Anonymous: Hi there. So I'm moving into the first house my family and I have actually owned in years. The only problem is, my room is so small that they're letting me have the spare room as well, which is equally as small. Dorms are usually pretty small, but I'm thinking that these rooms are much smaller. Do you have any advice for decorating or living in a small (set of) rooms? Maybe any useful furniture pieces? (I don't have any. .-.) Any advice or help would be appreciated.

yournewapartment:

I am sorry it took so long to respond! This past month a friend of mine moved into a tiny studio apartment, and I wanted her advice before responding to you.

Living in A Small Space

Storage Containers

The right storage containers can make all the difference when living in a small space! Head to your local Dollar Store and get yourself some supplies. 

1. Storage Bins. Go to your local Dollar Store and buy yourself some plastic storage bins. Amazon also sells them, but they’re much more expensive. I’d recommend choosing whatever is the cheapest, you don’t need high quality plastic that was crafted by the indigenous people of wherever. These bins are stackable, durable, and clear plastic makes it easy to locate lost items.
   
2. Shoe organizers. Specifically, the ones that hang over doors like this one. These are great for storing makeup, jewelry, writing utensils, cheesy snacks, etc. Drape one over one of your doors, but be sure to consult with any roommates you may have before hand.
   
3. Wall Bookshelves. Bookshelves in general make great storage spaces. My old apartment had zero closet space, so my boyfriend and I used a bookshelf to store all our clothes. Since you probably won’t have much floor space, opt for a wall bookshelf instead. I absolutely love the look of a nice wall bookshelf, I have one in my bedroom with some tasteful cacti and my fancy shoes stacked on top of it.
   
4. Coat hangers. Might seem like a simple idea, but coat hangers are magical. You can fit multiple coats on one hanger and use the others to hang purses, jewelry, hats, etc. You can also use command hooks if you’re uncomfortable drilling into the walls.
   

Where to Store

1. Underneath your bed. As I’m sitting on my bed writing to you, several feet bellow me are two guitars, an emergency kit and several pairs of shoes. Beds are something that everyone has (unless you’re my high school friend Adrienne) so why not utilize them fully? Measure how much space is available underneath your bed frame, and buy storage bins that you can easily slip underneath
   
2. Hang it on the wall. Have something weirdly shaped that doesn’t fit anywhere? Hang it on your wall! The only example I can think of right now is something like a bike. Always make sure things are secure!
   
3. From the ceiling. Lightweight items can be suspended from the ceiling of your living space. Position jewelry, scarves, and small plants in a visually pleasing arrangement over your bed to save space.
   
4. Closets. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a closet in your dorm room, but most apartment buildings will have one. In fact, I would advise you to not move into an apartment with zero closet space. Stack your storage bins high, place bookshelves in your closet, and if possible use plastic or wooden hangers to organize your clothes. I always think of my bedroom closet as my “disaster zone”. The rest of my apartment can look nice because I have a place to store random things like my porcelain garden gnome and my vacuum cleaner that don’t fit anywhere else.
   

Decor in a Small Space

These are the ideas I came up with in my cheap dorm decor post, but I think they are all very applicable to your situation. 

1. Plants: Plants are my personal favorite decor (apart from Xmas lights). They’re inexpensive and look great in any location. If watering a plant every day doesn’t work for your schedule, get a cactus! I water my cacti twice a week.
   
2. Xmas Lights: I try to distance myself from people who say that Xmas lights are just “seasonal”. I have three different strands of lights up all year long, one in each room and one on my outdoor balcony. These lights are perfect for parties, romantic evenings, etc.
3. Posters: Posters aren’t as expensive as you think they are, but poster frames are ridiculously expensive. And you can’t buy the cheap ones, they fall apart instantly- you have to buy the $40 ones. My advice to you, buy posters and hang them up carefully with pushpins or tape.
4. Night lights: I am the sort of person who always needs to pee at 3am. I have always used night lights in my bathroom and kitchen because they’re so much better than blundering around in the dark. Similar to the Xmas lights, they help create that “mood”. I have these cute little lava lamp night lights.
   
5. Glow in the dark stars: Just trust me on this.
   
6. Chalkboard paint: Dorm room or apartment landlord permitting, chalkboard paint can help turn your room into a perpetual canvas. A friend of mine from college did this to his incredibly small room, and it looked so good.

My friend mentioned that it might be a good idea to make one of your rooms a “bedroom” and make the other your “dressing room/closet/beauty space”.

I hope this helps!