16 Small Apartment Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Trying to create more space in a small pad is always a big challenge - so here's some of my fave ideas that will help you big time!

1. Easy Storage For Pot Lids

Store your lids on cabinet doors and rack your pots more easily by using hooks and racks on the inside of your cupboard doors.

2. Bath Toy Storage

Prevent all those toys taking over your bathroom with these genius storage buckets which are deep enough to store loads of rubber ducks, boats and any other toys your kids love playing with.

3. Mirror Subway Tiles

Using mirrored tiles is a really funky way of creating more “visual space” in your kitchen or bathroom - it may be a little expensive but really works in small dark kitchens.

4. DIY Headboard Storage

Easily store your books, personal items and knick-knacks with craftily placed shelves at the back of your headboard.

5. DIY Jewelry Organizer

Give your jewelry some air with cheap IKEA Bygel Rails, that are so, so simple to hang and incredibly generous as to the amount of necklaces, bracelets they can store!

6. DIY Makeup Organizer

Make cosmetics easily accessible with this awesome storage idea that uses cheap tiny magnets attached to each make up item - and the make up board has a thing steel panel.

7. Floor to Ceiling Shelves

Maximize your space with high shelving that goes from floor to ceiling - and works even better if you've got really high ceilings! Just make sure to keep a stool nearby for easy access.

8. Fold Up Bed

"Murphy Beds" provide ample room for office or indeed more living space during the day.

9. Magnetic Strip for Bathroom Accessories

Keep track of nail clippers, scissors, file, tweezers, metal manicure sets – and within easy reach.

10. Over the Toilet Storage

This versatile Over the Toilet space saver adds extra storage in your bathroom for linens, accessories and toiletries.

11. Recycled Lathe Room Divider

Make really amazing room dividers from salvaged wood materials which you could easily find by rummaging through nearby skips (where theres some building work going on).

12. Repurpose Ikea Bookshelf as Bed Frame

Here's a brilliant Ikea hack for storing tonnes of your stuff under your mattress. It's surprisingly easy to put together and would be great for studio apartments.

13. Slider Storage Next to Fridge

Learn how to hack the wasted inches between your wall and fridge for extra storage - especially good for frequently used items like ketchup, mayonnaise etc.

14. Tension Rods

These can be used in the most awkward spaces to create awesome shoe storage!

15. Use a Shoe Organizer as a Medicine Cabinet

Really simple way to keep all your cosmetics, medicine and knick knacks organized. Just follow the tutorial for a really easy guide how to make it.

16. Use Magnetic Spice Racks on Your Refrigerator

A refrigerator is the perfect place to store frequently used spices - and is a great way to make the most of all that 'dead space' on the side of your fridge!

Comments

Carol Morris on June 23, 2016:

You have some good ideas here, thanks for sharing! It's not always easy living in a small space.

Pam L on May 04, 2016:

Where can I find #10??

Kathryn from Windsor, Connecticut on October 30, 2015:

These are great ideas! Thanks for sharing them with us, and have a great weekend.

~ Kathryn

Elexis Steele on July 21, 2015:

Interesting.

cjjfj on July 10, 2015:

Heidi's

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on March 01, 2015:

Clever ideas! Voted up!

Meggan Dunn from Winnie, TX on February 03, 2015:

The beside the fridge organization is awesome!

Stephen Kelly (author) from Ireland on January 28, 2015:

Yeh really love that idea too - thanks :)

RTalloni on January 28, 2015:

Have been looking at Murphy-style beds and had not seen this one. Some of these other ideas are also new to me--thanks.