Small homes are delicate ecosystems. Introduce clutter, and a small space can quickly become chaotic, cramped, and uncomfortable. However, when everything is well-organized and in harmony, even the tiniest space can feel spacious and refreshingly minimalist.

Drawing on hundreds of hours of research, testing, and our own lived experiences, we’ve put together a list of essentials to help you make the most of every inch of your small space.

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The research

Why you should trust us

How we picked

Entryway

Living and dining area

Kitchen

Bedroom and closet

Cleaning and laundry

Bathroom

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Why you should trust us

To find pragmatic solutions that work for tiny-home owners, as well as for renters who can’t rebuild their spaces, we spoke with small-space experts, including Graham Hill of LifeEdited, Erin Boyle of Reading My Tea Leaves (we love her Life in a Tiny Apartment series), Erin Doland of Unclutterer, and professional home organizer Laura Cattano.

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How we picked

Our experts helped us define the following five principles for living in small spaces:

• Choose the right-size stuff: Often, this means opting for smaller versions of items, like a compact fan or a cordless vacuum, which makes them easier to store.
• Maximize vertical space: Use floor-to-ceiling closets to provide more storage. The same principle applies to hooks, magnets, hanging racks, and pegboards, which make the most of walls and the backs of doors.
• Use nooks: Take advantage of morsels of otherwise unused space. Creating extra seating by adding cushions to extra-wide windowsills, using furniture that has hidden storage, and adding hooks inside a cupboard are just a few examples.
• Put stuff away: Items that can be stored flat, rolled, or folded, such as a clothes-drying rack, an air mattress for guests, or a folding chair, are especially good for preserving floor space.
• Go for quality: Well-made clothes, furnishings, and appliances may initially cost more, but you won’t have to replace them every few years. In the long run, they can be financially smarter investments.

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Entryway

In a small home, every square foot is valuable. While you might not have a dedicated foyer, you likely have some form of entry hall, wall, or nook that can be utilized for storing coats, shoes, and even bikes. Options like a shoe rack, a wall-mounted coat rack, and a storage bench help you maximize storage while minimizing floor space. For more ideas, check out our guides on organizing small entryways, our favorite hooks, and top coat racks.

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Wall-mounted hooks and coat racks

The Mollie Hook holds a surprisingly large amount of stuff, especially considering its compact size. 

Short of buying a large coat rack, the easiest way to double or triple the storage space in your entryway is with the compact Mollie Hook from Schoolhouse. With six hooks on a 7-by-6½-inch frame, it holds nearly as much as bigger coat racks we tried, but it can still fit on small walls or in otherwise unusable nooks. Its 4-inch depth also means it won’t interfere in a narrow hallway. We like the modern look of the wood-and-metal Mollie more than that of any hook or coat rack we’ve considered. Plus, it has rounded knobs that will prevent things from falling off, but they aren’t so big that they make it difficult to remove items quickly. Available in four different knob colors and two finishes, with matching hardware, this hook is a great way to functionally spruce up a cramped space.

The 27-inch Liberty Flared Tri-Hook Rack is a workhorse that could fit with many styles. It can be mounted to a wall or on the back of a standard-size door, and it supports up to 35 pounds. Its three-point hooks maximize storage space and can minimize wear and tear on clothing and gear (hanging bulky or heavy items over multiple hooks can spread out their weight). The Liberty is available with a white backing board and either satin nickel or white hooks, and though its aesthetic isn’t exactly groundbreaking, this rack is classic enough that it can adapt to nearly any decor. It comes with screws, but no additional hardware for drywall. For this, we suggest ⅛-by-3-inch toggle bolts. If you’re looking for something slightly more modern, check out our guide to coat racks.

If you don’t have room for a full coat rack or simply don’t need that many hooks, we recommend the KES Solid Metal Swivel Hook. It consists of a single mount with three swiveling hooks that can fold flat against the wall when not in use. Compared with the other two swivel hooks we tested, the KES hook moved smoothly—it wasn’t too loose or too tight. It installs easily and has a hidden mounting plate, so you won’t see any fasteners once it’s up on the wall. It’s also one of the few models that come with all the necessary mounting hardware. We tested the KES up to 25 pounds, which is more than enough to hold standard items like coats, hats, and laptop bags. It’s available in several finishes and costs less than $20. It’s inexpensive enough that you could get two or three, depending on your needs.

