Looking to get rid of the clutter and revamp your apartment? Whether you’re looking to declutter your living room, optimize kitchen efficiency, or create a serene bedroom retreat, this ApartmentGuide article offers expert advice to help you achieve a well-organized and harmonious living environment. So, whether you’re renting an apartment in New York, NY, or a townhouse in Philadelphia, PA, join us as we delve into tips and techniques that will transform your apartment into a space that is not only tidy and efficient but also tailored to your lifestyle.
Entryway
Add an over-the-door rack in your entryway
Adding an over-the-door rack in your entryway maximizes vertical space, providing convenient storage for items.
“The entryway of an apartment can quickly become cluttered, and since it’s the first space you see upon entering, it is important to keep a clutter-free zone by utilizing vertical storage solutions,” shares Tidy Nest. “We love adding an over-the-door rack to the interior of entryway closets. This clever addition maximizes storage space, keeping essentials like reusable bags, dog leashes, umbrellas, and seasonal accessories organized, easily accessible, and off the floor or entryway table.”
Create a drop zone
Creating a drop zone in your entryway ensures that you have a designated space for daily essentials.
“For the entranceway, make sure you have a functional ‘drop zone.’ People have a tendency to drop their things when they come in the house, so create a home for them there – use a tray on a narrow table to collect keys, sunglasses, and mail; install hooks for coats and backpacks; make room for a few pairs of shoes per person,” remarks Amelie Organizes LLC.
Bedroom
Try a Murphy bed
A Murphy bed, also known as a wall bed or fold-down bed, is a type of bed that can be stored vertically against a wall or inside a cabinet when not in use.
“Multifunctional furniture and accessories can save space and keep your apartment organized. However, avoid overly complex pieces; a good rule of thumb is to limit each item to 2-3 functions for optimal efficiency. A Murphy bed is a perfect example of multifunctional furniture that maximizes space in your bedroom,” remarks The Organized Flamingo.
Utilize under-bed storage
Utilizing under-bed storage is a smart way to maximize space in your home by keeping items organized and out of sight.
House to Home Organizing shares, “When storage space is limited. Under the bed can become an option, especially in apartments. We want to put items we don’t use often in more remote areas of our space. Under-the-bed bins can work well for the winter-to-summer swap. Think sweaters and then swimsuits. Additionally, under-the-bed bins can be great places to store off-season shoes and boots.”
Audrey Kuether of Oh So Lovely Blog adds, “We live in an older home, so bedroom closet space is limited. I keep our bedrooms organized by utilizing under-bed bins for off-season clothing and shoe storage.”
Use a nightstand with one drawer plus an open shelf
By tucking these items away into the nightstand drawer instead of leaving them sitting out, it will make your bed area look much tidier.
“Nightstands can get cluttered so quickly,” states reSPACEd. “We recommend using a nightstand that has at least one drawer plus an open shelf. The drawer can be used to corral small things, like chargers, eye masks, earplugs, and hand lotion. And the open shelf on the bottom is the perfect place to store the books you are reading at night, along with your journal or e-reader.”
Always opt for more drawers for your dressers
Always opting for more drawers in your dressers provides ample storage space for organizing clothes, accessories, and personal items.
“Opt for more drawers that are smaller versus standard 6×8 drawers that are too deep. This is great for people who hate folding and need to be able to quickly move through laundry,” recommends Shelfie NYC.
Kitchen
Only keep what you’re going to use
Only keeping what you’re going to use in the kitchen helps make cooking and meal preparation easier and more enjoyable.
“Only keep the utensils, cookware, and dishes that you actually use and enjoy, and double check the best before dates on your food to ensure you are keeping items that you are actually going to consume and won’t just be taking up space,” recommends Jigsaw Organizing Solutions.
Install under-shelf organizers
Installing under-shelf organizers in the kitchen optimizes vertical space, allowing you to store smaller items such as mugs, spices, or kitchen gadgets conveniently.
“For your kitchen, conquer clutter in your cabinets by utilizing under-shelf organizers,” says A Clear Path. “This way, you can maximize vertical space and easily access those hard-to-reach items in the back of the cabinet.”
Utilize lazy Susans
A lazy Susan is a rotating tray or turntable that is typically circular and placed on a tabletop or inside a cabinet.
Kim Corey of Finely Sorted Organizing shares, “Corner cabinets are notoriously hard to access. The key to the corner cabinet problem is a turntable shelf called the lazy Susan. They are made in handsome wood or clear plastic for aesthetic purposes or ease of cleaning, can have sides and/or interior dividers to contain food items, come multi-level and in many sizes.”
Keep note of your pantry
Keeping note of your pantry inventory helps you stay organized and avoid purchasing duplicate items unnecessarily.
“Do you have deep shelves? Avoid duplicates or thinking you’re out of certain items by putting risers toward the back of shelves so items placed in back there don’t get overlooked. Someone always taking the last of an item? Keep a dry-erase board and marker inside your pantry door to help family members keep grocery lists up to date,” remarks Organized Transitions LLC.
