Small Space = Major Planning

Downsizing to a 225 square foot apartment is a bit overwhelming. I'd like to sell, donate, or throw away as much as I can but I also plan on renting a small-ish storage unit to hold those things (like my dining room table) that I'd like to keep but won't have use for until I buy a house or that I can't sell right away but might be able to sell in a few months (like my stereo - it's in a good condition but I don't know if I'll have any takers right away). I also am going to need to purchase smaller, more streamlined items to fit my new apartment and lifestyle. For example, I can't have a queen bed or a couch in a 225 square feet, but I can have a daybed that could serve a dual purpose. 


I made a list of things I'd like to have in the new space: 

1. a daybed
2. mattress
3. bedding
4. four 5-shelve bookcases (they are 6 feet tall each)
5. a space-saving desk
6. a chair 
7. a two-tier rolling garment rack (the apartment has no closet space, though the owners are providing a dresser)
8. an over-the-toilet space saver storage unit
9. over-the-door towel rack

Besides a small TV stand that I already own (which will function as a microwave stand if I can wall-mount my TV), that's all I'm taking for "furniture." If I can't fit it on the shelves, under the bed, in the dresser drawers, in the cabinets, or hanging in my "closet," it will have to go one way or another. 

Budgeting is also a major part of this new downsizing plan. While I'd like to buy things, I also don't want to spend a lot of money and have more credit card debt (which defeats the whole purpose of my new loan). I ran the numbers a zillion times and came up with about $2300 to move. The $2300 includes

1. a donation to next year's juniors to help me move (they need money and I don't want to carry stuff!)
2. deposit on the new apartment
3. prorated rent for June
4. the above nine items
5. a couple fun wall decals to spice things up 

I took a look at my finances and realized that I actually have a healthy savings. I also visited with my current property manager and she told me that unless I totally trash my current apartment between now and when I move, I'm guaranteed my deposit back (minus a $50 carpet cleaning fee). Finally, I have already sold a solid oak roll-top desk that I wasn't using. If I dip into my savings (not all of it, but a good chunk) and subtract the deposit I'll get back and the money I made off my desk, it will only cost me $500 to move and outfit my new studio apartment. 

$500!!! I think that's awesome considering when I moved last time it cost me about that much money in just a deposit on the new place, not including rent for the first month, gas for the vehicles of the people who came to help me move, and lunch for my helpers. I didn't even buy anything new! I'm hoping I can recoup that $500 by selling more of my stuff. 

And do you know what's even better? That' $500 doesn't even need to go on my credit card. Because the first payment on my new loan isn't until June 25 and the loan paid my most recent credit card payment, I'm actually ahead this month so I can pay cash for everything. 

Do you know how much that means I'm putting on my credit card to move? $0.00!! I'm so excited about that :) 

The lightly drawn pencil line
from the stove to the door indicates
a break where the carpet ends
and the linoleum begins. 

So, I went to Rapid City this weekend armed with cash, a tape measure and a floor plan of my apartment and purchased all of the items on my original 9-item list. First of all here's a floor plan of my new place. My dad suggested I use graph paper to make it all to scale and then cut out corresponding pieces of paper to indicate the space it would take up. I should have taken a picture of the final plan after I "paper-dolled" it, but I didn't. However, like I said, here's the floor plan. Each square represents 12 inches. I didn't measure out the bathroom or kitchen as diligently as I did the main space because they are so big by comparison (the bathroom here is bigger than my current one!) so I know I won't have problems fitting stuff there. Additionally  I'm not actually putting anything in the kitchen that won't be in cupboards. 

I ended up purchasing most everything at Target, Walmart, and Fischer Furniture and stayed within my budget (I'm actually under budget even though Fischer is delivering!!). I'm happy with my purchases, and based on my measurements and calculations everything will fit nicely into the space and there will be room to walk. Will it be tight? Duh! It's 225 square feet!! And while I'm embracing downsizing, I'm not quite willing to go all Henry David Thoreau and live in the woods in a tiny house with only a gun, a bed, and a table :) 

Here are pictures of what I purchased (all but one of the pictures are from the internet, even though I bought the items at a store). 

I purchased 4 of these with the intention

of selling or donating my current bookcases. 

These are  taller and not as deep as what I 

have now, so they'll be a better fit in a 

studio apartment. My ultimate plan with 

the bookcases is to nail them all together for 

100 solid inches of bookcase and add 

crown molding at the top for a custom 

wall shelving unit. For now, I'll just attach 

them in pairs and they'll go on either side of 

the daybed. They will house my books, 

DVDs, and anything else I can think of. 

I plan on waiting on the crown molding 

until I buy a house or until I've lived in the 

new place for a while. I could never afford 

one of those custom built wall-to-wall 

bookcases so this is my DIY version :) 

I purchased this contact paper, not for

the shelves in the kitchen or bathroom,

but for the bookcases. In an effort to

begin customizing the bookcases and 

making them more visually interesting, 

I plan on putting this paper on the inside

back "wall" of the bookcases for a pop 

of color. I'll do this before I put them 

together. 

This is the daybed I chose. I wanted

white metal, but they didn't have it.

However, I liked the openness of

this one enough to not care. I think

the open space between the bars

will help contribute to a  more open 

feeling in the room. 

I chose this bedding with some

hesitation. It's neutral, which I liked

(and try finding daybed sets that

aren't totally country and hideous!),

and the light color will blend well

with the bookcases. But it's so light 

that I worry about potential stains. 

I'm going to have to be super 

careful, but I didn't want something 

dark that would make the room 

seem closed off. Oh, and it came with 

those fun bolster pillows, which

I love :) I'd like to make one or two 

smaller pillows for a pop color. They

would match the chair (see below).

Here's a view of what

the wall decal could look

like behind furniture. I

don't know if I'll go up and

down like this or if I'll go 

vertical like stripes.  

One of the wall decals I purchased.

It's actually silvery and shiny (not

black). I plan on putting them up

behind the bed and between the 

bookcases. I purchased a dandelion 

wall decal as well but I couldn't find

a picture. It's going to go in the

kitchen between the two windows.

It's also shiny silver. I like the idea of

wall decals because it allows me to 

personalize an apartment when I 

can't paint and they don't take up 

space. 

This leaning ladder desk will help me
save space and since it's vertical it
creates more storage. It will be perfect
for my iMac and for the rare times I
bring home papers to grade. 

By far my favorite purchase, this
accent chair is the last piece to
go in the main space. It will go by
the window  on the right side of
the room. I've always wanted a
chair in a fun upholstered fabric.
This one wins on so many levels
because it's comfortable and funky.
I think it will blend well with the
bookcases and the bedding. Even
the metal of the daybed pics up
the dark colors in the chair.  

The final thing I bought was this 3
piece bathroom storage kit. I love
that I am again going vertical with
the storage, so I won't have any
problems finding a place for my
hair dryer or an extra set of towels.

I'm excited to get all these things in the apartment. Once they are in place, I think it will help me determine more things I can donate, sell, or throw away. Right now I'm trying to decide just based on lack of use or necessity, but I bet once I move in I'll be able to get rid of even more things.