How We Review Products
This page explains the methodology we use when evaluating storage products, furniture, and other items for small apartments. We believe you should know exactly how we reach our conclusions before deciding whether to trust them.
The Small-Space Score
When we assign a Small-Space Score to a product, it is calculated using the following criteria and weightings:
| Criterion | Weight | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 25% | How much floor or wall space does the product occupy? Smaller footprints score higher. |
| Storage efficiency | 20% | How much usable storage does the product provide relative to its footprint? |
| Multifunctionality | 20% | Does the product serve more than one purpose (seating + storage, desk + shelving, etc.)? |
| Ease of assembly | 15% | Can it be assembled and disassembled without specialized tools? Is it suitable for moving? |
| Renter friendliness | 10% | Does it require drilling, wall anchoring, or other permanent modifications? |
| Value for money | 10% | Does the price reflect the quality and usefulness of the product for small-apartment use? |
Scores are rounded to the nearest half-point on a 10-point scale. A score of 8.0 or above represents an excellent choice for most small apartments. A score of 6.0–7.9 is a solid choice with specific trade-offs. Below 6.0 indicates the product has significant limitations for small-apartment use.
What We Measure
Where possible, we source measurements directly from manufacturer product pages, specification sheets, or official documentation. We prefer measurements in inches as they are the standard in the US market. Where only metric measurements are provided, we convert and note the conversion.
We do not round measurements up. If a product measures 39.75 inches wide, we report it as approximately 39¾ inches, not 40 inches. This matters in small apartments where fractions of an inch can determine whether something fits.
First-Hand vs Research-Only
We clearly label how each product assessment was conducted:
- Firsthand assessment: We have personally used or examined this product. Our notes reflect direct experience.
- Research-based assessment: Our assessment is based on manufacturer specifications, verified dimensions, user-reported experiences, and publicly available documentation. We have not personally used this specific product.
We never claim firsthand testing of a product we have not actually used. If an article does not specify the assessment type, it is research-based.
Physical Testing Disclosure
We do not operate a physical testing laboratory. We do not conduct standardized load tests, material stress tests, or formal durability trials. When we reference durability or construction quality, this is based on materials listed by the manufacturer, user-reported experiences, and general product category knowledge — not internal lab results.
Any claim of physical testing on this site will be explicitly attributed to a specific individual’s firsthand use and the date it was conducted.