Introduction
The process of living in a small apartment may cause certain difficulties due to the lack of space. It does not mean that it is impossible to be comfortable living in a confined space. There is always an opportunity to organize things and create conditions which would allow using space effectively. Organizational skills would help people to optimize the limited space, create comfortable conditions for life and avoid problems connected with mess.
First of all, it is necessary to understand whether a person needs something. Extra things can be harmful since they occupy a lot of space, while useful things are helpful in the matter of organization. One of the simplest and effective ways to organize things is to choose different storage boxes, shelves, baskets, hooks and multi-functional furniture.
Another way which could be applied by people who live in confined space is to use vertical zones of apartment. It means that one should think about walls, doors and even space under different kinds of furniture. Multi-functional furniture is also useful in the matter of organizing things and optimizing space.
It is necessary to put things which are used frequently into easily accessible places. Things which are used rarely can be stored in inconvenient places where there is still free space.
This article deals with simple organizational ideas which would help people to create comfortable conditions in a small apartment without making any serious renovations.
Kitchen
The organizing process can significantly contribute to a more comfortable working environment in the kitchen. The presence of just a couple of unnecessary items in the limited counter space and storage areas can make everything difficult. However, it is necessary to ensure that the frequently used items are kept within reach, and to take into account all storage opportunities.
It is important to start with the elimination of items which are rarely used and can be thrown away or donated. It is recommended to place cookware, plates, glasses, and other items for everyday cooking in easily-accessible places, storing seasonal and rarely-used items in the upper cabinets. The grouping of similar things will facilitate finding required items – for instance, the group of cooking tools may be placed in one storage place or box.
Vertical space can also be used. Special wall-mounted shelves and hooks, hanging racks, and even the inside surface of the cabinet door will help to add more space, leaving the countertop free. Cabinets can be used more effectively with the help of stackable containers.
It is necessary to keep countertops free since the availability of open counter space contributes to the visual perception of the kitchen. The storage of non-working every day devices should be in a proper place like a cabinet. Transparent storage boxes may also help to organize dry products and keep an eye on them.
The inspection of your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator on a regular basis can help to find expired food products and get rid of them as well as of unused items. In addition, it is advisable to use labels for storage containers.
Thus, with some planning and regular decluttering of the kitchen, you can organize it in the best way possible.
Bedroom
Although a small bedroom is meant to be a quiet place to unwind, most people have a tendency of filling it up with things. Having lots of clothes, shoes, and personal possessions will inevitably disrupt your peace, making it impossible to rest properly in your bedroom. So, the ultimate hack in creating an orderly small bedroom consists in tapping the incredible storage opportunities located under your bed. Apart from dust mites, there is no better use for the space under your bed than placing long, flat rolling bins with tight lids to store away your off-season clothes, additional beddings, or winter blankets. If you feel like your bed is too low for you to reach under it, you can get yourself some bed risers to raise it up a little bit. In order to utilize the closet space in the fullest, replace your usual plastic hangers with slim velvet hangers. As a result, you will double the hanging space inside the closet. Also, hang a multi-pockets organizer on the back of the bedroom door, so that you could store all the necessary things like shoes, accessories, or belts. Clear the bedside table completely, using wall sconces instead of table lamps and leaving only some space for a book and a glass of water.
Maintaining order in the bedroom helps to make the room spacious, comfortable and tranquil. With a limited amount of space one can accumulate a lot of things around the bed, the wardrobe and the desk. An adequate system of organizing belongings can help to organize everything without cluttering the room.
First, try to get rid of any clothes, accessories and other items that are no longer necessary. One should avoid keeping unnecessary items on bedside tables, chairs or the floor. Daily-use items should be put in accessible storage places, and less used belongings can be kept in less accessible locations. One can use the organizer for drawers to store small items like socks, accessories and personal belongings.
One can make use of the space underneath the bed to save space. The use of storage boxes or any other containers will allow to save the space for storing seasonal clothes, extra bedding, shoes or any other items which do not require everyday usage. If the bed is equipped with drawers one can make use of them. It is possible to use over-the-door organizers for storing shoes, accessories or any other light-weighted items without occupying the floor area.
The vertical storage can be used for organizing the belongings. The wall shelves can serve for storing books, decorations or daily-use items without cluttering the floor. Some hooks can be attached to appropriate walls or doors for hanging bags, jackets or other often used items. One can choose appropriate storage solutions to use according to the room without cluttering everything. Also, one should maintain the bed always made and return all items in their proper places each day. This can help to keep the floor free of clutter and keep the surfaces tidy.
Thus, with appropriate storage, regular decluttering and simple habits one can organize the bedroom in a nice way.
Bathroom
The small size of the room is always a challenge for proper storage. Yet, with a handful of solutions and adequate spacing, one will manage to accommodate everything comfortably. Hereby, a list of several tips to maximize the space in the smallest of bathrooms is provided.
First off, make sure to throw out anything old and unused from the bathroom. For every day, store the products in clearly visible and easily accessible places. Moreover, small baskets and boxes can be used to store products and keep them away, thus freeing up the counters and other surfaces. As for the toilet tissue holders or bottles of liquid soap, they will, surely, become a thing of the past since an ample supply of these will be stored in a conveniently located place. Additionally, wall shelves and door-mounted hooks can be utilized to hold extra roll of toilet paper.
