Anyone who has ever lived in a city like London will be aware of the spacial limitations of city life. The more shops, restaurants, public transportation options, parks, and tourist attractions, the less you gain in living space and, more annoyingly, storage space.
But fret not! Living in a crowded apartment doesn’t mean you have to cope with living life alongside clutter. In this article, we outline several innovative ways that you make the most of every nook and cranny of your small London apartment.
From multi-functional furnishings to third-party storage solutions, whether living in a cramped apartment building or a tiny studio flat, our tips will help you maximise the space in your small, cramped apartment and make life much more comfortable– keep reading to find out more.
Third-Party Storage
Although there are many innovative ways to create more space (or the illusion of more space!) in your small London apartment, the results depend on factors like budget, existing space, etc. Due to this, what might be a miracle solution for some could be a nightmare for others! Which is where third-party storage comes in.
Using third-party storage solutions such as personal storage units or container storage warehouses allows you to store any items you want over a flexible period. You can even access your storage whenever you want (depending on your option), which allows you to maximise the space within your small London apartment without purchasing additional furnishings, storage containers etc.
If you’d like to learn more about how third-party storage could help you maximise your living space, consider visiting providers’ websites like Safestore. Safestore have a range of storage options for you to choose from, covering the entire London area; visit their website to learn more or contact them directly for specific inquiries.
Declutter Regularly
Another way that you can create more space in your small London apartment is by decluttering regularly. The longer we live somewhere, the more clutter we accumulate, and although it might feel precious to us and like we couldn’t bear to part with it, they’ll come a time when we look at our cramped surroundings and kickstart ourselves into decluttering mode.
And it’s not just additional storage space that decluttering our homes can grant us, but less to clean, finding things becomes more straightforward, more positive emotions, and even a little extra in your bank account. Dedicate one weekend to going through your apartment room by room and sorting your belongings into three categories; keep, bin, and sell.
Once you have your three piles, you can chuck anything you no longer need, sell items in good condition using apps like Depop or Vinted, offload them to family or friends, or give them away to your local charity shop/shelter – all of which will help you scale down the amount of stuff in your property and create more space.
Multi-Purpose Furniture
Although you cannot physically create space in your London apartment, you can make the illusion of more space by using neat furnishing tricks like multi-purpose furniture. As the name suggests, multi-purpose furniture is an item that serves more than one purpose, such as sofa beds, coffee tables with hidden compartments, or chairs/tables with drawers.
For instance, if you regularly have people over to stay, but the spare room isn’t big enough to house another bed, you could consider using a futon in your sitting room, which enables your lounge to double up as a spare room when guests are over. Or, if you have slanting ceilings, which makes using vertical space difficult, you could consider using tables/chairs with built-in drawers to maximise your space.