Opt for multiple-function appliances
Opting for multi-functional appliances in your kitchen maximizes space and functionality by combining multiple cooking tasks into one device. These appliances can streamline meal preparation while saving countertop space.
Ever So Organized notes, “The promise of fresh juice or a hot panini is enough to charm anyone into buying a single-use appliance. However, these appliances take up valuable space and they rarely get used. In the future, opt for appliances that serve multiple functions or get creative with the appliance you already have.”
Utilize vertical space in kitchens
“Living in an apartment typically calls for clever organizing and the kitchen is the heart of every home,” remarks Tidied By K. “When it comes to kitchen organization there are a few ways you can be sure to maximize space, regardless of the size. One of those ways is to maximize vertical space. Use strong hooks or over-the-door cabinet hangers to hang things like pot lids, oven mitts, and pot holders, and even foil, parchment paper, and things alike.”
Bathroom
Use under-sink storage
Utilizing under-sink storage in your kitchen or bathroom maximizes the often-underutilized space beneath the sink for organizing cleaning supplies and toiletries.
“In your bathroom try and utilize all the space. Under the sink storage is essential. Use stackable pull-out drawers to keep items contained and organized. Using storage on the inside of cabinet doors helps too,” shares Liz Halvorsen of Mess to Bliss.
Organize your bathroom vanity
Organizing your bathroom vanity is essential for maximizing space and efficiency.
Julie Bestry, CPO® of Best Results Organizing states, “Keep your bathroom vanity counter organized and attractive by gathering loose cosmetics, serum tubes, and squat lotion jars and placing them on a shallow, flat-bottomed tray or basket from the dollar store, preferably
with a one-inch lip to keep items from rolling out. Lay a pretty dishtowel or hand towel in the bottom to keep the surface free of powder and goop. When you need to clean the vanity counter, just lift and remove the entire tray or basket in one fell swoop for quick and easy access.”
“Start with getting rid of any items that are expired, you no longer use or want and don’t
like. Donate items that are still in useable condition. Select stacking baskets or bins, lazy susans or trays to maximize the space under the sink or in the drawers. Organize items by grouping like items together. Remember to label to make it easier to find what you need,” adds Vernestine Laughinghouse, CPO ® of ABSOULUTE ORGANIZING.
Living room
Use natural boundaries
Utilizing natural boundaries in your living room helps define different functional zones within the space.
“Use natural boundaries such as bookshelves and drawers, as well as artificial boundaries such as organizing bins to decide how much space to allot to each category of things,” recommends Simple by Emmy. “Fill the allotted space with what you use and love the most, and when it starts to get full, the rest can be decluttered or put in an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind bin” until it’s reviewed at a later date.”
Add a console table
Adding a console table to your living room is a practical and stylish solution for both storage and display. When positioned behind the sofa or against a wall, a console table provides additional surface space that can be used to keep smaller items organized and within easy reach.
Hide your cables
Place power strips and excess cables in cable management boxes to hide wires and keep them out of the way. These boxes not only conceal the clutter of multiple cables but also make it easier to recognize what cables go to what electronic device.
Closets
Utilize closet doors
Utilizing closet doors helps conceal clutter and maintain a tidy appearance in your living space.
“Maximizing vertical space is a game-changer in apartment living, where square footage is at a premium,” states Victoria Tran, founder of Sorted NOLA. “One often overlooked area is the inside of closet doors — perfect for adding extra storage without encroaching into your living space. Utilizing these systems allows you to make the most of every inch of your apartment, keeping it neat and organized.”
Use hooks for bonus storage for hats
Using hooks for bonus storage for hats is a practical solution to keep your hats easily accessible while saving space in your closet or on shelves.
“Whether a small bedroom closet or a larger walk-in closet, there’s always hidden organizing potential in your space. That might be vertical space up to the ceiling where you can add stackable bins or space on the floor where you can implement a shoe shelf or a rolling drawer unit. Add 3M hooks on the wall to store hats or add an over-the-door rack for bonus storage,” states Everyday Organize.
Get modular sets with wheels
Modular units can be easily moved and rearranged as needed, allowing you to adapt your room layout for different activities or to accommodate changes in furniture placement.
“Modular sets with wheels are great for shoes, hand bags and can be customized to meet your specific needs. They are also perfect for tight bathroom spaces with limited storage or drawer space. As a bonus, they are portable. Wheel them in and out, from room to room, as needed,” shares award-winning professional organizer Carrie Kauffman of Philadelphia, PA.
Match hangers in the closet
Matching hangers in the closet creates a uniform and visually appealing look, optimizing space and making it easier to organize and find clothing. Lisa Jean Dickmann of Tidy Upgrade in St. Louis MO shares, “I highly recommend matching hangers in your closet. It creates a cohesive look that really makes a difference, like a store. So attractive, appealing, and well-curated. I even recommend purchasing matching hangers for family and friends at holiday time.”
