22 Useful Tips And Tricks For Anyone Living In A Small Space

22 Useful Tips And Tricks For Anyone Living In A Small Space

Because you need room to breathe and stretch your limbs once in a while.

Posted on July 17, 2017, at 1:01 a.m.

Ignacia Fulcher

BuzzFeed Staff

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We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the tricks and tips they use to survive in a tiny living space. Here are their incredibly useful suggestions:

1. Hang your kitchen items on pot and knife racks to free up coveted counter and cabinet space.

2. Keep all of your shit off the floor with an over-the-door hanger (so you won't trip over your own things every five minutes).

3. Expand your useable space by taking advantage of your walls (by hanging things like these pretty-ass shelves).

4. Get creative with your decor and storage solutions and purchase dual-function furniture that'll look amazing while also serving a purpose.

"When living in a small space, consider multifunctional decor. For example, I needed a way to store my scarf collection, but I had limited closet space and was also looking for decor to go above our bed... boom: scarf rack!" —lanni

5. Install mirrors to reflect light and make your room appear bigger than it is...which is EXACTLY what you want, right? Ah, the beauties of science.

"Hanging large mirrors on the walls or setting a large framed full-length mirror propped up against a wall makes a small room look a lot bigger." —kittytoesGet this over-the-door mirror from Target for $14.99.

6. Hide all of your clutter in fashionable storage containersmade out of fabric instead of plastic (for the aesthetic).

"I have storage containers that are woven or fabric material that look nice... so you don't mind people having to look at them, they are in plain sight." –kittytoesGet these from Amazon for $9.99.

7. Start living a more "minimalist" life to make walking through your small space that much easier, y'all!

"Instead of having a bunch of decorations that are strictly decorations, have things that double as storage and keep things clean. Having a bunch of decorations ends up looking cluttered." —kelseyr

8. Invest in a drop-leaf table for a flat space to eat your food that you can simply collapse when you're finished (for some much-needed elbow room).

9. As you organize and arrange your space, be sure to place everything underneath something else. Stacking should be your motto.

"Under the bed, couch, coffee table, and even the night stand. Just don't put a body there (alive or dead). It's weird and most likely will smell bad." —kyledFor more under-bed storage solutions, check out this post!

10. For example, you can lift your bed with risers to gain some precious under-mattress storage you'll so desperately need, especially if you have a lot of shoes.

11. Or install a taller bed frame.

12. Then hunt down some under-bed storage containers. (They're particularly great for off-season clothes that you aren't wearing anytime soon.)

13. Use an over-the-door shoe rack to hold your precious (smaller) items you don't want to leave chilling on the floor and/or don't have room for in your cupboards.

14. Get rid of unwanted clothes periodically – spring cleaning isn't just a term, it's an actual thing people do.

"Get rid of stuff on a regular basis. I try and keep a Goodwill box going for old clothes, housewares, and so forth. Once or twice a year I go through my closets and get rid of stuff I don't use, want, or need. I'm not the tidiest person, but I've found the best way to live in a small space (about 550 sq. ft.) is to have an appropriate amount of stuff for that space." —reprobatemu13

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15. Add curtains to your closet for a feeling of ~openness~ in your room.

16. Install as many shelves as you can possibly fit to house each and every one of your "I-can't-get-rid-of-this!" knickknacks.

"Shelves, shelves, shelves! Shelves around the room near the ceiling for rarely used items and knickknacks. I have them in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, laundry, everywhere!" —mooreheadjamieGet these from Urban Outfitters for $129.

17. Effortlessly divide your spaces with a panel screen that can hide all of your personal items, especially if you live in a studio apartment!

"Wafer-thin division walls and sliding doors work. As does less stuff." —matthewmGet this one from Amazon for $73.30.

18. Hold your books AND divide your small bedroom from your small living room with double-sided bookcases. Think of them as kindergarten cubbies, except adult-style.

19. Organize your tiny-ass place (and mind) with the amazing book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

"Read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Basically, you learn to purge your life of stuff that doesn't 'spark joy.' You may think that some day you're going to need that cupcake-maker/shoe wheel/second crockpot but, unless you use it on the regular or have an emotional connection to it, it's time to throw it out." —caitlinmGet it from Amazon: paperback for $7.30, hardcover for $9.89, and e-book for $9.99.

20. Hang wall hooks as a closet-expanding secret weapon to avoid having to get rid of pieces of your wardrobe when you run out of room on the oh-so-small hanging bar.

21. Make room for valuable lounging space with a loft bed, especially if you're always having people over and entertaining. They aren't just for living out your adult bunk-bed fantasies, y'know.

22. Finally — get in where you fit in! Just stuff all your things anywhere you can. Everything is possible if you believe!

"I lived in a one-room apartment with six people and we sure as hell fit in all of our possessions." —callmedanni6

Have fun in your tiny space, y'all! It's all yours!

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