A home visit: how to organise storage in a small flat
When you live in a small flat or a home with tight spaces, storage can become a bit of a headache. Where do you place the wardrobe? What if there's not enough space for everything? How do you fit all your clothes and accessories in such a small space?
It's difficult to learn how to make the most of the space in a small flat, but not impossible. That's why in this article we're going to scour this tiny flat and find different solutions to take full advantage of every nook and cranny for storage space.
How to organise a small wardrobe
When organising storage space in a small flat, the first thing to do is focus on the wardrobe. To do this, we'll need a series of accessories to make the task easier. What exactly do we mean? Boxes, organisers, extra shelves and baskets of all kinds. Besides being very affordable, these kinds of accessories help create not only a neat wardrobe, but also a well-structured one.
Here are a few tips for keeping a tidy wardrobe, however small it is:
- Add compartments to divide the space inside a storage module and make the most of every inch.
- Start by sorting your clothes and accessories by category and then use compartments to customise the storage module for each type of item.
- Place labels or stickers to quickly find what you use most.
- Take advantage of all your vertical space: if you can place boxes and baskets on top of the wardrobe (yes, on the outside), do it!
- Put what you use least higher up, and store what you use every day lower down, so that it's right at your fingertips.
- Keep your wardrobe tidy with a weekly reshuffle.
Boxes with labels in a wardrobe
As we said before, one of the best tricks for keeping a wardrobe tidy is to label the boxes you put inside.
There many options for this, depending on the type of box you've chosen: with a permanent marker for plastic boxes, with sticky labels, with small labels tied with a piece of string, and even taking an instant photo of what's inside and sticking it on the box if you want a more fun and creative option.
How to take advantage of space behind a door
Don't waste the space you have at your fingertips with things you don't usually use. Instead, store them in boxes in the empty space above a door. Place a shelf over the door frame if you have enough room between it and the ceiling. When you need something, you'll need to use a ladder, so remember: only store things you use occasionally or during other seasons!
Place hooks on the back of the door for things you regularly throw on to go out, so you can grab them while keeping them neat and tidy and without taking up unnecessary space in the wardrobe.
If you want more ideas to organise your wardrobe in a flash with different storage tips, be sure to check out this video.
Small details that make the difference
Did you ever imagine it possible to create a dressing and vanity area without taking up floor space? Fasten a mirror to the wall; place your jewellery on a cork board and organise it the way you like, separating them well so chains and necklaces don't get tangled.
Your wardrobe door can also be the ideal place for storing makeup and hairstyling products in a hanging organiser like the one in the photo, held up by suction cups: brushes, hair ties, hair bands, scrunches, handkerchiefs... Everything can live in this type of storage unit, making your day-to-day life in a small flat that much easier.
Organise bags, shoes and accessories
Let us finish off by introducing the owner of these cool storage solutions, which are easy to replicate in your own home.
"With hangers, it's easy to store all my bags and scarves, and they look great too. In the mornings, it's nice to have a mirror and all my accessories in sight," she tells us.
As you will see, we continue to organise everything into boxes and baskets, always using labels if they are opaque so that we know exactly what's inside without having to open them.
Leave the shoes you use most out of the boxes, keeping them under the shelves or at the bottom of the wardrobe instead. Another option is to use a hanging shoe organiser like STUK.
If you want some more inspiration on storage at home, in the bedroom or in small spaces, be sure to check out these articles.
We love it when customers use our products in a creative way. Why not try to do something new with them yourself? But do remember, any modifications or changes that you make to IKEA products will prevent them from being resold or used for their original use, thus invalidating IKEA product warranties and your right to return.
