Things That Make Apartment Living Easier, Neater, & Prettier

I've been meaning to write a post about things I find useful for apartment living and have finally got around to coming up with my list of essentials.  We are all different with not only our preferences, but also with the layout of our spaces, so I hope you come away with finding something from my list to be useful for you and your space!  Now, let's get to it!

My list of essentials starts with BASKETS.  For many of us this is a no-brainer to use baskets for either apartment or home living.  But it's worth a mention here.  Taking a walk through Home Goods, Target, or Ikea, you will be bombarded with baskets or pretty storage containers to purchase.  Why?  Because they work wonders!  You can find a basket to suit any style.  In my apartment I use baskets to organize bathroom items.  One basket is designated for items that I have stocked up on and do not need quite yet.  Another basket is for shower supplies.  The two bottom baskets are for hair tools and everyday items, such as lotion and hair spray.

Baskets have made their way into my living area, too.  The ones below store candles, tea lights, and scented oils because, frankly, they had no other place to go!

Here is an awesome wicker ottoman that I found at Sam's Club of all places.  I have one on either side of the couch.  This one stores board games and cat toys.  The other stores magazines.  I don't put anything on them mostly because I'm a minimalist, but also because my cats will knock anything down to play with.

Next up on my list are bed risers.  To me, they are ugly little things, but they work wonders!  The boy and I bought our first Christmas tree at Hobby Lobby last year and needed a place to store it.  Well, the only possibility was under the bed, so I needed to get them.  Turns out we could fit much more under the bed with these handy little buggers!  If you're tight on space, I definitely suggest getting some!  Use a bed skirt if you want to hide the ugliness of storage boxes and other random things that make their way under a bed.

Next up are Command Hooks.  These suckers are amazing, especially for apartment living because when you use your wall space, you save floor space.  I use them on the inside of my kitchen cabinets to hold the broom and dust pan, dish towels, and oven mitts.

Clear storage containers make my list, too.  They keep your food fresher longer, make things look organized, and also let you know when you're running low on something.  I use them for storing snacks, cereal, and pet food.  Sorry for the not-so-pretty pictures.  There was no way to make a picture of a storage container look pretty in my dark pantry!

Wow this is a long list!  Next up is a random item, but is very practical.  I guess I'll call it a catchall box.  I use it to store extra keys and laundry cards.  It lives right on top of the bookshelf near the entry way.  I've seen similar things like small dishes that people use to drop off their keys, cell phone, you name it.

The next essential is something I'm sure you've all seen at Home Goods, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx.  This cute jewelry hanger is great for organizing jewelry.  I put mine right in my closet so it's at easy reach when I'm getting ready.  It honestly holds all of my jewelry and I still have empty pockets to fill!

The next item is something to make your space "pretty".  Apothecary jars make decorating so easy.  Ideas for using these jars are all over blog land and Pinterest.  Regardless of your style, these little babies will fit right in.  I filled mine with spray-painted pine cones, but for spring time, I plan on creating a terrarium.

Almost done!  I have to add my label maker to this list.  It makes organizing fun.  I asked for this label maker for my birthday a couple years ago that's how crazy I am about organizing.  I use it to label files and clear containers for baking supplies.

Last, but not least, are drawer organizers.  These come in any style and can be used in any room of your place.  I use them in my kitchen and in my desk.  They just make things easier to find and look pretty.

There you have it!  I hope something on this list has inspired you to make your home living easier, neater, and prettier!  I would love to know what items you can't live without in your spaces, too!

I'm linking up here:

Organize and Decorate Everything

DIY by Design

The Delectable Home
Savvy Southern Style 
Tip Junkie
New Nostalgia
Delightful Order 
At the Picket Fence 
Southern Lovely 
A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Frugal Girls
Thrifty Decorating
The Shabby Nest 
The Girl Creative