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Customizable shoe rack

The Seville Classics 3-Tier Resin Slat Utility Shoe Rack is slim and easy to assemble and configure multiple units to suit any space. And it’s more stable than any other shoe rack we tried in 30 hours of research and testing for our guide to shoe racks. Its unique fold-open frame was something we couldn’t find elsewhere, and it made this rack the easiest to put together. The Seville comes with three resin slat shelves. Multiple units easily stack vertically or connect horizontally to create added space. At 12 inches deep and 27 inches wide, the Seville is large enough to accommodate up to a men’s size 12 shoe, but not so deep that it would impose on a narrow hallway or small entry area. The space between shelves easily fits most shoes, and the open top shelf is ideal for larger boots or tall heels.

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Bike storage

Minimal, inexpensive, and effective, the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Two-Bike Gravity Stand provides vertical storage, which is the most compact way to keep bikes in a small space. The Michelangelo is even slim enough to store bikes in a narrow hallway. From start to finish, this bike stand can be assembled in as little as 20 minutes—a handful of metal rods clip together, and it attaches to the wall with only one screw. The Michelangelo has movable arms that adjust to fit any size bike (or to bring your frame closer toward the wall) and extra hooks for accessories (although we’ve had issues with those staying in place). Its maximum load is an ample 80 pounds. If you’d prefer a different style or one that would allow you to use space behind a door or in a corner, check out our guide to bike racks for apartments.

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Storage bench

The Seville Classics Foldable Storage Bench Ottoman is a cheap way to add extra storage space. With great ratings on Walmart, it looks surprisingly nice for the price. And it holds more stuff than other storage benches we considered, such as the pricier George Oliver Valerio Upholstered Storage Bench (although that one is slightly more stylish). The Seville Classics bench arrives flat in the mail (no need for a furniture delivery service) and is a breeze to assemble thanks to its basic fold-out design. Rated to hold 500 pounds (when evenly distributed), it felt very stable under the weight of one person in our tests, and the interior easily held our testers’ two yoga mats, three throw pillows, and chunky wool blanket. Plus, with a width of 31.5 inches, it should fit in an entryway or at the end of a bed, providing storage as well as somewhere to sit.

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Living and dining area

Many small apartments have only one room to handle both living and dining. As a result, you have to be efficient in how you allocate space. Every piece of furniture needs to perform its task well, and it’s even better if it can do two things. Similarly, the more stuff you can get off the floor and onto the walls, the more spacious the room will feel.

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Wireless speaker

Sonos speakers are designed to fill your whole house with sound—allowing you to play different music and podcasts in each room—but they’re great for small spaces, too. Unlike a Bluetooth or an AirPlay speaker, a Sonos speaker doesn’t depend on your phone as an audio source. So you can choose what to play and then move around freely, take calls, watch videos, or whatever, with no disruption to the music that’s playing. We’ve tested every system worth trying, and Sonos remains the best. It supports more streaming services and has a more streamlined search than anything else, and every speaker the company offers sounds amazing. The Sonos One is an affordable entry point to the system: It may be small, but it’s loud enough to fill almost any room in a small apartment with great sound, and it’s even Alexa-enabled.

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Projector

A projector turns even the smallest room into a home theater and eliminates the need to have a big TV. Although you can spend several thousand dollars on a top-notch projector, those are designed for permanent home-theater setups and can be quite large and difficult to hide. A cheaper model will be just as bright (if not brighter) and easier to store when not in use. After testing the latest sub-$1,000 projectors, we think you’ll love looking at the picture produced by the BenQ HT2050A. It uses an RGBRGB color wheel that produces richer, more vibrant colors than many budget DLP projectors. This 1080p projector is also much easier to set up than other sub-$1,000 projectors we tried, thanks to a flexible lens with both zoom and vertical shift; this gives you more flexibility in where you can put the projector while still providing a perfectly aligned image.

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Air mattress for guests

Entertaining overnight guests in a small home can be challenging. Your best bet is a temporary bed that you can pack away when it’s not in use. After looking at 21 affordable options, including a camping pad and a futon, we determined that the twin-size SoundAsleep Air Mattress (also in queen) is the best air mattress for most people. It comes with an integrated pump to automatically inflate the mattress to optimum firmness or deflate it completely for storage. The SoundAsleep’s flocked top sits 19 inches above the floor, making it easier to get in and out of than thinner air mattresses we tried. It also comes with a one-year warranty (important, because all air mattresses are susceptible to leaks).

