Advice on living in a small space?

Hi, guys,

Since this was brought up in another thread, just wondering if anyone has any advice for living in tight quarters? We have very limited space as our living room & bedroom are in one room. We have no linen closet. I have gotten rid of alot of stuff, but somehow it's still too much. Not to mention, DH's stuff which isn't even all over here yet.

TIA

we have a one bedroom now its roomy but i hear you on the lck of space to store things..

we lifted our bed and it has given us room to store off season clothes and more room in the closet now...

hth

---

Posted by acsm

we have a one bedroom now its roomy but i hear you on the lck of space to store things..

we lifted our bed and it has given us room to store off season clothes and more room in the closet now...

hth

---

We did the bed thing too and use underbed boxes. we also have trunks in our living room-stacked on on top of the other with a basket on top. Looks like just ncie room decoration but we have tons of stuff stored inside. Also, storing 'up' is always goodl; like putting up shelves where you can put stuff. Ikea has some nice shelving units with and without doors that are wall mounted.

I can totally relate because we're also in a studio co-op. DH had been living there for a couple years before we met, and then I moved in with him. We also have our bed in the main room with the living room space, dining, and computer desk. How much closet space do you have? Before, we had been pretty unorganized, so even though we have 4 closets, they weren't being used very well. I went and purchased a ton of different sized plastic storage bins and tried to organize everything, so that left some extra room. I still have a lot of my stuff stored at my parents, plus, we're hoping to try and sell our place sometime soon, so we are renting out a storage unit to store anything that doesn't need to be there. If you have a little bit of extra money each month (it's just under $100 for us) that's a great way to make some extra space. Also, look for pieces that have storage space inside (ottomans where the top lifts off and allows for storage, same thing with side tables or coffee tables).

Thanks for the advice, ladies!!
We have one closet in the bedroom/living room; we also have in the kitchen area, a space that we use as a storage area. It would be a great addition to the room but unfortunately it has a slanted ceiling so you can't do much with it. Since we have limited space in the living room, I had to put my rolltop desk in there which pretty much takes up the whole thing.

Wish I had a hallway closet for our linens!!

DH has a ton of books but he's going to have to leave them at his Mom's until we get a bigger place

I'm also tight on space - seriously lacking clothes hanging closet.
My bedroom is huge, but just poorly laid out because we have a sloping roof and a dormer in the bedroom. The two small closets are under the sloping roof, and DH's computer is in the window dormer.
I use a garment rack for my clothing, and fit the bottom with wooden planks as shelves. A covered bin holds my panties and bras, another my socks/tights/pantyhose. Purses sit on the shelf. I still have to move my dresser in from my old apartment, so this will give me extra storage space.
I use under the bed as storage too, clear boxes with big labels so I don't have to pull all of them out.

My kitchen is very tight on storage space, so I bout an industrial wire shelving unit. The matching microwave cart holds the toaster, kitchen aid and coffee maker. Two shelves hold my potatoes and onions. Since it is very visible, I don't overstuff it and try to keep it neat. Extra storage containers were thrown away. Ziploc bags take up less space. It's a hassle, but I keep roasting pans and racks, dutch oven, and my frying pans in the oven.

I still keep stuff in my old apartment, I have a full attic there.
I try to keep the apartment neat, not too many tchotkes around, and have taught DH that everything has its place. It actually looks bigger when there isn't crap all over the place.

I hear ya on keeping everything neat. DH is a bit of a slob and I explained to him that (especially in this tight space) clutter makes me uncomfortable.

We are thinking about renting a storage unit.

It is kind of ridiculous though. My grandparents raised 3 kids in a small apartment in Queens. How the heck did they manage?

It frustrates both of us to have stuff all over that doesn't belong in that particular space. China packed up in the bedroom. Clutter on every surface. The eating area has our mail, recycling, the car recharger, a box of glasses that we are donating to a local thrift shop, cases of soda... Then DH brought out his beer mug collection to 'display.' I want to laugh and cry.

