Maximizing Small Spaces

If you’ve ever lived in an apartment or other small space with children, you know how tricky managing all the “stuff’ that comes with having kids can be. Life in close quarters has been a challenge for us, but in some ways, living in our apartment has made life so much easier. By necessity, we’ve had to live more simply.

When we moved, we pared everything down to basic necessities. Cindy, a Pleasant Hill mother of two, says, “You have to focus on not collecting a lot of stuff, which is hard with little ones, but you become more aware of needs and wants.” Donate items or, better yet, support one of the local consignment sales by selling your items and making a little cash too! Also consider a toy swap with another mom or group of moms to cut down on toy overload.

Maximize space by using every nook and cranny possible. Command hooks are my best friend because I use them on the insides of doors and cabinets and on walls. I use baskets to corral plastic container lids, sippy cups and their pieces, snacks, pastas, baggies, etc. Our closets are full of canvas totes to house anything from children’s clothing to sheets, changing pads, diapers and wipes. I even use laundry baskets, suitcases and old diaper boxes to store things we may not be using at the moment but need to have on hand.

Another often overlooked technique is making the most of vertical and hidden space. We have three-drawer carts in our laundry room where I store kid activities, and they hold so much! Look into tall bookcases or shelving (remember to secure furniture with little ones around). Although everything may not be at your children’s height for independence purposes, you’ll definitely be making the most of your space! First time mom Cait offers some helpful advice: “We made sure to purchase "on-the-go" gear when we were preparing for Baby's arrival, so most of my daughter's gear can be folded up and stashed away (we keep a lot of it behind the couch when it's not being used). We also bought bed risers so we can keep things like out of season or outgrown clothes underneath the bed.”

Consider alternative uses for furniture. Get creative. Our entertainment center houses four small baskets with toys, while our nightstand holds diapers, wipes, undies and pajamas for our girls. Put a small dresser or chest of drawers in your closet to hold clothing or even toys. I even utilize the 3 inches under our entertainment center to store puzzles and independent activities!

Caroline, an Overland Park mother of three who has spent time apartment living with small children, says, “Consolidate and be organized. Have small activities that can be stored easily, like play dough or mini sandboxes. Also, it was really hard if we were inside day after day, so we looked for ways to get out. I always looked on KCParent.com for free or cheap activities to get us out of the apartment and help keep us active.”

Whatever space you find yourself in, make the most of it. Children are only little and in need of so much “stuff” once (teenagers and their need for different “stuff” are another challenge), so try not to be overwhelmed. Find what works for you and your family. Then, in the words of Queen Elsa, “Let it go!”

Julie Collett writes from her Overland Park apartment where she tries to make the most of small space living with her husband and three children.