When you’re living in a studio apartment, every square inch of space counts. There’s no room for clutter and junk and that’s why it’s so important to keep your home organized and minimalist. Here are some helpful tips to get started on decluttering your tiny place:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Decluttering a studio apartment can create a more spacious and comfortable living environment. |
| Utilizing creative storage solutions and multifunctional furniture can maximize space in a small apartment. |
| Being mindful of the environment when decluttering can help reduce waste and promote sustainability. |
| A decluttered and organized living room can promote a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. |
| Applying minimalism principles can be helpful when decluttering a small apartment. |
Create A Sense Of Privacy
One way to create a sense of privacy is by using a door. You can use this as an entrance and exit, or as a way to divide your studio from the rest of the apartment.
Another way to create a sense of privacy is by installing curtains on any windows that face other apartments. This will prevent people from seeing into your apartment while allowing you to enjoy natural light when necessary.
You can also install peepholes in each door so that you can peek out before opening it for someone who knocks on it.
Finally, lock every door and window! This will ensure safety for yourself and your belongings in case anyone tries breaking into your home—which happens more often than most people realize!
Maximizing Storage in Small Spaces: Creative Solutions for Organizing Your Apartment: If you’re looking for ways to declutter your studio apartment, check out these creative storage solutions in our guide on maximizing storage in small spaces. From utilizing vertical space to choosing multifunctional furniture, there are plenty of tips to help you make the most of your compact living space.
Choose Furniture Carefully
Choose furniture that has multiple uses. A table with attached storage is a great choice because you can store your laptop, tablet, and books on it while you’re working.
If you have the space, opt for large pieces of furniture instead of small ones. This will give the appearance of more space—even if it doesn’t create more actual square footage!
Find durable materials that are easy to clean and maintain (such as leather or microfiber). You’ll want something that won’t get scratched up by spills or food crumbs during your daily activities!
| Furniture | Dimensions | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift-top coffee table with storage | 46″ x 26″ x 18″ | Wood, metal | Ashley Furniture |
| Sleeper sofa with storage chaise | 80″ x 60″ x 36″ | Fabric, foam, wood | IKEA |
| Ottoman with storage and tray | 35″ x 35″ x 18″ | Fabric, wood | Robinson Furniture |
| Murphy bed with desk and storage | 80″ x 60″ x 83″ | Wood, metal | Bestar Furniture |
Choosing furniture that has multiple uses is a smart way to maximize space in a small apartment. Lift-top coffee tables with storage, sleeper sofas with storage chaises, ottomans with storage and trays, and Murphy beds with desks and storage are some of the options available.
These multi-functional furniture pieces come in different sizes, materials, and brands to suit your needs and style.
Use Colors To Create Space
Coloring a room can be an easy way to create space. When using light colors in a small space, you’re opening up the area and making it feel larger.
Darker tones give a more intimate feel and make the room seem smaller. Contrasting shades can also help create depth in your home, which is especially helpful if it feels like yours doesn’t have enough height or depth.
You can use contrasting hues to draw attention to certain areas of your home by creating focal points in a specific color scheme (think: red curtains on one side of the window).
If you want to use this technique but don’t know where to start, try choosing one prominent color as your focal point throughout the room and then build out from there with different shades of that hue as accent pieces throughout any open spaces (like bookshelves or bedding).
When using this method for painting walls, try sticking with either light or dark tones; mixing both will give off an unbalanced vibe that makes things look messy instead of intentional!
Small Space Living: How to Make the Most of Your Apartment: Living in a small apartment can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Our guide on small space living offers practical tips on how to maximize your small space and create a cozy, functional home that brings you joy every day.
Strategically Place Mirrors
Mirrors can be used in a variety of ways to create the illusion of space and make your studio apartment feel bigger.
- Use one on the ceiling to reflect light from a lamp or window. This will create an upward glow that gives you an extra sense of height, making your room seem taller.
- Place mirrors facing each other in opposite corners, so they reflect light bouncing between them and bounce around your room, making it look brighter overall.
- Place large mirrors near windows so that when sunlight shines through the glass and onto the mirror, it creates a cascading pattern throughout the room—another great way to make small spaces appear larger by filling them with light!
Hang curtains above your bed
Hang curtains above your bed. Curtains are a great way to add color and texture to a room, but they also have practical uses too. They can help create a sense of privacy as well as block light from coming into your home in the morning.
There are many types of curtains that you can choose from for this purpose, including sheers and blackout drapes.
Sheer curtains will let some light through them but still give you an option for blocking out unwanted views in the house or outside if needed (if you live on an upper floor). Blackout drapes allow no light through at all, so if this is something that interests you then definitely consider these!
