I think you need to declutter before you organize or buy any containers. The size of your apartment determines how much you can have. Keep your favorite things and donate the rest.

Dawn from "Minimal Mom" on YouTube has some old videos about the psychology of how clutter affects us. So yes, it makes sense if you feel like seeing clutter is uncomfortable on a deeper level.

Before you go buying any storage containers, I'd recommend both of you take the ClutterBug organization style quiz (searchable) to learn about the organizing styles and your respective ones. That way, you can find ways to use shared spaces and individual spaces more effectively when you do buy these kinds of tools. You can go on ClutterBug's YouTube channel for some examples of each style too.

For practical decluttering, I highly recommend you become familiar with the container concept (search Dana K White container concept on YouTube). That's the basis behind decluttering. You can go on to learn about Dana K White's no-mess decluttering process for a non-emotional way to go about decluttering.

Search tiny home store ideas and see if any will work in your apartment

Having been a big bin consumer, I’m now not a fan. It becomes hard to find things

I think inexpensive folding tables covered to the floor creates underneath storage and designated surface areas. It may feel more organized. It will cut into floor space but it creates instant storage v

Are you part of a Buy Nothing group? In my FB group, people post “in search of” items and the community comes through. Esp if you explain that you’re a student and just need a few things for organizing.

This YouTube video gives some tips on living in small apartments, but is a little NYC-centric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCLibLXvNY8

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Have you considered wall space. Check your rental agreement........Do nails and screw holes need to be patched before you leave and or is money taken out of your deposit. It may be worth it to loose some or all deposit to get wall shelving.

OR Think about putting two free standing wooden (adjustable?) shelving units on top of each other to use all the height in a room. Often found inexpensively at A Habitat for Humanity ReStore shop or other charitable shop. Take your time. You may have to go several times. You may find containers you'd like to try. Shelf displays of sentimental items or books or craft supplies are a great way to contain things. I'm using a dresser with 2 smaller stacked wooden bookcases (3 or 4 shelves) each on top

I'm also using a frame with 3 or 4 white wire baskets (ex at Ikea wire basket and frame jonaxel. Many companies make various sizes) With my own board on top and a large cloth covering it's an end table. It's great for partially done projects. I need clear containers or very shallow ones so I can see the items or can lift to see items underneath.

You can still choose not use containers.

Did you know long straight pins hammered in at an upward angle, leave almost impreceptible holes. I've hung jewelery, pictures, small shelves with pins.

I'm well past 65. I, too have been called disorganized and messy my whole career and life. However I have always worked to organize small sections in my life. (ex books and collections on walls and shelves, drawers, sewing supplies visibly contained. )There can be great satisfaction looking at something you ordered., even if there are many things "making there way to somewhere else" like shoes, clean clothes, coats, vacuums and bills. Unfortunately, so called orderliness takes along time, needs reassessing, and repeating

You can make small oases of ordered things grouped together in a way that works for you.

I would start by putting all of the clothes on the bed. Make two piles - 1 for clean clothes & 1 for dirty. After you have made your piles, pick up all the trash on the floor. I would not recommend trying to purge while getting things clean and organized, that can come last. Then, grab a bin if you have an empty one and put all of the things that have a place to be but are not there in the bin. Then you will have to put away the clothes before you sleep and you can deal with the bin when you have time for it.

Here is the step by step:

1. Trash first. 2.laundry second. Everything into the hamper. I’ll be back to this.
2. Put away anything that has a home.
3. Dust
4. Vacuum.

Youve already pointed out that you have only little space. But the corollary is that you have too much stuff. You need to purge. Seems to be mostly clothes.

If so donate anything that doesn’t fit anymore. Throw away anything beyond use (stained, ripped).

Hope that helps.

You have too much stuff as you've noticed.

Grab 3 boxes, rubbish, donate, keep.

As soon as a rubbish/donate box is full (or less if you are going in the direction of where is need to go) get rid of it.

If unsure and feeling stuck on an item put in keep (for now).

Once you have completed room once again get rid of donate/rubbish.

Go though process again with you "keep" pile until you are down to an amount that you have a place for. If there is no place for something more has to go.

Hope that helps.

It gets easier once you've done the first discard as you see progess.

My advice as I struggle to sort through a lifetime of notebooks— some precious treasures, lots of rubbish— is to work for only as long as I can tolerate the work. Sometimes I get exhausted quickly, sometimes my body complains, but every day I celebrate my wins by telling someone. Today, for instance, I went through a box of my mother’s treasures. It was emotional and funny and sweet.

You've got good advice going here. I am fully supporting you. You can do this.

I want to start by saying I have ADHD too and my "system" could only loosely be defined as such. But I also have a very tiny apartment with no storage.

I invested in some bed risers to push my bed up about a foot in the air. This significantly increased room for totes, suitcases, big clutter things under the bed. I even have my dog's crate set up under the end which opened up significant floor space.

I also invested in totes for craft supplies. I give myself permission for inside the tote to look like a hot mess, if they are organized by craft "flavor"...like one for painting, one for fabric, one for scrapbooking, whatever. Depending on what you have, the size of the totes or how many are dedicated to each category is flexible. Once the lids are on, the stack looks nice and organized and I can't see the mess. The initial investment in totes was due to a mouse infestation (I also use them for clothes/sheets/towels and food in the kitchen), but then I liked the way the stacks of totes against the wall looked more organized than my other attempts. I think it even worked better for me than cheap bookshelves because it's more hidden. On the shelves I could still see the clutter too much.