While baskets and boxes may be used to store a variety of products, they are certainly not the most convenient tools for organizing a small space. Instead, choose to use clear plastic containers with tight-fitting lids so that items are on display and won’t be lost in any corners. For vertical storage, a set of wall-mounted shelves and a narrow cabinet above the toilet can be used.
As mentioned, above-the-toilet narrow cabinets can be used, and a small organizer box can occupy the space on the counter. Hence, all products that are used rarely should be put back in their packaging. On the other hand, frequently used items shall be placed in an easily accessible small basket on the counter. Such an organized countertop will create an illusion of more space and facilitate the cleaning process. As for towels, they can be stored in folded stacks neatly placed on shelves.
Finally, remember to clean and utilize the space under the sink. A plastic container with a tight lid or small baskets can occupy this space and hold a variety of items. Most importantly, make sure not to overfill the bathroom cabinet. Thereby, the products that have expired and are no longer needed will be disposed of. Hence, all things that are rarely used and do not occupy valuable space will be kept outside the bathroom. In general, with smart storage solutions and a little bit of time spent on organizing, even the messiest of bathrooms will become an orderly place.
Storage Boxes
Storage boxes are the cheapest and easiest way to organize your belongings and save a small space. They can be placed almost anywhere in a house – in a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room or even an office in your home. If there is not enough place for storage, boxes can help you to group your similar items and organize shelves, cabinets, drawers and places under the furniture.
The choice of boxes depends on the volume and the kind of the item you want to put there. Small boxes can be used for accessories, cables, stationery, etc., whereas large ones can contain clothes, blankets, shoes, toys or seasonal items. It is recommended to choose stackable boxes, since it helps you to organize your belongings vertically without using any extra space.
Labeling each box will help you to organize everything better. Such label as “Winter Clothes,” “Documents,” “Toys” or “Cables” will help you to find what you need without opening all the boxes one by one. It would be convenient to use transparent boxes for things you will use often. You can use covered boxes for things you rarely use in order to save them from dust.
Boxes can help you to use spaces you usually ignore. Flat boxes can be put under the bed or sofa and small boxes can be put in larger cabinets. However, try not to fill each box with all kinds of belongings. Before you start to put something somewhere, ask yourself whether you really use or need it.
Place heavier boxes lower and lighter ones on upper shelves. Make sure that boxes are stable and not in the way of walkways or exits.
Boxes of the right size, labeled properly and placed in the proper places can transform unused spaces into a storage place for your belongings. They are a perfect way to save a small space and organize your house.
Vertical Storage
If there is no more room left on the ground, the natural tendency is to move up. Vertical storage is one of the most potent ideas in small space planning, yet one of the most underused ones. Most people use only the lower half of their walls, leaving their upper halves empty – hence, squandering space they could have used to de-clutter their ground-level space. Adopting the idea of storing things vertically will not only increase your home’s storing capacities but will also make your rooms look taller and more spacious. For instance, installing tall shelves on your floor will help you gain a lot of additional space for books, decorations and storage containers without taking much room at all. You can also install floating shelves in many places, including above desks, beds and even over doors, to store things and create additional storage space where there was none before. Pegboards or magnetic strips, for instance, can help you put your tools and other equipment on your walls and thus keep your desk and counter completely empty. Your doors can also serve as great spaces for vertical storage. Just by putting some over-the-door hooks or organizers you can increase your storage space dramatically.
Decluttering
Decluttering the home is considered the best way to create additional space and to organize it. The accumulation of items and goods in a limited place makes the rooms overcrowded and disorganized. Therefore, getting rid of unused and unneeded belongings creates more space and helps organize everything that is necessary.
One should start with one room or with one drawer, one shelf, one cabinet. It is necessary to group all belongings and to divide them into categories according to their purpose: things to be kept, donated, recycled, and discarded. It is important not to exaggerate when selecting necessary belongings. Those things which were not used for a very long time and have neither practical nor sentimental value should be gotten rid of because it would be better to leave space for something else.
It is necessary to pay special attention to those places where cluttering occurs rapidly – kitchens, bedside tables, bathrooms, wardrobes, and entrance ways. Frequently used items should be left on the places they are easily accessible; less frequently used items should be stored in properly labeled boxes or in appropriate storage spaces. There is no sense in moving unnecessary items from one place to another since it does not help to solve the problem but only makes it worse.
There is a good habit – to follow “one in, one out” principle. It means that whenever buying a new item one should get rid of another old one performing the same function. Thus, it will help to avoid growing belongings progressively.
The decluttering process should be repeated on a regular basis – it is necessary to spend some time weekly checking the contents of drawers, shelves, and storage areas and preventing cluttering from spreading.
Every member of the family should put back the items where they belong after having used them.
Here’s another article you may find useful:
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10 Simple Home Organization Ideas for Small Spaces
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Conclusion
The organization of a small space is not about constraint or abandoning your favorite things; instead, it is about changing your outlook on life and learning how to use your surroundings intelligently. With the help of practical tips such as making good use of your vertical walls, de-cluttering high traffic zones such as the kitchen and the bathroom, utilizing the under-bed storage area in your bedroom, and employing labeled storage boxes, you will be able to completely change the way your home operates. A compact space will effortlessly become a functional, stylish, and comfortable place when every inch of it is assigned a particular task. This simple guide shows that you do not necessarily require a large house or a significant budget in order to live comfortably. Proper maintenance of these organization methods will not only clear up all of your visual clutter but will also create an impression of a larger and brighter home.
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