When we moved from our house into this apartment, we lost a ton of space in our home. With that shift, came some organizational challenges as we adjusted to living without much “extra” space like we’d become accustomed to. Over the last few years, we didn’t need to be too dialled in organizationally because we had enough space to spread things out between three floors. But this apartment is tiny and we definitely don’t have that luxury here.
I’ve slowly been figuring out how to organize this space for maximum function. In the first couple of weeks after we moved here, I found myself frequently frustrated by the lack of space. Having to dig through cupboards to find things, pulling everything off the shelf to get something at the back or just not being able to find something altogether. So I decided to share the tips and tricks that have worked for us in case you find yourself in the same situation!
Pantry Organizers
This was the first area that I really tackled. Our pantry was a nightmare at first and I never knew what we had, where things were or what we needed to buy. Figuring out a system to group things together in baskets and stacking items vertically was a game changer.
Small Baskets & Bins
We have these little baskets all throughout the apartment. Under the sink to hold cleaning supplies, in the linen closet to hold medication, in the pantry to hold different categories of food (i.e. snacks, pasta, etc.), in the bathroom to hold hair products. Get yourself some baskets and you will instantly feel more put together.
Moveable Kitchen Island/Shelves
In our apartment, counter space is minimal. I love cooking and being in the kitchen and honestly, in those first few weeks I hated cooking in there because everything felt so crammed. We purchased a moveable island with a cutting board on top and oh man, I’m so glad we did. There is more than enough room to prep food now and Johnny and I can even tag team cooking because there is enough room for us both. The added storage underneath was also so helpful. I was getting so frustrated with little things like needing to pull our toaster out from the cupboard every time we needed it and now it’s sitting happily on the island where we have easy access.
Nightstands with Drawers
In a small space, you want to take advantage of vertical storage. If something is taking up floorspace, you might as well get extra storage out of it. By purchasing nightstands with drawers, some of the mess and items get neatly hidden away which makes your space look more open and minimal.
Under the Bed Storage
Similar to the above point, use space you already have. Under the bed storage is the perfect spot to put seasonal clothing/items/shoes. Stuff you don’t need to access everyday is perfect for this type of spot.
Spice Jars & Labels
Organizing my spices was a priority a couple of weeks ago. They were getting spread all through the pantry as I kept digging through the pile of them to find ones I needed and next thing I knew, it looked like a bomb had gone off. Labels and a spice rack are a must; cute, matching containers are a little luxury that feels so elevated.
Drawer Organizers
When you’re working with only a few drawers, you want to really maximize that space. I love draw organizers like these to take advantage of every inch of your drawer space. We have them in the kitchen and in the bathroom and they’re also a must.
Big Baskets for Miscellaneous Items
We have big baskets all over the place. They hide pretty much everything that isn’t *pleasing to my eye* ha. They’re perfect for things like: controllers, dog toys, kid toys, and extra blankets. Our little apartment can feel messy and cluttered really quickly as those things start to creep all over the place. I find tidying up so easy and quick when you just need to toss all that stuff into the designated basket.
