How to Make the Most of Your San Francisco Apartment

The Golden City, San Fran, The City By the Bay—San Francisco has many nicknames, and rightfully so. San Francisco is a cultural and economic landmark, not only in the United States but also worldwide. Its possibilities are endless, and it’s a hub of technology, arts, and more.

Of course, San Francisco is a highly sought-after destination, and many people want to live there. Like with many big cities, apartments can be small, with a competitive market and high prices. Small space living is not only an aspiration, but a requirement.

So, how is anybody supposed to make the most out of small space living with their San Francisco apartment—and in other big cities, too? Here at Saf Keep Storage, we’ve been fulfilling permanent and temporary storage needs in the Bay Area and throughout California for years, and we’ve got some answers.

How to Find the Best San Francisco Apartment

If you’re planning a move to San Francisco, you’ll need to find a place, and if you already live in San Francisco your apartment might not be the best fit for you. Either way, here are some tips to help you find a great place to live.

Set a Budget

With San Francisco’s famously expensive rent prices, paying attention to prices isn’t just a good idea but rather a necessity. However, setting a good budget involves more than simply keeping a figure in mind.

One of the best ways to set your budget is to work backwards from how much you make. While conventional wisdom says that you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your gross income on housing, conventional wisdom isn’t always applicable in extreme cases like the San Francisco housing market. Many San Francisco residents spend 30%-50% of their gross income on housing. So, take that amount and divide it by 12 to get the monthly rent figures you’ll be looking for.

Line Up Roommates

How can you make something less expensive without actually making it less expensive? It’s simple: Divide it into multiple pieces! If you only need one bedroom, it makes sense much of the time to split a two- or three-bedroom apartment with roommates. Some options for finding roommates include:

Facebook groups
Diggz Roomate Finder
Roomies.com
Referrals through friends

Consider All the Factors

There are more factors to consider when searching for an apartment. Obviously one of those is location, but that is often tied into price. Consider these additional factors when selecting an apartment:

How often will you be spending time at home?
Do you need to use a car?
Do you prefer to be near entertainment or public transportation?
What are your long-term plans?

Additionally, check to see if there are any self storage facilities near you in San Francisco. Whether you’re looking for temporary San Francisco storage or something more permanent, they can give you more freedom to select a smaller space or to share an apartment.

How to Make the Most of Small Space Living

It’s no secret that San Francisco apartments aren’t exactly the largest; indeed, at 737 square feet, San Francisco has the fifth-smallest average apartment size in the country. So how do you utilize the space you have? We’ve got some tips for you.

Use Vertical Space

Floorspace is the biggest factor in an apartment’s size. But we don’t only live in two dimensions. No matter how big your apartment is, utilizing that third dimension—height—can be key. Just like in a storage unit, using that vertical space can help even a small space feel spacious and allow you to make the most of it. You can use:

Shelving – The most obvious way to use vertical space, floor-to-ceiling shelving is ideal for storing books, electronics, cleaning supplies, and more.
Wall-mounted racks – If shelving isn’t possible or is undesirable, use wall-mounted racks to store items on the wall. These kinds of racks are great for kitchens and bathrooms.
Lofted bed – Your bed occupies a large area. If your ceilings are high enough, lofting your bed can create space below it just like magic. You can even get lofted furniture for queen and king size beds, too!

Dual-Use Items

For optimal small San Francisco apartment usage, finding items that have multiple uses is a great way to be efficient. And you don’t have to stop with smaller items like kitchen utensils, either—larger dual-use items can save even more space.

Futons or sleepers – Don’t have room for a second bedroom? Use a futon or a pull-out sleeping couch for an extra bed without it taking up the space a normal bed would.
Bed frame storage – While you can certainly store items under your bed, purchasing a bed frame with built-in storage drawers can make that additional space even more useful and accessible.
Shelf lamps – Many apartments lack adequate overhead or ceiling lights, thus requiring you to get lots of lamps to light up your rooms. By using lamps that double as shelving, you can add flair and additional space that would be used anyway.

Use Self Storage Units in San Francisco, CA

No matter how efficiently you use the limited apartment space in San Francisco and other large cities, you’ll probably run into a space problem sometime. Thankfully, there is a self storage facility near you that provides an affordable and flexible solution for your storage needs. Whether you’re looking for semi-permanent or monthly storage in San Francisco, a self storage unit works great. At our storage facilities in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area, you’ll enjoy the following benefits, such as:

Month-to-month leases – Ideal for temporary storage in San Francisco
Security – For peace of mind about your belongings
Affordable prices – Create additional space in your apartment at cost-effective rates
Free use of carts and dollies – To help you easily move heavy items
Free move-in van rental – No need to find other transportation move-in day

Find San Francisco Self Storage Near You Today

Here at Saf Keep Storage, we’re committed to providing the best storage in San Francisco and providing you Service Every Step of the Way. Visit our sister locations, Soma Storage on Mission Street or Stop N Stor Mini Storage on Jerrold Avenue for a wide variety of self storage options at prices that will fit nearly any budget. Or, take a look at our other California storage locations to find a Saf Keep Storage location near you!