If you live in a small apartment, you probably know how difficult it can be to maintain order. After all, there’s so little space that everything becomes cluttered very quickly. And even if you manage to keep your space clean and tidy, it’s a constant struggle between order and disorder.
So how do you manage to not only keep your space clean but also ensure it remains organized, so you don’t have to spend time rearranging everything every day? In this post, we take a look at some strategies for keeping your small apartment organized.
Start with what you have
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When you move into a new apartment by Blueground, the first step should be to take an inventory of every item you have. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, but you need to create an exact list of what you own. This means taking everything out of your boxes and neatly arranging them in the apartment so that you can see what’s there.
Once done, think about how many similar things you have. For example, you may have six mugs, but 4 of them are black, and two are blue. Delete the duplicates (unless they’re special), so you can work with a more manageable collection.
When you eliminate the duplicates, sort them by category (e.g. by type of mug or glassware). Then, get rid of everything that doesn’t fit your space. You don’t need to keep 5 different types of forks if your apartment can accommodate only 2 people. Moreover, try not to buy anything else until you’ve used up all the items you already had.
Find new homes for everything
Start moving all your items into their correct places. For example, make sure that all mugs are in one cupboard, all books are in the bookcase, and so on. But this is not as easy when your space is limited, and the reason you need to do some strategic planning.
If you lack storage space or cupboards, you may consider using the backs of doors. Just be careful not to overload them. Your aim should be to have everything in an accessible place that is out of the way.
Once everything is in its place, you need to rearrange the items, so they’re easy to find. You can do this easily by placing like with like and then grouping them into sections that make sense (e.g., all the mugs beside the coffee machine). Use drawer dividers and box organizers for an even tidier look.
Know what to store elsewhere
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When you finish your inventory, the chances are that you’ll find yourself with some items left over. These are probably too valuable to get rid of, but they also don’t fit with the rest of your apartment’s theme.
If this is the case, buy a cheap set of boxes and store these items elsewhere. Just be sure that you have a proper inventory so you can find things when you need them! You could even rent a storage unit to keep everything safe.
If something falls out of order, put it back where it belongs as soon as possible. This way, you can ensure that things remain easy to find and that you don’t waste time every day trying to remember where everything is.
Get creative
Allow your originality and creativity to flourish by figuring out practical methods to make the most of your space. You can’t afford to disregard any nook or corner as a potential storage space in a small apartment.
For instance, solid adhesive hooks are strong enough to hold the weight of standard-size coats and bags. They can be attached to almost anywhere, such as shower rods or even inside your cabinet doors. One coat hook alone can easily accommodate more than three pieces of clothing.
Also, it would help if you considered using hanging racks for towels in the bathroom, robes on the backs of doors, and even pajamas on nightstands.
Label everything
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While you’re moving all your belongings around, don’t forget the labeling process. It’s best if your labels are both easy to read and pretty so that you can find them at a glance. The best option is to use colored tape for similar items.
This way, different types of cutlery will always go back into their respective boxes. If you don’t want to take this step or lack time to do it properly, try using masking tape and a marker instead.
When writing labels, avoid using technical jargon or abbreviations that you don’t understand (e.g., “CD player” instead of “HGD”) if you want your system to be practical enough for guests too.
Keep things off the floor
Always remember to keep items off the floor as soon as you move into a new place. If possible, take everything out of their boxes and start arranging them right after arriving. Apart from ensuring that you stay organized, it will save you a lot of time in the long run as you won’t have to spend hours cleaning underneath your furniture once it starts to gather dust and dirt.
As for bedding, it’s essential to change your sheets regularly. Also, don’t forget that your duvet doesn’t have to lie on the bed constantly. You can use it as a rug or even drape it over furniture, depending on what kind of room you live in and whether or not the layout allows space for such comforts.
Leave your mark
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Finally, remember that you don’t need to be the only one who enjoys your apartment’s new look. If you’re giving it a refresh before you invite people over, place some of your furniture in the way. This way, you can quickly hide anything that’s causing clutter or pulling the look together. You can also use this technique to re-style your apartment for each season if you want.
The essential part of decorating a new home is to have fun while getting it done. After all, the more time you spend enjoying yourself, the more you’ll appreciate your work when it’s done. Like food in containers, so they don’t get stale. Don’t use boxes that aren’t built to hold food because moisture can build up inside them, causing items to spoil. After unpacking the boxes containing kitchen items, take an inventory of everything so you know what’s missing.
To do this, check each item against its list while it’s still in the box. Carefully go through your food inventory list to determine what foods need to be refrigerated or frozen, and then transfer that food into the refrigerator. Label each item as you go so you won’t have to guess if it has already been stored away.
Conclusion
Organizing a small apartment doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow the tips we’ve outlined in this article, and soon enough, it should be child’s play. Struggling to get things in order in your small space? Share with us, and we’ll be happy to help.
