Guest Picks: Creating Space In a Small Apartment
Brandi of Not Your Average Ordinary Finds Storage Solutions for Tiny Homes
One of the biggest problems to tackle when moving into an apartment in the New York City area is the small space. Cabinet space is often non-existent, and for a cook/baker like me, that's a real issue. Here are some ways I plan on dealing with it. — Brandi from Not Your Average Ordinary
Metro® Commercial Pantry Shelves
This is the baker's rack I've been searching for my entire life. This would take care all of your kitchen needs and do it in style. Added bonus: the shelves are adjustable. Finally, a place to store my stand mixer.
This is the baker's rack I've been searching for my entire life. This would take care all of your kitchen needs and do it in style. Added bonus: the shelves are adjustable. Finally, a place to store my stand mixer.
Modern
This bookcase is all about minimalism, and would be perfect in any home, whether placed against the wall as a bookcase or used to divide a space. My favorite part: this could add some really needed shelf space to a tiny apartment.
This bookcase is all about minimalism, and would be perfect in any home, whether placed against the wall as a bookcase or used to divide a space. My favorite part: this could add some really needed shelf space to a tiny apartment.
Wire 9 Cube Wall Shelf
How could you not instantly fall in love with this wall shelf? This would be brilliant to use in the kitchen for spices, perhaps, or other small items that you use often.
How could you not instantly fall in love with this wall shelf? This would be brilliant to use in the kitchen for spices, perhaps, or other small items that you use often.
Belmont White Kitchen Island
This cottage-inspired island would add some wonderful character to any kitchen. The leaf folds up to provide extra workspace and the whole unit moves for extra convenience. Perfect for a small apartment where every bit of space matters.
This cottage-inspired island would add some wonderful character to any kitchen. The leaf folds up to provide extra workspace and the whole unit moves for extra convenience. Perfect for a small apartment where every bit of space matters.
Chrome Five-Shelf Unit
Simple and modern, this shelf unit would be a great way to add some extra storage space to a small kitchen or a small apartment. It could be used with baskets or boxes for smaller items. Shelves are adjustable.
Simple and modern, this shelf unit would be a great way to add some extra storage space to a small kitchen or a small apartment. It could be used with baskets or boxes for smaller items. Shelves are adjustable.
Tall Draper's Cabinet
You can't help but fall in love with this beautifully classic bookcase/cabinet. A lovely place to store books and special pieces, each cubby is numbered with an antique brass cardholder.
You can't help but fall in love with this beautifully classic bookcase/cabinet. A lovely place to store books and special pieces, each cubby is numbered with an antique brass cardholder.
UTBY Kitchen Island
This kitchen island from Ikea is a great way to add some extra countertop space to a small kitchen — and do so on a budget.
This kitchen island from Ikea is a great way to add some extra countertop space to a small kitchen — and do so on a budget.
1950s Dutch Shipyard Shelving
Everything about this shelving is charming. It has that old-world feel, as if you were stepping into a store that has been around for decades.
Everything about this shelving is charming. It has that old-world feel, as if you were stepping into a store that has been around for decades.
Abbott Zinc-Top Island
This island is a great solution — either indoors or outdoors — when you're in need of more workspace. There's really nothing like natural wood to add some life to a space.
This island is a great solution — either indoors or outdoors — when you're in need of more workspace. There's really nothing like natural wood to add some life to a space.
Swedish Wood Shelving-Utility Cart with Wheels
A wood cart with wheels that seamlessly fits next to more shelving? It's like a dream come true. And with an affordable price, I wouldn't dare hide such style in a pantry.
A wood cart with wheels that seamlessly fits next to more shelving? It's like a dream come true. And with an affordable price, I wouldn't dare hide such style in a pantry.
Double Door Oak Cabinet
Everything about this oak cabinet says sophistication. For me, this is an investment piece, one you'll bring from home to home and use in new and different ways each time.
Everything about this oak cabinet says sophistication. For me, this is an investment piece, one you'll bring from home to home and use in new and different ways each time.
Markham Console Bar
Though it's intended to be used as a bar, I think this would be fantastic to double as a kitchen island when parties weren't going on. My favorite feature is that beautiful wood — it's amazingly elegant.
Though it's intended to be used as a bar, I think this would be fantastic to double as a kitchen island when parties weren't going on. My favorite feature is that beautiful wood — it's amazingly elegant.
Wright's Peak Wire Horizontal Storage
Wire shelving doesn't always immediately attract me but the simplicity and style of this design does. A piece like this would really look incredible against a colorful wall and wood floor.
Wire shelving doesn't always immediately attract me but the simplicity and style of this design does. A piece like this would really look incredible against a colorful wall and wood floor.
Decker Bookshelf
Two of these could easily take care of all of your shelving needs. And that extra drawer space is just an added bonus. Let's face it, we all want to show off some things and have a place to hide others.
Two of these could easily take care of all of your shelving needs. And that extra drawer space is just an added bonus. Let's face it, we all want to show off some things and have a place to hide others.
Newland Kitchen Island, Modern Oak
From experience, I can tell you there's nothing like a marble top kitchen island. While you need to worry about putting hot pots down on a wood surface, the thought never crosses your mind with marble. And can you imagine how easy it would be to roll out dough for pies or other pastries on this surface?
From experience, I can tell you there's nothing like a marble top kitchen island. While you need to worry about putting hot pots down on a wood surface, the thought never crosses your mind with marble. And can you imagine how easy it would be to roll out dough for pies or other pastries on this surface?
Super Island with Drop Leaf
The warmth of wood, the added extra cabinet space, wheels to make it mobile an a drop leaf to give you extra work space? I don't think you'll find a single thing missing from this kitchen island. It's a cook's dream.
The warmth of wood, the added extra cabinet space, wheels to make it mobile an a drop leaf to give you extra work space? I don't think you'll find a single thing missing from this kitchen island. It's a cook's dream.
Grand Americana Work Center Kitchen Island
I almost like calling this a work center more than a kitchen island. It has that traditional, small-home-where-people-still-make-bread-from-scratch feel with extra easy-to-access storage space.
I almost like calling this a work center more than a kitchen island. It has that traditional, small-home-where-people-still-make-bread-from-scratch feel with extra easy-to-access storage space.
Wright's Peak Tall 4-Bin Coop
If there's a more perfect way to keep fruits, vegetables, and other produce off your countertops, I couldn't have imagined it. Onions on the bottom, potatoes above that, avocados next, and more perishable fruit on the top. This would make it so easy to grab an apple on the way out the door.
If there's a more perfect way to keep fruits, vegetables, and other produce off your countertops, I couldn't have imagined it. Onions on the bottom, potatoes above that, avocados next, and more perishable fruit on the top. This would make it so easy to grab an apple on the way out the door.
Farmhouse Sideboard Crates
Buy several of these, stack them on their sides, and not only do you have a unique look, you have the easiest shelving in the world to move when you upgrade from that small apartment to a larger one.
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See more guest product picks here
Simple and understated, this piece would look fantastic if used to separate a kitchen and living area in a studio apartment — not to mention, it adds a bit of extra storage space for some basic food supplies. I can see the basics (flours, sugars, rices, pastas) looking sharp in containers on those shelves.