Q&A - Organizing Small Living Spaces
Help! I just moved into a studio apartment that has one tiny closet and absolutely no storage space. I love living alone, but am having a hard time adjusting to the smaller quarters.
— From Jamie in San Francisco
A common problem for many of us city-dwellers. When living space is limited, storage of course is also limited. Look for space-saving furniture that allows you to optimize your living area, without sacrificing your style.
Platform storage beds are great solutions because they have several drawers underneath the mattress, where the bed frame would be. You can easily store sheets and other linens, or even sweaters. Several Shopping.com merchants - Furniture on the Web, Quality Media Storage, FurnitureBuzz and the Inside Outside Store, sell different types of platform storage beds. This futon bed with two drawers is a space saver x2, as it doubles as a bed at night, an easily retractable couch during the day, complete with two storage drawers underneath. Or try a platform bed with six extra deep 19″ drawers beneath.
Put your coffee table to work — coffee tables with storage come in many different styles and finishes. Some with large compartments such as this one, or others with pull-out side drawers or side cubby holes, allow you to cram in blankets, DVDs, board games or photo albums.
If you lack shelf space in your bathroom, easily add some with an over-the-toilet cabinet fixture. Since it fits right above, you’re making great use of otherwise wasted space, and you can get a fixture with louvered doors so that your toiletries can remain hidden from view.
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