It is a lot harder to keep an apartment or small house organized and tidy — but it is critical that you do so. It only takes one pile of papers and one box to overwhelm a smaller space. What to do?
We asked organizing and de-cluttering guru Nicole Anzia of Neatnik in Washington DC what her top five strategies are for harnessing chaos in smaller homes and apartments. Here's what she said…
The Top Five Strategies for Decluttering a Small Space:
Embrace Storage Containers: People often think, "My apartment or home is so small, I can't fit a filing cabinet, bookshelves or a desk," but if you don't buy the appropriate storage products, things pile up quickly in a small space. In other words, embrace the fact that you have stuff and like to have certain things around — that's what makes you interesting. Just find a way to manage it all so you don't feel overwhelmed by it.
Furniture As Storage: Is there an ottoman you could also use to store blankets? If you're in the market for a new bed, consider looking at one that has drawers underneath or at least enough height to store some under-the-bed bins. Bedside tables are typically too small to hold all the things people want to use them for - magazines, glasses of water or tea, clock, newspapers, reading glasses, lamp, etc. If you're buying a new one, think about whether one with shelves and/or drawers might work for you.
Think Vertical: In small homes it is very important to maximize all of the space. Think vertical. Could you hang shelves above your desk for extra books, papers or pictures? If your desk is too small or you don't have a home office, maybe some hanging file folders would work in the kitchen to organize incoming papers. Bulletin boards and magnetic boards are also great places to display artwork, school reminders, travel plans etc. These don't require a lot of space, but can be super helpful for getting things off countertops and other surfaces.
A Little Bit Each Day: People often say that they don't have enough time to do any organizing, but everyone can find 10-15 minutes in their day to focus on at least one small space or project. I recently had a client say to me as we neared the end of our session, "I would love to clear off my desk, but 30 minutes isn't nearly enough time." Guess what? It was a perfect amount of time. We spent 30 minutes very focused on our project; she knew there was a limit to how much time we had, so we worked quickly, and were able to organize all of her miscellaneous papers into several categories very quickly: To File, To Toss, To Shred, and To Do. Done.
Get Rid of Things: Chances are you don't need most of the papers that you're keeping — shred them. If you haven't worn that sweater for three years, donate it. Expired food should be tossed. Clearing out even a few items will make you feel calmer.
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Buckwheat Soba Noodles from Scratch
This space is awesome. If my little studio during grad school had looked anything like this, I would have stayed much longer :)
Love all these tips; I also love that little pup on the bed!
I love the picture and the article but I'll disagree (kindly) with the first words: "It is a lot harder to keep an apartment or small house organized and tidy..." In my experience, clutter tends to grow to the space a person has! You just have more space to try to hide it. ;-) I am about six months from being able to start a major declutter project, one I hope allows me to move to a smaller space and to have more money for travel. (I'm preparing for a semester that begins in six weeks and will be in school from May to early October, so right now I am just trying to edit as things, especially mail, come in and to keep magazines from stacking up.) I'll keep this article for then! Thanks, Nicole and Apartment Therapy.
Totally agreeing with Diana in bgky: the more space you have, the more storage you think you can use, the more clutter you develop. Actually, the most cluttered spaces I know are big house, because, "you know, we have a big house, so we can store things". And yet, those things always end up cluttering the space.
While I think that the storage tip is right on point, I dislike under the bed storage because it makes it so much harder to clean the bedroom. I've had some for years, and it was a relief to get rid of them and finally be able to vacuum without moving those crates all the time. But I had to get rid of half my shoes.
"Think vertical" is key! I share a 750 square foot apartment (including home art studio) with my boyfriend. We both have hobbies that require storage, and storing things vertically has made it easy to keep them accessible yet out of the way. Guitars, skis/snowboards, sports equipment and shoes are all things that can be mounted on the wall and made to look decorative, not cluttered.
Yes, agree that larger spaces lead to more clutter. Left 3 bedroom house in FL to work in DC area for the time being, where I rent 1 bedroom condo. Very easy to keep it pristine, whereas my FL house is full of...stuff.
Get a pet that destroys loose things lying around: a puppy that chews, a bunny that REALLY chews, a cat that bats small things... Serious motivation for keeping things ship-shape! (Inspired by the pooch on the bed.)
