Living in an apartment can have significant advantages. For example, you often have maintenance staff that will help repair something in your living space if something goes wrong. You also have flexibility: If you want to change locations, all you’ll have to do is wait for the lease to be up. You don’t have to deal with trying to sell your house. However, as opposed to living in a house, space can sometimes be limited, especially if you live in a small apartment. You will need to make the most of the area you have. To help you do this, we’ve put together these tips for maximizing the space in your apartment.
Give Things a “Life Expectancy” of Usefulness
Still attached to that extra-small argyle sweater you loved in eighth grade, even though you’re now a foot too tall for it? We understand the sentiment, but still, that sweater is taking up valuable storage space. Consider reselling or donating it — or maybe even making it an heirloom and gifting it to someone else in the family. A good rule of thumb is, if it takes up space and you haven’t used it in over a year, strongly consider getting rid of it somehow. And don’t stop with clothes. Do you have any bulky and highly specialized kitchen equipment that you never use? What about an exercise bike that’s been a drying rack for six years running? It’s tough to be ruthless, but you’ll thank yourself with the extra cubic feet.
Think in Three Dimensions
Notice how we wrote “cubic feet” instead of the more common “square feet?” That’s because you need to start thinking of the space in your apartment in three dimensions. Creativity is endless in this department, but things like putting a wine rack on the wall to store rolled-up towels or hanging a basket from the ceiling to put fruit in are helpful space savers that free up floor space. Installing shelves is also a good idea.
Reduce, Reuse, and Save
These tips are just a few that will help you in your quest to make your apartment roomier. Don’t have a place of your own yet, or are you looking for a different one? Use our apartment search tools to get where you need to be.