I want to start throwing stuff away or donating it to charity, but it is tricky because DH has been in the apartment 7 years.

---

Posted by rmsgirl

We are thinking about renting a storage unit.

It is kind of ridiculous though. My grandparents raised 3 kids in a small apartment in Queens. How the heck did they manage?

It frustrates both of us to have stuff all over that doesn't belong in that particular space. China packed up in the bedroom. Clutter on every surface. The eating area has our mail, recycling, the car recharger, a box of glasses that we are donating to a local thrift shop, cases of soda... Then DH brought out his beer mug collection to 'display.' I want to laugh and cry.

I want to start throwing stuff away or donating it to charity, but it is tricky because DH has been in the apartment 7 years.

---

Just do it.
Devote a day to declutter - one room at a time.
Get the glases to the thrift shop.
Sort the mail as it comes in. Junk goes to recylcing, bills go to a special place until they are to be paid, catalogues go in recycling.
Find a place to display the beer mugs - I bout DH a display case for his shotglasses - it is now hanging on the wall and the shotglasses are out of my kitchen.
Why is the car charger on the table instead of in the car ?
Don't buy case loads of anything unless you have a place to store it. I've been known to store paper towels and TP in the trunk of my car.
Go thru clothes and get rid of stuff you don't wear.
Got new sheets and towels for your shower ? Get rid of the old ones use the new ones.
Can you store the china at a parent's house ?

My in-laws are hoarders. I have to do the same thing for their two bedroom apartment because there is so much $hit in there that my MIL can't walk with her walker. How bad is it ? There is a washer and dryer sitting on a dolly in the middle of the living room. It's only been there for
10 YEARS !

Minimalization:
I had the smallest appt ever. How I managed:

1. Bed used as 'public space'
2. Futon facing bed for more useful public space.
If you want to seperate this: use a futon/sofa backing the bed (on one side)...makes no side divisions
3. No desk: file cabinets that are square and deep instead stacked.
4. 2 sets of linens. Wash one. Have the other on.
5. Minimalistic china. 4 plates, 4 mugs, 4 sets of utensils.
6. Clear glass tables if needed (makes place look better)
7. Clean spaces: empty floors, empty surfaces

This is why I didn't register: I don't have room for fine china, extra linens, ect in a bigger appt now.

10 YEARS!!!

The stuff for the thrift shop is going in the first week of February (that's when they start taking donations for the new year). DH took all the car stuff out of his trunk because he is getting ready to sell the car. I will probably move some stuff out of the hall closet to fit it in there.

I want to move the china to my mom's but DH doesn't want to since she is so far away (she's on LI & we are in MA). In the meantime, I filled up 2 trash bags of clothes for Goodwill, and fit about half of it in my closet.

Good idea to start one room at a time. Maybe I'll feel better if I have at least one clean space.

Thanks!!!

How bad is it ? There is a washer and dryer sitting on a dolly in the middle of the living room. It's only been there for
10 YEARS !


HOLY COW!!

---

Posted by dgirl0114

How bad is it ? There is a washer and dryer sitting on a dolly in the middle of the living room. It's only been there for
10 YEARS !


HOLY COW!!

---

Yeah. that bad DH can't deal with it, so I got stuck with it.
My MIL is 83 and sick, and my FIL is 75.
Had a nice chat with my MIL, she agrees with my plan to help her, we just have to convince FIL to get rid of this stuff. Not an easy task, but I have no problem playing the bad guy. FIL just has an attention span problem.

Got another one, and cross my heart, I am not telling a lie.
FIL's beloved pet bird died and he wanted to keep it (collective EWWWWW). Nevermore is wrapped in plastic, foil and a paper bag and is in the freezer. Has been since 1976.
I kid you not.

That is why I am so obsessed with keeping our small apartment neat, organized and uncluttered.