44 Things To Make Living In A Small Apartment Easier

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Space-saving storage products, compact furniture, and other products here to make living in a tiny space a whole lot better.

BuzzFeed Staff

Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping editor Sally Elshorafa has to say about this handy organization unit: "This product SAVED MY SHOES! I have an awkward set of built-in shelves in my closet, and it was the only place I wanted to put my shoes. As you can see from the before pic (above), it was a big mess; my shoes were piled on top of each other and getting really dirty. Traditional shoe caddies or boxes didn't really work because there's not much horizontal space, so I tried the Shoe Slotz. It fixed the problem perfectly! Because the design smartly stacks one shoe on top of the other, you save 50% of the space you'd normally use to store your shoes."

Promising review: "These things are genius. I had my closet redone and asked for the back wall to have cubbies so I can easily display my shoes, but I either underestimated the number of shoes I have or overestimated the space that was in the closet, and I couldn't display them all. I bought a few packs of these and now I have extra space. I guess I'll have to go out and buy more shoes now!" —Hercules

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $32.95+ (also available as a pack of 20 or 40).

Promising review: "I am in love with my magnetic spice jars! I recently moved to a small apartment and don't have the counter or wall space to store spices or a spice rack, so magnetic jars it was! I love how these have a decorative feel while providing a secure way to store the spices. Unlike other magnetic spice jars, I feel that these add an extra flair to displaying your assorted spices." —rae.m.wri

Get a 12-pack of small jars from Amazon for $70+ (also available in 24 small jars, 12 large jars, 24 large jars, and a sample bundle).

Promising review: "I had a nicer-looking, more expensive version of this in my cart originally. This was one-third of that price and I'm so glad I went with this one. It's got a sturdy backing on both pieces (a piece with pockets and a piece that goes between mattresses), one large pocket closest to the bed, and three decent-sized mesh pockets. I have it between my mattress and box spring." —Danielle

Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors).

BedShelfie is a POC-owned small business that focuses on space-saving minimalist nightstands.

Promising review: "Amazing! We don’t have a lot of room on one side of our bed, and this is the perfect fix. It's sturdy, and there's plenty of room for your things by the bed." —Carolyn Tripp

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles) or from BedShelfie on Etsy for $40.49 (available in more styles here).

You can also use it to wash and dry produce!

Promising review: "This product is a game-changer for small kitchens. Forego the large drying rack and get this sleek, stylish space-saver. I don’t like leaving dishes in the sink, nor do I have a dishwasher, and this is just perfect for keeping the sink clean and leaving the counter space open. It's also amazing for washing produce." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in two colors and nine sizes).

Watch in amazement as your closet suddenly gains so much storage space!

Promising review: "Not sure why I didn’t expect them to work as well as it sounds...but they absolutely work as well as they sound! Makes MUCH more room in my closet. I used for purses, jackets, tank tops, and dresses, and it has been holding very well. When I need something, I just push the others aside and raise up the one I need. Very pleased with my purchase!" —Dennis A. Evans

Get a four-pack on Amazon for $10.95+ (available in four other quantities).

iJoy is a small biz that sells a variety of tech accessories, speakers, and headphones.

Promising review: "I rarely write a review (this is the second in the past few years). One of the best purchases in a long time. Nice design and very practical. It solves all of my problems as it can go any direction. It's worth every penny. I turned around and bought two more. I am about to buy my fourth one. Love this!" —Pond P.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I work from home in a small apartment, and this really made my setup work the way I want it to. I need to use all six plugs, plus I like to keep my phone and Mi-Fi charging while working too. This was the perfect thing for me to get everything plugged in and essentially retrofitted into a built-in apartment wall desk setup that was intended for the large desktop towers of the late '90s. I’m ordering a second one in hopes it transforms another part of my weird floor plan. Bonus: The USB ports seem to fast-charge my iPhone XS Max. I can go from dead to fully charged in about 90 minutes." —Moose

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (available in two styles).

Promising review: "I just moved into a small apartment with no dining room and not enough room in the kitchen for a table. This was a perfect answer. The table looks nice enough to be included in the living room and small enough to create a dedicated dining space. This was priced great.

I'm a single, slightly built senior and had no problems getting this assembled by myself. Easy and fast. All pieces were marked, holes were predrilled, and the hardware all fit. I love the real wood — it looks like a much more expensive piece of furniture than the cost would imply. It appears quite sturdy with no wobbly stools — the table legs may eventually require some reinforcement if I move it around a lot, but that's just inherent with the clean design. I truly could not be happier." —Tally

Get it from Amazon for $83.26+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "This was a great touch for a previously wasted space between my washer and dryer in my laundry room. It works best if it can roll straight out, but my husband secured the joints. It also allowed me space for the iron and ironing products rather than filling up my utility closet." —Wayfair Customer

Get it from Wayfair for $35.99.

Promising review: "The shelf installed in a snap. It has two sturdy magnets that hold it securely onto the slightly rounded back of my stove. I felt comfortable setting a full jar of honey on it, and I haven’t seen it move at all as I have been cooking. I have limited space in the kitchen, so I’m really happy to have an additional place to set things I need frequently. It doesn’t look like an add-on; it looks like part of the stove. I’m really happy with it!" —Sylvia J.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "I bought this in the satin nickel and it goes very well with my sons' bathroom hardware. It is lightweight and hangs nicely over the bathroom door. It was very easy to put together with only six small screws (my nine-year-old put it together). I like that it has the extra hooks at the bottom of the rack for smaller towels, or in my case, childrens' robes. It is definitely a space saver in a small bathroom shared by two boys. We will see if it helps them keep their towels off the floor. A mother can dream, right?" —Jo Rose

Get it from Amazon for $19.89+ (available in two finishes).

FYI, it installs like a regular outlet cover. Of course except with the wonderful shelf. Can also be installed so the shelf is below the outlet.

Promising review: "I was very skeptical about this one. I had it in my cart for a while and just couldn’t get myself to order it. Once I did and I received it, I was so happy I did. I will be ordering more now. It adds an extra storing space. My laundry room is very limited so any added storing is key! I use it for my dryer sheets. I’ll be ordering another to store a small trash bin for lint from the dryer. I’m thinking about also adding these around the house for other things. So easy to install, takes literally less than two minutes." —Hazel Vera

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four colors and multipacks).

Promising review: "Amazing, I think everyone needs this product for organizing their jewelry. It is super compact, which I love and it is perfect for organizing your jewelry. I split my rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets into four separate compartments. It works perfectly, no cosmetic imperfections, and is exactly how it is described. It is small, so make sure to know the exact measurements before purchasing if size is a problem." —Emily Zhang

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors).

You can use these for so much more than clothing! Think craft supplies, extra toiletries, shoes...basically whatever you have too much of.

Promising review: "These storage bags are fantastic. I live in a small apartment where storage space is at a premium. I use these to store my Costco toilet paper and paper towels so I don't need to make as many trips to the store. It keeps them in pristine condition and out of sight. The handles make them easy to pull in and out, and they fold up nicely when not in use. I'm thinking about getting two more since four will fit under my queen bed." —Kimberly Dorn

Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in three colors and two styles; also available as a set of four).

They'll also work with couches or futons.

Promising review: "These blow my mind. They've added so much storage under our bed. I worried about them being durable enough to withstand our weight but there was no need to worry. Just this past weekend, both my husband and I were on the bed when two of our teenage sons ran and jumped on the bed with us. I didn't even hear a creak from these bed risers. There must have been close to 800 lbs. on our bed at that point and these risers held up like champs." —Kelly McHone

Get them from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "These are so much fun! We ordered the small size, which fits standard hardback books (approximately five to seven hardbacks in my experience). They're a great way to add some extra storage to our very small home, and we've placed them in our hallway so people ask us about them all the time. I'd highly recommend!" —LaBuenaVidaMere

Get it from Amazon for $14.52+ (available in two sizes and in sets of one or three).

Promising review: "Awesome desk that provides you with a ton of space for its compact size, love it!!" —Viktoriia Martynov

Get it from Amazon for $46.28+ (available in four colors).

This rack holds nine to 12 glasses depending on their size! And you're looking for some recommendations for wine glasses, we've got your back.

All of the mounting hardware is included, but heads up that these are geared more toward apartment owners than renters since you need to insert self-tapping screws into your cabinets — no drill required!

Promising review: "I really like this wine rack! I needed a nice, space-saving solution for wine glasses that are too tall to go in my glass cabinet, and this rack fit the bill. It was simple to install and looks great. Good buy!" —Cycle Mom

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in rows of three or four, packs of one or two, and four finishes).

All of the mounting hardware is included, but unless your landlord is cool with you putting holes in the bottom of your cabinets, this is probably isn't the best for renters.

Promising review: “The rack is nice-looking. It makes for a beautiful display of my wine glasses, and the solid black color allows the eye to be drawn to the labels on the bottles. It is simple and nice decor for my kitchen.” —John

Get it from Wayfair for $48.99 (originally $52.99).

You can hang this shower curtain with the pockets facing either the inside or outside, depending on what you need to store.

Promising review: "I needed more storage in my shower because there are no built-in niches and I only have room for a narrow shower caddy. I saw this idea on Pinterest, but it was geared toward college dorms and small apartments. I found that it works great in any size bathroom.

It has nine pockets of different sizes, so you can store many different items. The liner itself is of heavy plastic and the pockets are of sturdy mesh. The overall quality is very good and it does not feel too thin. My shower rod is screwed into the wall, so I am not concerned about putting too many heavy items in the pockets, but if you have a tension rod, you should be aware not to overload it." —Minerva King

Get it from Amazon for $18.34+ (available in two colors).

The Roll Keeper is a woman-owned small business from Kelso, Washington. Check out this helpful video that shows you how to load and unload the Roll Keeper!

Promising review: "Our family is growing, and I realized there's a lot of space in a closet that isn't being used. That's how I came across these, and now I have them in all the closets. They make getting clothes so easy, and now we have more space for the growing family! Xoxo!" —Megan

Get it from The Roll Keeper on Etsy for $17.99 or from Amazon Handmade for $23.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Very convenient. I'd been looking for new laundry baskets to keep in my bathroom so my family didn't just throw clothes into a pile on the floor. There isn't a lot of floor space in there, so I was looking for a tall narrow basket and found these. They are great. I put one on the back of the door and one hanging from a towel rack and labeled one for light colors and, without even asking, my family has been putting their clothes in the correct bin, and I just need to unzip and let the clothes fall into the laundry basket and they are ready to go into the wash. I really like them." —D. Jelte

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four colors and packs of two).

Promising review: "These are wonderful. I was able to reduce clutter and expand our workable counter space in a tiny NYC kitchen with one of these. The other I'm planning to use on our desk to straighten it up. They have a great design and are a well-made product." —Laurel T.

Get the set of two from Open Spaces for $72.

Get it from our Goodful Shop for $35.

Promising review: "Absolutely love these! I have bought them three times already on Amazon. I have been trying to organize my kitchen utensils. I have minimal counter space and ceramic tile walls behind my counter. I am unable to risk drilling into the tile or to the underside of my cabinets. These sticky hooks are perfect!! They adhere to the tile AND to the wood laminate of my upper cabinets. They also are great on the painted wall and the bumpy side of my refrigerator. I started using these around March of 2020 and I have not had a single one fall down. I have various sizes of kitchen utensils and items hanging from them." —Tigerakp

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $13.89.

Indoor Window Gardens is a small, family-owned business based in South Carolina. The acrylic shelves come assembled, and you can secure them with a single fastener.

Promising review: "Not only do these shelves look amazing and give me so much more room for my plants, but the customer service is amazing! I forgot to order extensions with my order, so I contacted the shop, and they helped me by making a special listing for the extensions. They placed them in my original order so everything came together. If you’re looking for a window shelf this is it!!" —Jamie Miner

Get it from Indoor Window Gardens on Etsy for $66.90+ (available in three styles and three mounting options).

Promising review: "DO NOT HESITATE!!! Purchase this! You won’t find a better price. I looked at Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Overstock... they all had the same thing for way more $. This is the best price you’ll find this for! So sleek and clean and cute! We have a tiny bathroom and wanted to add more storage without taking up room. This was PERFECT! It even comes with bolts to nail it into the wall so it’s secure, which was super thoughtful considering I have a little one. Love this!!!" –THELASHMOVE | Kaytlin

Get it from Amazon for $62.95+ (available in three colors).

Storage Theory is a small business based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that specializes in unique and innovative solutions that'll make your life easier.

Promising review: "I got this to hold Greek yogurts and Just Crack an Egg cups, and it works perfectly for that! It's a great way to utilize extra space that's normally just vacant. I love that I could support a small, local business, too!" —Gabrielle Sherman

Get it from Storage Theory on Etsy for $12.87+ (also available in a two-pack and three-pack).

Promising review: "I am chronically cold and have a bunch of very nice knit cardigans. I usually end up leaving them laying over chair backs or recliners and cluttering things up, so I bought these to have a good place to hang them. The thick wood prevents stretching damage from the weight of the sweaters, and not using a hook prevents damage and holes in the knit. Definitely worth the upgrade." —Lynn M

Get a set of two from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two colors).

Distressed Me Not is a family-owned small business based in North Carolina that creates handmade rustic and beachy pieces that'll make your home feel warm and toasty.

Promising review: "We live in the mountains and have lots of coats, scarves, and hats all over the place. This rack is twice as big as what we had before, with the added attraction of having a shelf on top. I went to a little antique shop and got a few things to put on top, and my husband and I really like the look! The shelf is well-made and of a quality that it is built to last." —Bev Linder

Get it from Distressed Me Not on Etsy for $19+ (available in 11 sizes, a set of two, and with or without a top shelf).

Promising review: "This storage bench was the answer to my problem of needing inexpensive storage in my bedroom. It looks cute and does the job. Super easy to unfold. I thought it may be flimsy, but once it’s together it’s amazingly sturdy. Great deal!" —A. Wheeler

Get it from Amazon for $62.99+ (available in three sizes and eight colors).

YouCopia is a woman-owned small biz that makes ingenious home and kitchen storage solutions.

Promising review: "This organizer is amazing!!! I always kept our surplus of water bottles in the small cabinet above our sink. Every time I took one out, three more would fall out. I am so glad I found this! It took 20 seconds to put together and forced me to purge some bottles I’ve been hoarding for far too long. Buy this immediately!!!" —RT17

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available with two or three shelves and two widths).

Take a look at our full roundup of the best shoe organizers for more recs like this.

Promising review: "This is perfect for what we are looking for. It had to fit in a smaller space and served to stop a puddle of shoes from forming at the doorstep. I am glad that we have smaller feet/shoes though as the spaces are a bit narrow. There are only two larger spaces that would work for high-top shoes or heeled boots. All the other spaces fit flats or low sneakers well." —Sara C.

Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes).

It also stays plugged in much easier than those heavy power bricks on the end of the regular-sized cable.

Promising review: "I find myself having to move closer to an outlet because the normal Apple power cord is so short. I have seen people with the extension, but never really looked into buying one because I figured it would be super expensive. Not what I expected, this is a great purchase and a great price. I wish this came with the Mac when you buy it, but this is a great purchase if you work off of your Mac on the go. It basically doubles the distance you can be from an outlet. Needed purchase if you have a Mac." —Maria

Get it from Amazon for $19.

Knapps Knots is a San Diego-based small business owned by Anastasia Knapp who is quite possibly making the cutest macrame and wood crafts you've ever seen.

Promising review: "Absolutely loved it! Perfect if you have little counter space." —Jessi

Get it from Knapps Knots on Etsy for $27.90+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors).

Promising review: "I ordered two of these, and I am so pleased. They held all my handbags (except two large tote bags), and I have quite a few. I was able to put two purses in most of the slots, and three or four small ones together in a couple of slots. This really made a difference in the organization of my handbags and makes my closet look so much neater. If you are considering this product, I highly recommend. Good value for the price!!!" —Brenda V

Get it from Amazon for $6.59.

Promising review: "These were super easy to install. I live in an apartment so I can't make holes in the wall, but push-pins worked just as well! It was sturdy enough to support my decorations and honestly, they are cute. I love the little paper instructions and the nails that already came with it for assembly. Honestly worth the price, the look, and the assembly." —Adriana

Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.10+ (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "These looks so good, are super easy to install, and are highly functional. The end of my kitchen counter always had keys, phones, whatever, and now it’s clear." —TC&Mina

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in white and blue).

Promising review: "This organizer is so useful! I recently moved and ended up with a much smaller kitchen, so I've been doing everything I can to make sure there's a place for everything and no wasted space. Luckily, I have pretty wide cabinets, so this works out perfectly.

I have one holding my cutting boards (four standard plastic boards) and another holding my foil, cling wrap, and parchment paper boxes. The organizer is super easy to assemble and it's completely versatile. Hang it over the cabinet door or attach it to the wall/cabinet door, which means it's great for renters and owners." —Kerry

Get it from Amazon for $16.87+ (also available as a two-pack).

Promising review: "Perfect for my needs! Adding additional monitor to my home office setup, and this lifts my laptop to align with it. Also gives me room for storage and prevents me from having to constantly look down. Very sturdy, highly recommend." —Jennifer Lewis

Get it from Amazon for $29.96+ (available in two colors).

Each cap organizer can hold up to 10 items.

Promising review: "I give five stars for this hat organizer! I wish I discovered this product sooner. It is VERY easy to add onto a hanger. Simply open the flap, slip it over the hanger, and reattach the Velcro. The Velcro strip is wide and sturdy to prevent the entire thing from coming undone. Even after adding weight from the hats, the Velcro didn’t even budge. Overall the product is sewn well and appears like it does in the pictures. The clips are sturdy and can grasp thinner hats just as well as thick hats. This would be useful for other items like belts, hair accessories, and scarfs too!!" —Tracy

Get it from Amazon for $6.59+ (available in six colors and multipacks).

Promising review: "Recently removed the radiators out of my old house, and the bathroom had a narrow space that just looked empty. This fit perfectly, providing much-needed storage, and it keeps the room from looking cluttered. Easy to assemble and sturdy enough that I am not afraid of it falling apart. Love this!" —Amber Kuhn

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I love these cup organizers. I have a small cabinet above where my coffee pot is, and these have made it a pleasure to open that cabinet. All cups are organized and easy to get to. They stay right where they should be. No more stacking them inside one another and them falling over when I open the cabinet. I also use these for some bowls in my dish set. Works great. I just ordered a couple more, and I am going to use them for my china cabinet. Worth every penny and more. I cannot say enough good things about these." —ChefGirl

Get a set of six (to organize 12 mugs) from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.