@Maechevrette: I agree that some sports equipment can be wall-mounted, but some stuff just needs its own dedicated storage space (I'm thinking size 11 ski boots, motorcycle helmets, and ice hockey pants!) I often wonder if AT contributors have a secret warehouse where they keep their sports/hobby paraphernalia.
@SHERRYBINNH - you're right about that one. Pets who destroy things at a second's notice really make you get on track about keeping things off the floor! I've lost several computer cords, books, and magazines to sharp little teeth.
Maybe it would have been appropriate to say it is hard to keep a small space LOOKING clean. No storage spaces to hide my clutter!!
I think you are all correct: SPace begets mess for sure. I take it back!
But i think @caseyinto is correct that it is hard to keep a small space LOOKING tidy because there's no where to hide!
Can someone please identify-- or source- the sleek, white shelving/drawer wall storage system in the photo? Need/want.
#1 Strategy: Own a cute, teeny puppy to blend in with your decor.
Trust me, my 70# tornado of black fur clutters a space VERY quickly. :)
This is a helpful post. Recently, I've decided to hang over-the-door shoe storage in every closet. I use the pockets for craft supplies, tools, shopping bags, and anything else that needs a home. I love it!
@gypsywings I think it's from ikea. Love it!!! Does anyone know war dog that is? So cute!!!!
@GYPSYWINGS the storage system is the Stolmen system from IKEA:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=STOLMEN
I find the IKEA catalog to be great inspiration for creative storage ideas - their designers are great at #3 "Think Vertical"
I lived in a relatively small place with no closet space for a long time which taught me to really focus and throw things out but I was never able to completely conquer all my stuff. Now that I live in a larger place, those skills are really helpful, I have a big closet (Hello, Stolmen!) and my stuff is finally under control. So while I agree that a bigger place attracts more things, it is so much easier to keep them under control. You do need to commit to it though, much like you would in a small place.
@Terryjackson - the dog looks like a Cockapoo to me.
LOVE Sherry's idea about the pets!
And @Gypsywings, I'm pretty sure that storage system is ikea's Stolmen. See http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19087/ for parts; also, though you can't see it very well, there's a photo of it in one of the "bedroom inspirations" photos when you click on the Bedrooms tab. It's photo #5 if you look at the thumbnails.
So - decluttering is great and these are good (if somewhat obvious) suggestions; but what I suspect is REALLY the hurdle for many of us who aren't neatness-obsessives is the PSYCHOLOGICAL aspect of how to KEEP a space neat. I've seen many a professional organizer's before and after photos of a space they were paid to neaten up, and feel like saying "ok, now show us a photo of the space a month later." Granted there are many people for whom it's no problem to, say, fold and stack sweaters neatly... and then when you take one to wear, to re-form the stack so it still looks good, which is no small task (succinctly stated, it's a pain in the butt) - but I believe the people for whom such actions come naturally represent probably less than 15% of the population. And they're not the ones who even need help getting organized in the first place.
i've been working on this for nearly a year since downsizing from a one-bedroom apt by myself to a roommate situation. my bedroom is rather large - big enough to have my bed & closet area on one side and a sofa/tv area on the other. but the shape is kind of odd, i'm still swimming in clutter, and i can't put *anything* on the walls. i have a few frames that hang from a picture rail, but i'm not allowed to put nails/shelves/anything in the plaster walls. the huge celiing height is completely wasted.
i've never been anything like a minimalist, and i generally have a good sense of interior design and space planning, but lately i'm so overwhelmed by *stuff* that i don't even know where to start.
I have a small apartment with limited closet space and getting rid of stuff has been key — and exceptionally liberating! I finally gave myself permission to let go of all that sentimental baggage (like gifts I'd outgrown or no longer liked) that didn't really fit into my style and was just getting moved from place to place.
I've also generally adopted a policy this year of putting everything away at the end of the day, not letting mail pile up (recycling or into the pile for filing) and doing all my dishes so that clutter doesn't get out of hand, as it tends to do and quickly. It's easy once you get a hang of the routine and you expect it of yourself.
Finally, I love the idea above about sports equipment. The one thing I've not figured out how to solve is what to do with my sweaty roller derby pads! I practice 3-4 times a week and they need to air out afterwards, which usually happens on my living room floor :-/. They're pretty much always out there.
