Surviving in a Small Space

Surviving in a small apartment doesn’t have to have an impact on your sanity. No, we’re not joking! You can survive in a small space, and while we in Australia have this idea of the house with the big backyard, it’s just not always the case.  So, you might ask, how exactly do you emerge from the land of the apartment unscathed by the experience? Well, it takes a little bit of planning and a fair bit of creativity. Here are some things to consider to make the most of your space so you can love the space you’re in:

Organisation is Key

There’s no way you can get away with not being organised in a small space. Disorganisation will quickly become your enemy. So instead of fighting it, work with it. Start by figuring out the right place for everything, so it’s easy to locate when you need to. You’re not going to need everything you have all the time, so it’s important to find a place that suits how often you’ll need to access something. If it’s coming into summer, put away your coats in a place away from where you need. A lot of apartments these days come with storage cages, so grab yourself some of those large plastic stackable containers and store the items you only use every now and then.

Storage is your new BFF

Yep, and you’re going to need a fair bit of it to avoid that overflowing clutter look of your share- house days.  Take a look around your apartment – are there any corners of unused space? If there are, you have a perfect spot for a storage unit. And if you can’t find one to match the size, built it! A DIY project that you’ll get a great amount of use from into the future.

There is always somewhere to put everything. You just have to get creative. Use the space under your bed, under the couch, find stackable containers for your wardrobe, your kitchen, your bathroom. A great idea is to use the space between your fridge and the wall to store baking trays upright. Finding storage solutions is all about being creative. Even tins of food can be stored in a container and put in your storage cage until you need them rather than take up the valuable space in your kitchen cupboards.

Since it’s our area of expertise, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to mention the trusty wall hook, a definite style go-to for bringing your walls to life. Wall hooks enable you to lift things off the floor or out of a cupboard and use them as decorative items, brightening up your space. And they’re functional too, reducing your cupboard storage needs. A blank wall is the perfect place for putting a collection on show, without taking up valuable floor space.

Simplify your stuff

Do you really need those forty pairs of shoes? No, really? Our guess is probably not. Or those 20 pairs of jeans either. And no, you are not going to stop eating biscuits from the kitchen at work to fit into that shiny pair of black pants you got away with in your early 20s. So what are you doing hanging on to them?

The trouble is, we all think we need more stuff than we actually do. And sometimes, particularly when you’re living in a small space, you have to be brutal. Don’t keep something if you know you won’t need it in the next year. It’s just not necessary. If you’re concerned about the cost of the item, try to sell it. There are so many available avenues to dispose of items that there really isn’t much point hanging on to things that you don’t need.

Make the space bright

Small things are going to make a difference in a small space. Something as simple as the colour of the walls can easily change the space from cavernous to light and airy. Use light colours on the walls to create a blank canvas then use quirky pieces of furniture or accessories such as cushions and throw rugs that match your style to dress it up. Don’t be fooled when you go to a furniture shop and think a couch will fit – measure it in the store and then go home and measure the space you have. There is nothing worse than oversized furniture that doesn’t work in the space and makes it feel crowded and small.

Stick to the rule – Use it and put it away

It’s a simple rule but one that really works. If you are anything like us, we like clean and clear bench spaces and frankly, the only way to achieve this is to put things away when you aren’t using them. If you’ve organised your space and created a decent storage system for your home, you won’t have any problem with a cluttered apartment. Except maybe on a Sunday morning when you really can’t be bothered and want to lounge around. On a Sunday, there is always later.

There really are so many ways to maximise your space in an apartment. You just need to get your creative hat on and think of the possibilities. Research is a great way to see what other people have done and how some of their ideas could work in your space. It’s all about loving the space you’re in and by following these few simple ideas, you can create a space you can’t wait to come home to.