I need help organizing a 1 bedroom condo with 3 people living here?

Question

Alright, my husband, my 1 year old son, and I all live in a one bedroom. We've been making it work for a year now, but my son is getting more and more toys and it's getting more and more disorganized. I am looking for some ideas to keep that place organized as far as closets, toys, any kids stuff, any ideas for the kitchen cause it's small and we have quite a bit of stuff, magazines (my husband hates to throw them away until they are really old), and anything else you can think of. I am pretty desperate here. We want to sell it soon and I want it to look neat, organized, and a bit bigger than it looks now. I don't want to spend a lot because we don't have much to spend, so anything I can do with things I might already have would be great (obviously you don't know what I have, but things that most people have around the house somewhere).

Answer 1

Here's three articles that offer some advice:

Ways to Organize & Hide Unattractive Storage Areas

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

And

5 Different Ways to Use Awkward Corners in a Home

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

And

Seating Design: Bigger Isn't Always Better! Tips for a Small Living Area

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Hope they help! Good Luck!  

Answer 2

A) you have to get rid of those magazine, particularly the old ones. Tell your husband you either get rid of them all or he has to find somewhere else to put them. Get rid of the toys your son doesn't use.

B) If you can't throw out the magazines or toys, store them somewhere. Either hire a storage shed or ask a friend or relative if you can put them in their garage. Anything that you want to keep and don't think you'll need in the next 6 months, then store it (or throw it away)

C) Get some of those big plastic tubs for the toys and put everything in them when your house is open for inspection. Store them on top of cupboards or under the bed.

D) Get some of those vacuum pack bags for the clothes you aren't wearing (ie winter clothes in summer) They are great - you put a whole bunch of clothes or blankets in them then seal it and vacuum the extra air out and your clothes go down to a third of the size. I've bought these ones in the UK and have bought some in Big W in Australia but you can get them in any sort of home wares store (Maybe Target or Walmart in the US?). http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores...

Hope that helps!  

Answer 3

Take advantage of vertical space... get some inexpensive bookshelves and some vertical magazine holders (they look like an L shape and are open on the top and one side so you can put magazines and papers in there vertically - check IKEA, they have some cute super cheap ones) they will have a nice uniform look on the outside (make the open end face the wall) and he can store his mags.

Take the minimalist approach with everything you don't used daily... any books, vases, pictures... etc. store them away till you move. it'll make the house look bigger and more spacey.

Depending on how long you'll be there before selling the house, you can do more horizontal shelves. We went to Home Depot and purchased some 10' x 2" inexpensive pine wood and some inexpensive brackets and simply drilled them to the studs in the wall. We had 3 or 5 rows of horizontal shelves on the wall and had decorative baskets to store other items (if you put other items in there - think extra linens, shampoos, dry pantry foods, etc... - you can free up some room for toy storage on ground level).

You probably don't want to do this if you're trying to sell right away, but if you'll be there for 6 mo or so, it's worth it. it's easy to fill in s***w/nail holes with spackle and paint touch ups and you can take the shelves with you.

Also, re-think your space... In our rental apt. DH and I didn't have a use for our dining room, so we put up our shelves in our dining room/dinette area as well as a big table and I was able to use that area as a craft space. Still a little tight, but functional.

You can use a corner as storage and use a divider, like the previous answer said to hide the storage.

Simpler solutions would be: a toy chest with a throw or pretty runner on top when not in use, several matching big baskets against the wall, temporary storage in clear plastic bins in the bottom of the closet during showings...

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

When you are trying to sell the condo I would suggest you NOT live there.   It will be hard, but worth it.  Three people crammed into a small condo will not have very good "curb appeal" and all that c**p your husband collects will just make it look even smaller and remind everyone how small it really is.

Hubby and I sold our house in ONE DAY.  I hated the house because the living room was tiny and narrow, but it could be made to LOOK big because of the very tall ceilings and opening the blinds to the front yard.  We rented a POD (portable storage box) and hauled literally 3/4 of our furniture, clothes, toys and stuff out of the house.  Be sure all the furniture is pushed as close to the walls as insanely possible.  Trust me, it will make a HUGE difference and the condo will look bigger.

Don't take out everything, (you want some clothes, bed, a towel or two, 1 night stand, a dresser if its nice) the bare essentials.  But I had one rule, you MUST be able to see the baseboards of all the walls in the room.  Hubby is a horrible "Stacker" and piles magazines, c**p and other stuff along all the walls.  

If you must, get it ready when hubby and the baby are gone. That's what I did because he had a complex about me moving his desk all the way to the wall. (it was a good 8 inches away!)  for what he claimed was for "ventilation" reasons.  lol

Answer 5

use dividers. Like those Japanese use. It's perfect for having privacy!

get drawers! lots.  

Answer 6

closet organizers are a great way to store stuff, AND you can take them with you when you move, and use them in a closet at your new place! you can get stackable shelves, drawers, cubes, hanging shoe racks, etc. over the door hangers are often made for shoes, but some have bigger pockets that'll also hold toys, magazines, etc..

some ottomans have a top with hinges, and make great storage spots. they can double as tables, storage, foot stools, and a design element. noone will ever know, and it makes a great place to store those old magazines, or to throw your kids toys.

an idea is also to pack up a small amount of your extra stuff in boxes and store it in a friend or relatives basement while you're showing the place.

that's all my ideas, good luck!