Oops, it took me so long to write my post, two others told Gypsywings about the Stolmen. Sorry! I DO read others' comments!
Also just wanted to say, what I'm griping about is like the Harmony teacher at my college. He was able since the age of four to improvise at the piano in the style of any composer he was asked to. Hearing and identifying harmonies was SO inherent in his makeup, he had no idea in the world how to teach it to regular people. His classes were a joke, totally ineffective. Maybe that's why I still have a burr under my saddle about such things.
I think your best tip is to "Get Rid of Things" because we ALL have far more than we need and I fully believe that will weigh you down in life. There is nothing wrong with having things. We are blessed! Just be aware of the excess and even take it a step farther by really considering every purchase no matter how small. Do you really need another body lotion or magazine? Often, it is those small items we throw in our baskets without thinking that end up piling up. If you have to buy a new body lotion, then pass along your extras to friends or family that might like the scent.
I like to think of our home as having a revolving door rather than a garage door. Things come in and others freely go out rather than our home becoming a jam packed storage area.
While we have a handful of items that we cherish and will always keep, the vast majority of things we own are just that... things. Things can always be replaced, memories you'll have forever. Only become attached to those things that truly have a special meaning and either store them correctly or showcase them in your home. And, honestly... over the last two years, we've downsized over half of our belongings and I don't miss anything. Most of it I can't even remember at this point. There may be one or two items that I would have kept if we had room to store them, but I'd rather someone else be using those items and getting some joy from them than to keep them and not use them.
Great tips!
My no.1 strategy for keeping my small space organized is to be very strict with myself when shopping -- nothing can come in unless an equal amount goes out. If I buy a lamp for example, something else of equal size and prominence in the room must go. If it is not possible to get rid of something then sorry to me, no alternative, no shopping! Bank appreciates what gets collected in my account (where the same principle does NOT apply :) )
Having moved up gradually from 8'x8' living spaces to the current sprawling (to me) 800sf I share with my husband I have to chuckle a bit at the idea that larger spaces are harder to organize or keep uncluttered. Of course it's possible--even easy, if you have the resources--to fill any space to the gills with stuff, especially the longer you live in one place, but it's not the same as a space so small that bare necessities create clutter.
Like HHRI says, it's still a commitment and uses similar skills to small space living. But if everything doesn't have a place now, I know I've accumulated too much, and it's time to evaluate what we really need and use and love. It's different than when I used to debate whether a winter coat and a soup pot were worth holding onto during the warmer seasons, because they took up precious space.
Get rid of furniture that doesn't fit/function. Buy the right sized pieces for your space. And if you live in a studio it's really smart to either get a quality sofabed or design the bed you have to function as a sofa, e.g. put it against a corner and put a bolster or padded headboard on 2 sides. Use upholstery fabrics and throw pillows instead of patterned bed linens and bed pillows for the top layer.
And 100% agree it's vitally important to consider if you really need more storage or just less stuff. I used to waste so much money on stuff, especially fashion. Once I realized that all the fashion designers tend to wear an all black uniform, I started to think about creating my own uniform. Suddenly, people started commenting on my style! I get rid of gifts -- if I don't love them, they go straight to Goodwill. Those tchotchkes really clutter up the house quick.
80/20 rule works for me.
You use 20% of your stuff 80% of the time. Start giving your things away that are not being used. One day we will all have to down size. What can really weigh you down is holding on to your dead relatives stuff.
I believe that every home tells the story of the person or people who live there. All you need to do is open the door and wonder what the story is that your house is trying to tell the world and immediately you will see what you would rather keep a secret.
If possible, hang a curtain to hide your storage so it's visually uncluttered.
Re: Getting rid of things. Whilst I'm not an advocate of hoarding, this is not always practical or desirable. We have a lot of hobbies (skiing, watersports, photography, crafts) requiring equipment that takes up space, but which we don't want to get rid of. I would be interested to see more spaces, large and small, that accommodate their inhabitants' hobbies. It's not always useful to just say 'Get rid of things'.
