While it sounds simple, organizing your things in an aesthetically pleasing and functional way can seem like a pipe dream. But what if we told you that there are tips and tricks you can use to organize a small apartment and get the spacious sanctuary of your dreams? Whether you’re a city-dweller renting an apartment in Chicago or neighborhood-hopping to your new Miami rental, we’ve got you covered.
We surveyed organizing experts to develop a room-by-room checklist to transform your apartment into one with ample storage space. Keep reading for handy storage and organization hacks you’ll find helpful, regardless of your square footage.
How to organize a small apartment entryway
Begin with a vision in mind
When it comes to tips and tricks for organizing and storing items, you can find an overwhelming amount of them almost anywhere. Always start with a question: Why do you need to do this? Whether the mess is the main cause of stress or you moved into a smaller space and need some ideas to create a functional and tidy space, always start with thinking about your why. With your goal in mind, it’s much easier to tackle a project without giving up midway by setting a clear intention. In this way, you open the door for everything else to fall into place, whether as a storage bin sale or recognizing that you need a bit of help from an expert. Whatever the case, start with a moment of reflection. –The Heart’s Mirror
Create an easy-to-reach drop zone
A common mistake is not having a drop zone in the kitchen or entrance area. You often won’t have time to put things away right when You get home, but if you have a box or basket where you can drop everything, you’re more likely to find it when needed. Just commit to putting things away on the weekend. –More Organized Me
Take advantage of door hanging storage solutions
To really maximize a small space on a budget, I recommend taking advantage of doors. Think: adding a removable over-the-door rack to a tight space such as a pantry or entry closet. These are great ways to sneak in some extra storage and organize items that would otherwise clutter up the space. –Mindful Spaces
How to organize a small apartment living area
Less is more
It’s essential to remember that a messy and disorganized living room gives the impression that the space is smaller, compromising the aesthetics, comfort, and quality of life in the space. Clearing the clutter means getting rid of the excess “stuff” in your home, like an old piece of decor you don’t love anymore or giving that dusty book a new destination. –Actiive Organized
Get in the zone
Getting – and staying – organized can feel daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Your apartment can be organized, tidy and peaceful by following these steps. (Spoiler alert: you can apply these steps to organize any space in your home,)
- Start by thinking about how you want your living room to function and look. Is it used for relaxing, entertaining, studying, or a combination? Map out zones of similar items around the room. Once you have a plan, you’re ready to empty, sort, and purge.
- Begin by emptying all of the items in the room, sorting categories into piles as you go. The categories could include: “keep in this room,” “relocate to another part of the apartment,” “donate,” and “trash/recycling.” Then, remove all donations, trash, and items being relocated to another room.
- Now that you have a clear idea of what’s staying in this room, purchase any organizing bins, baskets and perhaps furniture you will need – or repurpose items you already have. (Don’t forget to measure first and maximize vertical space: walls and behind doors.)
- Lastly, put it all back. Using the zones you identified earlier, place containment products, organize items where you use them, and keep like items together.
An organized and beautiful space compels you to keep it that way, and there’s no more searching for items or places to put them. –Kristin + Co Organizing
How to organize a small apartment closet
Keep it simple
Here are three simple hacks to organize a small bedroom or closet. First, file-fold your clothes. Secondly, use bins that can stack to use your vertical space. Last but not least, use slim line hangers. This will help you save space and make the space look more neat and orderly. –Calm For Clutter
Add additional storage with a two-shelf shoe organizer
An easy, budget-friendly option to add vertical storage in a closet is to purchase a two-shelf shoe organizer and place it on the top shelf of a closet. These cost less than $20 and provide two additional shelves to store either off-season shoes or labeled baskets for items like purses, gloves, and hats. –Elizabeth Regalado, Professional Home Organizer
Make decluttering a breeze with the reverse hanger trick
Turn all of your hangers around in your closet or wardrobe so that the open hanger hook faces outward. Then, after you wear an item, place it back into your closet with the open side of the hanger hook facing the right way – inwards. This makes it easy for you to see which clothes wear regularly and which stay untouched at a glance. Set a time limit for yourself, such as six months, and commit to letting go of the items you never wore during that period. Yes, even the brand new items with the tags still on them. After all, if you haven’t reached for that item in the past six months, chances are you won’t in the future either. –A to Zen Life
Don’t forget about over-the-door storage solutions
