Small Space Hacks: How To Organize Your Teeny Tiny Apartment with Brit + Co

Oh, apartment living…

I’ve come to accept that I’ll probably never live in a house again. I just love NYC and city living too freaking much. There’s something glorious about knowing I can go to the bodega across the street at 2AM in my pajamas to get vegan peanut butter cups. Also, I’m pretty emotionally attached to my doormen.

But apartment living = living in a really, really small space. I’ve made some strides on the organization front this year thanks to KonMari-ing the shit out of my apartment but I’ve still got a ways to go when it comes to getting organized and staying organized.

I’m super excited to share this interview I did with Brit Morin, creator of the AMAZING Brit + Co. Read on for some brilliant small space hacks plus her tips for aspiring bloggers and entrepreneurs.

KK: First things first, I live in a small NYC apartment. What is your number one tip for dealing with a small space?

BM: I recommend decluttering before starting to organize. Take a page out of Marie Kondo’s method, and discard things you aren’t using anymore and only hang on to those items that you really love. Once you’ve narrowed things down, then it’s time to organize.

 

KK: What’s your favorite unique organization hack that I might not be currently doing? One of my biggest issues living in such a small space is dealing with clutter. What tips do you have for decluttering?

BM: A few of my favorite home organization hacks:

1. You don’t always need bulky cabinets or furniture for more storage space. I love hanging peg board to utilize the space on my walls for storage. You can customize it with shelves and hooks to create a storage solution that works for you. I have floor to ceiling pegboard in my kids’ rooms and it holds everything from books to art to clothes. The best part is that we can rearrange it as the kids grow older and their needs change.

2. Don’t be afraid to change up the hardware in your home. Even if you rent, changing the hardware on cabinets and bathroom rings and hooks can be an easy and inexpensive way to personalize your space. One of my biggest pet peeves is the toilet paper spring. Swap it out for a classic hook that will be more stylish and minimize time changing the roll. I also use Cottonelle Mega Roll with 4 rolls in 1 to save you additional time and space.

3. In any home, stylish and effective storage is key. Use clear apothecary jars to store your most-used bathroom products like cotton balls, swabs and wipes. You’ll be able to see where everything is so you’ll use it more often and avoid buying more of a product you already have.

4. Organize jewelry by using acrylic inserts that layout necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. These inserts come in all shapes and sizes so you can find the best fit for your drawers. I use these to keep my jewelry easy-to-access and tangle-free, but they’re great for organizing office supplies and kitchen utensils as well.

5. Use a candlestick votive and a cute colorful plate to create a stylish accessory holder. It’s easy to secure by hot gluing the candlestick holder to the bottom of the plate. These are great in entryways, bathrooms and closets to hold jewelry, keys and other odds and ends.

 

KK: I struggle with keeping my apartment organized at all times — by the end of the week it looks like a total disaster. What are your recommendations for staying on top of organization?

BM: That’s completely understandable – sometimes it’s hard to control the chaos! My recommendation is to have a place for everything. If everything has a designated space, then putting things back every time will become a habit. I also love using clear acrylic organizers and jars so I can see everything. If I can see my things, I’ll be more likely to use it.

 

KK: Totally unrelated to small spaces 🙂 What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

BM: Follow your north star. What I mean by that is find your passion by taking a hard look at what you’re attracted to and start working toward that. When I was figuring out what I wanted Brit + Co to be I had to take a really critical and honest look at the things I loved – tech, media, empowering women, creativity and making – and figure out how to bring it all together. If you trust your instincts and understand what you gravitate toward, everything will work out.

 

KK: What’s one piece of advice you would give someone who wants to be a blogger + entrepreneur like you?

BM: It may sound cheesy, but I would say that you really can be anything you want to be. That’s something my Dad told me as a little girl, and I think it applies to all women who dare to dream. If you have the right vision and put in the hard work, continually learning and iterating until you find success, you can make your dream as big as you want it to be.

Your turn: What are your tips for staying organized… even when you live in a teen tiny apartment?