These are all timely and great thoughts..I'm so determined to downsize and declutter that I eyed my ironing board, as I haven't used it all year..but..I may easily 'regret' it..It def helps free you up mentally to go forward with new plans and new future by just getting rid of doubles/things you just hang on to 'in case'..I love the throwing and giving away process and the way it makes me feel about new possibilities, now that I have made ROOM for them inside and out..meaning my spirit! Thank you AT chums for all your personal wisdom and experience...the rest of us use and benefit for sure!
@SAUVETEUR , your comment will always stay with me!
Skiing, water sports and photography are expensive hobbies. I wonder if you have the money for those, you probably have money for a bigger place or to rent storage. But to each his/her own. I just have a severe aversion to clutter.
I grew up in a giant historical home and now share a home with my husband that is 800 sq. feet. I find it way harder to keep the smaller home clean. Even if you have a couple of things on the kitchen table, it makes the entire kitchen look messy. I've definitely learned that living in a small home requires an extra thought or two to purchasing something new, acquiring something new or inheriting something. I've also learned to use my walls and 3m hooks are my best friend.
@pearmelon, Interior design IS our sport of choice :) Seriously, though, I think a lot of us use ridiculously high shelves, storage ottomans, and the backs of doors. Personally, I have a console table between my couch and the wall just so I can hide more shoes and bags on the shelves I added beneath it.
@Molly_H , try getting a tall, thin bookshelf and putting shims under the front edge to make certain it tilts back into the wall (rather than falling forward when loaded). This is what I did in my tiny kitchen.
Does anyone else have tips?
@KEEKS , get rid of the ironing board. You can use your iron to steam out most wrinkles or you can use a folded towel on the table, floor, bed, etc... if you actually need to iron something.
I recently moved across country from a large 3 bedroom to an extremely "efficient" 2 bedroom. Here's what I learned -
- you will regret the loss of some of the things you relinquish
- you will always get more stuff. I plan for it! I have extra space on my bookshelves and in my storage areas because I expect more contributions
- make your storage decorative. If you have the same equipment out every day, or if it's awkwardly shaped, incorporate it into your "design" - for the sweaty pads, I'd try to think of a way to use a balcony, patio, garage or bathroom so they dry more or less out of sight
- a regular purge is good for your mental well-being. Too much stuff is just a burden.
I insisted on storage options for my current rental. I turned down lots of cute places because there was nowhere for the bikes, ski stuff, woodworking or crafts to be stored when not in use. I've recently lost value as an employee, so most of the stuff I'm hanging onto I bought when I was more well-off. That makes it hard to let it go because I have to consider *replacement value*.
I also found out that Ikea is your friend. Unfortunately, most of their vertical options rightly require wall-bolting, but at least one system attached to the ceiling - maybe that could be a workaround for those who aren't allowed to mark up their rental's walls? I think it's the Stolmen line. IkeaHackers is also your friend - not every space is meant for the stuff as it's designed. Sometimes you have to redesign it.
Finally, Sauveteur provided wise perspective. Thank you!
@STUDIO54 THAT is how I usually have done things...'when I have to actually iron something'..you're right...a cumbersome extra....thanks for the reality reminder of my life..ha..!
@Parnassus - Judge much? None of those have to be expensive hobbies. I'm an avid photographer and the most expense went into the camera itself, and that's a longterm investment. I just don't see why one would be so judgmental toward others. Some people enjoy skiing and water sports...others need more storage because they love holidays and decorating for them. There's just no need for the criticism.
My boyfriend and I recently moved into a lovely railroad apartment in Brooklyn. Despite having four rooms (not counting the kitchen and the bathroom), we have way more stuff than we do closet space; not to mention that neither of us were ever that great at de-cluttering to begin with. In our attempt to keep our apartment tidy, we discovered a few life savers:
1.) Huggable Hangers. Slender, velvety, hangers that cling close together. They are very compact and nearly triple our closet space.
2.) Plastic Wall Hooks with Adhesive Tape. I hung a bunch of these in my kitchen to hang all my cookware on. It creates a cool look, plus the hooks are really cheap and don't require any tools.
3.) Foldable/Compact Everything. Small, foldable, ironing board. Foldable step-stool. Foldable laundry drying rack....use it when you need it, and it's slender enough to fold up and put away without taking up space. Plus, smaller/foldable items tend to be a lot cheaper than their larger counterparts.
@PI how is it judging to say to each his/her own, and to admit I have a personal bias against clutter?
