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MATTHEW SLUTSKY
Senior Buzzer
reply 2299 vote 171
 

Tricks for living in a small condo suites...

...if you are living in a condo with two full washrooms, use the second shower as a closet! Put some frosting on the window, so guests will not be able to see in!

This works for large or small suites. (Thanks for the idea mom!)
26
Canada / General Chit-Chat
 
 
 
GA
NewBee
reply 7 vote 2
 
 
2 BEST REPLY
Best trick is not having too much stuff. Get rid of whatever you don't really need. Minimalism. Less headaches for finding space to store stuff and then trying to remember where you have stored them.
I used to live with two suitcases as my whole possession, moving from city to city, country to country, for several years. I was liberated.
Now I own a condo in downtown Toronto, and still try to keep the same mentality. It's hard!
 
 
 
MOO STASH
BabbleBee
reply 301 vote 21
 
 
Buy large containers for off-season clothing, and store it under your bed. Make sure that you have a bed that will hide whatever is under the bed.
Some options: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/underbedStorage
 
 
MOO STASH
BabbleBee
reply 301 vote 21
 
 
^^Gnocchi: great point. When living in a condo, you can not hoard all your goods. One thing in, means one thing out!
Wow... living in only two-suitcases must have been a wild experience. Backpacking around Europe for 6 months got the best of me. I do not think that I would last with only two suitcases for more than one year.
How big is your condo?
 
 
SIMON BEER
NewBee
reply 5
 
 
What about using a chest as a table?
 
 
MATTHEW SLUTSKY
Senior Buzzer
reply 2299 vote 171
 
 
So, it appears that I am not the only person with an issue with storage in condo units.
Did anyone use a professional closet system? The only one that I know is California Closets.
Any others out there? Any less expensive, but better, options available?
 
 
DIANA KRIKUNEZ
Buzzer
reply 38
 
 
Yes there are! I used Organizing by Design for 2 closests and the laundry room in my condo! They're awesome!! I'll post some pics on my Twitter account so you can see :)

You can check out their website: www.organizingbydesign.ca
 
 
DIANA KRIKUNEZ
Buzzer
reply 38
 
 
OH! I forgot to mention, they also manufacture custom furniture such as wall-beds (great for smaller condos!), office furniture, entertainment units, etc.
 
 
CARMEN DRAGOMIR
Buzzer
reply 28 vote 3
 
 
1

there is also www.spacesolutions.ca and www.organizedinteriors.ca

I find that many condo owners are missing using the entire height of their unit where valuable storage space can be found especially in coat closets, washer & dryer area or bedroom closets where you have space for extra shelving if you have a 9' ceiling. Built in though are the best solution as you can fill in so many void spaces left sometimes by the shape of the space (look at corners, niches or angled walls).
And I agree with gnocchi- only keep what you need! If you haven't used something in the past year...chances are you won't, so give it away or put it in locker.

 
 
MATTHEW SLUTSKY
Senior Buzzer
reply 2299 vote 171
 
 
Here is a guy who's bed is stored UNDER his balcony!
Awesome video ---> http://blog.buzzbuzzhome.com/2011/05/how-to-live-comfortably-in-258-square.html
 
 
CARMEN DRAGOMIR
Buzzer
reply 28 vote 3
 
 
super cool! it proves one more time that we don't too much stuff to have a comfy living space, just a bit too much work but a good exercise :)
 
 
BRENT WILKER
Buzzer
reply 126 vote 4
 
 
USE VERTICAL SPACE! It is amazing how much wall space you can use when dealing with space issues. TV,Bookshelf,Bar,DVD Rack,Lighting instead of lamps etc
 
 
MATTHEW SLUTSKY
Senior Buzzer
reply 2299 vote 171
 
 
@Brent Wilker... do you have any pictures, or links, to "vertical space" that has been used really efficiently and well?
 
 
BRENT WILKER
Buzzer
reply 126 vote 4
 
 
I should take a picture of my living room... 2.5 people, 830 sq feet, 2 bed/2 bath. Vertical space is a life saver!
 
 
EBRAHIM SULIMAN
NewBee
reply 7
 
 
@Matthew Slutsky Ikea has an inexpensive solution as well
 
 
MARTHA LEE
Buzzer
reply 35 vote 1
 
 
Carmen said:

there is also www.spacesolutions.ca and www.organizedinteriors.ca
I find that many condo owners are missing using the entire height of their unit where valuable storage space can be found especially in coat closets, washer & dryer area or bedroom closets where you have space for extra shelving if you have a 9' ceiling. Built in though are the best solution as you can fill in so many void spaces left sometimes by the shape of the space (look at corners, niches or angled walls).
And I agree with gnocchi- only keep what you need! If you haven't used something in the past year...chances are you won't, so give it away or put it in locker.

Exactly!! My unit has over 9 ft ceilings, and that does represent significant space. I was able to turn an 8ft by 8ft den into a bedroom with the help of Organized Interiors. They helped draft a great design, that included a bank of cupboards above the bed, and a built in closet with bookshelf. It looks awesome, and it is amazing what you can fit in an 8 x 8 room!!
Having closets and cupboards custom made is ideal, but can be pricey. However - the price pales in comparison to the real estate price per square foot of condo space in Toronto!
 
