No time, no money, no space!?
Question:I currently live in a 750 square foot apartment with my husband, 6 month old son, and our best firend is our room mate. We have absolutely no space and everyday I swear that I feel the walls close in a little more. I have no more closet space anywhere, and I don't have $200.00 to go out and buy all those nifty organizational gadgets and bins. I don't want to have cardboard boxes and milk crates everywhere, but I don't know how else I can find space. If anyone has any suggestions I would happily entertain them. I'm tired of cleaning all day and not feeling like my home is actually clean.
Answers:
One of the smartest things I ever saw was my step daughter's flat (apartment). It was so tiny, but she made it look fantastic!
What she did, she used her stuff as decorator items! So for example, in the bathroom, she had only one cupboard and a bench top. She got a big clear plastic box on wheels and rolled all her towels up so they looked the same, then stacked them in one half of the box. Then she got three small white plastic baskets from a $2 shop and stacked them in the other half of the crate, and filled one with her soaps, one with her hand creams and so on and the top one, which stacked on top of the other two, with tall bottles of shampoo, conditioner, etc.
In the lounge room/dining room she had her cutlery in a cheap cutlery divider drawer made of cane which she got at a local shop for a couple of dollars. She put attractive serviettes at the bottom of each section and stacked her cutlery in the appropriate space, then put it on top of the kitchen dresser. She used the cutlery drawer for all those untidy things like utensils and so on that look 'cluttery' out in the open. Stuff like coffe cups, plates and so on she kept on an attractive tray right on the kitchen table.
I'm probably not making this sound very good, but the thing was it really worked for her. She just stored most things right out in the open, and kept her very limited storage space for the things she did not want on show (private stuff). It was a bit whacky, but it worked well for her, mainly because she had a lot of things the same colour (e.g. the towels) so the place looked 'bohemian' but all came together.
One clever thing also, was she got a lot of those plastic crates you were talking about and put them side on so the top faced outward, then got a long length of nice fabric and draped it over the whole lot, with a long piece of board on top like a bench. It looked like a cupboard with a fabric front, and hid a multitude of sins, lol.
Anyway, the main thing was she is a neat person, and also getting a colour them happening, which just makes the clutter look like it all 'belongs', lol.
Best wishes :-)
there are tons of books on how to manage clutter. my personal way of thinking is, "the less you have the more happy you are"
Take a look around and pick one or two "categories" of stuff that is in the way. Things that aren't put away? Should be thrown away? Work in progress? Clothes? In a small space you really need to pare down.
Flat surfaces are always at a premium, and keeping them clean helps things look open. If junk mail, magazines, laundry, or other "to do's" are taking over any tables or counters, enlist the other adults in an attack. A short list of "things that we will clear before bed every night" can make a difference. I started with my sink, and worked my way up.
IKEA catalogs always show small spaces, and lots of inexpensive options for stashing stuff. Using hooks to give things a place to be "put away" on the wall is one idea they frequently show.
If your baby stuff is multiplying, remember that little ones can enjoy some "toy rotation". Pack half (or more) of the toys in a box and tuck it away. In about a month, swap some toys from "storage" to active. Your little one is still getting variety and stimulation, but you've reduced the amount of stuff that is out and about.
I am in the same situation without the baby. I bought 66 qt clear tubs from Target and stacked 8 of them in my closet under the hanging clothes. Other items are under the bed. They cost less than $6 on sale. I went through everything and either sold outright, garage saled or gave away everything I didn't use or need anymore.
Do you really need to have that roommate living there? He/she takes up half your bedroom space and would help solve your problem. You need space, privacy and intimacy and well as storage room even if you live in LA.
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