Small homes are great to live in, except one has to be quite creative with optimizing their compact space. This is not necessarily bad, as it forces one to come up with furnishing and storage solutions that are functional, tidy, and visually pleasing. Think foldable tables, stackable chairs, and Murphy beds! There are a lot more ingenious storage hacks that one can incorporate. What’s more, most of them are inexpensive and can be DIY-ed.
Utilize Closet Space
Small apartments typically feature narrow and shallow closets that fill up quickly. Items inside begin to spill out of them when their capacity is reached. To avoid that and maximize the storage space inside, one can add hooks to hang objects, such as hats, scarves, belts, jewelry, and keys, on the wall. Adding hooks not only frees up space in closets to store other key objects, but it also helps one find frequently used accessories quickly.
Switch to Slim Hangers
Another way to free up space in a small closet is to avoid using bulky wood or plastic hangers. While large hangers may look alluring and visually pleasing to the eye, they eat into the space inside tiny closets. Slim, non-slip velvet hangers are lighter and easier to handle than traditional hangers. More importantly, they do not take up much space. These velvet-lined hangers give one’s closet a neat and organized look. They are also designed to carry as much weight and clothes as bulky hangers.
Add Vertical Shelving
One may end up choosing horizontal storage solutions for their tiny home; however, they take up a lot of real estate. One of the most practical small apartment storage ideas includes building vertical cabinets and shelves. One can install vertical floating shelves or bookshelves to not only create more space for books and other objects but also open up space for personal touches and to place decorative objects. One can even use the back of their doors with hanging storage solutions for coats, shoes, or cleaning supplies. Vertical shelving utilizes wall space and makes the small apartments seem bigger.
Invest in Foldable Furniture
Foldable cabinetry and furnishings are among the best furniture ideas for small apartment storage requirements. Fold-out furniture, also known as space-saving furniture, is designed to be multi-functional and easily convertible. Their configuration can be changed by pulling, folding, or sliding furniture parts. The best thing about furniture pieces like fold-out desks, stackable chairs, and Murphy beds is that they can be folded and put away when not in use. They provide the functionality needed without permanently occupying too much floor space.
Stash Objects Under the Bed
The empty space under one’s bed is a great place to store things. This is one of the smartest storage hacks, as one does not need special provisions to make the most of this often-overlooked space. All they have to do is buy plastic bins to slide underneath the bed. These can effortlessly hold various things, such as out-of-season clothes, shoes, sports gear, spare linens, and documents. If the space under one’s bed is inadequate, they can use furniture risers to boost the bed’s height. Furniture risers are reasonably priced and give one an extra few inches by lifting the bed frame and releasing some clearance space.
Reimagine the Fireplace
A fireplace is often necessary and makes for a visually appealing addition in most homes. However, one can use it as storage space when not in use. For instance, one can convert the fireplace area into a bookcase to display one’s book collection. Alternatively, one can also place photographs or candles. Placing such things here helps create more ambiance in an apartment without wasting unwanted space.
Cover Visual Clutter With Curtains
The sight of visual clutter often creates or reinforces the sense of limited space in a room or home. This is why a particularly clever hack to make small apartments seem roomier is using curtains to cloak visual clutter. You can cover vertical spaces filled with cubbies or shelves with curtains. Curtains are useful to cover bathroom vanities and living room shelving. They also increase the aesthetic appeal of limited spaces. One can use a simple tension rod to hang curtains of their preferred design. However, if the rod is visible, investing in one that looks chic and minimal is preferable.
Invest in Multi-Use Appliances
A particularly clever storage solution for small apartments is to combine multiple appliances into one, especially when it comes to dish cleaning. For instance, using an in-sink dishwasher can efficiently and thoroughly clean dishes while minimizing the space often required for a traditional dishwasher.
Other ideas include investing in a toaster oven or air fryer instead of a conventional oven or using an instant pot for pressure and slow cooking. These can also be stacked away when not in use.