storage hacks in my tiny new york apartment that just make sense
hot off the heels of the tiktok i posted on monday, i figured a full post needed to be written about my favorite storage hacks! living in a small space and being a fashion blogger (and just a lover of tulle skirts in general) don’t always go hand-in-hand. as a result, i’ve had to come up with some unconventional storage solutions to help fit all of my clothes and accessories into my tiny studio apartment!
space-saving hangers
having uniform hangers throughout my apartment helps everything look so much cleaner: especially because my clothing racks are out in the open. i’ve used these velvet hangers for years and swear by them!
clothing racks
i have two clothing racks in my apartment to help with the overflow from the closet. i have this customizable clothing rack next to my desk where i keep all of my blouses, skirts and matching sets. i also have this clothing rack that i keep by my window to hang new pieces, outfits i’m planning, or just incoming dry cleaning. this one is much more mobile so i can move it around wherever i need it!
storage bed
having a storage bed (or any type of under-bed storage) is key when it comes to storing seasonal items. i have one drawer for my swim and resort pieces, one for boots, and one for jackets and loungewear! unfortunately i can’t access the 4th drawer without trying to move the whole bed because there is a wall there so i just store my designer boxes there. my bed is from pottery barn and i cannot recommend it enough!
storage ottomans
my storage ottomans are another life-saver when it comes to bulky items. i store my scarves and cold-weather accessories in one of the two and in the other i keep my really chunky sweaters. these definitely spare me from wasting valuable hanging and drawer space. i also use these ottomans for seating when i have guests over so they are multi-functional!
vacuum-seal bags
when storing my really bulky seasonal items like coats and blanket scarves, vacuum-seal bags are a must…and they are just really fun to use haha. using these i can double (sometimes even triple) my storage space! i use these both in my ottoman and storage bed.
hanging hats
hats have always been a tricky accessory to store. so i knew it was a no-brainer to just make them a part of my decor! i chose to use classic nails when hanging my hats on the wall but you can also use these command hooks if you don’t want to create any holes.
sunglass holders
for the longest time i struggled with ways to store my sunglasses. i used to have a glass box on top of my dresser but that started to become overcrowded, fast. i also felt like it took up too much surface space making it feel cluttered. a bunch of my friends have used nail polish racks to hold their sunglasses on their walls so i knew i needed to invest in those. i decided that the back of my closet doors were going to be the only logical place to hang them and i was so lucky to find these racks (a set of 6) that were narrow enough to fit on my slim doors. the racks come with screws to secure to the wall but to avoid drilling into my doors, i turned to heavy-duty command strips to secure them, damage free!
i would recommend this rack if you have the luxury of a little bit more wall space or this stadium-style stand if you want to use counter space.
handbag shelves
i have multiple storage spots for my handbags both throughout my apartment and in my closet. within my closet, i organize my bags on the shelf above my clothes in size order: the larger bags and totes to the far right and the smaller bags and clutches to the left. to help save space, i decided to utilize my old shoe racks to stack those smaller bags. while mine are from when i was in college (yes you read that right), i love these similar shelves here and here. for additional organization, place these clear shelf dividers to protect bags from scratching each other!
the rest of my bags are scattered and showcased throughout my apartment. i use two of the narrow etageres by my window, this circular shelf in the corner by my dresser, and these marble shelves (and brackets) above my desk. with these shelves, i’m able to style my bags as if i lived in my own personal boutique!
jewelry & accessory storage
i never had a good jewelry storage solution until i moved into this apartment. i used to just use a small jewelry box, nails on the wall, and smaller dishes around my room. it started to get a little chaotic after a while and i needed to figure out a way to keep most of it in one space. a few of my friends have this jewelry armoire that i had my eye on but i knew it would take up too much space for my needs. i began searching for wall-mounted jewelry solutions and came across a mirror/jewelry storage combo! the exact one i bought is sold out but there are similar ones here, here, and here. there are versions of these that can be mounted to the wall, have hooks to go over a door, or with a stand to be separate.
for added sparkle in my entryway, i have these shadow boxes that have definitely been a fan-favorite! within these i’m able to put more jewelry, accessories, and some some of my favorite pictures! they come with a few pins but you can of course add your own and they are very easily hung either horizontal or vertical!
when it comes to my headbands and belts, i store them in the clear drawers in my media chest for easy access. i always roll up my belts and stagger my headbands so i can find what i’m looking for efficiently. as an extra bonus, i have some headbands stored in a rose vase to liven up the surface!
shoe cabinets
it’s no secret that my shoe cabinets are the centerpiece of my apartment. if i ever move to a bigger apartment, it’s going to be so weird when these cases aren’t in the middle of my living room haha! you can find my main cabinets here. in addition to the 5 shelves the bookcase comes with, i added 6 extras in each case to allow me to maximize them. if the glass doors aren’t your thing, that’s okay! you can get them with only glass on the top half. if you have larger feet (like size 9+) i would recommend even going doorless because i’m a size 8.5 and some of my pointed-toe flats stick out preventing the doors from completely closing.
additionally, inside of my closet, i have this foldable shoe rack that allows me to store between 8-10 pairs of shoes! this helps contain some of the craziness in my closet. for this unit, i just store my everyday shoes and sneakers because they are a little more worn in compared to the pretty shoes in the cabinets.
under couch storage
there are a few inches of height underneath my couch (that is covered by a dust skirt) and i got these flexible storage bags to store some of my seasonal shoes that i don’t use all year round. it’s definitely one of my favorite hidden hacks in my apartment!
under cabinet storage
with minimal cabinet space, i have to maximize every inch! in both my bathroom and kitchen, i use these self-adhesive containers on the backs of the cabinet doors that store my brushes, hair tools, nail polishes, dish towels, and cleaning supplies! just peel and stick to mount them and they support a significant amount of weight. and to be able to reach the back of my kitchen cabinet, i use this sliding and stackable drawer for a lot of my cleaning supplies!
marie kondo everything
finally, if you’re not familiar with the netflix organization sensation that is marie kondo, please go binge watch her series now! seriously, i’ll wait haha! marie is the creator of the konmari method that provides efficient ways to fold and store all of your clothing and promotes keeping only the things that “spark joy.” while i think we all can agree that i have too many things that spark joy, her folding techniques have become invaluable to me in my tiny apartment.
be sure to watch the tiktok below:
@allie.provost when you’re a shopaholic living in 500sqft, you have to get a little crafty with your storage solutions ##storagehacks ##smallspaceliving ##organization
♬ 아무노래(Any song) - kozico0914
