{"id":15272,"date":"2022-02-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/?p=15272"},"modified":"2024-11-11T13:56:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T03:56:35","slug":"moving-apartment-space-saving-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originenergy.com.au\/blog\/moving-apartment-space-saving-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Clever space-saving hacks for apartment living"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apartment living offers a lot of advantages \u2013 no more grass to mow, no more battling to find a parking space in the street, no more overgrown garden to tame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But whether you\u2019re moving into an apartment for the first time or you\u2019re a seasoned unit-dweller, finding space for everything is always going to present a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So for the lowdown on the best space-saving hacks, we asked an interior designer for her advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double duty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to furniture, choose pieces that do \u201cdouble duty\u201d, says Annie Bowen of Annie Bowen Design<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A large ottoman with built-in storage is the perfect example. \u201cOttomans can act as a moveable foot-rest instead of having a fixed chaise on your sofa,\u201d says Bowen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdd a tray to the top of the ottoman and it becomes a coffee table as well.\u201d Lift the lid and you have a great storage spot for linen, towels and blankets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other pieces to consider include beds with storage drawers, a set of nesting tables, a versatile bar cart, and vintage storage trunks that double as coffee tables. <\/s>
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Go up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maximising your vertical space is another good trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake your built-in storage all the way to the ceiling,\u201d Bowen advises. \u201cEven though you\u2019ll need a stepladder to access the high cupboards, taking your kitchen cabinets and bedroom wardrobes to ceiling height will really maximise the available storage space.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use the high space to store things you don\u2019t use often, like vases and large platters in the kitchen, suitcases in the bedroom, and holiday decorations in the hallway cupboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Opt for floor-to-ceiling storage to maximise space<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Get hooked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clever accessories will be your best friends in a space where storage is limited. Even something as simple as coat hooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoat hooks on the wall behind bedroom doors can be hidden most of the time, but are great for storing hats and bags,\u201d Bowen says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same vein? A towel rail with hooks to hang belts, shelves above your door frames, magnetic strips for your kitchen splashbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the storage inside<\/em> your storage is also important. \u201cSpend some time thinking about the internal components of your cabinetry and drawers,\u201d adds Bowen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook for products that allow you to stay organised and also ensure you maximise the use of the available space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extend yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A dining table that extends might be your new best friend, especially if you love entertaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn day-to-day life, you probably don\u2019t need a big dining table. Often, a four-seater table will be enough for apartment living,\u201d Bowen says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe beauty of an extendable table is that when you\u2019re entertaining, you can fit six to eight people around it, with maybe a little manoeuvring of other furniture to make it work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to your normal dining chairs, invest in cheap and cheerful folding chairs that will add a splash of brightness to the table, and can be easily stored when not in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few quick fixes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n