If you’re hesitant to invest in an item that may eventually fail, consider the Texsport Deluxe Folding Camp Cot, which several members of our staff have used and recommend. This cot is more appropriate for sleepers who prefer very firm support, but our staffers report that it’s also sturdy, comfortable, and pleasantly raised up off the floor.

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Compact sofa

The BenchMade Modern Skinny Fat Sofa was one of the most comfortable, well-constructed, and customizable sofas we tested while writing our guide to the best online sofas. It’s a little more expensive than other models we tried, but we think the quality and the quick turnaround time to complete an order (less than a month, compared with eight to 12 weeks for some other brands) are worth the cost. Made in the United States from alder hardwood, the BenchMade has a stronger frame and more meticulous construction than most others we tried, and its clean lines and contemporary design should look great in a variety of homes. We also love this sofa’s wide range of available fabrics: There are nearly 100 different colors and textures to choose from. BenchMade Modern stocks this model in eight ready-made sizes, and it also offers you the option of customizing the sofa’s length (which is especially useful for tiny spaces or if you want something to fit exactly in a particular spot). The company has excellent customer support and reliable delivery, so even if you don’t like this particular style, we think you’ll be happy with another model from this brand.

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Kitchen

Counter and cabinet space is usually at a premium in a small kitchen. We’ve found that the best solutions involve smartly organizing shelves, utilizing wall space, and selecting smaller versions of appliances whenever possible. You can find even more space-saving solutions in our guide to making the most out of a small kitchen.

Shelf risers

The Seville Classics Expandable Kitchen Counter and Cabinet Shelf is the best we’ve found for a range of cabinet sizes. In our testing, this heavyweight iron riser was very sturdy, and because it expands from 15¾ to 30 inches wide, it uses the entire width of a cabinet, creating no dead space (a problem with most risers). At 5 inches tall, it allowed us to slide nine dinner plates below the shelf.

If you have tall cabinets with few shelves and want to maximize vertical space, we recommend Organized Living’s double risers. These heavy-gauge steel risers are very sturdy, and we found them to be leagues ahead of identical-looking ones we tested from The Container Store. For storing large dishes, we’d go with the rectangular rack, which accommodated a 19-piece dish set with room to spare. The square version wasn’t big enough for large dinner plates, but it would work particularly well for spices or squat bowls.

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Pegboard and hooks

Wall Control’s metal pegboard is a secure way to hang kitchen equipment and tools.

A quick tour through Pinterest shows countless Julia Child–inspired kitchen pegboards hung with pots, pans, and utensils. Unfortunately, old-school masonite pegboards are prone to sagging and deteriorating over time. That’s why we like the durable, 20-gauge steel Wall Control Metal Pegboard with pre-drilled holes for hanging and a flange around each edge. According to the company, when it’s properly installed, a single 16-by-32-inch panel should hold up to 200 pounds.

The addition of vertical slots (to the standard holes) sets these boards apart. Wall Control’s matching hooks (in a variety of sizes holding 5 to 10 pounds each) lock into the board and don’t fall out as easily as round hooks (although you can use those, too). The metal holes also won’t droop or rip when hardware falls out. We found the 1⅞-inch hooks and 2⅞-inch hooks to be the most useful for hanging pots, pans, and utensils.

The downside to the Wall Control boards is that they aren’t as customizable as masonite boards, which can be cut to size (say, if you want to fill an entire wall). But we like that they come in 10 colors. You could add magnetic spice jars to these, or hang a few panels in a closet to make a compact station for storing tools, ironing boards, or other housekeeping equipment in one spot.

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Compact dish rack

If you have fewer than 14 square inches of counter space, get the Chef’n Dish Garden, which can handle all of the dishes in a two-person household. None of the other compact racks we considered held dishes or drained nearly as well as the Chef’n. It works in the sink or on the counter, and its steeply angled base ensures good drainage. Though the Chef’n’s circular shape might seem like a waste of space, it holds more than other compact racks because the design includes cup holders around its circumference. This rack holds items upright with tall plastic prongs, allowing dishes to be placed in any direction.