Hope something in there helps someone be inspired 😂

I'm sorry to say that you need to own less. You can't organize and "storage" your way out of an overconsumption problem, and in a small space you really need to go farther than you think you can. Declutter *aggressively.* Like 50% of your stuff.

i am also in a very similar situation. i’m in a studio that’s cute but has very limited space for my art and it’s stressing me out!

ikea kallax shelves (or target dupes of them) have been helpful for me. i have the shelves in my closet then use small 16 qt bins for each “genre” of art supply; i can put four bins in each square cubby. be warned though; two of the bins are behind others, so i had to label the cubbies itself so i wouldn’t forget where/what i had.

other than that, unfortunately decluttering is the way to go. the four large plates i had? i donated them, because i only ate off of the small plates. extra coffee mugs? also gone, because i only drink out of my two favorites. i understand it’s hard and often a slow-moving process, but it is incredibly helpful. i go by the rule if i haven’t used it in 3 months and can re-buy for $10 or under i donate/sell/toss.

Owning less things is the only thing that works for me.

What makes you happier, the stuff or a pleasant clean space? Things like bins of holiday decorations wouldn't possibly make my cut, for example, because I don't enjoy decorations when the rest of the scene is a disaster. 

I love the idea of using your storage space as your limiting factor. Say you have two drawers in your bathroom. Get all your bathroom stuff together, and put the most important things in the drawers until they're full. Then get rid of the rest. If there's room in your closet for one tub of decorations, save a favorite piece or two for each holiday and donate the rest. Having one or two decorations in a clean, clutter-free room will be so much more enjoyable than oodles of decorations that get lost in the visual chaos.

Go room by room and be honest. If you have a tiny kitchen, you probably need to get used to cooking with basic, multi-use tools. If you can't find a home for something, accept the truth that it doesn't fit in your lifestyle.

It takes courage to declutter, but the results feel amazing. I have almost never regretted parting with something, and the very few times I have, it was easily replaced. If you're honest, you know you don't use most of the things you have. Your life in reality won't change if you let go of the "what if" or "maybe someday" stuff. 

Unless you realistically know that you'll be in a much larger space in the next year or two, the answer is that you need less stuff.

Have smaller furniture! I would look up photos on Pinterest of the layouts for your size studio specifically and see what you like!

My studio is about half that size. I do not live as a minimalist, my biggest advice is ti take advantage of vertical space and to have as much as you can be multifunctional.

-When you say you use your desk as a table, are you working from home? If you have blocks of times without a lot of meetings/calls, I would see if you could work from outside the apartment. Public library, coffee shop, whatever.

-Smaller furniture! I used to live in a 300sqft studio. You want a small two-person table (like this sort of thing: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/winston-porter-antea-dining-table-w004683445.html?piid=994122117 ). Loveseat instead of a couch. Smallest desk you can find. Double bed instead of a queen.

Reconsider what you really need to keep versus the space it takes up. Spend time outdoors every day, or as much as you can. Make sure you’re socializing regularly, and going out and doing things that you enjoy.

Hey I know at this size every sf counts but I’m In approx ~500 sf studio w/ cat. I guess first reevaluate what you NEED. You don’t have to go full Marie condo but rethink what you want to hold onto. Also focus on your personal priority use of your space. I had a cocktail table and barstool setup but repurposed the table as a desk extension for work. I can eat on my couch or at desk…I didn’t have a tv for a while because I used my laptop, I prioritize window space for my plants lol. We get by!

Under the bed storage.

Embrace minimalism.

I hope you got a fair price for the place.

Must be a big kitten

Could you share some pictures? May be able to better suggest ideas if we can see the space you are working with.

We bought a small kitchen island on wheels to add counter space and just stored what we didn’t use often under the bed. The key is to clean it before and after storing under the bed. You might not be able to keep everything. It’s a process of finding what does and doesn’t work for your individual life and space

Organization is key in a small space. Keeping clutter at bay.

Everything must have a place. If you cannot find a home for an object, get rid of it.

Get rid of clutter. Toss the meaningless knickknacks. It's just more stuff to clean, and it will make the place look messy no matter what.

Declutter. And I mean, get rid of every unnecessary piece of stuff you have. Anything that does not have a foxed spot should go.

That being said, the reason most people have cluttered homes is because they have just that, a lot of clutter. By getting rid of unnecessary clutter you make space for your house to be clean. If there is not enough storage to put away and organise your things, your house will never look organised.

Then after you declutter everything ‘useless’ or ‘unnecessary’, make sure all of your flat surfaces are clean, no useless things on your tv dresser or your tables or counter etc. Make sure everything has a spot tucked away. Everything that doesn’t have a spot should go (or create a spot by getting more storage)

Another tiny apartment renter here. At first it was easy to keep my place clean then I started to accumulate stuff. Now, it's a daily battle to keep my place clean. Every month or so, I do a deep clean , and I let it go. So it's a daily upkeep thing, or else it'll get bad over time. Try to develop a routine and that should help you to keep your place clean.

Furniture with built in storage. You can get chairs and sofas with storage under the seats, storage benches and ottomans, beds with drawers underneath.

Look up and around-shelves to stack things on. Backs of doors-kitchen, closet, rooms. Hang organizers on closet doors for shoes, and small things. Command hooks on kitchen cabinet doors to hang things on. Look at magnetic organizers for sides of the fridge if you are limited on cabinet space. If you can't get a bed that has storage, make use of underneath to store extra/off season clothes or blankets.