Take it from someone who once lived in a studio apartment: creativity is everything.
From sneaky storage to utilizing space you didn’t even know you had, these are the hacks you need to not only survive a tiny apartment, but thrive in one.
Get a space divider that doubles as storage.
If you’re in a studio apartment and need some dedicated space or rooms, consider a shelving unit as a space divider.
Open ones work best, as they allow light through. Add in boxes or even doors if you need privacy!
Add a pendant light, skip the installation.
For many, pendant lights are both a necessity and a luxury. They free up precious floor space, but they’re also complicated.
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Enter the plug-in pendant light.
Corner shelves are a must.
Corners are a pretty wasted space. I once lived in an apartment that had a triangle cut right into the middle of the living room. Why? Still don’t know. So I picked up some corner shelves and made the best of it!
Pick up some removable wallpaper to add personality.
A small apartment doesn’t have to be a boring one! Removable wallpaper is a great way to add your personality into a small space. Just make sure to keep the pattern on the minimal side to avoid things feeling claustrophobic or cluttered.
Picture ledges will be your best friend.
They serve dual purposes: they’ll hold the frames you don’t want to hang, and they can hold knick-knacks!
The shelf I use is from Ikea. It’s cheap, easy to install, and the holes are a quick fix to fill before you move out.
Add some bathroom storage over your toilet.
That blank wall above your toilet is about to get put to good use. Whether you opt for floating shelves or a good ol’ over-the-toilet storage unit, you’ll never want for storage space in your bathroom again.
Hang your bags up.
No, literally. Instead of storing them in baskets or keeping them on shelves, pick up a hanging bag organizer and get ’em up in the air! It’ll save you so much space.
Know when to fold ’em.
Dining tables and chairs are low-key a luxury in small spaces. If they’re something you want to have, but don’t necessarily need all the time, consider getting some that fold!
Pick up some outlet shelves.
Hello, best invention ever. If you’re low on outlets and low on space around them, may I suggest one of these bad boys? They’ll give your Alexa or Google Home somewhere to live, or your phone a shelf to charge on!
Invest in some good space saver bags.
Storing bulky winter jackets and large blankets is a pain. Vacuum-sealed bags can help! Suck all of the air out of them and watch your stuff shrink before your eyes. Now stick them under your bed and, bam! Out of sight, out of mind.
Don’t count your doors out.
Hanging things on the back of doors is a time-honored tradition. Instead of going for one single hook, get a whole rack — or hang an entire organizer for your shoes!
Make your closet carry a heavier load.
Short on closet space? Double (or triple) your space with hanger extensions. Now you have room for all those dresses you impulsively bought and never wear! Or is that just me?
Shelves on shelves on shelves.
Need more space inside your cupboards? I got you. Shelf inserts will give you vertical room to start stacking stuff in your cupboards, doubling the amount of space you had before. I have these, and they’re life savers.
A drain rack might be your new best friend.
Get ready to utilize space you didn’t even know you had. A drain rack will store it all while you do your dishes, including your dish soap, sponges, and even cutting boards.
Command strips will get you far.
Every single picture in my apartment is hung up with Command strips. They’ve never fallen, and they were easy to remove when I moved from my old apartment to my new one. Trust me, these will be your best friends.
Make sure you buy the right ones for your weight needs, and remove them carefully!
Drawer organizers are a must.
Whether it’s to keep your underwear organized or to finally get that junk drawer taken care of, drawer organizers are the stealth superhero you can pick up to keep your home clutter-free.
Now that your drawers are organized, let’s work on your knife area.
You know what you should do with the extra drawer space you just gained? Get your knives off of the counter and out of a chunky butcher block. Hello, knife drawer holder!
Short on shower storage?
In the words of Sam from Disney’s Holes : I can fix that.
Pick a shower caddy, any shower caddy! Some go from floor to ceiling, others hang off of your shower head, and still others off of the shower doors. Any one will do!
Get you a heckin’ cart.
When I tell you having a cart saved my sanity in my small apartment, I am telling the truth. Having something so mobile that you can use however you want and move wherever you want? It’s life-saving.
Annoying electrical boxes don’t have to be a problem.
Those things are always placed in the most annoying places. My last one was in my bedroom! So, what’s the solution? Hanging a large canvas over it. Goodbye, ugly metal box!
Utilize that space under your bed.
Under-the-bed storage is so underrated, seriously. Pick up some rolling drawers, bed risers, or even just shove your stuff in bins that fit underneath. Once you discover this space, it’s like having a whole second set of drawers.
Cabinet doors are overlooked storage spaces.
Especially in your kitchen! Use removable hooks to add in some extra storage to your cabinet doors.
Or opt for a basket that hangs to get the same effect! Just make sure it fits in there when you close the door. Rookie mistake.
