29 space-saving apartment hacks you can’t live without

Apartment living made easy

With more and more of us struggling with soaring house prices and the cost of living, we’re residing closer together and in smaller spaces than ever before.

To help you make the most of every square footage you have, read on for the best ideas for apartment living, from genius products to clever storage hacks and layout ideas...

Mount the TV on the wall

Wall mounting your TV could save you valuable floor space by removing the need for a chunky entertainment stand or cabinet. You won't have any messy wires dangling on the floor either, since all your essential cables will be tucked behind the screen.

You can even mount your TV onto a moveable bracket, allowing you to change the position of it – perfect if your sofa and bed are in the same room!

Pick curved furniture

When you have a compact living space, corners can eat into valuable square footage. That's why curved furniture is best for a small space. Rounded pieces can make rooms appear larger and more open, thanks to their flowing lines and lack of harsh edges.

By opting for a round dining table, you're not restricted by how many people you can squeeze around it. Why not choose curved chairs that tuck neatly beneath the top, then hide away a few folding options if extra guests come for dinner?

Featured dining table and chairs available from Cult Furniture.

Utilise empty corners

That being said, your vacant corners could hold great potential when it comes to adding valuable storage or furnishings.

Awkward spaces and empty corners can be hard to utilise, but with the right furniture, like a corner console table or shelving unit, you can put redundant space to good use.

Featured shelving unit available from Shelved.

Opt for a modular sofa

Let’s talk about the age-old problem with apartment living: you desperately want a large, comfy sofa to curl up on, but how will you get it up the many flights of stairs, into the lift or through that small doorway? Well, modular sofas hold the key. This innovative, versatile couch system consists of individual sections that can be slotted together in various figurations.

Modular designs enable apartment dwellers to bring their sofas inside their homes in manageable, separate parts and put them together in a way that works for their individual spaces. Plus, the layout of the sofa can be switched up whenever the mood strikes.

Featured modular sofa available from Sofa.com.

Hang bikes out of the way

When you have limited space, the last thing you want is a big bicycle taking up valuable floor and wall space. By hanging your bike up out of the way, using a purpose-made stand or rack, you can maximise your interior and squeeze in even more furniture.

Plus, it can make an interesting and quirky wall feature.

Buy multipurpose furniture

Efficient apartment living depends on being able to transform your space for different uses at a moment’s notice – that’s why we love multipurpose furniture.

These days, you can buy everything from shelving units with built-in desks, or compact side tables that open up to create a spacious dining table. Consider the items you're most in need of and go in search of multipurpose pieces that tick more than one box.

Featured modular shelving unit available from Shelved.

Select stackable coffee tables

Versatile and space-efficient, we’re big fans of nesting tables. Pull them all out when you have guests around and you need extra surfaces for drinks and snacks. Then, when the party’s over, simply tuck the small ones away beneath the biggest, keeping your living area feeling spacious and clutter-free.

Once functional but far from attractive, the nesting tables of today are both. They come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so you can find one to suit your home.

Featured nest of tables available from Oak Furnitureland.

Zone out your space

Often in an apartment, you’ll have one room with many uses. To prevent the onset of cabin fever, it can be a good idea to designate different areas of a room for different uses, like eating, working, relaxing or cooking.

Rugs make it easy to mark out separate spaces and can add a cosy feel to relaxing lounge zones, while open shelving units and strategically positioned furniture can have a similar effect.

Featured dining table and chairs available from Furniture and Choice.

Utilise partition furniture

If space allows, then you could consider a clever room divider like this one, which doubles as a handy shelving unit. Providing essential storage space, while also softly segmenting your living area to create functional zones, this partition screen is perfect for compact areas.

You could also buy a foldaway screen divider, that can be used when you want privacy and tucked away when you don't.

Featured room divider available from B&Q.

Create a gallery wall

Drawing the eye up will make a room feel bigger and what better way to do this than by creating a fun and colourful gallery wall? To ensure the focal point feels curated, choose what kind of wall art you want and follow that theme or colour scheme.

