Organizing Ideas for Apartment Dwellers Who Lack Space But Need More of It
By Karen Fritscher-Porter
Implementing organizing ideas in your apartment can be what determines the difference between having a cozy apartment or a cramped and cluttered one. Which do you prefer? If you want cozy try these organizing ideas to clear clutter and create more storage space in your small apartment.
YOUR PAPERWORK - No space for a desk or file cabinet? You do have room if you have about two square feet available. That will hold a bill payer's desk. These are designed compact to fit in small areas. They often have extendable leafs for writing surfaces and built in file drawers, magazine racks and storage compartments. They can expand when you use them and decrease in size when not in use.
YOUR CLOTHING - Not enough space in your drawers and clothes closet for your entire wardrobe and shoe collection? And forget about separating your off-season clothing, right? Wrong! Look under your bed. And if you can't do that then buy some bed elevators, also called bed risers. They attach to the legs or wheels of the bed frame. Some can raise your bed about an extra four inches. Be sure to contain clothing items that you stash under the bed in canvas or vinyl drawers and space-saving bags to keep dust and dirt off of them.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS - Stop cluttering your counter space and end tables with photos. Hang these in clustered framed arrangements on the wall. Arranging photos on the wall is all about achieving a "balance" that's flattering to the eye.
YOUR MAGAZINES - Use upright magazine holders, also called magazine files or magazine boxes. Each one can hold one to two dozen average size magazines in a standing position. Put the magazine files on a single wall-mounted shelf or on your bookcase shelving. Keep no more than two or three of these magazine files on hand. That's enough to enable you to keep anywhere from 36 to 72 magazines on hand in a space less than two feet horizontally wide.
YOUR KITCHEN - Use the underside of kitchen cabinets. What attaches under the cabinet these days? Electric can openers, pull-out spice racks and drawers and more.
YOUR JEWELRY - Hanging two-sided jewelry organizers fit perfectly in your clothes closet right amongst your clothing. They take no more room than hanging a shirt or two. And they can hold a lot of earrings and pins.
YOUR LINENS - Some people report success with storing extra bed linens between the mattress and box spring. Others report that this creates a lumpy sleeping experience. You be the judge.
These are just a few organizing ideas for apartment residents. To find all the roomy potential your apartment really holds, you'll need to look your apartment up and down. The "extra" space is not always right in front of your face, literally. Also, read up on organizing ideas for the inside of your bedroom, linen and bathroom closets, pantry and kitchen cabinets. You can probably double your existing space in these areas with the right organizing ideas and products.
Karen Fritscher-Porter writes about home organization at http://www.EasyHomeOrganizing.com where you can read hundreds of free tips to organize your home plus shop for home organizing products and subscribe to free home organization newsletters. Go there now to read the complete list of organizing ideas for apartment dwellers.
KW Publishing and Consulting
Kathy Woodard, Editor
PO Box 4755
West Richland, Wa 99353
Fax 18017512073
kw.publishing@gmail.com
