Lessons learnt on teeny tiny small space living. If there’s one thing I’ve perfected this month, it’s the art of small space living. Having lived quite comfortably in the family home for 20 or so of my grand 23 years, I’ve become accustomed to having plenty of space, belongings and the like. However, Hong Kong is at quite the other end of the spectrum. Housing moves upwards, not out, and space maximising solutions are the done thing.
1. Declutter.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to get decluttering! Whilst it is a cumbersome task, I took the challenge on whilst balancing the final month in my last full-time job to relatively successful effect. Throw out anything you haven’t routinely used in a year or more. Keep 25% of your sentimental bits and bobs - cinema ticket stubs from 2007 can go. Streamline what’s left into keep, charity and friends piles.
2. Be clever about your storage.
I know it’s, like, lifestyle blogger law to own tons of acrylic storage and stockpile beauty boxes, but be clever about what you store things in. Acrylic storage looks pretty but in a small space, the clutter gets magnified. Consider stackable translucent boxes that can be popped into drawers and behind doors.
3. Furniture that is smarter than [insert celebrity here].
While this doesn’t apply to everyone, I was literally mesmerised when furniture shopping for my apartment here in Hong Kong. Countries that are accustomed to smaller spaces will always accommodate for said smaller spaces. From beds that are a tiny bit smaller to coffee tables that open upwards instead of out, and lower TV units to maximise wall space to MY dressing table that has - wait for it - 13 storage sections, shop around in places aside from Ikea to make your home work as hard as you do.
4. Get ruthless.
As that fateful designated cleaning day rolls around, be completely ruthless about throwing things away. Stop saving all of those pretty Space.NK, L’aduree and Selfridges bags. Upcycle your used candle glasses. Recycle your empty makeup packaging (if you’ve already filmed your haul). And the same goes for clothes! Did you buy a new T-shirt to replace that hole-infested one? Chuck the old one away.
5. Capsule wardrobe a’go’go.
*slow clap* Hell yeah, I did the capsule wardrobe thing. All those dreamy singular rails on Pinterest? One of those is now mine. 4 sweaters, 4 T-shirts, 4 camisoles, 4 shirts, 2 jeans, 4 jackets and leggings. That’s it. Minimising your wardrobe really helps to align your personal style and almost forces you to put a new stamp on your classics. Plus, more room to store random shit that you didn’t quite manage to sort out in #1 and #4 ;) There’s your get-out-of-jail-free card.
What are your top tips for small space living?