You could go with photography, renaissance prints or modern artwork, to name a few. You can also mix and match frames for a more quirky feel.

Featured artwork available from Desenio.

Plump for pale colours

Pale colours help to reflect light and create a feeling of space, so consider opting for white walls and think about choosing pale-coloured furniture when you’re next out shopping.

If you want to add a splash of colour, plants and soft furnishings are a great way to do so, especially if you're renting.

Embrace shelving

When you have limited floor space, it makes sense to store things up high. That’s why shelves are your best friend when it comes to effortless apartment living. Plus, statement shelves can inject some easy style into your décor.

To avoid clutter, consider getting some small storage boxes to place on them. That way you don't need to worry too much about what’s on display.

Featured shelves available from Umbra.

Bring in blinds

If you’re looking for a way to make a room appear bigger, consider choosing blinds instead of curtains. While curtains can make a space feel smaller and darker with reams of fabric, blinds have a crisp and streamlined feel.

We particularly love Venetian blinds because they give you that added option of a bit more privacy while still letting the light flood in. Be sure to open your blinds each morning, too, to let in as much natural light as possible.

Featured blind available from Hillarys.

Get space-efficient with your pets

Who says there’s no room for a dog or cat? You just need to get a little creative and opt for multitasking furnishings. This cat house doubles as a stool, so you can pull it out when you need an extra seat (just be sure to vacuum it beforehand). You can also buy dog crates that can be used as side tables, so your canine friend gets a comfy spot to sleep in while you get somewhere to rest your cup of coffee. Win, win!

If you'd prefer something smaller for your pet, then you can source fold-away beds for dogs and cats, enabling you to tuck them away when they're not in use, or even pack them on your next trip with your four-legged friend.

Featured cat house available from B&Q.

Fit a floating desk

Finding room for a home office in an apartment can often be challenging. Instead, why not select a floating desk? Ideally proportioned, floating desks have enough space for your laptop and a coffee when you’re in work mode.

Then, at the end of the day, hide everything away in a nearby drawer and either tuck the desk away (if it's foldable) or use it as a feature shelf or side table – now that's how to do tiny living in style!

Featured floating desk available from Woodendot.

Turn down the volume

With other people potentially living above and below you, apartment living can be noisy. Soft surfaces absorb sound, so consider carpeting your apartment and introducing soft furnishings like cushions, blankets and wall hangings.

If carpets aren't possible, then rugs will do the trick. This way, things are sure to be a little easier on your ears and you’ll get a cosy, inviting environment to boot.

Featured carpet available from Tapi Carpets & Floors.

Makeover with mirrors

In a small space, it’s essential to let in as much natural light as possible. By placing mirrors in strategic positions, you can bounce light around a room, making it feel bigger and brighter.

Not only that, but natural light has a host of benefits, including improving your day-to-day mood. Plus, by reflecting your room in a cleverly placed mirror, your interior will suddenly feel much more spacious.

Featured brass mirror available from Loaf.

Store things under your bed

Storing things under your bed makes valuable use of space that would otherwise be wasted. We love the sheer volume of room that an ottoman bed offers.

These clever bed frames sit on hinges, allowing the top to be lifted, revealing hidden storage underneath. If a new bed isn’t on the cards, consider getting some under-bed storage boxes instead. That way, you can keep your items organised and easily accessible, too.

Featured ottoman bed available from Darlings of Chelsea.

Fold your bed away

Sometimes, it pays to be able to tuck your bed away – particularly if you live in a studio flat. Enter: the bed in a box, now offered by a range of brands.

By night, it’s a stylish single bed with a sleek headboard. By day, it folds down into a small ottoman-style trunk or footstool, saving you space and providing an extra seat for visitors. These handy, multi-functional pieces of furniture are also great for guest bedrooms.

Featured foldaway bed available from Loaf.

