Does anyone have any space saving ideas for a small one bedroom apt?

Question

Does anyone have any space saving ideas for a small one bedroom apt?

Answer 1

I lived in a one bedroom aprtment a few years ago and I found these ideas super helpful.

*Raise your bed up and store containers underneath to help with extra storage.  

*Use shelving to help with storage or display your fine things.

*Hang Curtains or use decorative screens to keep your bed and bedroom things private from your sitting area.

*Or turn your bed into a big fancy centerpeice that you can use as extra sofa for guest seating.

*Invest furniture that can help you store and organize as well funtion.

*Create color scenes in the room that makes the eye dance area to area instead of a cluster of color and it will help make the room look bigger.

Answer 2

Take advantage of  vertical space.  That means multi-tiered hangers and drawer organizers in the closet, the tallest media storage you can find, and bookshelves (tall or stacking) filled with organizers for papers, magazines, etc.  Stack storage on top of storage, and jam it all against the walls.  Also, if you absolutely have to have a coffee table, find a way to make it do double duty; use a trunk and keep your guest bedding in it, for example.

Design the space around your life.  Come up with creative ways to combine or arrange furniture so it does what you need it to do, instead of compromising your living space to fit it all in.  Check the link for the ultimate step in this direction.

Answer 3

There are small storage containers that can fit underneath your bed. Just label them so you know what each one contains.

Answer 4

One bed apartments are great when it comes to cosyness, although not so when it comes to space! I myself have a 2 bedroom bungalow, so would like to share some of my tips!

You should start your storage project by deciding what you really need in each room.

Everything that you don't need should be moved out of the apartment. Either throw it away, give it away, or move it into the garage, attic or basement, out of sight.

Once you've decided what you really want and need, look around the room for areas of storage. Is there any open, empty space? Don't just look on tables or closets. Look up, look down, under, and next to - your furniture, your bed, your closets, your cupboards. Any open space can be potential storage space for you.

For example, do you see an open space in a cabinet, under a table, or on a shelf? Use this space to stack wooden chests, beautifully covered cardboard boxes, or lidded baskets to store memorabilia, magazines, family photos, games, DVDs and even clothes.

Shelves are excellant. If you have room on a wall, put in as many and as big as possible. Nowadays, you can get glass ones as well as wooden ones, so go with what suits you best. You can have shelves in every single room in your apartment, they are that great! You can even put them over a window, to put things away and out of reach. Drape them with voile or some fabric and they look fab.

You can also incorporate cupboards and shelving units into any free spaces. These come in all shapes and sizes, so browse around and pick whats best for you.

Cupboards are great as they have doors! These are great to hide what your trying to stash away. The doors can also be made from fabric or bamboo, go with whatever theme you have going on in the room itself.

Next, look under your bed. There does be LOADS of room under beds, even if you have a small one. Measure the space and check in a local DIY store for those flat storage boxes, get as many as you can as these fit lots of stuff - I use them myself.

If you have a closet or wardrobe, and just use it for hanging clothes, theres always space at the bottom. I use storage boxes here too, as it really tidies things up.

At the end of the bed, do you have room for a chest? They come in great for not only linen, but towels and out of season clothing too.

Next look at your appliences. Can you downsize them any bit? If theres only one or two of you, do you really need a massive fridge? An under the counter one would be great for a small kitchen. Any extra spaces for cupboards here are great too.

I also have to admit that I use the space behind my chairs and sofa to 'hide' things. Be it leave them loose or again make use of those handy storage boxes, out of the eyes of people is great!

I've also found that theres room on the top of wardrobes, closets and kitchen units. Even the top of my fridge and washing machine gets used. I have a TV unit, which is great for storing the DVD player, TV viewing Box and any games consoles we have.

Anyway, I hope this helps a little. A small investment in things like storage boxes, cupboards and shelves really can make all the difference.

Good luck!