I am truly enjoying this Small Space Series. Today’s feature is no exception, it is so good. Crystal from Crystal Ann Interiors is living in a 700 square foot apartment in New York City with her family of four! After watching the video (at the end of the post) it makes me all the more inspired to simplify our closets and life! Crystal was so smart when designing this small space. They don’t have any dressers- they just make very good use of the closets. She also keeps everything very organized. Literally everything has a home, a designated spot that it lives. This is a life-hack that EVERYONE can walk away with, not just small home dwellers. And you will notice that she makes very good use of baskets, I would say a basket is Crystal’s key to success! Let’s see what Crystal has to say to YOUR questions about living in a Small Space.
Home Moto
C-AS-YOU-G (clean as you go!)– Because we are in such a small space it looks like a bomb went off if we don’t C-AS-YOU-G! It is also great because our son knows this well and he always cleans up after himself.
Why a smaller home?
We are in Manhattan and it is what we can afford. Although it has become something we enjoy. Living in a small space together and making the best of it! We started off our marriage in a 6 bedroom house and we now have two kids and pay triple what we did and are in a 1 bedroom!
Kitchen:
Where do you keep all of the small appliances and do you have a pantry?
We keep our toaster, blender in our cabinets since we don’t have much counter space. We went without a microwave for a couple months but a friend gave me her old one and it happened to be small enough to fit right in our pantry!
Do you have a pantry? Where is all the food?
Yes! All food is in the pantry except spices we keep in the kitchen cabinet. And all of our cleaning supplies– broom etc. We also keep all of our papers- bills, school work, mail etc. in one small file organizer all in the pantry. Thank goodness for a big pantry!
Kids and their Toys:
What is your approach to kids toys?
We have 5 baskets for toys, if we seem to not be able to fit the toys in those baskets anymore then we go through and giveaway toys that aren’t being played with or used.
How do you store or keep the kids toys and games organized?
We have a shelf in the kids room for games. As I mentioned before we have designated baskets for the blocks, cars, stuff animals, and random toys. I never have to clean up the toys because my son knows exactly where everything goes. I think it helps the kids better able to clean up when they know where to put their own things.
Crystal’s son sleeps on the top part of this bunk and he daughter sleeps in a pack n’ play that they put away each morning, just like making the bed! Saves space during the day. (PS- She did the Magic Light Trick on that awesome Black Sconce).
Closets:
Are you able to fit all your clothes in your master bedroom?
We actually don’t have a master bedroom, we are in a Murphy Bed in our living room! My husband and I each have a closet close by our bed.
The large white built-in looking cabinet is their Murphy bed! They also do not own a TV and haven’t since they have been married.
How do you keep the kids clothes organized and your clothes?
We don’t have a lot of floor space so we opted out of having a dresser in both “rooms”. The kids have a closet that we store bins in to hold my daughter and son’s clothes. They each have three bins. My son’s bins are black and are on the lower level so he can easily fold and put his own clothes away. My daughter is still a baby so I have her’s higher so I can easily access them!
They also live a very minimalistic lifestyle and keep their clothes very simple and to a limited amount.
Small Space Living Rapid Fire Questions-
SEASONAL DECOR- We have one bin of christmas decor/halloween decor that we keep in our entry closet. I love holiday’s but if I have to choose between having another bin of decorations or room for food storage I will choose the food! I like to use pillows/flowers to change up seasonal decor (or even make a temporary garland to make myself feel like I am kind of being festive!)
SENTIMENTAL ITEMS- I have one bin, that I have all our photos and memorabilias in. I know that I will be needing another bin as my kids are both in school and they will continue to have things they will want me to save. Most of my son’s artwork I just take pictures of. I only save a few because there is just no room to save it all, nor do I think he would want it all when he is older. I actually have a problem keeping anything! I really don’t like clutter or having things that just sit there forever. Unless it has significant meaning I just constantly remind myself it is all just STUFF. I liking knowing what I have an where it is placed. If I have so much stuff that I can’t keep track of where it is then I know I need to go through and declutter!
HARDEST PART- Honestly the only hard thing I have found with small living has been our kitchen. My husband and I both enjoy cooking/baking so we would like to be able to do it together but we just don’t quite have room! Also I used to have a lot of kitchen tools that I now don’t have room for so I am not able to make all the things I used to! (although if that is my worst complaint I will take it! Living in NYC I was told I am here to eat out not cook!:)
BEST PART- I love the simplicity that comes with living small. You have to be very thoughtful with what you bring into your home. I enjoy knowing where everything is and we only have what we NEED. Oh and also it takes me 1 hour tops to deep clean our whole apartment!
THANK YOU Crystal! You can find Crystal on Instagram HERE. You will love all that she shares! You can see that her sweet family is thriving living small and simply.
Take a VIDEO tour of Crystal’s 700 Square Feet Apartment below…
Catch up on all the Small Space Living Features HERE!
All the heart eyes over that dreamy dark wall color! Would you happen to know what it is?
Such a beautiful home! We lived in 700 sq ft with 2 kiddos in England and also put our bed in the living room so the kids had a private space so they’d sleep! Thanks for sharing this small space series!
What a great use of space! I find so much joy in knowing what I have and where it is — a place for everything, and everything in its’ place. I don’t know if it’s a form of OCD or just a simple pleasure, but it makes me love these small space tours so much. Thank you for sharing Brooke and Crystal!
I am loving this series!
I am LOVING this series !!!! Fabulous ideas for just general living and to keep myself and others more organized !!!! We grew up in a 715 square foot home , family of 7 ! My mom was very creative. As always Brooke keep up the fabulous work !!!!
So fun!! What a gorgeous space. Looking at these small spaces with everything organized is so relaxing haha – it makes me want to go de clutter everything! We’re in 1,100 sq ft and I’m so inspired by this series. Your home inspires me so much, too, Brooke! Whenever I see how creative you are with making the most of every space, it really helps me rethink what is possible here.
Love this girl! Such great advice. Can’t wait to apply it as we move into our condo soon!
I listened to the Magic of Tiding Up and I saved an entire drawer in my daughters dresser by putting clothes in vertical. I can see how one only needs 3 baskets this way! We had such a good time going thru and picking out only what brings us joy! We each got rid of two full bins and now only everything we LOVE is in our house. Thank you for the book recommendation. I’m telling everyone about it, lol. (I’m also banning myself from Target for impulsive buying habits) Everything goes on my mood board before it goes in my house or I spend money. Thank you Brooke!
Yay! I love this Tara!! You are SO spot on.
I am really enjoying this small space series, it’s so inspiring and insightful!!! We are moving to a smaller space soon and I am looking forward to the idea of starting fresh and really purging and getting rid of the extra & clutter 🙂