An apartment is usually a smaller living space than a regular house. Without a properly organized system, though, you will be just as likely to lose your keys, wallet, glasses, and a myriad of everyday things.

No one has time to waste on searching for their necessities every single day, which is why it is time to start creating smart storage solutions. The relatively small space necessitates a long lasting tidy organization to avoid a cluttered look.

Why Do We Need Apartment Organization?

Here are just a few reasons why apartment organization is so essential, especially for those living in small apartments:

More Storage and Extra Space

With everything organized and in its place, you will be able to make the most of your storage space. That way, there will be more floor and table space for you to work on projects and move around easily. Home workouts, science experiments, and meal prepping will be easier since you have some extra space to spread out your things for the day.

The floor space will be great for a proper flow through even a small apartment; you might even find it a breeze to host large groups of friends. However, it is always a wise idea to take other steps to maximize space in your apartment.

Better Personal and Professional Life

When you are in an unorganized space, almost every step will be a challenge. You will not be able to remember where you put a certain important item, which could lead you to trouble at work or somewhere else. If you forget where you put someone’s gift, that could lead to deterioration in your personal relationships too.

When small apartments get cluttered and unorganized, the people living in them might get depressive thoughts and stay in a bad mood. We may not even realize this, but a cramped and small space can cause some negative effects on our mind. We may get cranky for no reason, feel no joy in coming home, and, perhaps, even fight with our loved ones. After some organization along with using Shine’s favorite storage boxes, even that small apartment might seem like a brand new cozy space. Learn more on how to declutter your apartment here.

Saving Time, Energy, and Money

At the end of the day, having some efficient storage space can do wonders for your daily routine. You won’t be wasting your time and strength on locating items, making shelf space for additional things, and trying to navigate in a perpetually cramped space.

If any space is cluttered, especially a small space, there is a higher chance of losing stuff. If the item is really important and you simply can’t locate it, you would probably shell out cash for a new one. Relapsing car keys or changing the locks on your doors can get quite expensive. Even if the purchases are small, like a pair of scissors, that is still wasted money.

Apartment Organization Ideas

Handling small spaces can be challenging, especially when you have to share storage space with a roommate.

Are you wondering about the best organization ideas for a small apartment? If so, the following storage tips and small apartment ideas could be just the ticket:

1. Take a Step Back and Evaluate

Before starting on any closet ideas or checking out what the container store sells, pause and evaluate that small apartment. If you have yet to move in, it might be wise to figure out what furniture you need for an apartment first.

A small apartment might just have a kitchen and living room that doubles as a bedroom at night. You will have to think carefully about the function of each room and what you want to do there. After that, you can implement whatever small apartment ideas seem relevant.

Those living in a small apartment will probably utilize the living room as a home office, an entertaining area, and even the dining area. If that is the case, you might have to think about organizing your paperwork, some board games, a gaming system, and any other relevant item within the same small space. Even those who don’t live in a small apartment may use one room for several different activities. The best storage tips will vary accordingly.

 2. Divide Rooms into Zones

Once you have checked out each room and decided upon its function, divide their space into specific zones. You can then invest in storage drawers and make the most of these small spaces. Once you have chosen and purchased the storage drawers and other storage necessities, it is time to implement the organization ideas.

Start establishing organization ideas room by room. You may want to begin with the kitchen, which is the heart of every home. If the bedroom is the most-used area or you especially want to save floor space for entertaining in the living area, start there.

3. Clear Up the Zones

You might have more shelf space and more storage space than it seems! Before the organization ideas kick in, get out everything the zone contains. This includes the ingredients from the kitchen cabinets, the contents of each roll out drawer, and the increasingly tall heap on that chair. Sort through all the items and decide which ones to toss, donate, or keep.

Once everything is out, you may also want to quickly clean up the empty spaces. Vacuum, sweep, and disinfect before you place items back into the shelves or cabinets.

Sorting your stuff can take some time and mental stress, as well as physical effort. You will have to decide which items to part with and whether you can sell them or not. If there are things with sentimental value or some out of season clothes, get a storage bed or underbed storage bins to stow them away. Fold all the clothes as small as possible. You can check out Marie Kondo’s method before putting them away.

4. Label the Containers and Boxes

Once you have everything in a satisfactory place, make sure that the items don’t get muddled up again. With the right labels on a box or container, you will know what is in it before pulling it out. Without labels, you may even have to dump out all the contents to find a certain thing. If there is more than one type of item in one container, make a list on the label. For instance, a container with school supplies might be marked “School Supplies: Construction Paper, Extra Pencils, Stapler, etc.”

Organizing the Rooms

Many professional organizers say that it is best to organize room by room. You may want to read the first-time apartment renter guide after this, but you can check out these room organization ideas for now:

1. Organization Ideas for the Kitchen

Organization counts for a lot in the kitchen, as it saves time and also helps you cook the best meals at home. If you have cabinets here, designate one for baking supplies and spices, while another can be solely for the dishes. Make it a rule that no new dish comes into your small apartment if that cabinet is already full.

