Making the Most: Space-Saving Ideas for Your Small Apartment

Living in small spaces could be cozy and comfortable or congested and overwhelming. If you live in a small apartment and find it hard to cram everything in the space, your place might lack an efficient design.

Now, we get it — you’re renting, and a full-blown makeover isn’t in the cards for that pint-sized kitchen or bijou bathroom. But you can still do plenty to make the place more comfortable. Let’s dive into some savvy, renter-friendly tricks that’ll have you maximizing every nook, cranny, and inch of your small apartment.

Small space, big storage — here are all the tips and tricks you need to make the most out of your small space.

Tips for Living in Small Spaces

1.Declutter, Declutter, and Declutter

You don’t have to go full Munkensmat on your belongings, but please — declutter. Whether it is your spice cabinet, linen rack, closet space, or crockery. Think of it as a sophisticated game of “keep or toss” — the fewer items you have, the more breathable your space becomes. Julia De Miranda Corriea, an interior designer and architect, adds “always pay attention to the passageways and clear at least 24 inches of space”.

2. Right Paint Colors

To make your small space look bigger, opt for lighter paint shades. Alternatively, if you’re aiming for a super cozy ambiance, consider darker shades of pastel colors. While various choices exist, white or beige are often favored by occupants seeking to create a spacious feel. “”Light walls near windows bounce natural light and give the room a feeling of spaciousness. Light furniture in neutral tones also contributes to this feature”, explains De Miranda. She adds, “leave it to small details to color in such as cushions, pictures and other objects. You can add colored dots to highlight areas in each room.”

This bathroom showcases the room bathed in white, making it appear more open and airy.

3. Elevate, Don’t Congest

Give your floor some breathing room by embracing the vertical. Mount your TV, install floating shelves, and consider wall-mounted tables. It’s a great way to maximize room space.

Moreover, you could take it one step further and opt for stowaway furniture. Murphy tables are making a comeback; honestly, it’s good for all of us. These tables can be stowed away in the wall after dining, and your room can transition from a dining space to a living room in no time.

4. Utilizing Different Storage Spaces

You know how most of our grandparents had the top of their closets filled with junk and it irked us? Turns out, they were onto something! If you have a shorter wardrobe, you can buy storage boxes to be lifted and put away at the top of the wardrobe. Winter jackets, boots, and other seasonal artifacts can take a vacation up there until duty calls. It’s like giving your closet an attic without the cobwebs.

Similarly, those precious inches beneath your bed can also be transformed into a storage area with under-bed storage organizers.

5. Use Mirrors

Mirrors also add reflection to the room making them more open. Yes, it’s an age-old trick, but guess why? Because it works like a charm! It gives the illusion of maximizing room space by bouncing back light. “A good solution to give the feeling of spaciousness is to use mirrors in strategic places, such as next to the dining table or next to the home theater” says Julia. “In bedrooms, mirrors can be installed above the headboard or on cupboard doors”, she adds.

6. Double Up Furniture

If you are willing to spend a bit more money, then furniture that doubles up to serve two needs is the best space-saving solution.

To make the most out of a small space, invest in furniture that has more storage. It could mean beds with built-in under-bed compartments or a multifunctional sofa bed.

7. Light it up

Have you ever noticed how a poorly lit room look smaller and messier? Good lighting makes all the difference to the perception of a room. When the light comes from just one source, such as a single bulb in the center of the ceiling, it gives the impression that the room is smaller. Julia provides this tip: ”invest in some points of light to make your apartment feel more spacious, and there’s nothing more charming than indirect light from lampshades.”

Space Saving Ideas for Bedrooms

Living with a roommate and sharing an apartment? Well, chances are, the only place you’ve got some control over is your bedroom — the epicenter of all your belongings. But hold up, one compact room to be filled with everything you own? It’s time for an upgrade.

Let’s tackle the small-space challenge and turn that cramped room into a functional hub.

1. Opt for an Exposed Closet

Elevate your bedroom game with an exposed closet. Ditch the traditional doors and let your wardrobe shine in all its organized glory. It not only saves space but adds a touch of chic minimalism.

2. Replace Bedside Tables with Mounted Shelves

Bid farewell to bulky bedside tables and welcome the charm of mounted shelves. Optimize vertical space by fixing shelves right beside your bed. This minimalist approach not only provides a sleek alternative for your nighttime essentials but also opens up the floor area. It will make your bedroom feel more spacious and free-flowing.

