I have the smallest bedroom ever – it’s 10ft by 7ft but I’ve organised it so well, here’s my tips for maximising space
A WOMAN who has the smallest bedroom of anyone she knows has shared her top tips for maximising the 10ft by 7ft space.
Courtney lives in Manhattan, and has sacrificed a lot to have an abode in the city.
But in a video on her TikTok page, she explained that she’s done her best to make the most of the space she’s got in the two-and-a-half years that she’s lived there.
Courtney did a tour of the space, kicking off with the hallway cupboard where she stores her dresses.
“It’s kind of giving 27 Dresses because they’re all just forced in here!” she laughed.
She keeps her coats and jackets on a hook on the back of the bedroom door, and has a large, slim shoe rack which she stores all her footwear on.
“This is from Amazon, it’s like 10 tiers of shoes,” she said.
Vertical storage
Courtney is a big fan of “vertical storage”, and got another shelf from Amazon for the back wall, storing all her handbags on hooks underneath and on the top.
“I have this non-working fireplace that takes up space in my room when it doesn’t need to, but I just use it for wall decoration I have,” she explained.
She also has a hook rack to hang her earrings on, and a small three-drawer unit that she uses to store her pyjamas and vest tops.
Then inside the non-working fireplace, she’s got all her jewellery storage, as well as some other bits and bobs and decorations.
“Another hack is a corner desk,” she said.
“This is from Amazon and it’s got drawers for storage.”
Corner desk
As well as using the desk to work from when she needs to, she stores her make-up on it and again has lots of pictures and postcards stuck to the wall.
In the window, she has a pile of clothes, which she hides when she draws the curtains.
“That’s another hack to maximise space and I don’t go out on the fire escape and that window always stays closed”.
Double clothes rails
At the foot of her single bed, she’s got a double clothes rack, as well as a basket in which to store her hair tools.
Courtney showed off her extremely narrow bedside table, in which she stores books and magazines.
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- Out with the old, before in with the new
“It may sound a little ruthless but a one in, one out rule in your home and wardrobe can be effective to avoid over accumulating items in your home,” they said.
“It can also make you more mindful about the purchases you are making.”
- Categorise and contain
“In any space, however big or small – from a utility room to your make-up box – organising items by category is the perfect way to keeping super organised,” they said.
“This allows you to know exactly where everything is and what you’ve got.
“Plus, it will make it super easy for the rest of the household to put away and keep tidy.”
- Storage, storage and more storage!
“Storage is key, especially if space is an issue in the home or if the room is used for items like storing toys for children,” they said.
“Consider decorative storage baskets, side boards with plenty of storage or even a media wall or bookshelves with doors.”
Even her lamp has vertical storage, with two little shelves attached to it.
“Tell me you live in the smallest room without telling me,” she laughed.
She concluded her room tour by showing underneath her bed, where she keeps her suitcase, bigger bags like backpacks and totes, and huge bags in which she keeps her trousers and jumpers when it’s not the season to wear them.
Amazon buys
“That’s the reality of living in New York,” she said.
“But you make it work, and 10/10 recommend all of these things from Amazon.
“They’ve lasted over two years and they’re pretty inexpensive.”
“Manhattan’s smallest room tour!!!!!!!” Courtney captioned her TikTok.
Compliments galore
And the comments section was quickly filled with people weighing in, including many who praised her for decorating her room so creatively.
“Love the collage wall above the fireplace!” one wrote.
“You packed so much style in this space.”
“Love decorating wall space!!” Courtney replied.
“Omg I love how creative you are with your room!” another commented.
“Aw thank you!!! It was like a real life puzzle to figure out haha,” Courtney responded.
As someone else wrote: “I love that you didn’t become a minimalist just for a small space.
“You used every inch of space so well while still staying true to you and what makes you happy!”
“Awww this was my room in nyc for five years!!” another added.
“I hope you love it!! I always felt like it was a magic room.”
And others used the comments section to offer their own suggestions to make the most of her space.
“You can run the cord around the door frame above so you don’t trip,” one wrote.
“It looks awesome! So clever!”
“Totally recommended vacuum sealed bags for coats/sweaters for when it’s summer,” another added.
OMG, I love how creative you are with your space!
TikTok commenter
“Clears up some clutter and gives you walking space.”
“They’re the best thing ever,” someone else agreed.
“I use them for so many things!
“They also SAVED ME because we flooded and all my yarn and craft stuff was okay because of them.”
“Should have gotten a platform loft bed, elevates the bed and has a desk underneath and you can hang your clothes underneath,” another wrote.
“Honestly you could probably do some more shelves above your bed,” someone else said.
“I think mainly you need it for clothes.
“Maybe move the fireplace stuff to bookshelves and clothes to the fireplace.”
“Hangers attached to one another so that’s there’s multiple things on one just length those saved me,” another suggested.
“Also great for bags so it’s not outward bulk and you can see more!”
“My sister just sent me her next apartment in Paris…it’s half this size,” someone else said.
“Sending this to her for inspo!”
Dividing opinion
However, others weren’t convinced by Courtney’s video, as one admitted it was “so stressful” watching it.
“Definitely not a living situation for everyone!” Courtney said.
“Omg the way this has my OCD flaring up,” another laughed, “but do you girl!”
“It looks cluttered I don’t think I’d be able to handle that,” a third commented.
“Why do you have so much stuff?” someone else questioned.
As another concluded: “That makes me literally claustrophobic, I could never!”