One thing that almost all my clients have in common is what I like to call “Small Spaces Big Lives”. As a former real estate broker turned professional organizer, I have had the privilege of being in thousands of NYC apartments. Today I want to share with you 3 Secrets to staying organized when your life is big and space is at a premium.
The tips below will help you maximize your space and bring order, serenity and style into Your NYC apartment!
Go Vertical – With ceiling heights at a minimum of 9′ in most NYC apartments, vertical is the way to go. Choose vertical shelves rather than low, horizontal ones. Create floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Think about shelving the whole wall to attractively house books, a TV, electronics and media. One of my favorite shelving units is the Expedit series from IKEA. It is super versatile and modular so you can customize it to almost any wall space.
In addition to tall bookshelves, chose tall armoires for added storage. Use the tops of closets to store infrequently used items such as holiday decorations or out of season clothing. Remember, think vertical to optimize your NYC space!
Chose multi-tasking furniture – Invest in furniture that is high performing and offers multiple uses. For example, this Hunter II Trunk from Crate and Barrel is designed to be used as a coffee table but does double duty as storage for wine, board games, linens and pillows. Another great way to maximize storage is to use ottomans and benches with hidden storage spaces. A bench at the entrance way can be a great place for winter hats, scarves and gloves as well as a comfortable place to put on and take off your shoes. A bench at the foot of the bed is a great hideaway for extra linens, pillows and out of season clothing. Get creative, invest in furniture that doubles as storage!
Curb the Clutter – The most important way to maximize space in a NYC apartment is to keep clutter at bay. Clutter makes a space look smaller. Take note of where things are accumulating. It is a sign that you may not have the right systems in place. For example, if clothes are accumulating on the floor, you may simply not have the right hamper for your style. Opt for a large, open hamper where you can easily toss things in, that way, every shot is a slam dunk! One of my favorites is this Umbra Chrome hamper from the Container Store. You can’t miss!
The rule here is a place for everything, everything in it’s place. If things are accumulating and causing clutter, think about how you can improve the system you have in place. If you are drowning in paper for example, your filing system may need an overhaul. If books are your problem, add taller bookshelves or create a whole wall of books like we talked about in our go vertical section above.
Need help organizing and decluttering your NYC space for maximum impact? Contact me directly for a complimentary phone consultation. Angela Kantarellis, AKorganizing, 646-245-1248.