3. Hide Away Your Things

Having your laundry, accessories, and daily essentials scattered about can turn your cozy retreat into a cluttered chaos. Tuck away your necessities in the under-bed storage. And for an extra touch of chic organization, employ bins and cute baskets for throws and linens. Remember, a tidy space is a transformed space. And the best way to maintain a tidy space is to ensure every item has its designated place.

Space Saving Ideas for Bathrooms

Bathrooms are usually the tiniest room of the apartment. Sure, you could resort to the basic dorm-style routine of toting a wet bag back and forth, but let’s face it — that’s not practical.

Instead, let’s delve into functional hacks that truly maximize your bathroom’s potential, creating a more spacious feel and unlocking ample storage options.

1. Over-the-Toilet Organizer

Don’t neglect the often-overlooked space above your toilet. Invest in an over-the-toilet organizer to make use of this vertical space for storing toiletries, towels, or even decorative items. It’s a great space-saving solution that leaves your floor clear.

2. Foldable and Multi-Functional Fixtures

Embrace foldable fixtures or multi-functional elements in your bathroom. Wall-mounted fold-down benches, collapsible shower screens, or retractable laundry hampers can be tucked away when not in use, giving you the flexibility to make the most of limited space.

3. Vertical Storage

When floor space is at a premium, think vertically. Install tall, narrow shelving units or cabinets to maximize storage without infringing on your bathroom’s footprint. It’s a stylish way to keep towels, toiletries, and everyday essentials within arm’s reach.

4. Keep it Minimalistic

One of the most crowded rooms in your place, especially when sharing with roommates, is usually the bathroom. We are all guilty of hoarding lotions, semi-used shampoo bottles, and other cosmetic products we rarely use. Our tip: if you haven’t used it in the past month, toss it out. If that type of parting is too much, then at least consolidate bottles, or transfer any partially used products to a smaller container. Your roommate will thank you.

Space Saving Ideas for Kitchen

Kitchens, the beating heart of any apartment, don’t lose their charm even in cozy quarters. A petite kitchen isn’t a cause for concern but an opportunity for ingenious functionality. Think hanging shelves, over-the-sink storage, and cabinets reaching for the skies — small adjustments, big impact.

Here are some quick and easy ways to add more storage space to your kitchen:

1. Trolley Triumph

Say hello to your kitchen’s new best friend — the Ikea trolley. These nifty contraptions are a small space essential to managing the pantry chaos or optimizing those slim, unused spaces. Slide them in, and suddenly you have a stylish solution for stashing spices, washrags, veggies, and whatever needs a home.

2. drawer and cupboard heaven

There are a plethora of cupboard and Drawer organizers out there; They live up to their name and really do make everything more organized and streamlined. And the more organized your things in the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and laundry room are, the more space you’ll have. The less things you leave exposed, the better.

3. Shelf game

When cabinets are reaching capacity, it’s time to think vertically. Introduce bookshelves into your kitchen for an instant space expansion. Not only do they provide additional storage, but adding a touch of hanging greenery transforms your kitchen into a more inviting and breathable haven.

4. Portable Kitchen Island

Renting but craving more countertop space in your kitchen? Enter the kitchen island on wheels — a versatile solution for extra cutting or dish-stacking space. Whether in your current abode or the next, this movable island can effortlessly adapt to your needs.

5. Alternatives to Bulky Items

One of the bulkiest kitchen items is the trash can. If your kitchen doesn’t have a dedicated space under the sink, and not enough floor space for a proper trash bin, there’s an alternative. Use a trash can that hangs on your cabinet door instead, and free up the precious under-the-sink space for cleaning products or your pots or pans. Another bulky item you can get rid of is the dish drying rack. It takes up a lot of counter space. Instead, use this simple over-the-sink rollable dish rack.

Bottom Line

Small apartments can and will be cute — as long as you make it so. From utilizing vertical storage in the kitchen to opting for clever furniture in the bedroom, your choices can make the most out of your small space.

Embrace the minimalism of decluttering, experiment with paint colors, and explore inventive storage solutions for every nook and cranny. You will be making use of all that limited space in no time!

Here is to living large in small spaces. 🥂