tricks, we’ve collated the best advice from the experts to ensure you’re organizing in a small apartment to best effect.
Organizing a small apartment
When organizing a small apartment, the key is to think like a minimalist. To achieve a tidy scheme – and maintain it going forwards – you’ll need to be picky about what you bring into your home.
Before buying anything, try and separate what you want from what you need, and always have in mind where you think it’ll go. Instilling the ‘one-in-one-out rule’ can be helpful; for every item brought in, get rid of something else you no longer need.
This, and great storage, is particularly important when considering small living room apartment ideas, since this is the room in which you'll spend the most time, as will your guests, so you'll want it to be neat.
1 Streamline your ‘stuff’
(Image credit: Alamy)
Whether you’re moving into a small apartment or restoring order in your existing one, decluttering is the best place to start. Rather than paring back all your belongings at once, tackle it one room at a time – (you’re living in an open-plan or studio apartment, do it by hypothetical ‘rooms’).
Start with the bigger items, then move on to organizing drawers and closet organization ideas.
If you haven’t used something in a year, you don’t use it. Either plan it into your routine or get rid’, advises author and professional organizer Kathryn Lord of More to Organising . ‘If you’re struggling to let go of some things, pop them in a box and put them somewhere in your house. If you don’t use it within the next three months, it’s time to let go’.
For items that aren’t broken or damaged, donating or selling is a sustainable choice, but depending on what it is, can be emotional. Chicago-based home organizer Jessica Litman of The Organized Mama recommends thinking about where you’d like them to go prior to sorting: ‘this allows you to visualize others enjoying them, which makes it easier to part ways’, she says.
2. Turn every inch into usable space
(Image credit: The Dormy House)
In a small apartment, you need to get a little creative when it comes to finding space for things.
A blank wall or a tricky corner isn’t to be overlooked; if you’re clever about it, it can be utilized in all manner of helpful ways, even creating a whole new ‘room’ in some instances.
‘Most small apartments won’t have a home office, but you can easily create one by installing a desk that folds up to the wall. A rolling cart that holds all your office essentials can tuck underneath for easy access, then be stored elsewhere when you’re done for the day’, says Jacqueline McLeod, ADPO ’s Communications Director and founder of Bancrofts Organisation Services .
Other small home office ideas include shelving out alcoves or an unused fireplace, putting up bookshelves above a doorway or if you are organizing a small kitchen, mounting hooks under kitchen wall cabinets to hang cups or utensils.
3. Separate the space into zones
(Image credit: Sofology)
If your small apartment has an open-plan area, it’s important to ensure separate zones are clearly defined. ‘For smaller open plan spaces, clever zoning can make all the difference’, says George Miller, home designer at Neptune . It can also make a small living room look bigger.
'Simple additions, like a rug and coffee table will help to define your seating area, even if it’s a matter of steps from the dining table. Artwork can be used in a similar way, whether framing a workspace, reading nook or eating area’, he says.
Furniture can also be used in a similar way. ‘Cubby hole units are great for storage if you’re clever with positioning and are also a handy zoning tool – one side can be defined as a ‘bedroom’, while the other side can be your ‘home office’, says Jacqueline McLeod.
If your cubbies are open ended, consider positioning half the baskets so they pull out into the ‘bedroom’, the other half into the ‘home office’, then fill with related items.
Successful small apartment layouts are even more essential if you’re dealing with a studio apartment – it’s impossible to relax in a cluttered space, so creating a bedroom ‘zone’ will make it easier to switch off, even if there is a dish or two left out on the kitchen counter.
4. Invest in dual-function furniture
(Image credit: Davide Lovati)
Smaller apartments require a little bit of creative thinking when it comes to furniture choices. Aside from taking up valuable floor space, bulky furniture is a hotspot for hiding clutter you don’t need.
‘Think about investing in pieces that can be used for more than one purpose’, advises professional organizer Brenda Scott of Tidy My Space . In the interests of reducing clutter, you’d ideally want one of those purposes to include storage of some kind. ‘An ottoman can offer up a coffee table, an extra seat or hidden storage, for example’, Brenda says.
