In 2019 I briefly toyed with the idea of writing a series of essays titled "Capitalism Survival Skills." They would collect everything I had learned about how to stay afloat and find pockets of stability and comfort for myself. Each essay would be a living document, and I hoped to expand my own experience by interviewing others who had mastered the survival skills I'd never managed to develop. I was inspired to start this project just as my younger siblings were reaching adulthood and moving out into the world on their own for the first time. The project never really materialzied, but I did draft the first 2.5 essays before moving on. Below is the first.
I am not a minimalist. I am constitutionally incapable of dedicating myself to not having stuff on that scale. I have friends for whom everything they own feels like a burden. Getting the most out of small spaces seems easy for them. My brain doesn't work that way, so I've needed to do a lot to maximize the small spaces I can afford to live in.
Ditch beds, and the idea of a "bedroom." They take up a huge amount of space that could be put to much better use during the day. The space you sleep in at night can be open floor space during the day.
Futons are a common alternative, ubiquitous enough that you'll almost always be able to find one on Craigslist or in a thrift shop. Japanese Futons / sleeping mats take up even less space, and can be easily folded up and put away when not in use. The only downside is that you may have to buy a new one, since they're not as common in the U.S. As mattresses go, they're pretty cheap. If you're attached to a more traditional Western style bed, you can build a structure to raise it up like a bunk bed, giving you better access to the space beneath it.
I use two different sleeping arrangements in my home. One is a big sturdy couch, on which I've placed a cheap foam mattress to prevent the cushions from sliding around. During the day it functions exactly like a normal couch, with much better height and support than most futons I've sat in. The other is a traditional spring mattress and boxspring. When I wake up in the morning I stand it upright and shove it into my closet, and when I go to bed at night I lay it down between my couch and my desk.
Folding Tables can't entirely replace more stable surfaces. It's nice to have something sturdy enough that it won't wobble and spill your drink when you you brush against it. That being said, folding tables are a godsend anytime you want to work on a project, or have friends over for dinner & board games, or just feel like getting away from your desk for awhile.
Vertical Storage Space. Use your walls! Shelves can be mounted all over the place. Use the low shelves for stuff you access all the time, and the higher shelves for stuff with only sentimental value. Anywhere you can't fit a shelf can probably fit a hook. In my kitchen I've got my pots and pans hanging from hooks, my knives on a magnetic strip. In my office I've got headphones and cables and rulers hanging from hooks. In my bathroom I have combs and a hand mirrior and a first aid kit hanging from hooks. Pegboards are another great way to user vertical space, with the added benefit of not putting quite as many holes in your walls if you're worried about that. Also consider the storage possibilities under other things. Would you get more use out of the space under your sink by adding a shelf in there? Can you get or modify a couch with drawers under the seat?
Value Your Open Space: Even as you're stacking things up and up, don't fall into the trap of stuffing every space full. Leave yourself room to breathe.
Digitize your media. Probably not all of it if you're anything like me. Physical books bring me joy, so I've got several shelves full of them. But why let physical copies of movies or music or books or games take up space in your home when they work just as well in an entirely digital format? In most cases this only makes them more versatile.
Ear Plugs can go a long way towards reducing the stress of sharing a small space with other people. Having a box of ear plugs around, combined with over-the-ear headphones, effectively drowns out most distracting noise.
Mirrors make a space feel bigger. When you look at one there's a lizard in your brain which thinks it's seeing a whole other room on the other side. There's always mirrors at garage sales and thrift stores.
Open Your Windows. So many people keep their windows covered because they don't like the idea of being spied on. I get it. We live in densely packed spaces, and we like to walk around in our underwear. I lived with covered windows for years and I can't tell you how much happier I am now that I just leave them open all the time. Seeing trees and sky and birds and people makes my home feel so much less claustrophobic. If someone wants to see my underwear, then let them.
Leave the Center of the Room Open. It's often tempting when arranging furniture in a space to divide a room. I've done this myself, and it always feels cramped. With a little ingenuity I've usually been able to rearrange things so they don't reach out into the middle of a room, and the extra footspace does so much for my general piece of mind.
Own Your Space. It doesn't matter if you're renting, this is where you live. Drill holes. Build custom shelving. Install dimmer switches. Run cable through walls. Whatever your security deposit is, it's not worth living your life as if you're a guest in someone else's space.
—Nick LS Whelan
February 5, 2019