The inside of the door is often forgotten real estate but it can be used for more than a hanging shoe rack. My favorite product that utilizes the back of the door most effectively is the “Elfa Over the Door Rack” from The Container Store. It offers different baskets sizes and accessories, like peg boards and hooks, to make it work for any closet in your home. –Organized Acourtingly
How to organize a small apartment kitchen
Give every item its own place
If you have a small apartment or kitchen, you need to think about where you want your items in the limited space. Put thought into where and how you place your kitchen and apartment items. You’ve got to organize to the tune of that old familiar mantra: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” –Peak Organizing
Store vertically whenever possible
Maximizing space in a small apartment kitchen can be solved in one word: up. In cabinets, store items vertically where possible. Think pots, pans, lids, dishes, baking sheets, etc. Use cookware, lid racks, or repurposed file folder holders to do the job. Some products let you stack items in drawers and cabinets, creating easy access to items while doubling the space provided. Think shelf extenders for bowls, cups, and mugs, and stackable dividers for silverware and utility drawers. Utilizing wall space is also a great way to get items off the counter. Your cutting board, knife set, and serving bowls can make great décor when counter or counter space is limited, so add floating shelves or wall hooks where possible. –Lisa Malone
Don’t forget to create “zones” in your refrigerator
One of the most overlooked spaces in a home is one we come face to face with every day: the refrigerator. Organizing your refrigerator into “zones” (for example, dairy, meat, produce, leftovers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner) allows you to utilize valuable real estate by adjusting shelves to fit each zone. This leads to less overbuying, less food waste, and simpler meal planning. –Uncluttered_Spaces
Edit your kitchen items
Keeping only the items you love is key to organizing a small kitchen and keeping it organized. Take time to actively decide what stays in your kitchen by mindfully sorting through all your kitchen items. You can donate anything you don’t use anymore to your local shelter, charity, or thrift store. Letting go of items you don’t use anymore will allow easy access to the items you love. –Box&Co
How to organize a small apartment bathroom
Reassess your products
With limited storage space in the bathroom, decluttering is key. Cosmetics, bath products, first aid supplies, and medicines all have the “best by” dates, so pull it all out and start fresh. Be realistic with what you really need and still use. –Simplify Buffalo
Get creative with under-the-sink storage
Shelf risers, stackable drawers, or stackable bins are great for maximizing the available height since the most frequently underutilized space in any bathroom is typically under the sink. If you have the countertop space, trays, trays, trays. A shallow tray instantly provides an intentional contained home for the perfumes, lotions, bottles, etc., that would otherwise look unruly. –Making Space Today
Opt for a large turntable under your bathroom sink
Underneath a sink is typically a black hole for product and back stock. A large turntable can hold a lot of must-haves and keep them all within reach. This helps you access all the things and keeps you from overbuying. –The Artful Organizer
Organize up, not out
The most impactful way to maximize storage space in your small bathroom is to utilize all available vertical space, especially underneath the sink. I recommend that you install Like-It Modular Bins, which are sold at The Container Store because these storage solutions are available in various sizes that allow you to circumvent tricky pipes and hardware. They also serve as an extra layer of protection between your precious inventory and potential leaks or humidity. Don’t forget to purchase the modular inserts that nest within each drawer to make micro-categorizing and inventory maintenance a breeze. –Inspired Spaces
Stick to an easy-to-follow routine
No matter what organizational technique you use, you must be disciplined by putting things away after use and reviewing your items seasonally to remove unused items; otherwise, you’ll be cluttered all over again. Store only the items you use daily in your medicine cabinet and/or the top drawer of your vanity, nothing else. You can store items you use weekly closer to the front and items used monthly and beyond in the back under your sink, all sorted by category in bins. –O.C.D. Experience
Reduce visual clutter by keeping countertops clutter-free
The trick to organizing a small bathroom is to take advantage of height. Start by keeping the sink and counter as clear as possible to reduce clutter and appeal to the visual senses. If there is a cabinet or shelves above or below the sink, use stackable containers/drawers. In addition, use deep bins such as mDesign 16″ storage bins to maximize depth. Minimize clutter on walls by using hooks instead of towel racks and keep decor simple. And don’t forget to use products that match to make the room more visually appealing. –Katie King Organizing
Don’t forget about over-the-toilet storage
If your bathroom lacks ample space, an over-the-toilet storage rack will be your new best friend. You’ll also want to make room for the new by breaking up with any clutter. Throw away the old makeup, trash old lotions or shampoos that haven’t been used in the last year, and only hold on to the daily (or date night) essentials. –Organize Me Up
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