You don’t have to buy pieces specifically designed for multiple uses, in fact, you don’t necessarily have to buy anything new at all. Think about ways you could adapt your existing furniture. A small bookcase as a nightstand or a storage trunk that doubles up as a seat in the hallway to take off your shoes, for example.
‘If you are buying new furniture, look for pieces with legs; maximizing visible floor space opens a room up and gives the illusion of more space’, recommends Irene Gunter, founder of Gunter & Co .
5. Double up on storage and décor
(Image credit: Future / Paul Massey)
Whether on surfaces, open shelving or displayed on walls, meaningful, artistic arrangements can add aesthetic value to a small apartment while contributing towards space-saving organization at the same time.
‘Styling can often be an undercover organizational tool for open storage’, says Heather Hoerzen, design editor at Havenly . ‘For example, creating a little vignette with a tray, diffuser and pretty faux plant not only sparks joy, but it can also serve as a reminder to put things back as you found them’.
If you do go down this route, bear in mind that keeping bookshelf ideas tidy will be an ongoing commitment. If left to look cluttered, it will make the space feel smaller. To achieve a pleasing aesthetic, a good rule of thumb is to stick to classic techniques for organizing a bookshelf: group items in odd numbers and allow for space around them.
It’s also important that you’re selective with what you put on display.
Choose items that are as beautiful as they are functional. Stylish hats hung on hooks in the hallway make for a unique wall feature, while a carefully curated grouping of kitchen items (such as an elegant pestle and mortar, rustic wooden chopping board and neatly stacked dishes) can add personality to a kitchen countertop. Woven baskets, decorative boxes and sleek stacking containers are great for hiding away any unsightly essentials, and add to the overall aesthetic, too.
6. Enlist storage helpers
(Image credit: Future)
Whether you’re organizing a medicine cabinet, dealing with awkward corners or kitting out a closet, integrating additional storage solutions inside cabinets, closets and drawers is a great way of utilizing space to its best potential in a small apartment. From baskets and bins to risers and carousels, there’s all manner of options, whether you're looking for kitchen organizers or vanity organizers, for example.
'If you’re organizing a small kitchen for example, use a sink caddy that attaches to the inside of the sink rather than in a container on the countertop.
Make use of cabinet doors to hang dish towels, use under sink shelving and racks to store your spices’, advises Jacqueline McLeod.
While bespoke solutions do work well, we’d recommend fewer permanent fixtures to ensure longevity – you never know when your needs might change. Be sure to take measurements before investing. You want as snug a fit as possible to make the most of the space.
7. Switch to a storage bed
(Image credit: Button & Sprung)
Utilizing underbed storage ideas is always a good idea but pulling out storage boxes from underneath isn’t always possible in a small apartment with limited floor space. Instead, Jacqueline McLeod recommends investing in an ottoman bed.
‘Ottoman beds provide generous extra space, but don’t feel like you have to fill it to the top – it’s always a good idea to declutter before you get to that stage. Use it to store out-of-season clothes, bedding or shoes; items that you don’t need access to every day’, she says.
For bulkier items, consider vacuum packing them to save on space. Invest in quality bags and avoid overfilling them. Don’t forget to label what’s inside – items can look different when they’re compacted right down.
8. Maximize closet space
(Image credit: Neatsmith)
If you’re organizing a small apartment, having the space to tidy away as much as possible out of sight is the key to clutter-free living – particularly important in a bedroom, where you go to relax. Sorting the closet is a great place to start. Think about what you want it to store and optimize the space by adapting your closet accordingly – if you need to fit in shoes and handbags, it’s worth sacrificing a little space by including a hanging organizer, for example, or if you’re using it for organizing makeup and organizing jewelry, leave a shelf free to create a hidden ‘dressing table’.
‘By zoning your hanging items, you can create extra space for baskets to sit underneath your shirts for example, which aren’t going to hang as low as dresses and trousers’, suggests Kyra Blades, home designer at Neptune .
Maximize shelving space with labeled bins and baskets, and file fold clothes where you can, so they’re stacked vertically – this saves on space and makes them easier to find, particularly if you arrange them by category, too.
9. Go vertical
(Image credit: Interior Fox/Veronica Rodriguez)
When you’re constrained by dimensions, thinking vertically is a great way of claiming back space. Vertical surfaces – including those behind the backs of doors – offer plenty of storage potential, from shelving and hooks to cubby-style hanging organizers. What solutions you choose will depend on what room you’re working with, and what you’re organizing.
