While they can be great living spaces, apartments aren't always good storage spaces. Because of their space limitations, apartments force their occupants to get a little creative with their storage.

Do you live in an apartment? Are you trying to optimize its storage capabilities so that you can save space? Here are 8 apartment storage ideas to help you do so!

1. Collapse as Much as Possible

Because apartments have space limitations, they don't easily accommodate large, stationery items. Possessions such as tables, chairs, and room dividers could easily cause clutter in small to medium-size apartments.

As such, it's a good idea for apartment dwellers to use items that can collapse. This way, when possessions aren't being used, they can be downsized and stored discreetly in a corner.

Some collapsible items to look out for include tables, chairs, footstools, and hampers. If you wish, you can even get your small possessions in on the act. Collapsible measuring cups, collapsible Tupperware containers, and collapsible storage receptacles are available as well.

2. Store Vertically as Opposed to Horizontally

One of the biggest mistakes that apartment dwellers make when organizing their possessions is storing everything at the ground level. While this might suffice in a home, in an apartment, it generally just creates clutter.

So, what's the other option? To store vertically as opposed to horizontally!

The higher you can store your possessions, the less space you'll use on the ground. The less space you use on the ground, the less clutter your apartment will be subject to, and the easier it will be to move around in.

There are several methods for facilitating vertical storage. Hooks, shelves, racks, and wall-mounted storage compartments can hold everything from books to kitchen utensils to bathroom accessories and much, much more.

3. Take Advantage of Shelves

As was noted above, one of the best ways to facilitate vertical storage is with shelves. Shelves can hold both small and large objects, allowing you to get a good deal of your possessions off the ground.

There are two general ways to increase your total shelf space. One option is to buy a shelving rack. The other option is to install wall-mounted shelves in various rooms throughout your home.

Shelving racks can hold heavy items such as small kitchen appliances. Wall-mounted racks can hold everything from books to vases to soap and the like.

4. Utilize Hanging Door Storage Compartments

Another way to store possessions vertically is to utilize hanging door storage compartments. These compartments are strapped up at the tops of doors, allowing them to open and close as needed. Consisting of various pockets and receptacles, they're terrific for storing small but necessary objects.

Hanging door storage compartments can be used on any door, but are most typically found on bathroom doors. This is due largely to the fact that bathrooms are often small and in need of additional storage space. Plus, hanging door storage compartments are perfect for storing soap, razors, washcloths, and other bathroom necessities.

Of course, this doesn't mean that you can't use these storage devices on other doors throughout your apartment. In fact, if you're lacking storage space, it's encouraged.

5. Store Items Under Your Bed

A trend that you'll come across is many apartments is to place a mattress flat on the floor without the use of a bed frame or a box spring. While this won't affect the quality or functionality of the mattress, it will eliminate valuable storage space.

By simply lifting your bed onto a bed frame, you open up a bed-sized storage area. This enables you to store both big and small items, including the possessions that you don't get a lot of use from.

6. Make Use of Rolling Storage Entities

Another storage tip to utilize is to make use of rolling storage entities. By utilizing rolling storage entities, you can gain easy access to your possessions without causing excess clutter.

For instance, you could keep a rolling pantry in your kitchen in order to store a portion of your food. When needed, you could roll this pantry out to the middle of your kitchen. When not needed, you could tuck it away discreetly in a corner.

By being able to move your storage receptacles in this manner, you allow yourself to seamlessly maneuver through your apartment.

7. Take Advantage of Storage Cubbies

Even more difficult than finding storage space in an apartment is finding space to keep things organized. Fortunately, there's a storage entity that can facilitate this task: the cubby!

Storage cubbies offer you the space that you would get from a shelf, but with dividers that you can use to keep things in order. They're particularly useful for possessions such as clothing, bedsheets, towels, and the like. That being said, they can accommodate all small items.

To create easier access to the items in your storage cubbies, you might consider utilizing bins or boxes. That way, when you need a specific item, you can remove the bin or box and search for the item without having to bend over.

8. Mount It!

Your last storage tip is to mount it . . . and by "it," we mean anything that you possibly can. All that you need is a nail, or an adhesive strip, or something else that can stick to your wall, and voila! -- you'll be ready to go.

There are a variety of different items that you can mount, including kitchen utensils, bathroom accessories, clothing, and tools, to name just a few. If you wish, you could even mount a velcro board, allowing you to attach velcro to some of your possessions so that they can be picked up and put away with ease.

Put These Apartment Storage Ideas to Good Use!

If you're trying to free up as much space as possible, these apartment storage ideas will serve you well. Put them to good use and your apartment will take on a whole new identity.

Still searching for an apartment? Looking for an apartment in Forest Lake or Blaine, Minnesota? Norhart has a variety of complexes for you to choose from.

Browse our available apartments now!