The Chef’n comes with two utensil holders that can be placed anywhere on the rack, adding to its flexibility. And the drain spout flips up to close, so you can move the rack around without worrying that water will leak. The textured exterior prevents glasses from suctioning themselves to the plastic, a problem we found with lesser plastic racks we tested for our guide to dish racks. The main complaint among 440-some Walmart reviewers (who awarded it, on average, 4.7 stars) was that the rack was small—which is pretty much what a tiny space calls for.

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Dish-drying mat

As an alternative to a small dish-draining tray, try these microfiber dish-drying mats. Walletrays Christine Cyr Clisset keeps two of these on hand (rotating them between uses), and folds them in half, since she has only 9½ inches of drying space between the sink and the wall. These would pair well with our compact drying rack, if you’re concerned about cups dripping around the edges. Christine has also found that the mats work well as a drop cloth under a baby’s high chair and, in a pinch, as a compact bath mat.

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Door-mounted garbage can

As an alternative to a small dish-draining tray, try these microfiber dish-drying mats. walletrays Christine Cyr Clisset keeps two of these on hand (rotating them between uses), and folds them in half, since she has only 9½ inches of drying space between the sink and the wall. These would pair well with our compact drying rack, if you’re concerned about cups dripping around the edges. Christine has also found that the mats work well as a drop cloth under a baby’s high chair and, in a pinch, as a compact bath mat.

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Door-mounted garbage can

The 2.6-gallon Simplehuman In-Cabinet Trash Can hangs inside a cabinet door, so it’s great for kitchens where there’s little space for a full-size can. Because this trash can is only about 8 inches wide, you should still have plenty of room to store cleaning supplies and other items under the sink. It’s smaller than a full-size can (which are usually 8 gallons or larger), so you may have to empty it frequently, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering how smells can permeate small spaces.

The Simplehuman was the only cabinet can we found with a lid—something that’s essential for reducing odor and keeping pests away. You can also hang it on the front of a cabinet during food prep, or remove the hook and mount the can directly to the cabinet. You can read more about why we like it in our full review of kitchen trash cans.

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Kitchen cart

A rolling cart or island is a smart and effective way to increase both counter and storage space in a small kitchen. The IKEA Bekväm Kitchen Cart stands out as the sturdiest option we tested and is the easiest to assemble. Its two wheels offer flexibility, allowing you to move the cart around your kitchen to provide extra prep space or surface area precisely where you need it. With two shelves, it delivers valuable additional storage for appliances or mixing bowls. Measuring a compact 19⅝ by 22⅞ inches, the Bekväm fits perfectly next to a standard 24-inch-deep counter. However, its height of 33½ inches is slightly shorter than the standard counter height, which might cause a slight mismatch in alignment. While the Bekväm’s untreated wood construction is prone to staining and can be challenging to clean, you can seal the top surface yourself to enhance its durability. For more insights and tips on optimizing small-kitchen storage, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.

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Kitchen organizing rack

The Yamazaki Magnetic Kitchen Organization Rack ingeniously utilizes the often-overlooked space on your fridge’s front or sides, offering an effective solution for additional storage. Ideal for those who can’t accommodate a pegboard, this versatile rack provides a compact alternative. It features a small shelf with six hooks for hanging dish towels, pot holders, or kitchen tools; a mid-tier rod designed to hold a roll of paper towels; and an upper shelf that accommodates heavy bottles of oil or vinegar. Although the paper-towel rod lacks a stopper, which could cause the roll to slide off, the rack’s magnets are impressively strong and securely hold the rack in place, even when fully loaded. For added stability, it includes screws for wall mounting if preferred. Its simple, white design is unobtrusive and seamlessly blends with a white fridge, enhancing your kitchen’s functionality without disrupting its aesthetic.

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Bedroom and closet

Many small apartments and houses struggle with inadequate closet space, but you can still keep your clothes organized and tidy with some creative solutions. Compact furnishings are essential for maximizing a cramped space, while smart accessories help you create additional storage in unused areas. For more organizing ideas tailored to small spaces, be sure to explore our comprehensive closet guide. Additionally, our small-bedroom guide offers further unique storage solutions to help you make the most of every inch of your living area.

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Over-the-door rack

After evaluating dozens of models and testing a few, we’ve determined that the Spectrum Duchess Over the Door 5-Hook Rack stands out as the best option available. Its solid construction ensures durability, while the oval nubs at the ends of the hooks are smooth enough to avoid damaging delicate fabrics, unlike the blunt, mushroom-like ends found on other Spectrum racks we tested. The Duchess rack measures 19⅜ inches wide and 12¼ inches high, featuring a 1¾-inch-wide hanging bracket that is designed to fit over most interior doors seamlessly. This combination of thoughtful design and practical functionality makes it an excellent choice for efficient storage solutions.

