Blog

Aug 27, 2023

40 Things People With Small Apartments Actually Use

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

It doesn't have to feel like a shoebox if you don't want it to.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I really love it. Living in a shoebox in NY, I constantly look for storage solutions. This design is incredible. It takes up so little footprint and fits perfectly between the toilet bowl and the wall, and is very functional. I hate having to go to the deli store to get a couple of rolls of toilet paper at a time. Now I can get 12 rolls at a time, though if you get the larger rolls, they won't come through the hole on the bottom. You will have to retrieve the larger rolls by removing the top, which is not a big deal. I put a wonderful Olavie diffuser and body scrub on the top, and it looks really nice. It's a must-have for any small apartment living!" —Ken H

Get it from Amazon for $56.

Promising review: "I am very impressed with this ottoman. I live in a small apartment in NY with absolutely no storage or closet space, so I'm always looking for functional furniture and alternatives to air mattresses because I have nowhere to put them! This ottoman arrived quickly and assembled. It goes from ottoman to chair to lounger to twin bed. It's very sturdy. I am 5'7 and weigh 215 lbs. I was able to fit in this perfectly. The cushioning is very firm, so I bought a mattress topper for when guests have to sleep on it. Also, the linen-like material looks to be very durable, but not comfortable (think outdoor furniture material). However, I will not be using this for anything more than the ottoman and occasional bed, so that is not an issue for me, but if you are going to use this as a place to sit on a daily basis, I suggest getting the suede version of this. All in all. This product exceeded my expectations, and I think it is definitely worth the money." —Denise Baez

Get it from Amazon for $299.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors).

Urbansize is a family-owned small business making furniture to help maximize space in the room from London, United Kingdon, since 2015. This bedside table is made from 100% beechwood.

Promising review: "We love our new shelves! We're using them as nightstands in our tiny apartment, and they work great!!" —Ali

Get it from Urbansize on Etsy for $159.87+ (available in small and large and in all white or with an oak top).

Promising review: "This thing is perfect, OK? I've got a studio apartment and don't really have a lot of room to work with. I had absolutely NO counter space, so this baking rack saved my life. I've got more room for groceries and plenty of prep space for getting food ready. You can fit a coffee pot, and some containers of spices, and still have the vast majority of the space left over for prep space. The storage underneath is adjustable, so you can make the space between the lower and highest levels larger or smaller. You easily could put a microwave on the bottom shelves and store other larger kitchen appliances." —Homeboy Gotcha

Get it from Amazon for $61.

Promising review: "The plates are easy to pop in and out. Easy to clean. We have a smaller apartment and it's the perfect alternative for a grill. We love this! Highly recommended!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $113.98.

Promising review: "This is beautiful, unexpectedly! It looks much more expensive, and the storage space inside is ample. Living in a smaller-sized apartment, I find this is a perfect medium-sized ottoman. It's not too small as to be useless and not too large as to eat up the whole room. I bought the white one. Also, it is sturdy enough to sit on and to put your drinks or books on. The seaming is slightly off, but to an untrained eye, this will go unnoticed. This is truly a great buy!" —Lady

Get it from Amazon for $108.57+ (available in eight colors).

The set includes a fry pan, sauce pan and lid, sauté pan and lid, and Dutch oven and lid, plus a magnetic pan racks and a canvas lid holder.

Promising review: "This set is incredible. The nonstick works perfectly. The potholder allows us to store these in as compact of an area as possible, which is important because of our small apartment in LA. We love the look and end up leaving one pan on the stove just because it looks so nice that it adds a premium feel to our space. Highly recommend!" —Connor D.

Get it from Caraway Home for $395 (originally $545; available in 12 colors).

Promising review: "I got this cart to have some extra beauty storage in my tiny apartment. I wanted to be able to wheel out the cart from my closet and easily put it back. This cart was easy to assemble (had to push down hard on the shelves to get them on but other than that it was easy). It is sturdy. Most importantly, I have a fairly thick carpet and wasn't sure how well the wheels would do on the carpet. To my pleasant surprise, the wheels are fairly large and move smoothly over the carpet. I am happy with this product. Note, it isn't tall. So if you're looking for something that you don't have to lean for — you may want to find a taller cart." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $38.97 (available in five colors).

