How To Maximize Storage Space In Small Places, According To Nate Berkus

If you're one of the 40 million plus Americans who live in an apartment, then you know firsthand how challenging it can be to hack small space storage. Strategically decluttering your home, ideally before you move, can help, but inevitably, there will be some seasonal clothing item or infrequently used appliance that needs to be stashed somewhere. Thankfully, home design pros are well-versed in how to solve this common issue — including interior designer and best-selling author Nate Berkus, who has some solid advice for apartment dwellers and anyone else who's decorating a small space.

In a video interview with Architectural Digest magazine, Berkus shared two nuggets of wisdom regarding how to maximize storage space. His first tip? "In a small space, everything does sort of have to do double-duty." In other words, your furniture pieces should be multi-functional and have storage space built in. (He's not the only pro who swears by this trick. Dormify founder Amanda Zuckerman echoed his advice in an article for Cosmopolitan magazine.) Additionally, Berkus recommended avoiding small storage solutions for small spaces. Though that may sound counterintuitive, he's found that incorporating large furniture items actually provides more storage options with less work on your part.

To implement Berkus's first piece of advice, you'll need to train yourself to think about how to make your furniture work for you. That means intentionally looking for pieces that are aesthetically appealing and cleverly designed to be multi-purpose. In his AD interview, Berkus cited the example of a console table: "Rather than just buying [one], that console table should probably be a chest of drawers or a sideboard so that you have storage inside." You can apply this logic to virtually any item you need for your home. 

Scouring the web for an ottoman? Look for one with a hidden storage compartment so it's more than just a foot rest. Picking up one of these pieces is a common suggestion among interior design experts for a reason: Storage ottomans are cute and highly functional. Lurking on Facebook Marketplace in the hopes of finding a chef's block for your tiny kitchen? If you prioritize purchasing one with shelving underneath, it will increase your counter space for cooking and provide additional storage space for cookware or kitchen appliances.

Per Berkus's second tip, small-space dwellers should also prioritize finding bigger pieces of furniture that offer storage. He gave the example of a large armoire, a classic furniture item that can serve as a centerpiece in a studio or one-bedroom apartment. However, since it also has storage space built in, you can use it to stash any errant belongings that need a home. Really, it's all about scale, Berkus told AD: The bigger the piece, the more practical it will be — and the less you'll need to focus on finding small-scale storage solutions elsewhere. As a bonus, it will look less cluttered than, say, using copious wall hangers or shelves to store things vertically.

Keep this sage advice in mind when you're shopping for bigger items for your home. For instance, consider the furniture in your bedroom. Can you buy a bed frame with internal drawers, such as the dependable BRIMNES model from IKEA? That way, you can store shoes or out-of-season clothes with ease. What about the couch in your living room? There are plenty of options on the market that feature handy-dandy compartments under the cushions, which are perfect for storing extra blankets, linens, or seasonal decor items.