Living in a small one-bedroom or studio apartment comes with its own set of challenges—especially when it comes to apartment organization. With limited square footage, it’s easy for clutter to pile up before you know it. However, with the right strategies and a little creativity, you can embrace small-space living and make your apartment feel more spacious, organized, and serene.
How to Maximize Storage in a Small Apartment
Looking for tiny apartment storage ideas? We have compiled these storage tips for studio apartments to help you make the most out of your space and keep it tidy – for good!
1. Declutter Your Apartment First
Before you can organize, you need to declutter. While this may feel intimidating, decluttering a small studio apartment can feel much more management if you use a clear system for decision-making – and stick to it. Start by going through each room and sorting items into three categories: keep, donate, and discard. Keep only the things you currently use on a regular basis or genuinely love. Note that we said currently use – thinking of a way you could use an item doesn’t count! Anything you haven’t touched in the past year (this accounts for seasonality) should probably be donated or discarded, along with items that no longer fit your body or your style.
If you have a large number of items with strong sentimental value (ie family heirlooms) that you simply can’t part with, rent a small storage unit as near you as possible. Small and studio apartments simply weren’t meant for keeping these types of items, and since they’re unlikely to be used much, you’re unlikely to miss them. Small self-storage units can be super affordable, and a small price to pay for a more functional and clutter-free living space. Check out Utah Storage Center in Northern Utah for local storage options to find the perfect space for your extra boxes and bins.
Decluttering can be liberating! It creates more space (both physical and mental) and ensures that everything you own has a purpose. This step is essential, especially in a studio apartment where every item needs a designated space, and every inch of space needs a function.
2. Use Multi-Functional Furniture
When working with limited space, multi-functional furniture is your best friend. Aim for using pieces of furniture that can serve more than one purpose to fully maximize your studio apartment. Here are some ideas to arrange a studio apartment so it can serve more functions using less furniture.
- Sofa Beds or Futons: Turn your living area into a ‘spare room’ when needed! Perfect for hosting guests without taking up extra space.
- Storage Ottomans: In addition to their standard function as a footstool and/or makeshift coffee table, these provide additional seating when needed, plus a hidden storage area for spare blankets, pillows, media, or hobby equipment.
- Foldable Tables: These can be expanded when needed and then tucked away when not in use.
- Murphy Beds: If your studio apartment is extremely small, a wall-mounted bed that folds up into the wall might be perfect. Ideal for studio apartment living as it frees up significant floor space during the day.
- I especially love Murphy beds that you can mount to the wall and use as bunk beds. This frees up so much space in my kids’ bedroom.
By choosing furniture that pulls double duty, you make the most out of your limited apartment space.
3. Organize (and Decorate!) with Storage Bins & Baskets
Classic storage solutions for studio apartments, storage bins, and decorative baskets are ideal for keeping any small space organized. They provide a quick and easy solution for storing items in a visually appealing way. Opt for uniform containers so everything looks cohesive, and label them for easy access.
For example:
- Under-bed storage is an excellent place for storing extra clothes, shoes, or linens.
- Closet baskets can help organize shoes, scarves, and other accessories.
- Baskets in the bathroom can hold toiletries, towels, and cleaning supplies.
This method not only keeps things out of sight but also adds a bit of charm to your space. Plus these storage solutions allow more fluid organization for easier upkeep. Try not to get overly ambitious with highly specific uses for each bin, which may feel satisfying for the initial setup but is destined to fail in the long-term, especially anytime you’re in a rush. Instead group items into bins and baskets by general theme or where/when you use them. For example, your warm-season items don’t need to be organized by separating sunglasses into one small bin, and sunscreens into another. Instead have one medium-sized basket that’s just labeled “Summer”. This serves the same function and makes keeping up your new organization system a lot more manageable.
4. Maximize ALL Apartment Space – Think Vertically!
In a small or studio apartment, floor space is at a premium. So whenever possible, think of building your organization systems UP. Wall-mounted shelves are great for storing books, decorative items, or kitchen essentials without filling your floor or counter space. You can also use nails, tacks, or pegs to hang bags, coats, or accessories near the door. If your apartment does not allow for hanging items, then another great way to utilize space is to use the over the door shoe organizer.
Another renter-friendly vertical storage solution is using no-damage adhesive hooks (Command hooks are one of the most popular brands). These come in a range of sizes and adhesive levels, and the sturdiest, largest hooks can be used to hold more weight than you’d think! Build these hooks up where possible, so that shorter items can be hung above one other. Remember to hang your most frequently used items at an accessible height and less used or decorative items higher up.
If you have high ceilings, use that vertical space even more effectively by installing taller shelves or cabinets. For a more custom storage solution, purchase a set of floating shelves and install them above one another at whatever height works best for the items you’ll be storing there. You can even get creative by staggering the shelves into a fun pattern. Again, just remember to reserve the very top shelves for items you don’t need daily access to, such as seasonal items, decorations, or extra storage bins.
Once you’re making full use of your vertical apartment space, you’ll also want to invest in a small multi-step folding stool. It should fold down small enough to store under a couch or bed, or beside the fridge so that you can easily access the higher items without sacrificing additional space.
