Living in an apartment doesn’t usually afford you with the same amount of space that a house normally would. And even if your indoor space is the same or even greater, you usually lack side buildings and storage areas like garages, sheds and so forth. Sometimes, to make things work, you have to get more creative to think of ways that can make living in an apartment more efficient for you. But there’s more to think about than just making the most of your space… because you also need to be more efficient with your time and other resources, especially if you find yourself living on the top floor of a 6-floor apartment building. Or even just the third floor, which has you walking up 60 stairs every time you come home.

1. Storage is Key

To give your apartment an uncluttered and clean look, keep your items out of view. Closets are the best way to organize things but it can sometimes take up a lot of space if you do not think about it properly. You can make use of durable shoeboxes for better use of space as these can be stacked up or build storage into spaces that you wouldn’t otherwise expect. Your travel items can be stored in your suitcase, which will also make packing easier when you are set to go on a trip. Tote bags can also be good for storage because they can be flexible in tighter spaces. A vanity cabinet rather than a pedestal sink could also help with storage problems in the bathroom.

2. Furniture

If you have a small space, you could go for more functional furniture. Say for example, a bed that has storage drawers underneath would be a good addition to your apartment. Ottomans and stools can also double as storage space if you find the right one.

3. Separate Your Trash

It might seem a bit strange or even over-simplified, but separating your trash is not only good for the environment, but also for taking trips downstairs. When you’ve got a child and huge dog in tow, the last thing you want to do is take big sacks of garbage down the stairs. So by separating our garbage for recycled items, food-related trash and other stuff, we end up with smaller bags of trash that still fill up quickly, but aren’t so cumbersome to handle.

4. Never Go Downstairs Empty-Handed

No matter how large or small a family is, it seems that there is always trash to be taken out. From green trash to recyclables to everything else, trash is in abundance at our home. So I always try to go downstairs with at least one bag of trash in hand. But if you’re moving items down to your basement or perhaps even to an office, don’t forget to always take a little bit of stuff with you when you go out the door. This way, you don’t have to carry a ton of stuff all at once, you don’t get bored with or worn out from the task, and before you know it, you can complete a large task with very little effort.

5. Design

Just because it’s an apartment it doesn’t mean that it can’t be chic, clean and stylish. Your apartment should still have aesthetics that appeal to you. Play with colors, furniture and accessories. Make your space not just functional but also decorative. There are a lot of ways to make both work.

6. Choose a Convenient Neighborhood

If you’re on the hunt for a new apartment, try to make sure that the convenience factor is a consideration on your list. It may be hard to find the perfect apartment, but if you can get one that is located in a convenient neighborhood, it should rate high on your list. Being convenient means that it has a grocery store, drug store and maybe a laundry shop within a five-minute walk. Well-reviewed restaurants, bars or other places you like to frequent can also be factored in to this list. This allows you to be more efficient with your time because you do not need to spend so much of it just traveling to places. We took all these things and more into consideration when we were searching for our new apartment.

7. Shop More Frequently & By the List

I’ve always been a fan of making a shopping list and sticking to it…but I wasn’t necessarily perfect at it. Now that I have to carry our groceries up 3 flights of stairs, you can guarantee that I try much hard to stick to what I can actually carry without having to go up and down a few times. If I deviate from my list, I usually suffer. And since the store is just a few minutes walk away from home, I tend to go more often, which means I have less to carry each time.

8. Shop Online & Get it Delivered

One of my favorite ways to shop is still online. If I can get it delivered to me and someone else will bring it upstairs, I’m going for it. Especially when it comes to pet products or other things that usually come in heavy packages. I’m sure our delivery people thoroughly dislike us already — but it’s really nice to not have to carry 15kg of kitty litter up the stairs on a regular basis. Of course I guess I could be looking at it as strength training for running, but I’d really rather not. 😉

9. Use Creative Room Dividers

Instead of using dividers to section off areas of your apartment, use artwork. Dividers have a way of making a space look cramped while art makes it feel more open and larger. You might also want to use an open-backed bookshelf to create two spaces out of one, which can house not only books but other knick-knacks, glassware or anything else you need it to. I’ve pinned a few of them on my DIY Home Decor board that you have got to see.

10. Organize Your Space

Be organized! When you feel like your apartment is starting to get cramped, it is high time to clean up and reorganize. You never know what treasure you are going to find buried and forgotten. Part of being organized is to make sure that your mail gets sorted out each day so it doesn’t turn into a tall stack that will soon start eating your desk because you never get around to discarding it. Also, you should do laundry as often as you can so you don’t end up with a pile of dirty clothes just waiting to be washed. The same goes for doing dishes (something which always seems to pile up fast when you cook at home a lot.) When you have established a routine, you will realize that you become more efficient not only with space but with time as well.