Small Apartment Storage Ideas

If you have a large house with plenty of storage space, finding spots for all the items you have accumulated over the years is simple. But for anybody who has had to cram their lives into a studio or one-bedroom apartment, the struggle for storage in small apartments is real. Not only is there less living space, but the shortcuts people can take for more storage space, like using closet space or their garage for miscellaneous storage, aren’t available.

Fortunately, there are various things you can do to maximize your apartment space. Here at Absolute Storage Management, we help people with their moving and storage needs every day, and we’ve got some tips on how to organize a small apartment with no storage and more.

Storage for Small Apartments

What qualifies as a small apartment? There’s not a lot of official agreement on the term, partially because of the location and market of said apartments. A small apartment in downtown Atlanta is different from a small apartment in suburban St. Louis.

However, official definitions aside, a reasonable unofficial definition of a small apartment is any studio apartment or one-bedroom apartment significantly under 1000 square feet. In both cases, there’s not a lot of available closet space, kitchen space, or much floor space you can dedicate to storage. Fortunately, there are ways around it.

Small Apartment Storage Ideas

The best way to store items in a small apartment is to use the vertical space. No matter the floor space, small apartments have the same amount of usable vertical space as large apartments.

How does this small apartment storage idea help? Here are a few tips that we recommend.

• Use your wall space. If you aren’t allowed to hang things on your walls directly, use shelving up against a wall to accomplish the same objective.
• Don’t forget under your bed. Whether you purchase some under-bed drawers or opt to simply place items under your bed sans drawers, it’s another storage space that’s out of sight and often overlooked.
• Kitchen furniture can be your friend. Most people don’t think about adding furniture to their kitchen, but shelving, rolling items, and more can provide more food storage space and cooking space.

Another idea for small apartment storage is to consider renting a garage space if it’s available to rent. In some cases, renting a garage for a dedicated storage space for a small apartment may be less expensive than renting an apartment with another bedroom, so explore pricing options if it’s possible for you.

How To Organize a Small Apartment With No Storage

Organizing an apartment without storage is no small feat, but thinking creatively can help immensely. The first step is staying organized. While that may seem obvious, even large spaces can become easily cluttered if you don’t put away items in their proper places after you’re done using them.

• Get rid of things that don’t spark joy. Marie Kondo’s famous phrase still has a lot of meaning years after her explosion of popularity. You’d be surprised how little you need immediately available in your apartment.
• Purchase furniture designed for storage. Did you know you can get furniture designed for storage? Ottomans, couches, and foldaway tables let you expand your storage space without taking up any more floor space.
• Consider self-storage near you. Storage units are affordable ways to store either a little or much of your belongings, including seasonal items, bicycles, additional furniture, and more.

Self-Storage for Renters

The secret sauce for small apartment storage is the humble storage unit. In most markets, there’s a large jump in price between a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment. As of May 2024, a two-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, GA, is $300 more expensive than a one-bedroom apartment in the area. But many Atlanta area storage units can cost less than half that difference, making self-storage for renters a smart idea to expand storage space.

There are also plenty of reasons why renters can use self-storage units excellently. With a wide variety of unit sizes available for rent, you don’t have to overpay for space you may or may not need. Plus, month-to-month leases provide maximum flexibility should you decide to move at the end of your apartment lease.

Absolute Storage Management has storage facilities near apartments, condos, and townhomes across the country. We’re committed to helping homeowners and apartment renters alike with their short-term and long-term storage needs. Find one of our storage facilities near you and say goodbye to worrying about storage ideas for your small apartment today.