Decluttering for the Environment: Tips for a Sustainable Home: If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to declutter your home in an eco-friendly way, take a look at our guide on decluttering for the environment. From donating unwanted items to choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products, there are plenty of simple yet impactful things you can do to make a difference.
Tuck Furniture In A Corner To Save Space
There are a lot of ways to use the corners in your apartment.
If you have a corner, tuck furniture into that space and save yourself some floor space. If you don’t have any corners but do have plenty of extra wall space, use it! A dresser goes nicely against a wall for extra storage and organization.
If you’re tight on floor space and can’t fit a desk in your living room, turn an unused corner into one by building (or buying) an L-shaped desk that fits perfectly in the corner.
The same principle applies if you like having your bed against the wall just make sure there’s plenty of room around it so nothing gets toppled over when someone gets out of bed at night or gets back into it in the morning! The possibilities are endless!
| Furniture | Dimensions | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corner TV stand with storage shelves | 42″ x 16″ x 24″ | Wood, metal | Walker Edison Furniture Company |
| Corner writing desk with drawer | 42″ x 28″ x 30″ | Wood | Leick Home |
| Triangular bookshelf with adjustable shelves | 29″ x 18″ x 63″ | Wood, metal | Hombazaar |
| Corner sectional sofa with chaise | 86″ x 86″ x 33″ | Fabric, foam, wood | Rivet |
Tucking furniture into corners is an effective way to maximize space in a small apartment. Furniture designed for corners, such as corner TV stands with storage shelves, corner writing desks with drawers, and triangular bookshelves with adjustable shelves, can provide extra storage and organization while saving floor space.
A corner sectional sofa with chaise is also a great option for small living rooms. These furniture pieces come in different sizes, materials, and brands to suit your needs.
Use Hanging Shelves And Other Wall Storage Systems To Save Floor Space
Shelves. If you have a lot of books, magazines and other items that take up a lot of space on your floor or in stacks, hanging shelves are a great way to save floor space while still getting your stuff off the ground. You can also hang them above your bed as an alternative to a nightstand (or if there isn’t room for one).
Towel racks. If you don’t have much counter space in the kitchen area of your studio apartment, consider installing a towel rack instead of shelves or cabinets next to the bathroom sink. They’re easy to install with brackets and can be painted any color to match the decor in other rooms throughout the apartment.
This will allow for more storage for toiletries such as toothpaste and shampoo bottles without taking up valuable counter space!
Creating a Cozy and Organized Living Room: A living room should be a place of comfort and relaxation, but it’s hard to achieve that if it’s cluttered and disorganized. Our guide on creating a cozy and organized living room provides tips for decluttering your space and creating a cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Opt For Flexible Furniture
One of the best ways to make your studio apartment feel bigger is by using flexible furniture. Flexible furniture allows you to repurpose it for multiple purposes, so instead of buying a whole new couch, rug and coffee table for each room in your place, why not just have one couch that can be used in different rooms?
Convertible couches are great because they can be used as both a sofa or a bed.
All-in-one storage pieces such as dressers and buffet tables are very useful when trying to save space. They can be used as storage units or dining tables depending on what’s necessary at the time.
Beds with built-in drawers underneath them also make good use of floor space and provide extra storage space for books, magazines or other items you don’t want lying around all over the place (and trust me, if there’s one thing I learned living in an apartment building full of students it’s that nothing makes your home look more cluttered than having piles of books stacked everywhere).
Use Subtle Light Sources That Don’t Take Up A Lot Of Space
Use a floor lamp instead of an overhead light.
Choose a table lamp rather than a floor lamp, which can be both more convenient and less bulky.
Hang a light fixture on the wall over your desk or table, if there’s enough room for it to hang down without being blocked by other objects in the room. A sconce is another option, since it only takes up as much space as its base and doesn’t cast shadows on your work area like hanging fixtures do.
Use pendant lights hung from the ceiling or suspended from the top of your closet rod (if you have one).
These are particularly good options if you’re renting because they won’t damage walls that aren’t yours—and they don’t take up any floor space at all!
If you want something even more interesting than these standard solutions but still don’t have much free space for traditional chandeliers or track lighting systems, consider LED strips that fit perfectly into corners where no other light source will fit—they’re super-thin but provide plenty of brightness when used strategically around the room!
| Light source | Dimensions | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED floor lamp with adjustable height | 10″ base, adjustable height | Metal, plastic | Brightech |
| Wall-mounted sconce with dimmer switch | 7.5″ x 3.5″ | Metal, glass | IKEA |
| Desk lamp with USB charging port | 16″ height, 6″ base | Metal, plastic | Taotronics |
| Touch-activated LED table lamp | 12″ height, 4″ base | Plastic, glass | AUKEY |
Using subtle light sources can create a cozy atmosphere in a small apartment without taking up too much space. A LED floor lamp with an adjustable height, wall-mounted sconces with a dimmer switch, and desk lamps with USB charging ports are some of the options available.