Hang up kitchen essentials

In addition to in-cupboard solutions, put your otherwise redundant kitchen walls to good use, too. Try installing shelving and hooks that will allow you to hang up everything from utensils to chopping boards, mugs and pans.

Not only will this make for an extremely efficient space, but it will free up valuable room on countertops and make everything easy to reach while you’re cooking.

Featured Shaker kitchen from GoodHome by B&Q.

Look for space saving kitchen solutions

If you live in an apartment, it's unlikely your kitchen will be spacious and bursting with storage options. So, you have to find clever ways to make the most of every inch available. Look for space-saving kitchen solutions for your cupboards, such as stacking boxes or baskets.

Lazy Susans are also great, as you can rotate them to access items hidden at the back of the cupboard. You can even try adding hooks and hangers on the inside of doors, for storing pan lids and utensils.

Featured lid holders available from Joseph Joseph.

Get clever with waste

Waste and recycling can be tricky in a small apartment – the last thing you want is multiple bins taking up half your floor space. Placing bins in under-used kitchen units will help you to be thorough with your waste and recycling, while keeping it out of sight.

You can get bins that fit into cupboards and pan drawers, enabling you to hide away an essential but unsightly kitchen item.

Get a wall-mounted clothes airer

Most apartments don’t have a utility room, so your living space can quickly become cluttered with freestanding clothes airers that don't exactly scream 'stylish'. Instead, consider a wall-mounted drying rack.

These brilliant space-savers can quickly be mounted on a wall and fold away when you don't need them.

Featured laundry unit available from A Place For Everything.

Shrink your ironing board

Ironing boards take up a lot of space, both when it comes to using and storing them. However, a petite tabletop ironing board is small enough to hide away in a cupboard when not in use. It can also be used anywhere, from your dining table to your kitchen counter – ideal for when space is at a premium.

You can find some that look like a miniature ironing board, or even ironing mats – as seen here – that can be folded into the linen cupboard when you're done.

Featured ironing mat available from Joseph Joseph.

Get savvy with bathroom storage

Is your bathroom compact and lacking storage space? Well, there are countless secret storage spots you might have overlooked.

You could add hooks to your bathroom door for hanging towels and robes, opt for an in-shower shelving unit (either with suckers or one that hangs over the shower screen), or buy a wall mirror with hidden shelving inside.

Featured shower caddy available from Sanctuary Bathrooms.

Swap your radiator for a heated towel rail

In a small bathroom, radiators can take up valuable space. On the other hand, you can find heated towel rails to fit into the narrowest of spaces, keeping your bathroom toasty while providing an organised spot for towels to dry. And they look great, too!

Just ensure you buy a radiator with the right heat output, otherwise, it might not be powerful enough to heat your room.

Featured towel rail available from Tap Warehouse.

Create an indoor garden

Don’t have any outdoor space? Don’t let that stop you. By introducing a few hardy houseplants into your apartment, you can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Try placing them at different heights to create a green oasis that brings the outdoors in.

Incorporating greenery in your décor will also help to purify the air in your apartment – particularly helpful if you live in a large city.

Featured plants available from Soto Gardens.

Plant a vertical herb garden

Mounted to the wall, vertical herb planters are a great way to ensure you never run out of fresh greens, without taking up too much space. If you have a balcony, then consider an upcycled pallet wall or free-standing herb planter that will sit in one corner. If you don't, then you can also buy indoor herb gardens.

These clever hydroponic gadgets will sit neatly on your worktop and use water, light and oxygen, along with smart technology, to help you grow the perfect veggies and herbs in a small space.

Make a room of your outdoor space

Balconies are an under-used commodity in many apartments. But if you set yours up well, it could give you a whole extra living space to play with. Invest in a durable outdoor dining set or sofa and consider adding a few plants and solar lights, for added cosiness.

An outdoor rug is also a great way to create a stylish balcony that feels like part of the home. Outdoor cushions and blankets wouldn’t go amiss, either.

Featured balcony set-up available from Wayfair.

Looking for more organising tips? Check out these smart ideas