With back-to-college season in full swing, we’ve talked a lot about dorm room decorating and prepping for the upcoming school year. But it’s about time we address the elephant in the room: Those living spaces? They’re tiny … and sometimes, they come with roommates! So when it comes to packing an entire life into a little dorm room or first apartment, you have no choice but to get strategic with your setup.
Luckily, Target’s Organizing Experts Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, who run the popular organizing company The Home Edit, have dealt with the small space living scenario enough times that they know all the right tricks for maximizing space while making it look chic. And their words of wisdom don’t just apply to dorm room dilemmas either — those with small apartments or condos will want to get in on these ideas, too. Take a look below to see how Clea and Joanna used a few key Target products to optimize space in four small areas: the bathroom, living room, bedroom and closet.
Bathroom:
Product used: Hamper
“We love items that help solve multiple problems,” said Clea. “This hamper holds dirty clothes, but it also extends your counter space, can hold towels and bath products and perfectly fits six rolls of toilet paper.”
Living room:
Products used: ottoman, bookend, storage bin, bin labels
“Set up an entryway or side table with bins for mail and daily items, and a storage ottoman for bulky items,” said Joanna. “The ottoman provides a perfect seat for putting shoes on before walking out the door, and doubles as extra seating for guests, when needed.”
“And, don’t forget labels! We believe that labels are the key to long-term organization and make maintenance easy,” said Clea. “Label your bins by category to ensure your tidying process goes smoothly.”
Bedroom:
Product used: Storage cart
“Use a storage cart as a smart bedside solution,” said Clea. “The three shelves hold everything from a lamp to books, and the open sides allow you to create a charging station for your electronics.”
Closet:
Products used: Closet organizer, drawers, bin labels
“If your bedroom is short on space, you can eliminate the need for a dresser by adding hanging shelf organizers to your closet,” said Joanna. “T-shirts, sweaters and jeans can be stacked on each shelf, and drawer inserts can be added to hold socks and underwear! With a variety of sizes and hanging bar options, it's a small space essential.”
“Another one of our go-to closet tips is to hang your clothing by type, then color-coordinate that category,” said Clea. “It’s a simple way to give your closet a polished look, and we recommend using huggable hangers to maximize space and uniformity.”
Stay tuned for more tips and tricks from The Home Edit, coming soon to A Bullseye View.
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