StoveShelf is a US-based small business that specializes in stove shelves for various sizes of stoves.

Promising review: "I absolutely love it. It has sturdy, strong magnets that keep the shelf nicely in place. It goes nicely with my black stove. I'm really glad I purchased this because I was sick of having some of my kitchen counter space being taken up in my small apartment." —antoinette mendez

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "I put the lamp together by myself in less than 30 minutes armed with a screwdriver and a bottle of wine. It looks amazing in my small apartment and provides the perfect amount of light for a cozy reading corner or a movie night. The light wood color is extremely elegant and holds the perfect amount of trinkets without looking crowded. When taking off the stickers that warn of weight limits — go slowly. I got too excited when I ripped mine off and took some of the paint off." —samcg

Get it from Target for $60 (also available in brown and black and with or without an energy-efficient light bulb).

Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok, and I knew that I had to have it. My apartment is very small, and this helped out a lot! I put it in my bathroom and now I can have multiple items plugged in. The nightlight is great as well." —Dj Kracinovsky

Get it from Amazon for $17.97+ (available in two styles).

Promising review: "This is easy install and great for our small apartment! Even better, the arms are separately adjustable so it works for our different bike frames! Definitely recommend!!" —Kenneth

Get it from Wayfair for $63.98.

Promising review: "I have a small kitchen and limited space. I was able to get rid of my microwave and toaster oven and use this product. Hot sandwiches are amazing in the Vortex. We've cooked some veggies, pork chops, and chicken. Overall we are pleased." —SFB

Get it from Amazon for $109.99.

And read one BuzzFeed Editor's Instant Vortex air fryer review here.

Promising review: "Once I started to work from home full time, I needed a desk to fit in my small apartment. This desk does the job — small, lightweight, and easy to assemble. Now that I have been using it for two-plus months, I feel like It could've been deeper since I have a 34-inch monitor and use a laptop in front of it (to type). I have scooted my monitor to hang 2 inches off of the back and using the wall to help hold the monitor up and in place. This desk would be PERFECT if it was a little deeper, but overall, it's an awesome desk." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $69.98+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I bought this shoe rack for my kid's small apartment, and it fits just right their tiny entry zone. All frequently worn shoes are now well organized. Very easy to assemble and capacious." —Anar

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "These trays might seem simple, but the moment you set them onto your table and put your items into them, you get a feeling that they were just what your room was missing. I put everyday household items like my keys, wallet, and remote into them, and feel that they give me a sense of organization, especially in a small apartment. I definitely plan to buy it again." —Michael K.

Get the set of three from Open Spaces for $48 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I am in love with my magnetic spice jars! I recently moved to a small apartment and don't have the counter or wall space to store spices or a spice rack, so magnetic jars it was! I love how these have a decorative feel while providing a secure way to store the spices. Unlike other magnetic spice jars I feel that these add an extra flair to displaying your assorted spices" —rae.m.wri

Get a set of 12 small jars from Amazon for $70 (also available in 24 small jars, 12 large jars, 24 large jars, and a sample bundle).

Promising review: "My family of three (teenage child and adult child) squeeze into an 820-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. Closet space is high-value real estate for us. The Wonder Hanger Max has definitely maximized our closet space." —Whovian

Get it 10-pack from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two colors and in two other pack sizes).

Promising review: "We have a small studio apartment downtown and this was the perfect solution for a bar area that we always wanted despite not having the space. Everyone who comes over always comments on how cool and different it is — definitely a conversation piece. Well made and looks impressive." —Cara

Get it from Uncommon Goods for $130.

Promising review: "I purchased this for my tiny apartment, and it is perfect. I placed two canvas hampers under it for extra storage and am really happy with the result. It's very sturdy. Great item for the price." —Ametrine60

Get it from Amazon for $64.99.

Promising review: "This is amazing for my small NYC apartment. It's very sturdy, versatile, and much softer than I imagined it would be! Great quality for the price!" —Jackie Blessing

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I love the space this paper towel roll holder saves on my counter! I have a small apartment and jump on a chance to hang anything to save counter space that I can. The adhesive tape-on option is what I used, kind of like a command strip, to situate the holder under my cabinet, and it has a gorilla-grip hold. Also, it comes with screws if you want a more permanent option. Very useful, sturdy and convenient product. 10/10!" —Brandy Muth

Get it from Amazon for $11+ (available in seven colors and in a two-pack).

