10 tips from a renter who's lived in one 338-square-foot room for almost a decade
I never thought
that I’d live in one (338-square-foot) room for nine years, but I’d rather have one room in New
York than ten in any other city.
Occasionally, I
think about moving up to a two-room apartment, but then I realize that I’d want
to tear the wall down and have one big room--in part because I think that so
many of the special times I’ve had with friends in my apartment were due to the
fact that we were all in this one room.
Here are some things I have learned about successfully living the studio life:
1. Storage is the key to
happiness
As much as possible, keep items
concealed and out of view for an uncluttered look.
Closet storage is best. To maximize it, be careful of
closet organizers. These can actually take up more space if not planned
properly. Regular shoeboxes, meanwhile, take up a minimal amount in a closet and can be
stacked tighter for better use of space.
Consolidate all of
your travel items into your suitcase and store in there -- this makes packing
faster and easier when you are ready for a quick getaway (see Tip 10).
I also recommend tote bags from LL Bean or Lands End, which hold tons of stuff and can be monogrammed or labeled for easy
identification. These are also easy to move for cleaning, and since they’re
made of fabric, they give more flexibility in tighter space. This is a great
way to store magazines or books.
When you don’t
cook, use your stove as a storage area – it has shelves that are adjustable and
can provide much-needed space (just remember to take your stuff out again before preheating!).
A vanity cabinet instead of a pedestal sink provides added storage in a bathroom.
2. Chic, clean
& stylish design
Be sure that your
apartment has an aesthetic. Play with color and accessories; don’t be afraid to
use them.
Design elements
aren’t just for mansions. If you’re lacking closets or cabinets, create a
storage/display making your space both decorative and functional.
So many couture
items such as vintage handbags, shoes, ties, and scarves are actually pieces of
usable art. A smaller space can be a more opulent space.
3. Buy
multifunctional furniture
My twin bed is a
platform with two storage drawers underneath.
When helping a
friend with her first New York apartment, I suggested the same bed but in a
double size. She found that the 4 drawers on the bottom actually had more
space than a dresser, and freed up a ton of floor space for her.
Ottomans and stools
can convert from storage cubes to tables to additional seating.
4. Forget about
room dividers, go for artwork instead
Use art to section
off areas of the room instead of room dividers.
These dividers
often make the room look much more cramped and disrupt the flow of good energy
through the apartment. Using art to differentiate spaces makes your
apartment feel bigger and more open.
5. Be
obsessively organized
When closets and
cabinets are overflowing, it’s time to clean and reorganize.
Many times you’ll
find a treasure buried inside, like that great Prada handbag that you’d
forgotten about.
In a small
apartment, you often find that you don’t have that catchall space that you do
with a larger apartment.
Mail must be sorted
each day and laundry must be done of a regular basis.
Once a routine is
established, you’ll find that -- just like your space -- your time becomes more
efficient.
6. Live in a convenient
neighborhood, so you can purchase food/supplies as needed
When shopping for
an apartment, the more conveniences your neighborhood has, the better.
It’s best if you
have a grocery store, drug store and, of course, liquor store within a
five-minute walk. Then you can purchase only as needed.
If the 8oz bottle
is going to last for 6 months, why buy the 32oz?
Every time I visit
any store, I check my cabinets and make a list. I never double buy items. I’d
rather walk two blocks in a week when I need a replacement.
7. Buy only what
you love and purge often
After living for a
few years with less space, you tend to buy only what you really need or really
love, eliminating trends or donating them when the trend is over.
I’ve found that
since I live in one room, buying quality instead of quantity makes the dollar
stretch further in the long run.
And being on your
fashion game in one of the most stylish cities in the world is a bonus.
Owning one pair of
Manolos is better than having 12 pairs of mediocre shoes that take up valuable
real estate.
8. Use every
square inch
It’s not the amount
of space, but how the space functions that matters. Make use of every square
inch.
Most people
actually use 20% of the house most of the time. I use 80% of the space in my
apartment on a daily basis.
I use my entire
living room every day. I sleep on one side and watch television on the other.
Many people have a
guest room and they use it once a year when that friend comes to town. Or they
have an extra room filled with belongings that they never use, and ultimately
don’t need. I believe in living simpler.
9. Do cost
comparisons
When I start to get
apartment envy and consider moving to a larger space, I talk to my friends with
bigger apartments and quickly realize their rent and utility bills are much
higher than mine.
Living in a smaller
space, the costs are lower. I don’t dread opening that Con Edison bill.
10. Travel as
often as your schedule and budget permits
I go out of town at
least five times per year, and often one or two weeks at a time as my schedule
permits. This is a nice break and change of scenery.
Friends LOVE to
stay in my apartment. I know people in other parts of the country with 2-3
guest rooms, and no one ever stays there.
People stay in my
apartment 4-7 times a year; so many look at my single-room studio with more
sentiment than their own homes, considering my apartment their NYC pied a
terre. It’s a quick reminder that my little piece of heaven in Manhattan is a
sanctuary no matter the size.
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