Even a small space such as an efficiency apartment can be arranged as a clutter free, pleasant living area with everything in its place. Let go of the misconception that you would have an organized home if only you had more space. The "if I had more space" thought is probably preventing you from creating an organized, practical living space where you can unwind. If it seems that no matter how much you clean and organize, there is never enough space, you could benefit from a storage overhaul and the following advice for organizing small living spaces.

To maximize the utility and atmosphere of a small living space such as an apartment, you must first minimize your possessions. Extraneous belongings that do not contribute to your happiness and lifestyle needlessly take up valuable space. To begin, go through every place you use for storage, including closets, the kitchen pantry and under your bed. Go through your bathroom cabinets, linen closet, dresser drawers and shelves. You may be surprised at the amount of space you are actually wasting by keeping things you don't need. Throw away or donate unused and redundant clothing and other household items to free up space. How many pairs of dilapidated tennis shoes do you actually need?

You are not as limited by square footage as you may initially think. The easiest way to increase your storage capacity is to utilize vertical space. Even the tiniest of dwellings has room for a tall bookshelf, which takes up little floor space and provides valuable storage for books and much more. Also, installing shelves that attach to the wall is a great organization solution that does not use any of your floor space. Do not limit shelves to books; a shelf makes a great base for other storage receptacles such as baskets and bins to hold smaller items.

You may already use the space under your bed for storage, but haphazardly shoving eyesore items under there is not the best strategy. Measure the space under your bed (vertical and horizontal), and purchase one or a combination of appropriately sized under bed storage solutions. Maximizing use of the space under your bed gives you more options for storage and frees up other critical storage zones such as closets.

Living in a small space has its advantages, such as minimal utility costs and less area to clean. If you absolutely cannot get rid of enough belongings to live comfortably, it is time to consider an external storage unit. Hopefully the prospect of that extra monthly bill is enough to convince you that it is possible to let go of the past, or at least the past-their-prime tangible mementos of it.