4 Tips You Should Know On Maximizing a Small Apartment

Moving from one place to another is a big decision and can be a hassle if you aren’t prepared. This is especially true if you are looking for a much smaller apartment compared to your current one. The size is crucial as it is one of the essential factors you should consider when moving.

Although transferring to a smaller apartment is a bummer, there are benefits to moving in a smaller place. Living in a smaller space can build or improve your character. For example, your lifestyle will be more streamlined and will enhance your critical thinking because of the tough decisions you will make when it comes to space.

However, living in a small space also comes with a lot of challenges. Tighter space means you’ll have to decide which of your things should stay or be thrown away. Organizing will be more robust since you have to fit all your remaining stuff in smaller storage areas. That said, there are tips for you to overcome these challenges. Here are some of them.

Clutter Management

Choosing which of your stuff should stay or go is one of the most challenging and most tiresome tasks you will have to overcome when transferring to a smaller space. This is especially true if you have a lot of possessions.

If you have a lot of things that aren’t necessarily important but can’t let go of, try renting a storage unit close to your apartment. Moving companies go hand in hand with storage rental, so you might want to check them out. Deciding on one is like hitting two birds with one stone as you won’t have to look for a separate company for storage purposes.

If, after all of that, you still have a lot of trinkets in your new place, you can use your creativity to use your clutter for another purpose. You can try thinking of ways to organize your trinkets that will also look good as decor. For example, you can arrange your books in a color-coding scheme or build shelves on the wall where you can place your figurines.

Try Using a Tall Open Wardrobe

Open Wardrobe

If you have a lot of clothes that you don’t want to throw away, you can try using a tall open wardrobe that can help you organize and tidy up your space. This kind of wardrobe not only has a lot of storage space, but  also looks good. 

When making one, you can make it go up to the ceiling to maximize the storage space. With that much storage potential, you can store a lot of seasonal clothes like thick winter coats, jackets, and even some of your footwear. 

However, this kind of wardrobe can be a little bother since you have to tidy it up from time to time, mainly because you can see inside it. To start, you can use a lot of wardrobe hangers not only for your tops but also for your bottoms. This way, you can save a lot of space for other things. You could also attach a little drawer for your undergarments at the lower part.

Avoid Unitasker Devices

If you are looking for new appliances or machinery for your new place, especially for your kitchen, try looking for one that can do several things. That said, avoid buying unitaskers or single use devices. 

One good example of a unitasker is a meatball grill basket. This device helps you grill meatballs and nothing else. While this might seem to be a helpful machine, many people rarely use it. I mean, how many meatballs a week does an average human consume? Not much. Thus, it takes precious space while being rarely used.

Functional Furniture

Avoiding unitaskers does not only apply to devices but also furniture. Although they aren’t particularly necessary since a piece of simple furniture is already good enough, having one that has more than one function is excellent.

A good example of this is the sofa. If you look into the market, you can see many sofas that can function as storage spaces. There are a lot of different kinds, so picking one can be a bit tricky. However, there are tips on picking them to help you decide. 

Try picking a chaise lounge or sofa without armrests. A sofa that has armrests makes it look bigger, so removing them makes it seem less prominent. You could also try a sofa that can function as a storage space. There are storage sofas that have an open storage area under the seats or ones that have closed horizontal drawers. However, if you like having company, you can buy a sofa that can also function as a bed for guests. 

Advantages of Living in a Small Apartment

It’s not always the case that having a larger home is preferable when it comes to your living situation. Even though a lot of people have the misconception that residing in a house or apartment with limited space is a drawback, there are a lot of advantages to living in a small space that people who live in larger dwellings don’t get to experience. Living in a small space can save you a significant amount of money, which is a significant advantage. However, living in a small space also lends itself to several decorating tricks and creative solutions, which can transform even the tiniest of spaces into stylish and functional abodes.

1. Improved Relationship

Spending meaningful time together strengthens relationships. When you live in a more condensed area, you are forced to spend more time with your immediate family, which results in an increased number of conversations and opportunities to get to know the people you share your home with better.

2.  Less Stress

Larger homes require more upkeep and maintenance. There is simply more that needs to be cleaned, as well as more potential for something to become damaged. Your “to-do” list at home will be more manageable if you downsize. Your home shouldn’t be an environment that contributes to your stress; rather, it should be a haven where you can get away from it.

3. Sense of Achievement

When the upkeep of your home is manageable, you won’t have to put up with the nagging feeling that you’re always falling behind schedule. Because they require so little of your attention, the responsibilities connected to your home can easily be completed daily. As a result, you’ll have a positive attitude toward your home and your ability to take care of it.

4. Lots of Free Time

When you aren’t constantly busy with chores around the house, you have more flexibility in how you choose to spend your time. You could engage in hobbies that bring a sense of harmony and balance to your life, such as working on creative projects, getting regular exercise, or hanging out with friends.

5. Less Debt

The larger the house, the more expensive the mortgage will be. Additionally, if you put less money toward your mortgage each month, you will have more money available to put toward the repayment of other debts, such as credit cards, car payments, and student loans.

6. Increased Spending Flexibility

The upkeep requirements for a smaller house are lower. When you reduce the number of times you spend money on home improvement projects, you’ll have more of that money available for other things, such as vacations, donations to causes that are important to you, or savings (or whatever else is important to you).

7. Improved Chances of Living on One Income

There are a lot of people who purchase a big house, and because of that, they need two incomes to pay the mortgage. The monthly mortgage payment will be less for a smaller home. If one of your partners wants to stay at home with your children, go back to school, or take some time off to start a business, then the option of living off of one income is more realistic in a home that is smaller in size.

8. It Is Easier to Live a Clutter-Free Life

It is necessary to declutter a small home because if you don’t you will quickly run out of living space. Living in a smaller space will make you more motivated to keep it clear of clutter, and you’ll be able to do so more easily.

9. Being Able to Live According to Your Values

You are not buying a larger home simply because everyone else is doing it if you decide to live in a home that is smaller than the norm. Despite the expectations of others, you are following the path that you believe to be your calling. Bringing your true self and your values into the world brings joy. 

10. Children Take On More Responsibilities by Nature

When you live in a more constrained space, you naturally acquire fewer belongings. Because of this, the environment will be one that the children will find easy to help maintain. If there are mountains of toys that need to be cleaned up at the end of the day, children are more likely to feel overwhelmed and withdraw from helping rather than pitch in.

11. Improved Health

When it is simpler for you to clean your home, it will be much simpler for you to keep your living space free of major allergens, such as dust and mold. Your health will benefit as a direct result of the improved air quality that will be present in your home.

Takeaway

Moving from bigger apartments to smaller ones like 1 bedroom apartments need a lot of preparation. Without the proper knowledge and arrangements, you will be in a lot of hassle. Tough decisions and sacrifices will be made. Thus you will need all the knowledge you can put your hands on, starting with the tips mentioned above.