Sabai Design is a Black woman–owned small business that makes beautiful furniture using sustainable products and ethical manufacturing. The velvet fabric they use is made of 100% recycled water bottles. You can customize this sectional to make it fit your space. For example, the chaise extension on this sectional can be set up on either side.

Promising review: "I was in the market for a new couch and wanted to both support an ethically sourced/sustainable company and also a POC company if possible. Stumbled upon Sabai and was immediately in love! I have a fairly small apartment and other couches from places like West Elm were just not the size I needed, this couch is such a great size for my space, and as someone who has only ever lived with one or two other people max. I cannot emphasize how happy I am with the couch." —Miranda Briseño

Get it from Sabai Design for $1,920 (available in two fabric options, 10 colors, and three leg options).

It expands from 15 to 25 inches.

Promising review: "This product worked perfectly for my needs. I love in a small apartment and need all the space I can get. This was easy to put together and adapts to the usable space under my sink. Great stuff!" —Jack Kiely

Get it from Amazon for $23.87 (available in three colors).

The 2.5-quart strainer is also removable so you can detach it as needed!

Promising Review: "This is one of my favorite things I have purchased for our tiny apartment! It's a pretty good–size cutting board and I can see it fitting over most sinks. I LOVE the bowl inside that can let wet ingredients drain liquid directly into the sink. It's seriously SO nice to have this when you're limited on counter space!" —Atara

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in black and red).

Promising review: "I simply love the bookcase. It is perfect for the room and allowed me (finally) to organize some of the books I have. I live in a studio apartment, space is limited, but this is a great solution, especially because it looks so light and minimal. It looks very solid and a good quality for the price. I really recommend this purchase. It is super easy to assemble." —Ylenia

Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in 23 colors and styles).

The film sticks with static cling, so it can be removed very easily and won't leave behind any residue. Plus, it blocks out 96% of UV rays, which will protect you and your home from being directly exposed to sunlight. It is also heat-controlling, which means it will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Promising review: "This is perfect for privacy when living in a small apartment. I put this on my kitchen windows where people can easily look inside from outside. It looks like rainbow stained glass." —Lady Rose

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 11 sizes).

Promising review: "This is the perfect size for my small apartment! It doesn't fit all my albums underneath because I have a large collection. But it's perfect for anyone looking for something that fits in a small space." —meeshels

Get it from Amazon for $62.99+ (available in five colors).

Plus, it will be easy to move whenever you decide to leave your tiny space!

Promising review: "I have a tiny apartment with even tinier kitchen, so that means I needed something like this! It's just big enough to provide a decent workspace without overwhelming my tiny apartment. Plus, since it's on wheels, it can be tucked away when not in use, which is a bonus! The wood top has been varnished or lacquered, so it can't be used as a cutting surface, but that's OK, I just put my favorite cutting board on top of it, and it's all good!" —mperryckdcbd

Get it from Amazon for $145.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I have no idea why I waited so long to buy one of these! I have a small NYC apartment, this is a necessity! I bought two new Wüsthof knives, so I bought this as an accompaniment. It’s great. It’s holding two chef’s knives, a utility knife, a bread knife, a cheese slicer, scissors, and a box cutter. All things I reach for daily and now no need to open a drawer to rummage. Game changer!" —Miss 60

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in six sizes).

Also, these hold up to 15 (!!!) pounds, so you can really stack whatever you want on top without worrying that it will come crashing down in the middle of the night.

Promising review: "Been needing more book storage and I wanted a shelf that wouldn’t take up horizontal space in our tiny studio apartment. The wall where I wanted was too narrow for any normal size shelves. So this fit the bill and I think it looks pretty slick! My husband installed them; it was fast and easy. They seem sturdy enough, we tested their weight capacity with my hefty Outlander books and they hold up well. I would recommend ordering the small size for most books, as the back cover of the bottom book slips into a little ledge that secures the book in place and you want the width of the book the right size so the shelf doesn’t press into the book’s binding. I think the large might be better suited for coffee table or art books that are typically a lot bigger. Anyway, hope this helps!" —Annie Bagdasarov

Get it from Amazon for $13.42+ (available in two sizes individually, as a set of three, and in silver and white).

