Watching TV shows about people who live in cities, you'll notice a lot of inaccuracies. Like the fact they're able to get the entire friendship group to meet up for brunch at least once a week. Or that they have time for sitting around in coffee shops in the middle of the day.
Another TV world/IRL difference is that all their flats appear to be remarkably clutter-free. Where's the pile of bad eBay purchases that they'll totally get around to reselling one day? Where's the stack of paperwork that they should probably get a filing system for? Where's the stuff that just sits on top of the coffee table because, well, where else would it go?
Either TV is (shocker) not real life or our television friends have employed some clever storage hacks to make sure they've made the most of their small city apartment.
Click through to see some of our favourite storage hacks...
Suspending things from the ceiling or walls can be a great way to make use of space which otherwise would go unused because of furniture getting in the way.
To hang things from the ceiling with no DIY skills and without annoying the heck out of your landlord, look for screw-in hooks like this (£6.99 for 80; don't know why you'd need 80 but there you go). These will hold light storage organisers (depending on the integrity of your ceiling) like these gold baskets from H&M (£19.99) or these from Feather & Nest at Trouva (£25). Don't put anything heavy in, but they could be a great way to store scarves, makeup, knick-knacks and the like. The small hole in the ceiling left by the hook is easily filled with grout when you move out.
To use the wall as a hanging space without purchasing a hammer and/or nails, invest in some Command hooks, which come in all shapes and sizes – from clothes hooks (£4.49) to super mini fairy light holders (£3.38 for 20). Command hooks are great as they stick on with adhesive (good adhesive, not Pritt Stick) and they come off without leaving any mess. Use to hang lightweight small hanging shelves like this one (£8.95) or use the wire hooks to hang something like this (£12, IKEA).
You know what's annoying? The space behind a door. Not big enough to fit any useful furniture in but too big to be ignored as a potential storage goldmine.
To make use of this little nugget of space, the design world has a few tricks up its sleeve. Notably, over-the-door storage, which can be everything from a simple coat rack (£3.99) to an entire six-foot organiser, which can probably hold half your wardrobe and your accessories too.
If you have enough space, get yourself a freestanding shelving tower to nestle right in the corner like this. These shelves are just £26.99. If you need something slimmer, take a look at these ladder shelves (£48.99).
Otherwise, a swivel towel rail can be a great behind-the-door tool. Stand in the corner and use to hang scarves, necklaces, belts – heck, even towels (Houzz, £280).
Another area of dead space in your bedroom/living room/kitchen is that strip of wall that starts at the ceiling and extends down to your doorframe. That foot or so of wall space is perfect for shelves that run all around the room (if you want) which are great for storing things like books that you don't need every day.
Obviously, installing a room's circumference worth of shelves to carry heavy things like books is not going to be DIY-free. Make sure you get someone who knows what they're doing – someone with a drill, rawl plugs, a spirit level...the works (if that person is already you, bonus). Oh, and ask your landlord before you start installation if you rent; fingers crossed they might even send someone to do it for you.
These shelves absolutely don't need to cost the earth. This example uses a simple IKEA shelf (£5).
If your bed is too close to the ground to store things underneath then that needs to change – there are nearly 29 square feet under a double bed, which could accommodate plenty of stuff given half the chance.
Bed risers are normally reserved for older people who can't bend down as far as they used to and struggle to sit on an armchair or get into bed. These risers are blocks which essentially give your bed an extra six inches of height – which should be plenty of space to get an under-bed wardrobe (Habitat, £35) situation going on.
Many bed risers are a little erm, medical looking. There are however a few slightly less abrasive options. These (£14.93, eBay) for instance. Or these (£20.83). Or you could just arrange a quilt/blanket thing to cover them up.
Getting one of those fold-down beds is probably going a little bit too far, unless you're certain of your long-term residence in a place that's actually smaller than a buttonhole, but that's not to say fold-down furniture couldn't be helpful in other areas.
This desk (£399) looks just like a wall cabinet when it's not in use and is big enough to hide all your crap. This kitchen table (£99) looks like an innocent chalkboard when it's folded up and out of place.
Even your alcohol cabinet (£109) can be cleverly used to hide a bar surface which you can use to prepare drinks. Cheers!
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