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Tips for Living with Small Closets
Your new apartment is great — except for the tiny closets. Don’t despair! Follow these tips to maximize your closets, no matter the size.
Know what you have to work with
First, assess the space you have to work with and try to figure out how to make the closet work for you. Is there an easy fix that might improve your storage situation? If the closet has built-in shelves, for instance, could they be removed easily to allow for more room? If you’ve got bulky items, does it make sense to try and remove one or more of the doors? (Keep your security deposit in mind when you consider changes; make sure you will be able to restore things back to their original condition when you move out and get your apartment manager’s permission when making major changes.)
What’s going in your closet?
Second, figure out what needs to go in the closet. Closets are best for clothes that need to be hung — shirts, dresses, pants that would require pressing or ironing, suit jackets, and coats. Sweaters should be kept folded in a drawer because hanging them may pull sweaters out of shape. Shoes can be stored on a shelf or on the closet floor, but you may prefer a separate shoe bin elsewhere — at the front door, for instance, if you tend to remove your shoes as soon as you come home. A top shelf can be good for items you don’t access regularly, such as hats or stored paperwork.
Decide whether you can pare down. It may be that a small apartment closet requires a smaller wardrobe. If you don’t want to give up clothes, consider using a seasonal system: during the summer, winter clothes are stored away in bins under the bed, and when fall comes, bring out your heavier clothes and store the summer items in the bins. Keep in mind that you must organize a small closet space; if you cram items into the closet, you’ll be less likely to wear them.
Find a closet storage solution
You might consider a closet organization system to help you store things neatly. Stores such as the Container Store and IKEA offer individual storage pieces, as well as closet designs, to inspire you. Whether it’s a rack for belts, a pouch for shoes hung over the closet door, or a set of hangers that give your shirts room to avoid wrinkles, an inexpensive organization piece or two might make your small closet much more useful.
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What do you think is the ideal number of apartment roommates?
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