@PI & PARNASSUS- The best things in life are memories made in my opinion. I drive an older car so I can afford the mountain bike on the bike rack up top. I forgo manis and pedis so my kids can all ski. Expensive hobbies? Na...its called a way of life!
No one will remember how clean of clutter your house is PARNASSUS...but they might remember that picture you took of the ski holiday where everyone is smiling and happy.
Props to you PI for enjoying your life! Make room for your sports equipment. I keep mine in the second bathroom shower stall...aka storage closet!!!
A great trick for more space is to install a shelf above the bathroom door.. There is a load of space available to store towels, sheets and get a few boxes or baskets to store cleaning supplies etc. that you need but do not need to be seen. I own several rental properties and use this trick in all of them. This can also be done in just about any room. But in every bathroom there is space above the door and between the door and cieling that is unused and perfect for this kind of application.
I just saw a cool trick for reducing visual clutter - a friend had one of those roller blinds (but ceiling to floor, not the usual window sized one) in her kitchen to hide a cluttered pantry, and against a white wall, the eye skipped right over it to the kitchen decorations (which were pretty great). I think that could work really well in the above picture, to cover the visual clutter of the clothes hanging in the open.
Plus I recently found that you can buy roller blinds that are not just white, but have all kinds of great designs so it looks super chic. I posted the link somewhere on AT, I could probably find it again if anyone wanted it.
Oh, and one of my very favorite tricks for small space furniture: Home Reserve! Their chairs/couches/sectional sofas are super affordable, pack and mail flat (so you can get it up even tight stairs), you can switch out the fabric (for the whole thing, or just replacing a pillow cover) at a low cost, the fabric is washable, and best of all: there is built-in storage beneath the seats and inside the ottoman. All made in the USA, and there is a huge range of fabrics and designs, a lot of them pretty cute. We've been really happy with our sectional sofa! It has been a lifesaver in a small apartment!
Hmm. I think I disagree with the sentiment that the things in your space make you more interesting. I think they make the space more interesting, but people are not their things.
But this is all really helpful! And I agree with the other commenters; my pit bull and his naughty mouth are keeping my floors spotless.
@Pearmelon: Many of those items would look really cool hung up, IMO. (But, then, I hang things like trumpets and paintbrushes and have a boomerang stuck to my hall ceiling, so there ya go! :-) )
Agree with Diana in bgky, too. That goes for purses as well!
@Fallingup - I like your views on the importance of people over things, but IMHO and life experience, sometimes a tidy environment can contribute to the happy smiles on those faces in the pictures.
@Fallingup: I couldn't agree more. I think your home environment should support and nurture your chosen lifestyle, not the other way around. It would be sad to refrain from taking up sports or other hobbies because of a fear or dislike of 'clutter' in the home.
Am I the only one jealous that someone has a second bathroom shower stall they can use for storage? It's probably bigger than my one, minuscule closet... or mini closet combined with my entire mini bathroom. The joys of a studio!
No roommate, you remind me? Ah yes, I love my tiny space. :)
Perfect timing for this post. I'm trying to declutter our house at the moment because it seems to attract 'stuff' and I'm bored with things piling up and cluttering up my space! Unfortunately I've inherited the genes for attracting stuff, so it's going to be a slow battle. One particular annoyance is that my office is the room with the boxes for "things going to the tip", "donations for the school's jumble sale", "presents to give to XX when we next see them", "outgrown clothes waiting until there's enough to box up" etc. How do other people handle this kind of stuff?
Where was this picture taken from? I've been looking for a duvet for my comforter exactly like the one there!
I completely agree that clutter just expands as the size of your space gets larger. Have you ever driven through suburbia and noticed all the cars parked in the driveways of 3000 sq ft houses? The cars can't fit in the garages because they are stuffed to the rafters with clutter! I find that in my 2400 sq ft house, with a husband and two children, it's a constant battle with clutter. I desperately try to get stuff to the recycling station, the thrift store, to friends, and to the garbage. I have to sneak it out so it's not hauled back and stored for another twenty years!
"embrace the fact that you have stuff and like to have certain things around — that's what makes you interesting."
Urg
So, it turns out that my biggest problem with clutter in a small space is how long I've lived in my apartment. My current place is great, even though it's small. When I moved in over seven years ago, it felt spacious because I had a minimum of stuff. This apt. is the longest I've lived anywhere as an adult.