In our testing, the Spectrum Duchess Over the Door 5-Hook Rack hung effortlessly on a 1½-inch-thick door. While there was a slight quarter-inch overhang in the bracket that caused a small amount of movement, it was not enough to be bothersome. The bracket did not scrape the door paint, although we noted one user comment mentioning that the bracket might make it challenging to close the door—an issue that could be common with any over-the-door rack. Overall, the Spectrum Duchess is designed to support heavy bags and bulky jackets without bending or breaking, making it a robust and reliable choice for efficient storage.

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Storage bed

The IKEA Malm is a budget-friendly storage bed that excels in compact spaces, making it ideal for tiny bedrooms or cramped corners. Instead of traditional drawers, the Malm features a spring-assisted lift mechanism that elevates the mattress to reveal hidden storage underneath. This design eliminates the need for clearance around the sides, a crucial benefit when dealing with limited square footage. The Malm offers comparable, if not slightly superior, storage capacity compared to beds with drawers. With a relatively small footprint for a queen-size bed, measuring 83½ inches long by 66⅛ inches wide, it maximizes space without overwhelming the room. However, while it provides ample storage, the Malm’s interior access is less convenient than the drawers of other beds, so it may not fully replace a dresser. If you’re willing to invest in a more premium option, the Blu Dot Modu-licious queen bed is an excellent choice. Though it is at least three times the price of the Malm, it represents a worthwhile investment for those committed to living in a small apartment long-term. For additional ideas on optimizing small bedrooms and other sleep solutions, be sure to explore our comprehensive guide to small bedrooms.

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Nightstand

The Umbra Bijou Floating Shelf Cubby is an excellent multipurpose piece of furniture that delivers both style and functionality. While not specifically designed as a nightstand, the Bijou provides an elegant solution for storing bedside essentials without taking up valuable floor space. Its 16-by-8-inch surface offers ample room for books, an alarm clock, and other small nighttime necessities. With its clean, sophisticated design, the Bijou looks far more expensive than its price suggests, making it a stylish addition that complements various decor styles. It arrives fully assembled, featuring an iron-sheet cubby and a ¾-inch melamine top. Once mounted to the wall with the included anchors, it feels remarkably sturdy and can support up to 10 pounds, making it both practical and durable.

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Room divider

Stylish curtain-style room dividers are indeed a rare find, but Room Dividers Now stands out with its diverse range of sizes and styles, all boasting exceptional quality. Among the quickest-to-install options we discovered was the Room Dividers Now Tension Rod Room Divider Kit. This kit, featuring a spring-loaded tension rod and curtain, proved to be simpler to assemble compared to other models we tried—the tension rod mounts similarly to a shower rod, making installation a breeze. The kit includes a luxurious satiny, heavyweight polyester curtain that adds a touch of elegance to any space. With 16 colors and patterns available, along with five size options ranging from 2 to 12 feet wide, you can easily find a perfect fit for your needs. Additionally, you might want to explore the hardware-free End2End Room Divider Kit, which we tested and appreciated, or consider their other more permanent options that involve mounting for a more fixed solution.

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Cleaning and laundry

One of the main benefits of a small space is that there’s less to clean and maintain. However, even the slightest mess can become highly visible. The right tools can significantly simplify managing messes, tackling laundry day, and handling home improvement projects. Investing in quality cleaning supplies and versatile organizers ensures that maintaining order in your compact space is as efficient and effortless as possible.

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Wall-mounted drying rack

If you’re tight on space and can’t store a compact folding rack, a wall-mounted option might be your best bet for managing a small load of laundry. We highly recommend the Polder Wall-Mount 24-Inch Accordion Drying Rack, which offers a smart solution by folding away almost entirely when not in use, yet provides an impressive 12¼ feet of drying space when expanded. With a bit of creativity in your drying configurations and using some hangers on the sides, you can comfortably fit a full load of wet laundry. Although it has a 22-pound weight limit, we found that it can handle even more without showing any signs of distress. Additionally, the Polder drying rack includes all the necessary hardware for installation, such as drywall anchors, making it a convenient and practical choice for small spaces.

