How To Tame Your Tiny Apartment

Unsplash - CC0 License

If you live in a tiny apartment, you'll know that it can get out of control pretty easily. It’s just so easy for it to descend into mess and madness.

Fortunately, there are ways you can tame this beast, even if you aren’t benefiting from spacious one-bedroom layouts. So, what can you do?

  

Accept That Some Things Will Go Outside The Apartment

It takes a bit of creative thinking, but accepting that some things will go outside the apartment is one of the best ways to keep it clean and tidy. Normally, you won’t have space for things like your bicycle or kayak. Those are better put in storage. The same goes for your box of college textbooks, skis, or Christmas décor, unless you can be extremely inventive with the way you arrange your space.

Create Fake Zones

Another thing you can do to make the most of a small apartment and ultimately tame it is to create fake “zones.” These let you split up your apartment into different areas.

For example, you could have a sleep zone and a living zone. You could also have a garden “zone” if you have a balcony or an in-apartment hydroponics setup.

These fake zones might sound like a gimmick, but they have a strong psychological effect. Zoning parts of your apartment for work and other areas for play can really change how you perceive them and how you feel.

Use Trays To Reduce Chaos

You can also try to use trays to reduce clutter and chaos in your unit. Instead of having stuff just lying everywhere, you can operate a single tray for things like keys, jewelry, phones, and so on. 

When you start using trays, it gives your apartment that “everything is working as it should” vibe. Nothing is left to chance. 

High And Wide Curtains

Unsplash - CC0 License

Another way to really tame your one-bed apartment is to make your curtains high and wide. This tip might sound a little strange, but it really works if you get it right.

Most apartment ceilings are, unfortunately, 8 feet high. But if you widen your curtain pole so that the curtains cover the windows from either side with a 6-inch overlap, it can totally change how the whole room appears. Suddenly, with luxurious drapes, everything just looks that little bit more grand. 

Command Hooks On The Rear Of All Doors

You also want to place command hooks (or equivalent) on the back of all your doors. Again, these will give you more space to play with and make your rooms feel less constrictive. 

Command hooks are useful for all sorts of things, including things like hair tools and measuring cups. You can put them in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and find uses for them every time. There’s really no restrictions.

What’s more, when you have command hooks in place, it makes everything so much easier. You don’t have to leave towels, coats, dressing gowns and other items on the floor. They have their place.

Make Everything Multifunctional

Another thing you’ll want to do in a tiny apartment is make everything multifunctional. You should have machines that do different things for you.

For example, getting a microwave that doubles as an air fryer is a great example. These give you a two-in-one effect. You can also look for storage headboards and mirrors that double up as jewelry cabinets. These options massively reduce perceived clutter in your home while allowing you to keep all your possessions nearby. 

Invest In Underbed Storage

You should also think carefully about whether you should invest in under-bed storage. A lot of people leave this space unused when they shouldn’t.

Underbed storage can contain anything you like. Most people use it for things like shoes, but you have plenty of other options. For example, you might want to use it to store all your camping gear.

Hang Your Pots

Another pro tip is to hang all your pots in your tiny apartment. You probably have a built-in kitchenette, but the actual volume of storage is likely small. When you hang your pots, you free up more space. Plus, it can look great if all your cookware is pure copper. 

Use Mirrors And Keep Them Clean

If you’re really low on space, it’s a good idea to get some mirrors and keep them clean. Reflective surfaces increase the amount of perceived space in your tiny apartment, making it instantly feel bigger and preventing you from getting a sense of claustrophobia.

Try to place mirrors opposite where natural light enters your apartment, especially if you have small windows. This will make the amount of light in your rooms increase even more.

Master the Ottoman

Of course, if you have a tiny apartment, mastering the art of using ottomans is also critical. These are perfect for storage, work and extra seating, giving you more space. What’s more, they can act as an extra seat when you have guests over, so you’re not scrambling for chairs.

You can find decent ottomans at most furniture stores. Just make sure they have the features you need for your space. The larger the unit, the better. 

Use The One-In, One-Out Rule

Using the one-in, one-out rule is critical if you want to tame your tiny apartment. For example, if you buy a pair of new shoes, you need to get rid of the old ones, and so on.

This policy will save you a lot of hassle in the long-run. Plus, it will force you to be careful about what you buy. It’ll teach you not to spend any money that’s going to go to waste on the wrong things. Following this to the letter will reduce clutter and prevent your tiny apartment from feeling more like a storage unit. (You can rent those separately).

So there you have it: some of the ways you can tame your tiny apartment. Living in a small space is possible, it just requires the right approach to living. Most people can make it work.

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA