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Live in a studio or bachelor flat? Here’s how to make the most of your small space

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Renting nowadays is a tough game. Finding a place to live isn’t easy. Finding a place to live that isn’t a shoe cupboard is worse – and 10 times more so if you live in Cape Town where you’ll be paying way more for said shoe cupboard. 

But just because you live in a tiny space doesn’t mean you can’t use ALL of it to create a really lived in home and use every nook and cranny to your advantage. 

Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

Bedroom/general living area

Use pallets to raise your bed 

It creates levels in the room and you can use the space next to your bed for a lamp, or books, or plants, or even all three. 

It creates space and looks pretty cool and rustic too. All you need to do is sand them down and paint them (or not) and they look great!

READ MORE: Do you know which hot décor trend suits your personality?




Or if you or someone you know is very handy, then they could even make this headboard and bedside cupboards for you.


If you’re not really into the whole pallet bed idea, then use the gap under your bed to store your shoes. You can either make your own shoes rack with one of these cool DIY tricks.


An under bed shoe rack from Neat Freak could also work.

Image: Neat freak

READ MORE: 4 ways to position your furniture so your guests actually talk to each other


Install shelving around the perimeter of your walls. You can have them as high up or low down as you like, but extra shelving is great for all those extra books and trinkets you’ve picked up over the years.



Use a wire grid on the wall as a place to hang your pictures, important notes, letters, bills that need to be paid or anything else important.




Add mirrors to the room. Reflective surfaces immediately make any space look bigger. Play around with sizes and where you want to put them.

Make your own hanging laundry bag or buy one! It looks cute and it doesn’t take up space in the corner.


Get this cute one from H&M 

Image: H&M


Or this cool boxing one from MRP home

Image: MRP Home

READ MORE: 2018's five hottest décor trends that you need to get on board with


Use a corkboard to organise your jewellery.

made a corkboard of my necklaces! #inspiration #necklace #diy #corkboard #inspo #functionalart

A post shared by Camille (@camilleandacupoftea) on


Kitchen

Install a folding table in your kitchen/living room area.


You can fold it down when you eat or need to use it to work and pack it away when you’re done. 

Get a magnetic knife rack. Instead of keeping all your knives in a big chunky block on the counter, get a magnetic knife strip along the wall. 


You can do the same thing for your spices.

Or if you want to DIY it, learn how to turn your fridge into a spice rack here.

Get an over the sink cutting board. If you have limited counter space in an already small kitchen, then this is perfect for you.

image: Ubuy

READ MORE: 10 solutions to beautify a blank wall


Use a pegboard. You can hang all your pots, pans and utensils on it. Even better if you have colourful kitchen accessories.

A post shared by phm ZINE (@phmzine) on

Get a kitchen cart. Store your odds and ends or your utensils and use it as counter space too.

Use the underside of your cabinets to store glasses or wine.

Bathroom

Hang a basket to create more space. Store towels, toilet paper and other essentials in the baskets and make them work with your décor.


Mount mason jars to the wall to store items like toothbrushes and earbuds.

Y'all ?? #mountedmasonjars

A post shared by The Wild Rustic by Alexa (@thewildrustic) on


Add bespoke shelves to a corner of the room for extra storage.

Get a little cart for your bathroom to store everything in and make it easy to move around. Bonus points if you can get it to fit in somwhere neatly!

READ MORE: How to set a dinner table fit for The Queen for under R500


My mission at the flea market! #bathroomcart #fleamarketflip #marriedlife #meetthelechners

A post shared by Amber (@amber_m_lechner) on

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