We prefer the Polder’s plastic-over-steel design over all-steel options like the Aero-W, primarily because it offers a more budget-friendly choice—the Polder costs about a third of the price. Its innovative design delivers excellent functionality without breaking the bank. However, if you have a larger household and require additional line space and higher weight capacity, investing in an all-metal version may be worthwhile. The extra durability and capacity of an all-steel rack can accommodate larger loads and offer enhanced longevity, making it a solid option for more demanding needs.

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Laundry clips

For delicates and smaller items, we recommend the Ipow Laundry Clips. These clips come in a convenient 12-pack and fit seamlessly over a shower rod, making them perfect for hanging delicate fabrics, baby clothes, or for stringing towels and jeans together. Unlike traditional clips mounted on a single hanger, the Ipow Laundry Clips offer greater versatility and can handle larger items like sheets and towels with ease. We found them to be more user-friendly and convenient compared to our previous choice, the Whitmor Clip and Drip Add-On Hangers.

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Vacuum-sealing storage bags

SpaceSaver Vacuum Storage Bags
Best Vacuum-Sealed Storage Bags

These vacuum-sealed storage bags stand out for their efficiency in compressing bulky items. They performed better than others we tested, reducing volume more effectively and quickly. Available for $31 on Walmart and $43 at Walmart, the SpaceSaver Vacuum Storage Bags excelled in our research of 18 brands and testing of three top contenders. They provide superior compression, shrinking bulky jackets, bedding, and other items to a fraction of their original size. The jumbo bags we evaluated (30 by 40 inches) easily accommodated a queen-size comforter or several pillows. When filled with fluffy bedding, pillows, and clothes, the SpaceSaver bags compressed by just over 60 percent, surpassing the performance of other bags but falling slightly short of the advertised 75 to 80 percent compression. walletrays senior staff writer Jackie Reeve used these bags for a cross-country move and noted that while they worked relatively well, some bags eventually lost their seal. To extend the life of your compressed items, she recommends storing the bags in a plastic bin, as almost all vacuum bags will eventually lose their seal, and this precaution can help keep items compressed longer.

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Storage bins

The Iris Weathertight Totes are the ideal solution for storing seasonal clothes, winter gear, camping equipment, or any items that need to be neatly tucked away in a closet. With 12 different sizes available, they offer more variety than any other bins we’ve tested, including options shallow enough to fit under a bed if needed. These totes are designed with a foam gasket in the lid and four to six latches around the edge, ensuring a tight seal (most bins only feature two latches). The Iris bins’ straight sides make them easier to fill and stack compared to those with sloped walls. You can find these versatile totes at a range of retailers, making them a convenient and accessible choice for all your storage needs.

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Step stool

The Xtend + Climb SL2Hlight Step Ladder excels in combining function, safety, and style better than any other step ladder we found. Its slim design is more compact than our usual top-pick step stool, making it small enough to fit comfortably in most closets. Despite its compact size, the SL2Hlight boasts an attractive appearance, allowing you to store it in the open without compromising on style. Whether you need it for quick household tasks or extended reach, this step ladder offers both practicality and aesthetic appeal.

The Xtend + Climb SL2Hlight Step Ladder stands out for its impressive combination of safety, functionality, and style. It supports up to 225 pounds and features a top step that is 20 inches high, offering a reliable reach for various tasks. The ladder opens and closes effortlessly and includes a safety bar, which is useful for carrying it or bracing yourself while standing on the top step. During testing, we noted its solid construction with no loose or wobbly parts—unlike the Hailo Mini Comfort, which lacked a safety bar and exhibited slightly wobbly treads. The SL2Hlight is also equipped with nonslip rubber feet for added stability. For storage, it folds down to just 2 inches thick, making it ideal for hanging on the back of a door or sliding between tight spaces, such as between the fridge and the wall. If you need a more utilitarian option, we also recommend the Gorilla 2-Step Aluminum Step Stool Ladder.

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Cordless vacuum

In a small apartment, where floor area is limited, a cordless vacuum can be a practical choice without the concern of battery life becoming an issue. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim delivers impressive cleaning power comparable to high-performance plug-in vacuums. Cordless models, like the V12 Detect, are particularly well-suited for small spaces because they navigate corners effortlessly—unlike traditional plug-in vacuums—and require less storage space. The V12 Detect Slim includes multiple brushes and attachments, and offers an extended run time of 45 minutes on a single charge, surpassing most cordless vacuums we’ve tested. Weighing just over 5 pounds, it’s easy to maneuver around tight spaces and also converts into a hand vacuum for versatile cleaning. Additionally, the wall-mountable charging dock allows you to take advantage of vertical storage. Although the V12 Detect Slim is on the pricier side, it is designed to excel in compact living environments.