‘Try and make use of floor to ceiling storage to get the most out of the space you have’, advises Vicky Silverthorn of You Need a Vicky . Think about ways you could make it work harder, such as carving out a desk space in the middle of bookshelves for a home office, or a dressing table in a bedroom.
10.
Do a daily declutter (Image credit: Alamy)
As much as we all love a neat and tidy space, it’s worth remembering you’re only human – your small apartment is where life happens every day, so it’s not going to stay pristine all the time. Little and often is enough to keep on top of things and avoid clutter building up again.
‘We urge our clients to declutter at least once a day’, says Kate Pawlowski, professional organizer and co-founder of Done & Done Home . ‘Relocate anything that belongs elsewhere, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher and wipe down flat surfaces – this five-minute task sets you up for the following day’.
How do I organize my small apartment?
The best way to organize a small apartment is to implement simple, easy to follow organizational systems that make the most of the space available to you. This can be different for everyone, depending on household and lifestyle – the key is to make sure they’re easy to follow. If it’s too complicated, you’re unlikely to stick to it.
To make the whole process feel more manageable, we recommend tackling your small apartment one room (or even one cabinet, drawer or zone) at a time. Organizing and decluttering go hand in hand, so assess each item carefully and think about when you last used it. Once you know what you’ve got to work with, you’re well placed to work out what systems will suit you best.
How do you hide clutter in a small apartment?
While regular decluttering is the ultimate solution, there are easy ways of concealing items that you use everyday, but that you probably don’t want out on show. We like the ‘hide them in plain sight’ mantra; investing in storage solutions that contribute to – or at least blend in with – the decor of your small apartment, whatever room you’re organizing.
Stylish baskets and containers work well for corralling toys, shoes and smaller essentials, notepads, chargers, pens and the like, while dual-purpose furniture such as a storage bench or an ottoman bed offer generous storage space as well as other necessary functions.
For 10 years, Tara King worked as a Content Editor in the magazine industry, before leaving to become freelance, covering interior design, wellbeing, craft and homemaking. As well as writing for Ideal Home, Style at Home, Country Homes & Interiors, Tara’s keen eye for styling combined with a passion for creating a happy – and functional – family home has led to a series of organization and cleaning features for H&G.
Small apartment: 10 useful ideas
Tips
Take the height
Open shelving looks less bulky than cabinets. Make the most of your vertical space. When filling the shelves, leave empty spaces as well - this will add depth and air to the composition.
Apartment in Paris. Designed by architects Anna Geistdorfer and Flora de Gastin from Double G.
Apartment in the center of Stockholm.
Own niche
Explore your apartment: even the most uncomfortable nooks and crannies can be used.
For example, build a kitchen unit into a small niche in the wall. In this case, additional light sources will be required to illuminate the work surface: they can be placed on the side walls. And organize the storage of kitchen utensils not in the drawers of the table, as usual, but on the wall, installing rails with hooks there.
Designed by the architects Stefan Garotin and Pierre-Emmanuel Martin.
Apartment in Stockholm. Designed by Anja Pauser and Hannu Hietamäki. The niche in the bathroom is equipped with a cabinet for toiletries and household chemicals. nine0003
Secret places
The wardrobe in the bedroom eats up a lot of precious space. A good alternative to a large wardrobe will be compact shelves and drawers hidden behind a curtain. The contrasting combination of the orange color of the lower sections with the gray suit fabric of the curtains looks bright and elegant.
Decorator project Decorator Natalie Topaloff.
Stand on rails
It is better to replace hinged cabinet doors in a small apartment with sliding ones.
This will save precious space. Or even install lattice window shutters as doors, moving freely along the guides. Beautiful and functional! nine0003
Designed by Joanna de Clisson.
Head up
The wall at the head of the bed in the bedroom has a lot of potential that often remains untapped. A functional solution would be to enclose the head of the bed in a "case" in the form of a rack with open shelves. On them you can put photos of loved ones, favorite books from the category of "read at night" or a collection of your favorite vases.
