A Minimalist Guide to Maximizing Living Space
When my partner and I moved into a one-bedroom apartment, we realized we had far more stuff than would fit into two shallow closets and the freestanding kitchen cupboard that stood in for a proper pantry. The apartment was adorable, but our possessions were ruining the atmosphere. We needed to find frugal, smart solutions to our clutter problem. The following steps helped us transition from cramped to comfortable.
Cull excess on a regular basis:
Waiting to purge extra stuff until you’re about to move–across town or across the country–is like waiting until you’re really, really sick to go see a doctor. Prevention is key. It’s easy to become blind to what you own so we inventory our possessions every couple months. This practice makes us thankful for what we have and motivates us to get rid of what we don’t need. Commit to looking through every shirt in your dresser, every shoe in your closet, etc. at least a few times per year. Donate unneeded but usable items to Goodwill or a local charity shop. Recycle or throw away anything broken or useless. If your neighborhood has an annual yard sale, sign up for a table even if you aren’t sure how much stuff you’ll be able to sell. The extra cash and/or tax deductions are nice, but the real reward is the lifting of the burden of clutter.
Take advantage of community:
If you’re like me, sometimes sentimentality outweighs common sense. I find myself thinking ridiculous thoughts: “I haven’t worn this shirt in six years, but I bought it during college! I loved college!” Sometimes it’s easier to get rid of possessions when you know they’ll be going to a good home. So, my friends and I arrange clothing swaps. A swap is like going shopping for free; I nearly always end up with some cute new clothes, but I never, ever bring home more stuff than I gave away.
Make the most of small, hidden spaces:
We store extra sheets and pillowcases in flat plastic bins that fit under the bed. Storage bins can become a dangerous catch-all, so we don’t buy bins that are larger than necessary. That way they serve their intended purpose without offering up more space for insidious clutter.
Find appealing solutions for highly-visible storage:
Our bathroom doesn’t have any cabinet space but did come with an open shelf left by the previous tenant, so we snagged some on-sale fabric-and-wicker baskets to store toiletry items.
In the kitchen, we re-purposed glass jars for storing dry goods. The row of popcorn kernels and red lentils is actually attractive.
Make peace with some clutter:
The apartment has come a long way, but there’s still a corner or two where papers form an unsightly stack. We’ve been meaning to buy some additional secondhand bookcases for a while now, because our current ones are packed to the gills and need some relief. There’s a bag marked “Goodwill” that’s been riding around in the truck of the car for at least two months.
But, hey: progress is progress, even if there’s room for improvement. We’re committed to continuing our quest to live frugally and minimally. Even if we eventually move into an apartment with actual storage space, we’ll be on guard against a clutter takeover. My allergy to excess stuff is firmly ingrained, and I couldn’t be happier.