These light sources come in different materials, dimensions, and brands, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Take Advantage Of Vertical Space With Shelving And Hanging Racks.
Another trick to make the most of your available space is to use hanging racks and shelving. If you live in an apartment, it’s unlikely that you have a lot of floor space to store things. So take advantage of vertical space by using shelving and hanging racks.
If you have a taller room (think loft or studio), try using a ladder to access higher shelves. This will help keep things out of sight as much as possible (and prevent tripping on them at night).
Hanging racks are another great way to store items that aren’t used frequently or don’t need to be easily accessible (like winter coats or sports equipment).
They can come in many different sizes and shapes but usually consist of bars attached together with hooks for hanging clothes or other items from the bar itself or from hangers placed on top of it
Minimalism Meets Sustainability: How to Declutter and Live Green: Minimalism and sustainability go hand in hand, and if you’re interested in both, you’ll find our guide on minimalism meets sustainability helpful. It provides practical tips for decluttering your home and adopting a minimalist lifestyle that’s not only good for your mental health but also for the environment.
Store Items Under Your Bed
Beds are great places to store things, but they can also be a source of clutter. If you’re not using the space beneath your bed for storage, consider putting some things under there.
The space is typically just large enough to fit a few small items or even one medium-size item and it’s out of sight, which means that it’s less likely to attract dust and dirt.
There are two important caveats here (aside from the obvious fact that if you don’t have access to power outlets): firstly, make sure whatever you place under your bed isn’t too heavy; otherwise it will be difficult for anyone including yourself! to move when necessary.
Secondly, don’t put anything flammable or fragile in this area; if something catches on fire underneath there (or if something drops into a hot pot), then that could lead straight back up through where people sleep every night!
| Storage container | Dimensions | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear plastic storage box with lid | 28″ x 16.5″ x 6″ | Plastic | Sterilite |
| Fabric storage bag with zippered closure | 42″ x 18″ x 6″ | Fabric | AmazonBasics |
| Rolling storage container with handle | 39″ x 20″ x 6″ | Plastic | IRIS |
| Wooden under-bed storage drawer on wheels | 40″ x 19″ x 6″ | Wood | Crate & Barrel |
Beds are a great place to store things but can often become a source of clutter. To maximize the space under your bed, consider using popular storage containers such as clear plastic storage boxes with lids, fabric storage bags with zippered closures, rolling storage containers with handles, and wooden under-bed storage drawers on wheels.
These containers come in various dimensions, materials, and brands, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips and tricks have given you some ideas for how to make your studio apartment a bit more spacious.
Remember that the best thing about living in a studio is the fact that it’s so small so if you do want more space, there are always ways to get it!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that can help you on your decluttering journey:
12 Tips to Declutter Your Apartment: Getting and Staying Organized: This blog post offers practical tips to help you declutter your apartment and keep it organized, from creating a schedule to tackling one room at a time.
Small Studio Apartment: 10 Tips, Tricks and Ideas to Maximize Your Space: If you’re looking for creative ways to maximize space in your small studio apartment, check out this blog post. It offers inspiration and ideas to help you make the most of your living space.
Organizing in a small apartment – 6 brilliant ideas to steal: This article shares six brilliant ideas for organizing a small apartment, from creating a designated space for everything to utilizing vertical space.
FAQs
What are some benefits of decluttering a studio apartment?
Decluttering a studio apartment can have many benefits, such as creating a more spacious and comfortable living environment, reducing stress and anxiety, saving time and money, and promoting better organization and productivity.
What are some tips for decluttering a studio apartment?
Some tips for decluttering a studio apartment include creating a plan and schedule, decluttering one room at a time, using storage solutions like shelving and baskets, and avoiding buying new items until you’ve decluttered and organized your space.
How can I maximize storage in a small apartment?
There are many ways to maximize storage in a small apartment, such as utilizing vertical space with shelves and hooks, using multifunctional furniture like a storage ottoman, and minimizing clutter by regularly decluttering and donating unwanted items.
How can I maintain an organized apartment?
Maintaining an organized apartment requires consistent effort and routine. Some tips for staying organized include regularly decluttering, creating designated spaces for everything, creating and following a cleaning schedule, and utilizing storage solutions.
How does minimalism tie into decluttering a small apartment?
Minimalism is a mindset and lifestyle that emphasizes living with less and creating a clutter-free and simple environment. Minimalism can be a helpful philosophy to apply when decluttering a small apartment, as it encourages making intentional decisions about what to keep and what to let go of, and prioritizing quality over quantity.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James. I’m a professional decluttering expert who loves to help people get their homes in order. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life—from high school students to retirees and everything in between—to help them clear out clutter and make the most of their space so they can focus on what matters most to them.