Pro Organizers share their tips for small space living

When you live in a small space, you face two major challenges: First, how do you make all your stuff work in such a tiny home? And second, how do you keep it from getting messy the second you use any of your stuff?

To help, Apartment Therapy asked professional organizers to share their top tips for getting organized—and staying that way—in even the tiniest homes. Here’s what they shared…

Get furniture that doubles as storage

Since your furniture will obviously take up a lot of space in a small apartment, be smart about the pieces you get and make sure they can serve more than one purpose. Anna Bauer of Sorted by Anna suggests pieces like a couch with storage inside, storage ottomans that double as extra seating, and a bookcase with drawers. Be smart about your kitchenware

Stick with kitchenware that does double duty, according to Rashelle Isip at The Order Expert. “A kitchen can be a particularly cramped space, so it’s important to make sure you have only what you need,” Isip said. She suggests investing in glass storage containers that can be used both to serve and store food, sticking with one powerful blender instead of buying a blender and a food processor, and even an adjustable sink colander so you only need one, rather than multiples in different sizes.

Take advantage of vertical space

When you’re in a small apartment and don’t have the floorspace for everything you need, look up and think vertically. Erika Dalager at roOomy is all about “utilizing unexpected spaces,” so when in doubt, use your walls. “This keeps high traffic areas open for dining and mingling, yet still provides a comfortable atmosphere,” Dalager says.

Create an “everyday station”

“You are going to walk in the door with stuff, and without a home, that stuff will be spread all over or left on a table,” says professional organizer and speaker Jamie Novak. “Plus, you’ll need a spot to stash all the stuff you need to take with you—employee ID, mail to be mailed, dog leash for a walk with Fido, sunglasses, phone charger, etc.” Having a space to keep everything that’s right when you walk in will cut down on clutter and keep you organized. Try the 3-4-3 Rule to stay clutter free

Need a system that can help you stay on top of your cleaning tasks? Katherine DiGiovanni at Refine Home Concepts suggests what she calls the 3-4-3 rule. “If you live in a small place, this is an easy habit that really pays off,” she said. “Every night before you go to bed, take THREE minutes to put away at least FOUR things. Then take out THREE things that you need for the next day— could be your outfit, workout bag, work bag, etc. If you live in a small place and you do the 3-4-3 consistently, your apartment will never be messy.”

Set a timer for tidying up

Another great method of keeping yourself on track and staying organized: setting a timer. Christina Giaquinto at Christina Giaquinto Organizing swears by the 8-minute rule. Simply set a timer for 8 minutes, and put as much as you can away in that time. “I like doing this before I go to bed—it puts my mind at ease, and completes my day, but you can do it at any time that is right for you!”

Have temporary clutter catchers

“Let’s be honest, it’s nearly impossible to have a clean and clutter-free home 24/7,” says Cassandra Aarssen at Clutterbug. “Unlike in those beautiful magazine or Pinterest photos, our homes have ‘stuff’ that we need to deal with on a daily basis.” Aarssen suggests having a bin—or even a few—to collect those “homeless” items in temporarily.  “When the basket is getting full, schedule a few minutes to go through it and put everything away.”

For more useful tips to living in a small space, visit Apartment Therapy.