Project by Alexey Shibaev and Alexandra Averkina, Zeworkroom studio. The bed is located on the podium in a niche around which the storage system is arranged. nine0003
Designed by architect Pauline Arkhan. The niches above the head of the bed contain objects from the collection of the owner of the apartment, the Parisian antiquary Nicolas Patachi.
Apartment in Stockholm. Designed by Anja Pauser and Hannu Hietamäki.
Above the head of the bed there is an open shelf, above which closed modules hang. So the designers made the most of all the space on the wall above the head of the bed.
Top Tier
Play with elevation changes. Podiums, steps, mezzanines and, conversely, "recessed" floor areas will help to zone the space without the help of doors. The resulting niches - under the stairs or under the built-on second floor - can be used as additional storage space. nine0003
Designed by the architects Stéphane Garoten and Pierre-Emmanuel Martin. The bedroom is on the second level.
Project by designer Svetlana Nesterushkina. The bed is hidden in a high podium, which is equipped with a lounge area with a swing and a hammock.
Apartment in Brooklyn. Designed by BFDO Architects.
One for all
Multifunctional furniture is a real lifesaver for owners of small apartments. For this bedroom, a bed combined with a desk at the head and a sofa bed at the foot was designed by designer Isabelle Stanislas.
A unique object stands in the center of the room - in this way the author of the project managed to free up the corners, which is a great success in the face of a lack of living space. nine0003
Project by Isabelle Stanislas.
Large section
The idea of hiding a compact kitchen in a closet is not new. And you can go even further and isolate the kitchen from the dining room with mirrored sliding doors, as in this project. When they are closed, a mirror wall is obtained from the side of the dining area, which visually expands the room. If desired, you can use curtains, which are also provided here. If, for example, the cooking process is still in full swing, and the guests have already arrived, the hosts can simply pull them up. nine0003
Designed by decorator Ubert Zandberg.
Work at home
You can place a functional workplace in a small room in a small niche. It is enough to build a desktop there, and equip a rack above it. Shelves can be extended by laying them further above the doorway.
True, to get to them, you will need a ladder, so stock up on it in advance, or send rarely used items to the very top. For example, boxes with home archives. nine0003
Apartment in Paris. Designed by decorator Severin Levenck.
The science of sleep
This studio apartment is 20 square meters. m. A workplace and a bed a stone's throw from it are not the best neighborhood. In order to “divorce” the areas for work and leisure, decorator Marianne Evanna (Marianne Evennou) suggested that the owners hide the bed in an alcove. It turned out to be a cozy isolated "bedroom". And with the curtains drawn, it may seem that behind them is not a bed at all, but a window.
Studio 20 m². Designed by decorator Marianne Evanna. nine0003
Bedroom in a niche. Designed by architect Boris Denisyuk, buro5.
Another functional solution is to separate the bedroom from the main studio space with vertical, 360-degree rotating plywood slats, as in this example.
Studio 43 m² in Krasnodar.
Designed by Andrey Popov.
Tags
- Small Apartment Design
10 Small Apartment Design Secrets You Didn't Know - INMYROOM
Having small apartment, you can not help but feel a number of its advantages: saving time and money for repairs, cleaning and utility bills. Despite the limited area, it has a special charm and comfort, but subject to the right organization of space and decor. Many believe that a small room is needed design based on its functionality, not design. Let's dispel it delusion and tell you about ways to organize a small apartment in a stylish and practical.
1. Draw boundaries
On At first glance, an open solid space is the best option for a small space. But such visual uncertainty can tire quickly: it will seem that the elements of the interior are gathered in one heap, yes and the disorder will become more noticeable. Separate areas need to be identified.
room in accordance with their purpose: recreation area, living room, children's room, dining room. It is desirable to protect the open hallway from the living room. For these purposes, for example, the usual hanger-rack.
By placing a buffet or sideboard between the kitchen and the dining room, you will facilitate the process of serving and storing dishes. Pivot the sofa to the foot of the bed to instantly draw attention to the living room. If you have an interesting hobby, do not be afraid to demonstrate it with the help of interior details. For a bike you can make a comfortable stand in the inside of the room or in a special niche, and the achievements of flower growers are suitable for decorating a blind corner or partition.
