Last Updated on November 7, 2023
Living in a small student apartment can feel cramped at times. With limited closet space and compact rooms, finding enough storage for all your belongings can be a challenge. However, with some clever solutions and a little creativity, you can maximize every inch of space in your student housing. This allows you to keep your apartment tidy and organized even in tight quarters.
When it comes to maximizing storage in student apartments, clever organization and multifunctional furniture are your allies in creating an efficient living space, and if you ever need assistance with your academic workload, don’t hesitate to explore options like write your essay services to keep your studies organized too.
Use Under Bed Storage
One of the best ways to add storage in a student apartment is to take advantage of the space under your bed. Most bed frames allow sufficient room to slide plastic bins or fabric storage boxes underneath. These can hold extra linens, seasonal clothing, shoes, or other items you don’t need regular access to. For even more capacity, you can purchase riser bed legs to lift your mattress higher off the ground. Just make sure to measure first to ensure your storage containers will fit underneath.
If your bed frame doesn’t allow for underbed storage, consider replacing it with one that does. Many affordable platform beds and metal bed frames are specifically designed to maximize under bed storage space. They often include built-in drawers or roll-out shelves underneath. Some even have enough headroom for small bookcases or filing cabinets to slide right in. A storage bed frame is one of the simplest ways to add substantial storage in a student apartment.
When shopping for under bed storage, look for clear plastic containers that allow you to easily see contents. Or choose fabric containers or baskets that slide easily on the floor without scratching. Label all containers to stay organized. Use storage bags designed to suck out air and condense soft goods like sweaters, pillows and comforters. Make sure items inside are clean before storing to prevent dust and odors.
Optimize Closet Organization
Closets in student apartments tend to be on the smaller side. Make the most of yours by installing closet organizers. Shelving units, hanging rods, and other organizers allow you to stack sweaters vertically, double hang shirts to save space, and slide shoes underfoot. Use storage containers or fabric boxes on shelves to hold accessories, underwear, socks, and other small items. Consider a tie/belt hanger for the inside of the door to store these items without hogging closet rod space.
Take time to measure your closet first so you can choose the right organizers. Modular or adjustable organizers are ideal as they can be configured to fit your exact space. Stackable plastic drawers or cubbies make good use of vertical space while keeping items neatly contained. Use storage hooks on the wall or over-the-door to hang bags, belts, scarves, or hats.
Divide your closet into zones to stay organized. One area can hold all shirts, another pants and skirts. Have an area for linens, accessories, shoes, or exercise gear – whatever you need quick access to. Use open wire shelving for items you use infrequently like formalwear or seasonal items. Any space where you currently pile things on the floor is lost storage potential.
Invest in Multipurpose Furniture
Furniture that serves more than one function is perfect for small spaces. Look for coffee tables or ottomans with hidden storage inside to stash extras like board games, tech accessories, or craft supplies. A storage bed with drawers underneath is ideal for keeping clothes, bedding, and more out of sight. You can also find desks or tables with a bottom shelf for books, baskets, or decorative storage. Dual-purpose furniture squeezes more storage into a compact footprint.
When shopping for multipurpose furniture, look for pieces with both open and concealed storage. For example, a storage ottoman can have a lift-off lid to reveal a large inner cavity, plus shelves or drawers built into its sides or base. A bookcase you can outfit with baskets, bins and closed storage behind doors. Nesting coffee tables give you flexibility to separate or stack them as needed.
Transforming your student apartment into a space-efficient haven involves creative storage solutions and strategic decluttering, and if you’re seeking to declutter your academic life as well, reading a comprehensive Boomessays review can guide you to effective writing support services for a balanced college experience. Measure the space in your apartment carefully before purchasing furniture. Pick items that are narrow, short or stackable to maximize vertical storage. Scale furniture appropriately to the room – oversized items will quickly make a small space feel crowded.
Add Wall-Mounted Storage
Don’t overlook the usable space on your apartment’s walls. Floating shelves are ideal for displaying photos, books, plants, and collectibles while keeping them up and out of the way. A mounted bike rack, coat hooks, and a magnetic knife strip also allow you to utilize wall space where furniture can’t fit. For the bathroom, install over-the-toilet shelves for extra storage or wall-mounted cabinets to stash toiletries and cleaning supplies.
In the kitchen, mounted pot racks, utensil racks, and spice racks free up precious cabinet space while keeping essentials in easy reach. Wall-mounted racks for paper towels, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap move these bulky items off your countertops. If allowed, installing a few shallow floating shelves adds neat display space in any room without taking up much depth. Just be sure they can support the weight of items you intend to display.
