When you’re living in a small unit or a one-bedroom apartment, it’s really crucial to be organised.
Living in a cluttered, organised and clean space – even if it is small – is a much more pleasant and relaxing experience than being stressed and overwhelmed by too much stuff.
In a small space, the two most important things you can do to enhance and enjoy your home are to keep what you own down to a reasonable amount; and then store what you do own and use in a thoughtful, well-organised way.
If this is a challenge for you – read on. Here are a few simple tips to help you tame your space.
1. Do you really need it?
There are some pretty interesting blogs where people advocate a life of pure minimalism.
Some would say why have six forks when you really only one? I’m not that guy.
But I do believe that we all tend to have more stuff than we really do need. Somewhere in there is the balance that hopefully works for you. If you find that you have too much stuff for the space you have then you do need to make some tough choices.
So, start doing these three things:
- Get into the habit of not bringing things home.
- Avoid cluttering up your space.
- Keep focused on acquiring fewer things but having more experiences.
If you live in a small space this is crucial. Remember – you only have the space you have and overloading that space will make you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

The clutter-free apartment at 4/67 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, is spot on perfection. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
2. Create smart storage solutions
Understanding how to save space in a tiny apartment is crucial. In my many years of being a Professional Organiser, I’ve learned to scout through pretty much any room and find places where people have some wasted space.
Some of the key areas I usually notice are the backs of doors (over-the-door organisers are great tools for adding extra storage space in just about every room); shelves in cupboards which are not at optimal heights (allowing too much empty space which could be used for another shelf); and closets which have lots of spare room underneath the hanging bar (adding another hanging rod is often a great solution to double up the hanging space).
The number one area though where people who are short on space need to look are the vertical space on walls and above doors. Shelving can be installed pretty much anywhere. So look up on your wall and see what might be able to be stored up high.

Pretty and practical – kitchens continue to get more and more savvy with their storage solutions. Picture: Eve Wilson/Dulux
Similarly, go low… by adding inexpensive risers to your bed, you may find enough room under your bed to store items like luggage or out-of-season clothing.
3. Use multi-purpose furniture
You see an ottoman, I see a storage area for your blankets, magazines, and who knows what else! I’m a huge fan of items of furniture which serve a ‘double-duty’.
Coffee tables which have additional storage; a kitchen table which can also serve as a home workspace; or even using a sofa bed (which are way more comfortable than they used to be) as your main bed are all great ideas for getting more function out of your space and utilising furniture in creative ways.

This ottoman has a removable wooden top to hide the mess while you put your feet up. Picture: West Elm
Keeping a small space decluttered and organised will make it feel that much more liveable and – surprisingly – even larger than it actually is. Take the time to think through how you’re living and you’ll find that you may be able to add much more storage space and a feeling of spaciousness to your home!
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