Saving space is of the utmost importance for many renters. Studio apartments and tiny bedrooms are all too common and often leave residents frustrated as they seek solutions for better space management. Fortunately, there are creative solutions to issuees of space that can help tiny spaces feel a little less so.

According to some sources, colonial Americans didn’t have closets because of a closet tax imposed by the king. Others claim that colonial houses were missing closets simply because their residents didn’t have enough possessions to make them necessary. One thing is for sure, however, and that’s the fact that modern Americans need them. The closet is a great place to start when looking to save space, since they afford plenty of options for better organization.

Closet systems and custom closets became popular in the last couple of decades, offering plenty of options for the storage of non hanging items like hats, shoes, and accessories. Closet organization systems vary, including various combinations of shelving, hanging bars, and drawers to afford the maximum amount of space. However, overly complicated ones can have the opposite effect. The best closet systems provide a place for all of the items stored in the closet without taking up so much space that they end up adding to the clutter. The best closet storage systems are simple and provide streamlined, easy ways to store hanging clothes, shoes, and a few items that require drawers.

Besides the closet, there are other great ways to save space in a small apartment. Efficiency apartments, known for their small size, often feature murphy beds, bathrooms, and kitchenettes, providing tenants with the minimum amount of furniture needed so that they can store the rest of their belongings more easily. Murphy desk beds, especially, are a popular option.

Murphy beds, also called wall beds, fold up on a spring system. Though the earliest murphy wall beds simply tucked in between cupboards and boasted fake doors that helped them appear decorative, modern murphy desk beds provide function when folded. The bed has a foldable desk on the bottom which can be taken down for use when the bed is folded up. At night, the desk can simply be put away so that the bed can be folded down.

Murphy desk beds come in a variety of sizes, though for singles in efficiency apartments, twin beds are a popular choice. Between a quality closet system and a murphy desk bed, space saving can be simple. All it takes is a little creativity!