I’m Convinced This Organizer Is the Best for Small-Space Living
Content creator and DIY professional Imani Keal knows a lot about making the most of a small home. Living in her previous space, a 490-square-foot studio apartment, likely encouraged her to get crafty when it came to storage. Even though she’s moved into an apartment that’s almost double the size, there’s actually less storage than in her previous home — so she had to carry a few tricks over.
Storage — whether it’s open shelving or baskets — doesn’t always have to be out in the open. It should come with some choice. Imani’s home office is exceptionally organized, largely thanks to The Container Store’s Elfa shelving system. The room is her place to get creative, work on home projects, and film content, so tools and tripods need to be easily accessible at all times.
But there might be some moments where Imani wants to hide some of the storage shelving, and that’s possible thanks to a behind-the-door shelving system from The Container Store. For around $100, Imani has five additional shelves to hold things like wrapping paper, cleaning supplies, and camera equipment. And the biggest bonus is that, if she puts it on the inside of the door, she can leave the door ajar and it’ll seemingly disappear.
“In my old apartment, I used The Container Store over-the-door rack in my bathroom, and it was great,” Imani says. “Now that I’ve moved and I have more doors, I have three over-the-door racks. My bedroom closet, bathroom, and office all have one, and they’re the perfect storage hack.”
Imani also uses the same shelving system in her closet to store purses and accessories. I live in a small apartment, and what inspires me about this tip is that it’s a great reminder to consider if all areas (especially vertical spaces) have storage potential. I use an over-the-door storage unit (mine’s from Amazon), and it was refreshing to see how someone else styled theirs in their home.
The over-the-door shelving unit can easily be tucked away and provides versatile storage. (If you want to check out more, consider these eight over-the-door shelving units.)
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