When your space is limited, you feel it. Sometimes you have to sacrifice design you want for design you need—function before form. However, with these space saving hacks, you won’t have to compromise, and you may even have a little space leftover!
1. Invest in kitchen storage.
The kitchen is one of the biggest design challenges for anyone living in small space. These days, there are all kinds of clever solutions for kitchen storage, from slide-out shelves that fit into standard base cabinets to pantry organizers.
2. Build up.
If your unit boasts of a high ceiling, take advantage of all that vertical space and install shelving units and cabinets all the way up. Purchase a stepladder so you can easily access what’s in the top cupboards, and store seasonal or non-daily essentials up high so you won’t have to constantly reach up.
3. Hang up accessories and kitchenware.
The more floor space you can spare, the better. Consider your blank walls as potential storage and install hooks to hang up purses, shoes, and other accessories. This gives you more space compared to dumping them in the closet or in a box on the floor. You can also mount rows of racks on the wall in the kitchen, and use S-hooks to hang pots, pans, towels, and kitchen tools.
4. Install magnetic racks.
An alternative to hooks would be magnetic racks, which are handy for corralling knives and metal herb containers. You can even install magnetic strips, which are basic magnetized sheets you can cut to size and adhere under a hanging cabinet, and use them to hang mason jars containing flour, sugar, and the like. Magnetic strips also help keep your bathroom clutter-free. They’re handy for hanging small steel items like tweezers, nail cutters, and bobby pins.
5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
The easiest way to keep your cozy confines from feeling crowded is to avoid buying things you don’t need. Or whenever you buy something new, force yourself to toss or donate something else to make room for it.