It is a fact of life that most of us, at one point or another, are going to live in a space that is too small for all of our most precious belongings. Certainly, when you first move in on your own (the first, second, or third time), you have all the things you acquired while living in your parents’ house, and suddenly you discover that your next home is, well, a little narrow. Maybe you live in a big city where space is simply expensive and in short supply. Fortunately, contemporary design focuses on clean lines and functional furniture, and as a result, there are some great ways to make your space, however small, work for you.

The first place I lived when I moved out of my parents’ house was off-campus housing near my college in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. I shared a tiny, tiny kitchen and very small bathroom with the student in the next room. A bed, a sink, a built-in desk that served as a dressing table and a closet without a door were the extension of my “furniture”. The space was easily half of what she’d had at home, and yet she had most of the same possessions. Everything she owned was in a state of constant battle: piles of clothes shoving books off the desk, homework and makeup piled shoulder to shoulder on a bit of counter space, and a service ironing board threatening to tip over and topple them all. . if someone closes a door too hard.

It’s only recently that I’ve come across some great contemporary space-saving ideas that would really have made my life so much easier in that bedroom. These ideas are perfect for small apartments, city lofts, or anyone who wants a little more space. Maybe you even have all the space you need but want a little less clutter. Contemporary design elements focus on a clean, uncluttered living environment where your furniture works for you, not against you. Many contemporary pieces are also designed to be works of art in their own right, providing great interest and visual appeal.

For small kitchens – If your cabinet shelves leave enough space between their edge and the cabinet door, install a hanging drop-down shelf to the inside of a couple of them. These shelves can hold light kitchen items or utensils while you work. You can also use self-adhesive hooks on the inside of cabinet doors where you can hang cookware, measuring cups, measuring spoons, or anything lightweight with a small hole in the handle. This can free up drawer space for other items. Find some artistic salt and pepper shakers that you won’t be ashamed to leave on the table and free up a small amount of cabinet space.

A cutting board big enough to cover your kitchen sink does double duty. Slide it out as needed to put items in the sink. Having this extra work area available not only gives you more counter space, but can also quickly cover any mess if business shows up unannounced.

in the dining room – Drop-down tables are available to be fixed to the wall, allowing you greater ability to move around your home. You can also use a table that gives you additional storage space. Today tables are made that have large bases that act as storage space and can be accessed by lifting the top of the table. Or make a dining area with attractive modular storage boxes and a separate table.

Bathrooms could always use more space – Use hooks to hang hair accessories to keep them off the counter. Get small, stackable storage boxes to use all the space under your bathroom sink. Hang rows of stylish glass shelves high on your bathroom walls to take advantage of that empty space above. Move bulky towels to those shelves, as towels tend to take up valuable cabinet space.

Maximize storage in living rooms – In small rooms, your living room probably has the best opportunity for maximum storage space. Select seating options like storage cube chairs. Choose skinny sofas with no frills and place modern metal storage bins underneath. TVs used to take up a lot of space, too, but a flat screen TV on the wall makes a lot of sense these days. Need more storage? Place a folding screen in the corner and hide storage bins behind the screen. Place more glass shelves higher up the walls to free up floor space for necessary furniture. These glass shelves are also made for corners, so if you have a spare corner somewhere, add another shelf.

Finally, add decorative elements that won’t get lost in the clutter and add pops of fun colors: fun throw pillows, modern wall decals, beautiful floor cushions that can be tucked under beds and chairs but used for add seating for guests. Once all your possessions have their rightful place and you’ve maximized the storage options available, you’ll find that your living space appears more open, spacious, and functional. In fact, these changes can transform what you might have described as “my little little apartment” into “my real comfortable home.”