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Robot vacuum

If you have furry pets or live in a city with high air pollution, the iRobot Roomba i4 EVO is essential for maintaining a clean environment. This robot vacuum operates continuously in the background, effectively reducing day-to-day dust and pet hair. Its design is both durable and repairable, ensuring long-lasting performance when properly maintained. An apartment, with its single-story layout and compact areas, is an ideal setting for a robot vacuum, as it simplifies navigation. Unlike some models that require frequent monitoring to stay on course, the iRobot Roomba i4 EVO experiences fewer issues with getting stuck or halting mid-cleaning. This means you’ll spend less time untangling or overseeing the vacuum and more time enjoying a consistently clean home.

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Toolkit

We highly recommend the Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set, which provides everything you need for minor home repairs while fitting neatly into a compact box that can be easily stored in a closet. In our review of toolkits, the Anvil set stood out for delivering all the essential items without unnecessary filler that inflates both the tool count and price—a common issue with many competitor kits. The set includes a hammer, tape measure, utility knife, screwdriver, and hex wrenches, along with high-quality versions of other must-have tools. Notably, the Anvil kit also features one of the best adjustable wrenches we encountered in any toolkit. This thoughtful selection ensures you have the right tools for a range of tasks without excess clutter.

Since the screwdriver is the most frequently used tool in any kit, we highly recommend upgrading to the Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver 211R2C36RD or the rebranded but identical Channellock 131-CB 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver, both of which we reviewed in our best screwdriver guide. These versatile tools offer multiple functions in one compact design, making them indispensable for a variety of tasks.

Additionally, consider the Stanley PowerLock 33-115 Pocket Tape Measure for a compact yet highly functional measuring tool. This mini version of our top pick for the best tape measure is ideal for keeping in a kitchen drawer. With a measuring range of up to 10 feet and a durable Mylar polymer-coated blade, it stands up to wear and tear. Its small size makes it pocket-friendly, making it perfect for quick measurements when shopping for furniture or handling small projects.

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Bathroom

Your bathroom may be a sanctuary. Or you may be able to touch both walls at the same time and have nowhere to put your toilet paper. But the two don’t necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. (See our guide to small bathrooms.)

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Over-the-toilet freestanding shelf

If your bathroom has limited storage space and you prefer not to mount cabinets or shelving, an over-the-toilet shelving unit can be a practical—though not perfect—solution. In our comprehensive guide to small-bathroom ideas, we researched 20 over-the-toilet rack models and found the Bamboo Over the Toilet Space Saver to be the top choice for durability and effectively hiding clutter. According to reviews, this unit is one of the sturdiest options available and features sliding doors, which are advantageous for compact spaces as they don’t require extra clearance to open.

We’ve recommended this rack for several years under the brand name Rebrilliant, but it is now simply called “Bamboo.” Reviewers confirm that the unit is relatively easy to assemble; however, some have observed that the bamboo can splinter or crack during assembly. To enhance its stability and ensure it stays securely in place, we advise anchoring it to the wall.

At a width of 27.6 inches, this rack will fit around an average-size toilet with a few inches of clearance on either side. Make sure there is half an inch of clearance between where the unit will stand and the toilet tank (and remember that if your walls have baseboards, it won’t stand flush against the wall).

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Below-sink organizer

One of the best ways to optimize storage in a small bathroom is to fully utilize the space under your sink. The Container Store’s Silver 2-Drawer Mesh Organizer is highly effective at managing even the most cluttered cabinets. It stands out as the best option we tested due to its tall-but-narrow design, which adeptly fits around pipes and makes efficient use of the vertical space that is often difficult to access because of the plumbing under your sink. This organizer is also notably more durable than other options we tried. The drawers require no assembly and are designed to accommodate taller items better than competing models. Additionally, it features four eyelet holes in the bottom, allowing you to secure it to the bottom of your vanity if you’re concerned about stability and potential tipping from the weight of multiple bottles.

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Meet your guide

Walletrays