Now it feels soooo crowded, and I've learned that one of my de-cluttering "tricks" was to move rather than de-clutter. Not a good habit, nor it is economically possible now.
Recently it's even gotten a ltlle worse(!) since my elderly parents have downsized as they've moved over the past four years, and I've picked up things from them as well. They moved out of state last month, so that's it. (plus I was the main caretaker sibling, since they lived nearest to me, which consumed all my cleaning time)
I plan to take a week off soon just to get my apt together and my life back. These tips are great. Wish me luck.
I
@Pearmelon - I love to ski, and I live in a 175 sq.ft. studio apartment. My skis live in my closet. So does my digital piano - I'm a musician, and use the digital piano for my gigs. My acoustic piano is out in the open, but it doesn't really count as clutter. My sheetmusic is in one of my wall cabinets. My space is very uncluttered, because in 175 sq.ft., even a little bit of clutter can overwhelm it. I have an ironclad, unbreakable rule that I always put away an item right after I'm done with it; I never leave stuff lying around.
I'm actually surprisingly happy in my 175 sq.ft. - I could probably afford a bigger place, but I don't want one. It meets all my needs. I've got a few items of decor around - an art print that someone gave me, a Chinese fan, a vase with some flowers in it - but nothing that would be too much. The place feels spacious, and because of the lack of clutter, it feels peaceful and serene. There's nothing in it to jangle the nerves. When I come home after a difficult day, I relax. My apartment is my refuge from the stresses of the outside world.
Tous ces échanges sont bien rassurants et intéressants. Ok pour réfléchir à ce que je fais rentrer dans mon home ! Et voici ce qui marche pour moi :
• Un rangement de fond chaque trimestre. Ranger au quotidien reste parfois difficile.
• L’idée du défi fonctionne mieux. Ce week-end je termine le rangement des placards de vêtements et linge de maison (commencé semaine dernière). J’ai changé toutes les housses car j’en ai enfin trouvé de qualité. Ensuite je devrais passer aux étagères du bureau (je travaille chez moi), de revues et livres d’art et de romans. Quand cela ne va pas assez vite je pose une date avec des amis et je fais en sorte de faire de mon appartement un endroit reposant !
J'envisage aussi de déménager d'ici début 2013 et cela ne semble pas constituer un moteur particulier, même si grâce à vos astuces je suis certaine que je prendrais volontiers plus petit avec terrasse ou jardinet.
Après les stratégies il est temps de passer à l'action. Merci !
My husband always said, "just put it in a box and I'll go through it." Yeah. Ten boxes later, I've given up on him with that. I grab a box, toss or shred or file the obvious, and give him a much-reduced box to decide on. Five minutes for him. Repeat with the next couple boxes over a week or two (its slow with people who don't like to get rid of things), and what was SIX boxes is ONE box. Not perfect, and there's still LOTS more boxes, but its a step.
I'm not so good either. I'm 50yo, no kids. Do I really NEED to keep stuff from high school, like yearbooks? People say, "they don't take up much room." We'll, when you keep saying that about a lot of things that, individually don't take up much room--collectively, they take over a room!
Hmmm, where do I begin, the put puppy on the bed should be a permanent “fixture”… The white walls, bed and the picture with the white frame is perfect.
The gray sofa also compliments the room. The white chair and the white shelving and storage unit also adds character to the room.
The only spoiler is to is the cloths on the rack…
My boyfriend and I opted for tall thin (about 7 ft. tall, 1ft. wide and 1 ft. deep) bookshelves that we bought at Target for a total of about $40. A few of the shelves have fabric bins to hid small junk type stuff, and the rest is the typical things that would look like clutter on a nightstand, but look organized on shelves.
Totally disagreeing with those who think small spaces clutter less than a large space. Can honestly say having gone from a 470 square foot apartment to as high as an 850 square foot, and having lived in a 2,700 square foot house, you feel more overwhelmed and cluttered in a small space. It's much easier to collect clutter and feel cluttered because a piece of tissue paper on the living/bedroom floor feels like a pig pen since the place is so small. More clutter overwhelms the space. With more square footage, it's more difficult to overwhelm your space with clutter.