Promising Review: "This is a fantastic bed for a New Yorker in a small apartment. My closet is literally 1 foot wide so having the extra storage for out of season clothing, extra bedding and luggage really saves my life. You could put those things under a normal bed in a normal bedroom, but this completely prevents having to lug out under-bed bins and also not having tons of space on either side to do so." —Linlee

Get it from Amazon for $409.99+ (available in sizes twin–king and four colors and fabrics).

Promising review: "I live in a small, one bedroom apartment, so I am always looking for products to help with storage and organization. This product stuck out to me due to the low price point and appearance. I wanted something with a clear lid, so that I could clearly see what was inside without having to open it. I currently have ALL of my summer clothing and shoes stored in the two organizers. Everything fits snugly, but perfectly. I may end up purchasing two more for my winter clothing when the time comes, just because of how snug my thinner, lighter summer clothes fit in the two that I have now. I won't hesitate when that time comes because I do love this product! I have had no issues with tearing or poor quality. Highly recommend!" —Emma Payne

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in five colors and also larger packs).

Promising review: "I love these Songmics bamboo products. They are perfect for home organization. We have a very small apartment, and as a family of three, these help with the lack of storage in the bathroom and bedrooms. They are also lightweight, so easy to move around and use in different ways over time." —Andrea Patterson

Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in two colors).

This holds up to 60 plastic bags and comes with a removable hanger so you can put it over the door or attach it to the cabinet.

Promising review: "We love this! We live in an apartment in New York City and storage is always a nightmare, but we need our bags. This hangs neatly inside the cabinet underneath the sink. The clear hooks make it look modern and undetectable from the outside." —CF

Get it from Amazon for $16.97.

Promising review: "I have a small apartment and the broom closet was always a mess: the brooms would hit me in the face whenever I took the trash out. This holder saved me so much stress! The slots have little rollers that can move to fit just about any size mop or broom, and there are also little hooks that can drop down if you want to hold towels or the dust pan, which is what I use them for. This is a must-have organizational tool!" —Jacqui

Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

Promising review: "I just moved into a tiny apartment and needed a space-saving way to store my bags in my closet without creasing them. This hanging rack is perfect! My backpacks, big totes, and small purses all fit, and the rack itself seems very sturdy. Plus, each hook is pretty wide, meaning multiple bags can be hung on one hook. Great item for the price!" —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $10.67+ (available in three colors and styles).

Plus, you can use it as a workstation and table to eat at, so it's essentially three pieces of furniture in one.

Promising review: "This table was exactly what I was looking for! I just moved into a very small apartment and this was the perfect combination of a coffee table/desk/dinner table for one and a little storage space. I can open it up every evening to have dinner and use my laptop and while I have guests over I can put away my laptop and other small unnecessary items away and it looks great! I did assemble this by myself which was a little difficult but possible if you have someone to help DO IT." —Janet Santiesteban

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in two sizes and five colors).

Plus, it can be used as both a shower curtain (facing out) or a shower liner (facing in).

Promising review: "I ordered this, set it up, and immediately fell in love. I live in a cramped little apartment I share with several other girls. There's almost no space for any of my personal bath stuff, and I also knock over a lot of my roommates' stuff in the process of getting in. I let the girls know they were free to put their stuff in too, and about a week or so later everyone had migrated their stuff in the curtain! It holds well, keeps items dry, and clears space in your shower so it feels a little calmer and more soothing. I honestly love this thing, and it's held up pretty well. I've had it a couple of months so far, and I foresee this lasting for a good amount of time." —g. castro

Get it from Amazon for $14.60+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I just moved into a small apartment with no dining room and not enough room in the kitchen for a table. This was a perfect answer. The table looks nice enough to be included in the living room and small enough to create a dedicated dining space. This was priced great and arrived so quickly and was very well-packaged — no dents, dings, scratches, etc. I'm a single, slightly built senior and had no problems getting this assembled by myself. Easy and fast. All pieces were marked, holes predrilled, hardware all fit. I love the real wood — looks like a much more expensive piece of furniture than the cost would imply. It appears quite sturdy with no wobble stools — the table legs may eventually require some reinforcement if I move it around a lot, but that's just inherent with the clean design. I truly could not be happier." —Tally

Get it from Amazon for $78.63+ (available in three colors).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.