2. Buy multifunctional furniture
When you're dealing with a small space, every centimeter counts. Pay attention to multifunctional furniture. For example, it is convenient to put your feet on a soft ottoman while watching TV, and when guests arrive, you can organize a table on it using a built-in wooden canvas or tray.
Some cabinets can turn into a convenient secretary and even fit an entire bed.
What whatever option you choose, make sure that it is fully sized suitable for the space of your room. Please note that classic soft headsets can reduce the area. But in today's furniture market there are many proposals designed specifically for small spaces. nine0003
3. Rethink unused space
Carefully study the space of the room and determine the least functional areas in it - the so-called dead zones. Think about unused corners and bare walls. Large an empty window sill can easily be turned into a comfortable work area. Angular the rack is able to accommodate a significant part of household trifles. Several baskets or containers can be placed on the refrigerator and put little-used kitchen utensils in there. nine0003
4. Go vertical
planning the interior of a small room it is useful to use not only horizontal as well as vertical space. The best choice for optimal and economical placement of things in small spaces are high and narrow systems.
storage. Open shelves around the doorway won't take up much places and will look very original. Through floor-to-ceiling shelving can become more than just a functional system storage, but also a convenient partition separating the living room from the bedroom. mass household items can be hidden in the built-in drawers. nine0003
5. Improve storage systems
B a small apartment, the issue of a storage system should be resolved as much as possible effectively, so as not to allow confusion and not spend a lot of time looking for the right thing. Forget about bulky cabinets and pedestals that can seriously harm the modest space of the apartment. Prefer convenient and lightweight designs placed in plain sight or on the course of your movement around the room: open shelves along the wall with small baskets, hanging pockets or hooks on the back of the door, containers under the bed etc. So you will significantly reduce the time to search for things. nine0003
6. Prefer light palette
color scheme for a small apartment, bet on light shades.
At that while saturated, dark colors tend to visually reduce space, the light background makes it bigger and wider. It is best to focus on three colors: on two light, neutral for the background and on one dark, deep shade to give accents and visual interest to interior elements.
For for those who find it difficult to be surrounded by calm monochrome tones, there is a way out: choose furniture in neutral, light shades. And with the help of a second, bolder color, emphasize individual elements. decor to give the interior expressiveness. The rainbow palette must be handled with care - an excessive amount of it will not be reflected in the best way in a small space. nine0003
7. Add curved lines
Most small apartments, as a rule, has the shape of an even box, which makes them visually boring. This can be corrected by arranging furniture of different shapes in the room: to For example, put a rounded table next to a pointed chair or chairs, and opposite the soft, shapeless sofa is a square coffee table.
Connect to this process and interior items: instead of a rectangular mirror, prefer intricately curved, instead of straight, classic floor lamps get a few rounded lamps. The abundance of straight lines makes the interior is too artificial - learn to play with the form, emphasizing its naturalness. nine0003
8. Create Layers
One of the frequent interior problems in a small space is the lack of depth: a look too quickly perceives the picture. But this is easy to fix by adding textures: tapestries on the walls, carpets in one or two layers, bedspreads for furniture, a few pillows... This will provide a cozy, warm environment and add depth to the space.
But layering technique is not only texture, but also contrast. At when choosing furniture and accessories, pay attention to the details made of various materials, shades and shapes. For example, to a sofa in neutral tones is very suitable for a contrasting pillow with a bold and bright pattern. To soften a hard floor surface, lay a pile carpet.
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9. Use suspended structures
In a small apartment, even lightweight pieces of furniture with a floor base can narrow the space. The less detail visible, the better. Try turning on there are more suspended structures in the interior: instead of bookcases - shelves with hidden fastening, wall-mounted secretary, and install a sink in the bathroom without a pedestal.
Compared to conventional furniture, hanging furniture takes up much less space. FROM her room space becomes lighter and weightless, allowing the eye travel freely, without focusing on complex and cumbersome structures. A wall with several different-sized open shelves looks stylish. nine0003
10. Clean regularly
In a small room, clutter is immediately noticeable. For that so that unnecessary things do not accumulate and do not litter the room, it is advisable to periodically conduct a thorough audit and get rid of rubbish. Maintain order in the house regularly to save money later time.
