Common questions about organizing small spaces, answered.
Start with decluttering—organization is impossible with too much stuff. Then focus on one area at a time, usually starting with the area causing the most daily frustration. Give everything a designated home, and establish habits to maintain the system. See our complete organization guide for detailed steps.
First, reduce what's in the closet—you likely have clothes you don't wear. Then maximize the existing space: add a second hanging rod for shorter items, use slim velvet hangers, add door-mounted organizers, use shelf dividers, and utilize floor space for shoe storage. See our closet organization guide.
Focus on no-damage solutions: Command strips and hooks, over-door organizers, tension rods, freestanding furniture, and leaning shelves. These provide significant storage without drilling holes or making permanent changes. See our renter-friendly organization guide.
Declutter first—less stuff needs less organization. Then use what you have: shoeboxes as drawer dividers, jars for small items, existing containers repurposed. Group similar items together, designate homes for everything, and establish habits of returning items to their places. Often the best organization requires no purchases at all.
Build habits: return items to their homes immediately, do a 5-minute evening reset, process mail daily, and follow "one in, one out" for new purchases. Systems fail without maintenance. Weekly mini-sessions prevent needing major reorganization later.
Use less-accessible storage: under the bed, high closet shelves, above kitchen cabinets, inside luggage. Vacuum bags compress bulky items like winter bedding. Rotate seasonally—off-season items go to inconvenient spots, current-season items stay accessible. See our seasonal storage guide.
Ask: When did I last use this? Do I have duplicates? Would I buy this again? Is it worth the space it takes? Items unused for a year are candidates for removal. Keep what you actually use, not what you think you should use. See our decluttering guide for more.
No. You don't need to embrace minimalism to live comfortably in a small space. What you need is to own an amount that fits your space comfortably, have systems to keep things organized, and maintain those systems. That looks different for everyone—some keep more, some keep less.
Communication is key. Agree on shared spaces and standards. Each person can have zones organized their way. Focus on common areas first. The goal isn't perfection—it's a system that works for both people. Start with the frustrations, not the whole apartment.
Measure first, buy second. Useful investments: slim velvet hangers, drawer dividers, clear containers (for pantry items), Command hooks, and over-door organizers. Avoid: containers before decluttering, trendy organizers that don't fit your space, anything that creates more work than it solves.