Some people choose to downsize, destress and declutter their lives by moving into a small home, condo or studio apartment. While it may not be your choice to live in a tiny studio apartment, you can embrace the motivation behind the movement and get your small space organized.
The first step is probably the hardest. You have to let go of some of your belongings. When you are in a small space, you need to envision what it would look like if it only had what you needed. Imagine what our ancestors had. They didn’t spoil themselves with lavish items, gigantic beds and homes that would force them to have to work for their entire lives to pay for them. They had what they needed and they probably didn’t stress about organization like we do.
Embrace the simple living attitude. This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything. In fact, most people dealing with small spaces keep two categories of items. One, the things that they need to survive, relax and cook. Two, the things that define their personality; such as art, photos and things with special meaning.
Install shelves for displaying things that are meaningful to you. If they don’t necessarily go with your décor, consider displaying them in your bedroom or near your loft bed. Your art and other décor that go together can be displayed in the living areas that will be seen by guests.
Many people have way too many pots, pans and storage containers. For a tiny kitchen area, think nesting. You will need one good set of nesting bowls for mixing and serving. You will need a large skillet and a small skillet, a large pot and a small pot. You can even learn to use cast iron skillets if you want them to double as casserole dishes for your oven. Measuring cups, measuring spoons, a spatula and a good knife are about all that you really need in the drawer with your silverware.
Inevitably, you will need storage. Think about this when you purchase your furniture. An oak chest or toy box makes for a great coffee table or end table and also offers a lot of storage. You can keep a lot of shoes in one at the foot of your bed. You can put one near the door for people to sit and remove wet shoes, hang coats on hooks and get their belongings organized.
If closet space is limited, you’ll just have to get creative. Once you’ve gotten rid of extra clothes, pair up bottoms and tops that go together. You can use nice velvet hangers with clips to put pants with the shirt that they go with. This makes dressing easier, but it also frees up about half of the space in your closet. Be creative and you can make your studio space work for you!
About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for slimlinehangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.
