It is common knowledge that living in a small space calls for clutter, mess, and loss of sanity—and when you have immense work pressure and hectic job schedules, staying organized can almost be a nightmare! While most people might suggest moving into a bigger place, skyrocketing rents and real estate prices can put a real dent in your plans. It has almost become impossible to find, let alone, afford a place in today’s day and age, especially if you’re living in a big city!
For this reason, most of America’s youth stick to smaller spaces as these are easier to buy, rent, and maintain. However, living in a small apartment does come with disadvantages of its own. For starters, there is a lack of space for storing necessary items and no way to customize your home, which can leave you restless and tense. While your small home may prove to be a challenge, there are some things you can try to change. Here are five useful tips you can use to maximize your home space and utilize it to its full potential!
- Organize, Organize and Organize!
The simplest yet most arduous task is to keep your apartment organized and clean. So try arranging a daily, weekly, or monthly organization spree in which you perform a deep cleanse and put things where they belong. When it comes to clothes, color code, roll (not fold), and hang them in your closet to create maximum space. Install drawers inside empty spaces in your cupboard to place more items. Clean your vanity and properly organize your beauty products.
For an even tidier look, buy more storage space! Buying baskets, boxes, jars, and caddies will help keep products out of sight. Invest in a rental storage unit to safely store out-of-season items and other large furniture. Label your storage so that you can navigate through it quickly, and practice hygiene to keep the rental looking neat and your mind stress-free.
- Prioritize And Remove Unnecessary Items
While this one seems obvious, you would be surprised to know that a lot of people tend to struggle when it comes to getting rid of their futile belongings. It can be difficult to decide what to throw and what to keep, which ultimately leads to a very cluttered apartment with no usable space for any new purchases. An easy way to make this process less painful is to create different piles of items depending on their level of importance.
We recommend making two piles based on how much that item is used. If the item has not been used in over a year and does not hold much monetary value, it is best to throw away, sell or donate it. Think about it logically. Are those textbooks from your sophomore year of college really all that necessary? If anything, those items might be a lot more important for someone else than they are to you! So, make a wise judgment, quit hoarding stuff, and figure out the best way to get rid of it.
- Identify And Optimize Empty Spaces
This might be confusing as the whole problem with a small apartment IS the lack of space. To make this simple, it can be helpful to understand what empty spaces really are. Generally, an empty space is any area you feel is impossible to utilize and store things in. A notable example of this is the gaps between the cupboards and ceilings. Identify all these spots and squeeze in a basket or box with stuff you don’t really use on a daily basis. Voila! See how much neater it got?
Another way to optimize these spaces is to identify vertical spaces. Use these by installing shelves, tiny cupboards or storage units for any additional stuff you may need. You can also throw in some decor pieces as well. Speaking of empty spaces, you’ll also find space underneath beds and furniture. Here you can fit in more of your belongings. However, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t go overboard with this as it can be inefficient and leave you with an even messier room with everything piled under the bed or on the walls.
- Look For Multitasking Furniture
The furniture market has significantly adapted to allow multitasking. Instead of buying one separate coffee table, cupboard, and desk, you can find furniture that functions as an all-in-one. This means that you can get a desk, cupboard, and coffee table for a lower cost and as an interchangeable unit. This is the whole idea behind multitasking furniture as it makes organization less of a hassle by maximizing space function.
You can also find traditional ottomans that are stool and storage space in one. There are also the classic sofas that can convert to beds. To sum it up, the market is flourishing with multifunctional furniture at all prices. You can even thrift and buy second-hand furniture online for more affordable options. Other than furniture, you can also find cheap nifty products online to further utilize the space you already have. An example of this can be those special mats you can roll over your sink to place dishes on after washing them.
- Hack Your Decor
By making smart choices during interior design, you can make your apartment look wider, taller, more appealing, and fit to your desired liking. Start by putting up mirrors on the walls to give it the illusion of a bigger and broader room. A well-placed mirror can make or break a room. And combined with a pretty frame, it even doubles as decor!
Final Thoughts
Organizing and decluttering a small house or apartment is not easy, but it is definitely not impossible either. With a creative mind and enthusiastic approach, it is possible to create a beautiful living space that facilitates your needs.
Try adopting a minimalistic style as this will help your apartment look more aesthetically pleasing, neat, and decluttered. To achieve this, avoid buying bigger and heavier furniture and keep it as simple and practical as possible. Stick with one color scheme and simple patterns to make it easy on the eyes. To give the illusion of an elongated room, paint all 4 walls the same color and leave the ceiling. To give the illusion of a longer room, paint just the ceiling and the last wall. Use bold and bright colors to complement the style you’re trying to achieve.
