Life can be frustrating, but one place that should not be frustrating is your home. Check out our article for these 5 apartment tips.

Life can be an exhausting process and each day can bring new challenges. You have to work long hours to ensure you have a place to live and the money to do the things that you enjoy. You have to keep up a social life of some kind, not to mention dealing with other personal problems and stress. One place that should be the least stressful is your apartment. You should be able to go home to relax and not have to worry about your place needing some new thing or having to spend more time than is necessary on upkeep. You may have some ideas on how to make your home life easier to deal with or to give you some extra time to simply relax after a busy day. We will look at 5 simple apartment hacks to make your home life a little easier to deal with. You may find yourself looking for ways to keep your home life simple and easy.

Use a Floating Island

This is a very simple idea that most people don’t think of when they first arrive in Japan. Many people are shocked by the limited kitchen space in their new tiny apartment. There are ways you can increase the size of your cooking space and add more storage as well. A floating island is one of the best things you can use to achieve this goal. They can be found at most department stores and they are generally reasonably priced. You can get a decent one for about 6,000 yen.

A floating island can give you extra prep space and allow you to do creative designs with your kitchen. Somefloating islands even fold into themselves to allow for better storage when you don’t want to use it. Some people will have different experiences based on the kind of apartments they will rent, but in general, these items improve your quality of life.

Sliding Shelves or Hidden Storage Spaces

You may have a hard time finding enough space to store your belongings. In most apartments in Japan, there is one closet and some extra space in a loft if you are lucky. You will find that it is difficult to come up with ways to safely and quickly put your things away in a manner that is easy and convenient. One of the best ways to ensure you can maximize your living space is with sliding shelves and furniture with hidden storage spaces.

Sliding shelves can give your kitchen the extra storage to put away dry foods or to keep your appliances tucked away until you need them. Most are moderately priced. The best part is that they come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can fit in decorative designs and they can be personalized to fit your apartment shape.

The other types of furniture you may want to consider are ottomans, beds, and chairs. There is a wide selection of furniture that will give you extra space to store your things. Although beds will take up more room space, many have wide storage spaces underneath them. These under the bed drawers can hold a large number of clothes and other small to medium-sized items. Ottomans are great for storing simple things you need for your living room or general areas. There are some chairs that you can find that have storage under the armrests and in the backs. There are other items you can buy that will help you out as well.

Use Windows for Extra Laundry Space

Your windows can be used for more than great views and allowing fresh air and sunlight into your room. They usually have enough space on the linings to hang a simple clothes rack for drying laundry. They can hold a small amount of clothing and can help you when the rainy season begins. They can also be hung inside your room and can be used as a clothes rack as well. These are inexpensive items that you can get at any 100 yen store and they can help you add more storage space for your clothes.

Collapsing Furniture

Furniture can be just as cumbersome as it can be helpful. Chairs, tables, and dressers that can all quickly deprive you of precious living space. The best way to go about ensuring you will have space to live comfortably while still having extra seating and table space when needed is to invest in collapsing furniture.

Folding furniture is great and an easy way to give you extra space while maximizing your living area. There are a variety of chairs to choose from like floor chairs meant for tatami rooms while others are designed to resemble larger chairs. Some floding chairs have armrests and can also recline. They can be easily folded away for storage in closets or other areas.

You can find couches that double as beds and are great space savers. Many have extra storage spaces underneath them, or extra storage space in their armrests. Many couches come with extra cushions or you can add throw pillows made of different materials to complement your color scheme. Couches will be one of your bigger expenses and they are often difficult to get into an apartment.

Add Shelves Above Your Washer

The area above your washer will have a small cabinet that can be used to hold some cleaning and washing supplies. This space will fill up quickly and you will want more space time goes by. You can add more storage by using removable shelves that can be adjusted to fit any area above your washer.

These are only a few tips that can help make your life easier at home. By making a few  a inexpensive purchases you will be able to make your home life more relaxing.