 
EMILY DRESSER
NewBee
reply 1 vote 1
 
 
1
Under bed storage is a must (and there's more on that here: www.bedstoragehq.com), and thinking vertically is a very good point. You can even think vertically with kids rooms (bunk beds...don't forget to add storage under neath them)!

We also hang shelves and containers on the walls to give us a lot of extra storage space. 

Another cool trick is to use a hanger system that goes over the top of your door. It's like an over-the-door hangar and you can then put things like fabric shoe organizers, or various other storage solutions.  
 
 
ALLEN
Buzzer
reply 192 vote 54
 
 
1
Having a customized closet system saves a lot of space especially if it's designed around what you normally have. You could literally maximize every inch of your closets. You could also incorporate a small filing cabinet or a safe to keep important documents and valuables.

Owning a storage locker is also valuable for condo living. You don't want to be schelping certain bulky or dirty items, such as sports equipment and luggage, up to your unit.

I am also a strong believer on storage beds. You could store a ton of stuff under your bed where it would be normally wasted space that collects dust bunnies. 

Also having a girlfriend or wife will mean lots more stuff in your place. I'm not saying to get rid of them, but it's something to think about :)
 
 
ANONYMOUS
 
 
This bed/desk is a great way to save space in a small condo! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzmDrsVoxUU&feature=player_embedded Saw this beauty at the Fall Home Show! Check out more of Empire Communities saving space and maximizing storage tips here: http://blog.empirecommunities.com/2013/11/saving-space-and-maximizing-storage-in-a-condo/
 
 
SPACEAGE CLOSETS
NewBee
reply 1
 
 
Maximizing your storage space is quite tricky but if you get it once, then you can easily apply it everywhere like in laundry room, bedroom, living room or say garage storage. Read Custom Closet Cabinets blog to know exactly about how one can maximize the storage space. Visit:  Visit: http://www.gtaclosets.com/maximize-closet-space/
 
 
MARY ROSS
NewBee
reply 1
 
 

Bedrooms in new construction are really small.... often no room for dressers. I had the builder not put in a closet, instead I installed Ikea wall unit... drawers, shelves, pant hanger, shoe rack...
 
 
GARRY GOLSTE
NewBee
reply 1
 
 
I hired Mario from Mario Home Reno for my condo. 542sq of complete remodeling and everything turned out nice. saved much space. if you want contact mario. Hes a good general contractor for these types of jobs.

www.mariohomereno.ca

you can also see their homestars

http://homestars.com/companies/2787854-mario-s-home-renovations-additions-toronto

ill post few pics shortly.
 
 
MARIUS POPA
NewBee
reply 1
 
 
we have recently launched Fine Touch Toronto. You can visit our site here http://finetouchrenovations.ca/
 
 
SARAH POURAMN
NewBee
reply 4 vote 1
 
 
A good tip is to make sure you are choosing the right furniture, it can completely change the functionality of a space! I used furnishr.com to help with my place and would 100% recommend them! They were quick, easy, did all the work and the place ended up looking great.
 
 
MATTHEW BAINES
NewBee
reply 5
 
 
Like there is always an option to store your additional holdings in a premium storage, https://www.jiffystorage.com/self-storage/storage-solutions/premium-storage/. Take a few with you for a time and return and place those holdings back in your acquired storage and replace with those that were held in it. So we won’t be losing any of our fond memories and materials associated with them.
I would be doing something of the same sort because I’m a man holding so dear memories with some associated items and would rather die than losing them forever. By keeping them somewhere safe, to make room for myself, I can come back and retain whenever I am feeling to. Right guys, ehh!!! No matter what that makes me feel in the world than dumping them.
 
 
DAYUN SHON
NewBee
reply 3
 
 
the best and easiest way is to check out furnishr.com. they'll literally do everything for you.
 
 
MAUEL J YOUNG
NewBee
reply 5
 
 
You can always try and organise your items in your shelves and cabins and closets. We can store the necessary items in and clear the unwanted to a disposal. While coming across the thread, I saw one or two even saying that they are all for memories and books. But even an unorganised memory figment would be a sad investment. I am here to provide few tips on doing that, an idea shared by Lancaster custom storage cabinets in their blog:

1. Take one space at a time and sort through everything in it(even bit of papers for the memory figments guys).
2. Get rid of the Recyclables.
3. The items you’ve marked to sell or donate, in step one - do that right away.
4. Contact or return to the owners those items in the box marked “belongs to someone else”.
5. Categorize the Keep pile.
6. Scan again through the keep pile and reorganise them into best location of access.
7. Recheck the storage space. If enough space is missing, categorize and take a step in buying a small storage for the need. But I believe once when we reach the 6th step, it would be clean.
8. Affix legible labels to the containers.
9. Be inventive with accessories in your space.
10. Even make use of suitcases.
11. Think of different uses of things.

If you have any doubt with the steps summarized, you may always contact me on my personal message or can contact Lancaster Custom Cabinets and Closets for a In-Home Consultation for more ideas that they can share and help you with as they did for me. :)
 
 
 
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