5. Create Zones For Different Spaces & Activities
Even in a studio apartment with a single room (or perhaps especially in a studio), it’s important to have distinct spaces for different activities. Defining specific areas by their dedicated uses will help your small space feel more functional, and make task-switching easier and more satisfying. Dedicated areas can also help you feel organized and in control of your environment. Here are some ideas:
- Living Area: Keep your sofa, coffee table, and entertainment essentials in one corner to create a cozy, focused space.
- Workspace: Set up a small desk or a designated nook for work or study. This helps prevent work from spilling into your relaxation areas.
- Dining Area: Even if you don’t have a dining table, creating a small eating space (like a counter or foldable table) will make meal times feel more relaxing.
- Area Rugs: Especially if you don’t have walls to divide spaces, use large area rugs to visually group a space and its items together. Plus a good rug will instantly make that space feel cozier!
Clear boundaries make your apartment feel more functional and reduce chaos.
6. Keep Your Apartment Closet Under Control
Closets can quickly become a black hole, but they don’t have to be. Because square footage is limited and there may be few spaces to keep items out of site, studio apartment closet organization should not be neglected. Try these small apartment closet solutions to maintain an organized space.
- Use slim hangers and multi-tier pants racks or hangers to maximize hanging space.
- If your apartment closet is on the taller side, add an adjustable hanging closet rod to instantly double your closet space! You can use the top rod for shirts and the bottom (hanging) rod for pants, shorts, or skirts.
- Invest in drawer dividers to separate smaller items like scarves, socks, boxers, or jewelry. This is also an easy way to rotate your usage of these items so they last longer.
- Seasonal rotation: Store off-season clothing in bins or under the bed to accommodate current-season items. Put out-of-season items in bins to place on higher shelves, or in boxes and toss them in your storage unit until it’s their time to shine again.
- Over-the-door hooks are great for hanging accessories or bags.
- There are also shower curtain liners with storage pockets inside for keeping extra shampoos, conditioners, soaps, loofas, etc. to save bathroom cabinet space.
- Hat & belt hangers: using hat and belt hanging organizers is a great way to keep those small random items off the floor and neatly placed in a designated place.
- Under-bed shoe organizers and multi-tier shoe racks (for the bottom of your closet) can keep your shoe collection organized and accessible without sacrificing valuable floor space.
A well-organized apartment closet helps you find what you need quickly, leaving you more time (and space!) to enjoy your day.
7. Keep a Daily Cleaning Routine
Once you’ve put all the time and effort into organizing a small apartment, you’ll want to keep it that way so it doesn’t go to waste! Staying organized isn’t just about having a place for everything—it’s also about keeping things nice and tidy on a daily basis to prevent your space from feeling overwhelming again. We suggest a daily or weekly cleaning routine to stay on top of any messes.
Quick cleaning tasks like wiping down counters, making your bed, or sorting through the mail are best done in small doses daily to prevent clutter from accumulating and keep your space feeling fresh every morning. Bigger apartment cleaning tasks can be done on a weekly schedule to stay on top of messes without feeling like you’re dedicating huge chunks of your time to tidying.
Here is a simple small apartment weekly cleaning schedule to keep handy! For more details, check out our post on Developing a Master Cleaning Schedule.
| Sunday | Kitchen Reset |
| Monday | Vacuum & Sweep All Rooms |
| Tuesday | Laundry |
| Wednesday | Tidy up the bedroom |
| Thursday | Living Area Reset |
| Friday | Clean out & Tidy All Closets |
| Saturday | Deep Clean – All Bathrooms |
8. Personalize Your Space With Style – Forget the “Stuff”
One of the challenges of small space living is making the space feel like home without overcrowding it. We suggest choosing a few select statement pieces that really speak to you, such as colorful throw pillows, wall art, a bold bed cover, or hanging plants to inject personality into your space. Avoid cluttering your apartment with too many trinkets or knick-knacks – in smaller living spaces nearly everything taking up actual floor space should be functional.
I am definitely guilty of thrift shopping for the random and cute trinkets, only to get home and not know where to put it all, then feel overwhelmed at the clutter as these items build up. I’ve definitely come to appreciate the saying, “ Less is often more,” when you’re working with limited space. Keep in mind that highly functional items in your space can also have a sense of personal style – whether that’s a fun peel-and-stick window film, a bright red electric tea kettle, or a bright & bold pattern on the new couch cover you got to keep the dog hair off.
Alternative Small Spaces & Smart Organization
For others who adopt small-space living outside of apartments, alternative lifestyles such as van life, RV living, and tiny homes present innovative solutions to optimizing space. Whether custom camper van construction for mobility or constructing a cozy but efficient tiny home, these kinds of living situations also call for intelligent organization and storage solutions for apartments that work well on the road. To find out more about van life, check out our van life organization blog article.
Less Apartment Clutter, More Peace
Although small-space living may feel confining at times, living in a studio apartment doesn’t have to feel cramped or chaotic. With smart organization and a few clever storage tips for apartments, you can create a space that feels spacious, serene, and welcoming. Focus on decluttering, maximizing storage and vertical space, and defining distinct areas for different activities. If you have a lot of under-used items that you absolutely cannot part with for sentimental or family reasons, get a small affordable storage unit for them. And don’t forget to incorporate some personal touches and style to make your apartment truly feel like home, no matter the size. The key to a successful small apartment organization system is balance. You need your small space to be highly functional but still a reflection of your personality and interests. With these studio apartment living tips, you can organize your space with style and ease, making it a cozy sanctuary to enjoy every day.