Use Furniture Risers
Lift furniture a few inches off the ground with risers or legs to create a hidden storage spot underneath. Coffee tables, side tables, desks, dressers, and other sizable furniture pieces can gain storage space underneath simply by elevating them. Just slide baskets, bins, trays, or storage boxes underneath to hold items you need quick access to. Risers also allow you to vacuum or sweep under furniture easily to keep your floors dirt-free.
Furniture risers come in a range of heights, typically two to eight inches tall. Measure the furniture you want to lift and choose a riser height that leaves ample room for the type of storage you need underneath. Risers designed specifically for beds are much taller, up to 16 inches, to allow for underbed storage boxes. Protect floors from scratches by using risers with felt pads or wide, smooth surfaces.
If your current furniture has short legs, you can often remove the legs and replace them with taller equivalents. Just be sure to match the threading and attachment style. For temporary lifts, use stacks of blocks, bricks or thick books under furniture legs. This creates impromptu risers to instantly add storage space.
Add Vertical Storage
In a small student apartment, you need to utilize every bit of available space. Look for vertical storage solutions that take storage up off the floor. A tiered hanging planter displays greenery while housing your cleaning tools behind it. Multi-tiered wall mounts can hold bikes, skateboards, hats, bags, and more. Stackable storage shelves double your storage capacity since there is no wasted airspace between shelves. Use the back of doors as vertical storage for a shoe organizer, coat rack, or over-the-door hooks.
In the bathroom, install a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit, sometimes called a ladder shelf. These tall, slim units fit neatly beside sinks, toilets or in shower stalls to hold towels, toiletries and other necessities. Hang a mesh organizer inside your shower area for shampoo, soap and razors. Consider an over-the-sink shelf that sits atop your bathroom sink to provide open storage for toothbrushes, makeup and skincare products.
By the front door, make use of vertical space with a multi-row coat rack or a set of peg hooks for hanging bags, keys, hats and leashes. In the kitchen, mount wooden dowels or metal rails under your cabinets for hanging commonly used pots and pans to free up cabinet space.
Declutter Regularly
To keep your small student apartment feeling spacious, be diligent about decluttering. Go through your belongings on a regular basis and donate, sell, or discard anything you no longer need. Organize paperwork and files into binders or digital storage to eliminate clutter. Limit the number of knick-knacks, decor items, and other non-essentials occupying space. Decluttering reduces visual chaos so your compact apartment feels clean and tidy.
Aim to declutter a small area each day, even if it’s just a single drawer or shelf. Sort items into “keep”, “donate”, “sell” and “trash” piles and immediately remove the latter three from your space. Store items you use only occasionally or seasonally elsewhere such as under the bed, at a relative’s house or in paid storage.
Regular decluttering also makes cleaning faster, as there are fewer items to move and dust around. Maintain your progress by instituting a “one in, one out” rule – if you purchase a new item, you need to get rid of another. Quick daily tidying also prevents clutter buildup over time. With less stuff competing for space, your compact apartment will feel infinitely more livable.
Use Space-Saving Furniture
In addition to multipurpose furniture, consider pieces designed specifically to save space. Murphy beds fold vertically into the wall, leaving your room clear during the day. Expandable dining tables tuck neatly into small areas but pull out for extra seating when hosting guests.
Look for furniture you can tuck into unused nooks, such as a desk that fits into the corner of your bedroom. Side tables with sliding tops allow you to conceal clutter quickly. Coffee tables with nesting ottomans hidden inside provide out-of-sight storage.
Measure doorways and stairwells carefully prior to purchasing furniture. Pick sleek, rectangular pieces that can fit through tight spaces and around corners versus bulky, round or curved items that get stuck. Optimize use of space by selecting low-profile furniture that doesn’t overwhelm your compact rooms.
Use Decor Strategically
Your apartment decor and accents can also create the illusion of more space. Hang mirrors across from windows to reflect light and add depth. Bright, airy colors make walls recede so rooms feel more expansive. Add lightweight curtains or drapes that end just above the floor to draw eyes upward.
Avoid cluttering horizontal surfaces with too many photos, vases, candles and other decor. This creates visual busyness that makes rooms feel smaller. Maintain clear pathways through each room without obstructing foot traffic. Less is more in a compact space, so stick to clean lines and negative space.
With a bit of ingenuity, you can find a home for all your possessions in your student housing storage. Make the most of corners, go vertical where possible, and invest in space-saving furniture and organizers. In no time, you’ll have a clutter-free apartment that feels open and airy even in limited square footage.
