10 ways to maximize space in a tiny place

For the past 15 years, I have lived in a studio apartment— well, three different studio apartments, to be exact. While I would love to say that nesting in a small space has taught me how to be a minimalist, anyone who has seen the stacks of shoeboxes in my closet or the piles of cooking magazines in my living room knows I would be telling a gigantic lie. I like things and have accumulated a lot of stuff, yet my studio feels roomy, comfortable and, most importantly, like home. You can take a small space and make it your own as well—it just requires a little savvy and know-how. Here are 10 simple ways to maximize space in your studio apartment.

CREATE HIDDEN STORAGE

While I can’t speak for other cities, in San Francisco, most studio apartments only have one closet. If that’s the case, you’re going to have to create storage where there is none. Elevate your bed so you can keep plastic storage bins underneath it. Your couch nestled against a curved windowsill? Keep lesser-used items behind it. Look up for more storage areas. If the cabinets in your kitchen don’t extend all the way to the ceiling, store entertaining pieces like a cake stand or oversize platter in the small space between the cabinet and the ceiling. Add shelving units or purchase cabinetry. When I moved into my current studio, I had no place to store clean towels and a surplus of bathroom supplies. However, there was a small indent in the wall directly across from the bathroom. I purchased a small cabinet and drawer unit and placed it there to hold bathroom items. STAY ORGANIZED If you’re keeping your personal items in hidden storage areas, make an inventory while you’re storing the stuff and document it with an organizational map. That way when you need to find your wrapping paper to prepare a gift, you can consult the map and quickly remember where you stored the wrapping paper months before.

MAKE DIFFERENT LIVING ZONES

This may be a no-brainer, but set up separate areas for performing distinct tasks in your studio. My tiny kitchen and lack of counter space don’t keep me from hosting a fancy dinner party for 12. I’m simply smart about the space. The counter next to the fridge is where I keep ingredients to be used in the dinner party dishes. The counter next to the oven is where I prep food, and the counter to the right of the sink is where pots and pans dry. I apply the same philosophy to my entire apartment. There is a “bedroom” and “living room” all in the same space.

GET RID OF UNNECESSARY ITEMS

Anything unnecessary, be it an article of clothing, a handful of reusable grocery totes or an old wine rack that you are not using, should be removed from the premises immediately. If you haven’t used your ironing board in the past year, get rid of it. If you don’t host dinner parties, you don’t need a thousand different wineglasses. If you never go to the beach, why are those beach towels taking up precious closet space?

Even something you can’t really get rid of should be changed to accommodate your needs. My apartment is naturally warm, and as it was built in 1928, I have no way of controlling the temperature through the radiator system. After living in stifling heat for a few months, I asked my landlord to turn off my radiator. PURGE OFTEN It’s easy to accumulate stuff quickly, so be sure to take stock of your collections frequently. Purge unnecessary belongings at least twice a year. If you come across something you haven’t used in a while, don’t put it back where it was! Bring it to Goodwill or dump it down the trash shoot as soon as possible. With the holidays coming up, it’s the ideal time to purge decorations. Why are you holding on to those ornaments your ex-boyfriend gifted you every Christmas? ROTATE CLOTHING Every mid-May and late October, I rotate my clothing. I pull everything out of my closet and put it all back in a different order. Winter clothes come to the front of the closet, and summer clothes move to the back. The stacks of shoeboxes will rotate: Instead of sandals on the top, boots will come to the forefront. The drawer that stores bikinis becomes the drawer that stores tights. Long-sleeve dresses replace sundresses while sweaters and scarves move into the spots previously held by beach cover-ups and hats. Make the time to edit and rearrange your closet and getting dressed each day will become so much easier. Store swapped-out summer or winter clothes in bins under the bed or at the top or bottom of your closet.

INVEST IN M U LT IPURPOSE FURNITURE

If you’re looking for an ottoman, why not find one that has a secret storage area? Need side tables but have very little room between your couch and wall? Look for nesting tables that can be pulled out and used when you need them. When I was searching for two side tables, I came across these round copper tables that double for stools when I’m hosting a party. Daybeds, a dining table that doubles as a desk, a seating bench that is also storage: These are the types of furniture you should invest in.

SEEK OUT PERFECT PIECES

Your place is small, and every day you’re going to have to look (and sit) on that couch, so if you don’t absolutely love it, don’t buy it. Keep searching until you find the coffee table that you can’t live without, rather than buying the one you sort of like simply because you’re sick of not having one. Ask a friend whose apartment you love to help you search for the perfect piece. Apply the same philosophy to hard-to-find items. There was a random hole in the kitchen counter space in my kitchen that had specific measurements. I was determined to find a small shelf, with storage space for baskets and drawers, to fill the hole. I went to countless stores, and just when I was about to give up, I found the ideal shelving unit.

REMEMBER LESS IS MORE

Knickknacks and tchotchkes are cute, but they make a small space feel cluttered. The less stuff you have, the bigger your space will feel. Don’t overcrowd it with furniture pieces that are too big. If there isn’t room for a traditional coffee table, turn a small side table or two into a coffee table. CLEAN REGULARLY A clean house is a happy house. Your space will naturally feel bigger when it is clean and removed of clutter. Put away clothes, wipe down counters and vacuum the rugs at least once a month.