Welcome back to another entry on the Albuquerque Self Storage blog! Today we are going to talk about small living space solutions. Let’s face it, downsizing is challenging. Whether this housing situation is temporary or permanent, small spaces can quickly become cluttered and disorganized. College students definitely face this challenge and so do those renting an apartment. The luxury of a large living space is often not an option. 

In today’s blog, we are going to tell you about several easy ways you can essentially feel as if you have just doubled the amount of available space in that apartment or dorm room. Let’s begin!

Plan Out Your Move

Before you start organizing your dorm room or apartment this fall, take a moment to plan out what essential furniture and items you will need in your new space. Next, take inventory of the items that you presently own. You will basically have three categories: stuff you currently need, stuff you want to keep but don’t have room for, and stuff you decide to toss. The items you want to keep, but don’t need on hand right now, are the things you will bring to self storage. By relocating your bulky and nonessential items, you will open up endless possibilities, and more importantly, begin to free up your apartment space. Albuquerque Self Storage offers a wide array of self storage units specifically designed for this purpose.

Also, if you are a college student and can’t rely on your childhood bedroom for storage anymore, make sure to find a self storage unit that is close to your apartment or dorm. Storage units are extremely popular near college campuses, so you should have no problem locating one. 

Check out different websites as many self storage facilities offer discounts to college students. Late spring and summer prices tend to increase as the demand for storage units increases. To get around these cost increases, do your research early and lock in a summer rate to avoid your chances of paying more. 

Now that you know what to keep, here are three ways you can double the size of your dorm or apartment as you approach the new school year.

 Use the Space Under Your Bed for Storage

It’s time to kick out the monster under your bed and make room for your household items like clothes, books, shoes, and more. When choosing your bed frame, you might want to consider one that already has drawers and storage built in. This can help reduce the cost of buying individual baskets or storage bins and will be more aesthetically pleasing. 

If you already have a bed frame that you are either reusing or have purchased that doesn’t have built in storage, don’t worry. You can still use that precious space under your bed, and here’s how.

Go to your local home organizational store, such as the Container Store, and purchase long, plastic containers that are meant for under the bed storage. If you have old cardboard boxes, either left over from your last move or the package you just had delivered from Amazon, you can store them under your bed. This will make it easier for you to retrieve (or glide) the items you have stored towards you. This is a rather inexpensive way to increase your storage space, and allows you to reuse the item that you are most likely to have on hand while moving—cardboard boxes!

You can also keep furniture boxes under your bed too! We always recommend keeping original packaging for more fragile items and electronics so your future moves will be a breeze. Under the bed is a perfect place for them!

Make Use of Your Wall Space

Repurpose your walls. Usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about your walls is what posters or artwork you will display on them. Pictures aren’t the only thing that walls are designed to hold. A simple way to increase your storage space is adding wall hooks. Some apartment complexes and most college dorm buildings don’t allow residents to hammer nails into the walls during their stay. Luckily, this is where adhesive strips come in handy, which allow you to hang anything from pictures to bulletin boards without damaging the actual walls. 

Another great way to get rid of floor closet clutter is by investing in a hanging shoe wall organizer. We recommend getting one that slips right onto your closet rod—that way, you can move it around easily and it’s simple to install and take down! No fuss, and more importantly, no damage! This is an inexpensive option that can significantly free up your dorm or apartment space, and it is easy to install on your own. 

 Add a Mirror

If you are looking to make your space seem bigger than it actually is, a great way to accomplish this is by getting a floor mirror. You won’t have to worry about hanging them and they are just as stylish and functional.

If you are living in a dorm, chances are you will not be blessed with an abundance of windows or natural light. Using a mirror, however, gives you the opportunity to fake a window. What we mean by this is that using smaller, square mirrors arranged in a pattern can give the illusion of a window and assist in making your apartment or dorm size double.

Small Doesn’t Have to Mean Cramped!

Just because your apartment or dorm room size is less than optimal, doesn’t mean that you can’t organize and optimize the space for hanging out with friends or inviting colleagues over on the weekends. There are many tricks, such as the ones mentioned above, that will help you accomplish a spacious feel in cramped living quarters. So, the next time you fret about having too much stuff and not enough space, step back, take a breath, and remember these tips for success.