When it comes to storing clothing, hobby equipment, kitchen gadgets, and other personal items, apartment dwellers have been dealing with limited space for years. When renting an apartment, you are always conscious of the amount you pay per square foot of space each month.
As a tenant, you have to find creative ways to store your stuff. If you have limited storage space in an apartment, condo, or tiny house, here are seven places to store your stuff.
1. Beneath the Bed. One of the best places to stash your extra stuff is under the bed. With vacuum bags like Vacuum Storage Bags,you can remove all of the air from a bag of seasonal clothing and store more clothes in less space. Once filled, Vacuum storage bags can slide right under the bed and keep dust and other contaminants out of your clothing.
To further increase the storage space you can place your bed on risers. If you don’t have room for a nightstand in your bedroom, you can create a bedside pocket to hold your phone, remote control or other small personal items.
2. On the Door. Thanks to over-the-door storage racks the back of every closet and pantry door in an apartment can do double duty as a storage area. You can get over-the-door hooks for hanging items, over-the-door straps for hats or purses, and even over-the-door wire baskets for pantry items.
A fabric over-the-door shoe organizer can hold shoes on the bedroom closet door, but it is even more helpful right on the back of a kitchen pantry door for holding rolls of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper, and plastic garbage bags. In an apartment, an over-the-door shoe organizer can free up valuable space in kitchen drawers.
3. Hanging in the Closet.You can also hang more than just clothes from a rod in a closet. You can also get a closet hanging organizer that hangs from a closet rod but provides flat spaces or cubes for storing items like folded shirts, underwear, and socks.
Many items that would otherwise require a dresser or chest of drawers can simply be stored in a lightweight fabric closet hanging organizer. If you ever move with the help of friends and family, you’ll also appreciate how much lighter a hanging organizer is than a chest of drawers.
4. Above the Kitchen Cabinets. The space between the top of the kitchen cabinets and the ceiling might seem like an unusual place to store your stuff. But, there is no need to let that space go to waste.
You can get consistently colored plastic storage bins or even large ceramic or stainless steel storage cylinders, place lightweight, seldom-used items inside, and then attractively arrange them on top of kitchen cabinets. The only drawback to this kitchen storage location is that it would require the purchase of a step ladder.
5. In Furniture. When space is at a premium, furniture with built-in storage capacity is like bringing extra space into your home. Ottomans, coffee tables, end tables, and entertainment units are all available with storage space built in.
They provide an attractive polished way to store small items that can easily clutter up an apartment. If you are on a budget, items like file cabinets and steamer trunks can also easily be pressed into service as end tables or coffee tables.
If you can’t afford furniture, use Rubbermaid totes and cover them with pretty a tablecloth or piece of fabric to use as coffee tables or plant stands. No one will be the wiser to your creative hidden storage.
6. Beneath the Sink. Areas beneath the sink in the bathroom vanity and in the kitchen have always served as storage areas for cleaners and toiletries. The key is to maximize the use of that space with properly sized storage containers and carry-all baskets that will allow you to easily access items and completely use the under sink areas.
7. Out on the Balcony. Many apartment complexes have rules against storing items out on a balcony. The key is to buy balcony furnishings that offer extra storage. The idea is to have a furnished usable balcony living space and not an unsightly cube of plastic storage bins on your balcony.
A balcony with chairs and end tables that offer storage and a tiki bar with hidden shelves enhances your living space and beautifies your community.
When you need storage space in an apartment, with a little creativity you can find a nook, a niche, or a cranny, for everything you own.
