Take it from me, life in the city isn’t for everyone. Life in a dorm isn’t for everyone. Yet, somehow almost all of us have to experience it at some point in our lives. I, McKenna, have lived in several major cities throughout my life. Whether it be New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, I’ve been through more tiny bedrooms in my twenty-two years than some will in a lifetime. Because of my wide range of renting experiences, I have more than enough unique tips and tricks for making use of every nook and cranny in a bedroom. I hate to admit that it took me nearly five years to figure out how to save space, but lucky for you, you can read on to learn everything I know over the next five minutes.
It’s so obvious, yet it also isn’t. If you’re like me and love nothing more than watching TV in bed, this is for you. TV stands take up a lot of space, space that you sometimes just don’t have in a Manhattan bedroom. Because of spacing issues during my most recent move, I decided against having a Television in my bedroom despite my truly wanting one. It wasn’t until my roommate suggested mounting my flatscreen that I was able to enjoy movie nights in my own space. TV mounts can be found on Amazon for around $20 and they take less than thirty minutes to be inserted. A mounted TV can save space in a bedroom while still having all the benefits of one on a TV stand.
A headboard and footboard have truly become a luxury for those of us living a life of minimalism. I’ve never found it necessary and it’s not something I am willing to waste space on if I don’t have it. Not to mention minimalistic bed frames have become very popular online and there are many trendy, creative ways to style them! I think you’ll be happy you saved the space (and the money).
Floating shelves are truly a blessing when you need to save space. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and oh so convenient! Whether you have them for a floating bookshelf, plants, or just decoration, they can really be a nice final touch for a bedroom. I have always struggled with decorating blank, white walls, these shelves have been an easy thing to add.
We have to stop sleeping on under-bed storage (no pun intended). I have found it is incredibly important to have a bed that either has storage built into the frame or gives you enough space to store what you need below. Sometimes things just don’t fit anywhere, that’s how the junk drawer was born, and closets so jam-packed you can hardly find what you need. I recommend finding some boxes to store out-of-season clothes and other things you may not presently need, slide them under your bed and call it a day. If you happen to already have a bed that isn’t lifted, you can buy bed risers on Amazon.
Sometimes small bedrooms also have small closets, sometimes they don’t have a closet at all. It’s time to learn how to make the most of your closet space. As I mentioned before, I find it extremely helpful to have a seasonal closet. Winter clothes hung up in the Winter, Summer clothes hung up in the Summer. Non-Seasonal clothes should be stored under your bed or anywhere else you have extra space. As for the clothes that are actually in your closet, something I have found very helpful are vertical hangers. These hangers allow you to make more room horizontally which in turn, helps you fit more clothes in your closet.
If you are insistent on having a bedside table, something I highly recommend is making the most out of it by buying a table with plenty of storage. I can’t begin to tell you how beneficial these little drawers have been for me. Some things I store in mine include chargers, laptops, books, and magazines. It’s also nice to have a couple of candles on top. Don’t waste potential storage, get a bedside table with drawers.
I never really thought about how much space a laundry basket can occupy, but once you eliminate it you’ll wonder why you didn’t sooner. Opt for a laundry bag and hang it on the back of your bedroom door. Again, it’s inexpensive and so much more convenient. A simple and effective way to save space.
Over The Closet Shoe Rack
Before discovering this little number I kept all of my shoes on the floor of my closet. After seeing my Manhattan closet for the first time, I realized that just wasn’t going to work. You would be amazed how much space a shoe rack can save, over the closet ones especially. These can also be found online and are very inexpensive. Not only does it save space on the floor of your closest but it also keeps things nice and organized.
There’s honestly nothing I love more than a beautifully decorated window sill. If you’re lucky enough to have one, you can really make use of the space. Books, plants, and candles are just a few of the things you can add to make the little shelf your own. Small spaces don’t allow much room to explore decorating so this is just one small thing you can do to feel more at home. It will also allow you to save space in other areas of your bedroom.
My final tip is simple. If you don’t need it, it doesn’t belong in your room. A life of minimalism isn’t for everyone, I get that. I’ll never forget the day I began moving into my first San Francisco apartment and cried because I couldn’t bring my massive film collection along. After collecting my thoughts, I began shuffling through my DVDs to pick the ones I considered “essential”. I won’t pretend it’s not difficult, it is. If you’re lucky enough to have a home base somewhere and a family member you trust, your items can always be stored there temporarily. If not, it may be time to rent a storage unit. The point is, you should use your space for things you need, not things you don’t.
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