Small Apartment Storage Guide

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Most small apartments have more storage space than it seems: it is just in places furniture does not usually reach. This guide shows where to find it, which pieces add the most, and how to choose storage that suits renting. For organizing what you store, see the ultimate small apartment organization guide.

The six hidden storage spaces

1. Under the bed. Usually the biggest empty space in the home. See best under-bed storage.
2. Behind doors. Every door can hold hooks or a rack.
3. Above head height. The top of wardrobes and high shelves, for things you use rarely.
4. Inside cupboards. The gap above short items on every shelf.
5. Gaps. Beside the fridge, washer and toilet: slim carts fit there.
6. Inside furniture. Ottomans, benches and storage beds.

Furniture that stores

Choosing furniture that does two jobs adds the most storage without taking extra floor.

• Storage bed: an ottoman base holds the most. Best storage beds compares the types.
• Storage ottoman or bench: seat, footrest and storage.
• Cube unit: open shelves and fabric drawers that can stand tall or lie as a bench.
• Bookcase as a room divider: in a studio, storage that also zones the room.

Storage for each room

• Entrance: apartment entryway organization.
• Kitchen: small kitchen organization guide.
• Bathroom: small bathroom organization ideas.
• Bedroom: small bedroom organization ideas.
• Walls and corners: how to maximize vertical storage.

Choosing storage as a renter

• Freestanding beats fixed. It moves with you and needs no permission.
• Measure twice. Height, width and depth, plus door swings.
• Prefer standard sizes. Storage made for one odd cupboard rarely suits the next home.
• Check weight limits on adhesive and over-door products.
• Strap tall units. Ask your landlord about the small fixing anti-tip straps need.

How much should you spend?

Spend first on the pieces that add the most: a storage bed if you are buying a bed anyway, then under-bed boxes and door storage, which are cheap and add a lot. Leave decorative baskets and matching containers until last, once you know exactly what they need to hold.

Common mistakes

• Buying storage before decluttering.
• Filling every surface. Storage that is all open shelves makes a small room feel full.
• Blocking light, radiators and walkways with tall furniture.
• Too many small containers. A few larger, labelled boxes are easier to use.

Storage by budget

• Almost free: declutter, move rarely used things up high, use boxes you already have under the bed.
• Low cost: over-door hooks and racks, shelf risers, slim hangers, bed risers and rolling under-bed boxes.
• Mid-range: a cube unit, a storage ottoman, a tall ladder shelf, a slim rolling cart.
• Bigger purchases: a storage bed or a sofa with storage, usually best bought when you need to replace the old one anyway.

When storage is not the answer

If you keep running out of space after adding storage, the problem is the amount of stuff, not the amount of storage. Do a second declutter, and use a one-in, one-out rule for new purchases. Storage is meant to hold the things you use and love, not everything you own.

The bottom line

Use the six hidden spaces, choose furniture that stores, and buy freestanding storage that moves with you. For product comparisons, see best storage solutions for small apartments.

How we chose

These are research-based recommendations: we compared published specifications, maker documentation and the features that matter in a small home. We have not tested them hands-on. Most picks are types of product rather than single models, so the buttons open the retailer's results; compare a few listings before you buy, in your own country's store.