Finding Storage in Small Spaces

Living in a small space is economical and leaves a smaller carbon footprint.  But having enough storage in a small space can be a challenge. I have had the experience myself of being excited about a smallish apartment that I was moving into and, once there, freaking out at the seeming impossibility of accommodating all my stuff.

If this happens to you, take it as a creative challenge. There are a lot of things one can do to increase the storage space beyond what is already provided. Here are a few principles:

1) Think high. Put in shelving that goes all the way up the wall. Use the space above your kitchen cabinets to put things. Secure a flat piece above some of your doors to hold books or plants. And don’t forget about the space above the shelves that are already there in your closets.

2) Think low. Perhaps there are spaces under your kitchen cabinets, either above the counters or at ground level. In either case that space can be used. For instance, hang a spice rack under your high cabinets. Or put tubs for your linens under lower cabinets if they don’t reach to the floor. And bed sure to use storage containers under your bed.

3) Camouflage storage space. If you need to use an area in your apartment for storage that isn’t the prettiest, run an attractive curtain in front of it.

4) Consolidate decorative items. Put all of your pictures on a single book shelf. That saves space on your walls to put more utilitarian shelving.

5) Let your furnishings do double duty. Why not have an expanded bedside table that can also serve to hold books, clothes, or what have you?

6) Put unused wall space to work. A peg board or hooks on a portion of a wall can go along way to giving more space for your things.

7) Make storage decorative. Find creative items to serve as home for other items. Storage can be eye-pleasing. (The For Rent article listed below mentions using a deer antler to hang your jewelry!)

The following resources have further ideas. Use your imagination and you’ll be sure to find storage space you didn’t know you had!

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/15-ways-to-squeeze-more-storage-out-of-small-spaces/

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/small-space-storage-ideas-268691

https://www.forrent.com/blog/apt_life/storage-solutions-for-small-spaces-2/