7 Smart Ways to Organize a Small Apartment [Pro Tips!]

Living in a small apartment has its challenges—and storage is usually the biggest one.

Unfortunately, a lack of storage leads to a lack of organization. And the less organized you are, the smaller your place will look and feel.

Whether you live in a tiny loft or share a three-bedroom unit with several roommates, there are lots of things you can do to reorganize your home.

Ready to get your place in order once and for all? Here are seven smart and creative ways to organize a small apartment:

#1 Declutter

When you have a limited amount of space, it’s essential to keep clutter to a minimum. The less you have to store away, the easier organizing will be.

Declutter your entire apartment and create three piles in every room: keep, trash, and donate.

Empty every closet, cabinet, and drawer. Then, itemize what you have and keep only what you absolutely need. The smaller your place is, the stricter you’ll need to be about getting rid of clutter and never letting it back in again.

#2 Employ Over-the-Door Organizers

One way to maximize space and organize items is to make use of over-the-door hanging racks. You can place these on any door, including the inside your closets.

In your bedroom, hang one to hold shoes, belts, handbags, and scarves. In the kitchen, hang one inside the pantry for paper towels, cleaning products, and dry goods.

Also, hang one to hold shampoo, cosmetics, and hygiene products in the bathroom.

Over-the-door organizers come in different widths and lengths, and you can even use small ones on the inside of cabinet doors in the kitchen. This is the perfect way to store pot lids or reusable storage containers that take up excess space in your cabinets.

#3 Hang Slotted Shelves With S-Hooks

S-hooks are ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom. Hang a slotted shelf on the wall and you can use the top to organize dishes, bakeware, or canisters. Mount a few S-hooks to the bottom of each shelf to create hanging storage for pots, pans, and colanders.

These hooks are also useful in the bathroom. If you’ve taken our advice and attached an over-the-door organizer to your bathroom door, you may need to find a new way to hang towels. Adding a few S-hooks to your shower rod will create convenient storage for linens and bathrobes.

#4 Make Use of Every Corner

In a small home, every inch of space counts, so be sure to make use of your corners.

Don’t allow any corner space to go to waste. Instead, invest in a removable corner cabinet or mount floating shelves all the way up the corner of the wall.

Corner shelves can be used to display decorative items and books, or to hold storage bins for even better organization.

#5 Invest in Double-Duty Furniture

To organize items in a small apartment, you need to find ways to maximize storage and efficiency. That’s precisely why we love double-duty furniture with concealed storage.

For example:

Look for a coffee table with a lift-top lid or cubbies where you can add storage bins. Find a couch that offers hidden storage under the seats or in the arms. Buy yourself some ottomans with removable tops that can function as both extra seating and extra storage.

In a small space, your furniture needs to be functional and smart. If you have a really tiny place or a one-room studio, you may even want to ditch the traditional couch in favor of a daybed. These multifunctional sofas can be used as a couch for you to sit on and a bed for guests to sleep in.

#6 Make Use of Under-the-Bed Storage

Don’t let any space go to waste—including the area beneath your bed frame. Buy slim storage bins that can slide in and out from under the bed; they’re great for organizing all sorts of things.

Under-the-bed storage bins are ideal for holding seasonal clothing, shoes, handbags, and all kinds of personal items. They’re also the perfect place to store extra sheets, towels, linens, and blankets.

Under-the-bed storage boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but I personally love the clear ones. They make it so much easier to see what you’ve stored inside!

#7 Maximize Vertical Space

The smaller your floor is, the more important it becomes to make use of vertical wall space. This is a great way to make a small room look bigger, but it’s also a good way to get really organized.

Add some floor-to-ceiling shelves that you can stack high with storage boxes.

Tall bookshelves are perfect for use in an office or living room, but they can also be used in a bedroom. You can place tall bookshelves outside your closet to organize shoes or fill them with storage bins to hold clothing, personal items, and accessories. You can even style your bookshelf to match your apartment and double as a decorative element.

Don’t want to add a bookcase? Hang a few shelves instead. Getting items off the floor and onto the wall is an easy way to create an organized storage system.

Another way to make use of vertical space is with the addition of a few walls hooks. Hang a few hooks in your entryway to hold coats, hats, and umbrellas. If you have extra clothes that won’t fit in your closet, hang a few hooks in your bedroom to keep your wardrobe in order.

Conclusion

This weekend, take a few hours to start organizing your small apartment. Start by decluttering. Buy a few over-the-door organizers, S-hooks, and shelves that you can mount high on the wall.

Invest in some furniture and accents that double as storage options. Make use of every inch of your home, including the corners and the space beneath your bed.

With these tips and tricks, you can make your apartment function better, look more organized, and feel more welcoming. If there’s one good thing about having a small place, it’s that you only have to spend a few days to reorganize it!

Author bio

Ryan Sundling is a Group Marketing Manager at Cardinal Group Management. He has over ten years of experience in the student housing industry and works with Sakara on a daily basis to grow their online presence.