Even in a small apartment, you can get tired doing a repetitive chore. For instance, if the dishwasher is too far from the dish cabinet, you might get tired just putting away the dishes. This could lead to a tendency of leaving them in the dishwasher or the counter until you urgently need that space.

To save both table space and hassle, put the dishes somewhere near your dishwasher. If you don’t have a cabinet in that area, utilize the wall space and get some narrow floating shelves there. Make them just wide enough to hold your dishes, but make sure not to overload them.

Similarly, you can get some additional shelving space by the stove for your spices and other dry ingredients. You can get covered shelves to help the spice storing stay dust free.

Pantry Space and Under the Sink Organization

Upcycle old jars or get some new ones to organize the small ingredients in your pantry. There are also special organizers for cans and other larger items. If you keep anything in closed storage here, labeling is a must. The average apartment dweller likes to roll out shelves for stowing away all types of pantry items, too.

Many homeowners may not realize that neglecting the undersink area can deprive them of a useful space. Just get a few small tubs to organize your cleaning products for this place. If the area is not easily visible, you may want to put your trash can there instead of the products.

If your kitchen space and pantry is small, make use of tiered shelving, rolling carts, and lazy Susans. These will make sure everything is in place and visible when you need it.

2. Organizing the Living Room

The living room is a versatile space in any small or large apartment. If you are wondering how much square footage you need for an apartment, do check how much of that is the living room. This is the place where you will be entertaining your friends, spending quality time with the family, or working from home.

Get Furniture with Storage, Room Dividers, Coat Racks, and Shoe Dividers

There are now a lot of furniture options that double as storage without affecting the aesthetic of the living room. Look for a coffee table, ottoman, chest, and even sofas with hidden storage. A TV stand can either hold your game controllers and Playstation, or be of a space saving thinness. With a clean and spacious living room, even an overhead paper lantern will look classy.

If the space is large enough, you may consider using room dividers so that every item stays where you need it the most. For instance, you can keep board games in a separate large container. Even a basic model will be fine for this purpose.

The entryway is usually part of the living room. So, do invest in a coat rack and some shoe storage to make things tidy there. A small seat in that area with a cabinet underneath will provide extra storage space for your shoes, boots, and so on.

3. Organizing the Bedroom

The bedroom is usually a haven where one can rest and unwind after a long day. However, a disorganized bedroom will just be uncomfortable and frustrating. This is especially true if you have a small bedroom, so work on organizing the various areas here:

• Put a little chest in the closet to hold the items you don’t need that often. A bar or hooks on the closet doors will make sure you use that space as well.
• The closet floor does not have to be littered with fallen clothes. Get some zippered storage boxes for blankets, off season clothes, etc.

4. Organizing the Bathroom

The bathroom can be well-organized with the proper items as well. Some examples include:

• A shower caddy: These will hold your soap, shampoo, washcloths, loofahs, etc.
• Dispensers: These can up your aesthetic while also allowing you to track your product usage; simply dispense your shampoos, handwash, and conditioners in them before using
• Medicine cabinet: Reserve your medicine cabinet space for medicines only whenever possible, especially if there are children in the house; you can also put the medicines up high and other items in a few toiletry bags on the shelves that are not accessible to children
• Wall organizers: You can install some shelves or racks above toilets, on the door, and any other space you can find; as long as they don’t present a risk of head bumps, they are perfect for storing extra towels, soaps, etc.

Small Apartment Ideas for Any Room

There are some organization ideas that one can apply in almost any room. Here are just a few ideas to make sure everything is neatly stowed away no matter what the area is like:

• Add hooks, caddies, shelves, or bars on cabinet and closet doors whenever possible
• Make use of the ceiling with storage sleeves in a garage or put a hanging pot rack within the kitchen
• Go for containers and baskets if the landlord has issues with you installing new shelves or racks
• Get specialty organizers, such as utensil holders and drawer dividers, to make sure everyday items remain visible when you open a drawer
• Get rolling underbed storage drawers and fit them wherever space allows; under a sideboard, a couch, or a bed
• Consider vertical storage as much as possible; stackable bins, cube storage, storage ladders, etc.
• Corral small items, like keys, glasses, wallets, and anything you have to grab on your way out
• Get rid of at least one item before bringing in another; donate a set of clothes when you get a new one – the same goes for cutlery, cushions, bed sheets, etc.

The Takeaway

With the astronomical housing prices in big cities these days, more real estate agents are showing their clients tiny apartments. Every square foot counts, so it is important to maximize storage and aim for as much open space as possible.

With all the small apartment ideas going around these days, it is possible to establish a proper storage system. It may require a container store trip, but saving that precious space is well worth the investment. It can also help to check out the things to do before moving into an apartment.

If you are ready to put some of these organization ideas in action, start the process today! It does not matter if you use container store storage bins or the truly bare bones alternative of an average cardboard box. The real goal is to save space with smart storage solutions. Do not rule out hiring a professional organizer or interior designer if your small apartment seems to be out of control.