Unless you have the power to design, customize and build it from the ground up, nobody has the perfect apartment. One way or another, priorities are made and space in some areas is sacrificed.

You decide you can live without a medicine cabinet in the bathroom because the living room is so nice. You pony up the first month’s rent based on a spacious bedroom, even though it may not have the closet space you were looking for.

“Apartments are kind of hard sometimes basically because you can’t do a lot of things you can do to your own home to make them bigger,” says Linda Huffman, interior designer for The Nesting Place Interiors II. “So, you have to work with what you’ve got.”

Since tenants deal with these compromises everywhere, we have decided to give you design tips and products to buy that can get you the most space out of the space you have on a room-by-room basis.

LIVING ROOM

This space is where you’ll entertain guests and yourself — and because of its multiple functions, it’s usually the room that can give you the most problems space-wise.

Ms. Huffman says don’t make the mistake of buying oversized furniture, which will just dominate the layout of the room and create an obstacle course for guests. Either sell it and get smaller furniture or pick the love seat or the sofa, not both. And guys everywhere will be saddened by one of her suggestions.

“A designer’s nightmare is those big ugly men’s recliner,” Ms. Huffman says. “They know it’s probably the first thing that I’ll say: ‘It needs to go.’”

If you happen to own a flat-screen TV, opt for mounting it on the wall or over your fireplace instead of using a stand that takes up floor space. When it comes to coffee tables, try glass. It creates the allusion of space. And stores like Mittelman Furniture Company (www.mittelmansfurniture.com) in Kansas City sell glass tables with four ottomans that slide out from underneath for guests.

Speaking of ottomans, many furniture designers make ottomans with removable tops for extra storage of things like DVDs, CDs and any other clutter you’d like to stash away when company comes over.

KITCHEN

Apartment kitchens tend to be small, long and narrow or barely the size or a walk-in closet. But a few things can help give you extra space and storage you need.

Ms. Huffman says to try mountable wall shelves for herbs and spices. Something as simple as swapping out your wooden cabinet doors for glass ones can at least create the allusion of space. If you have more of a square-shaped kitchen, buying a portable island can create extra cabinet space or shelving. And if you don’t have a proper place to put your pots and pans, try installing ceiling or wall-mounted pot racks, but make sure you get a professional to do it. It’s not exactly a DIY job.

BEDROOM

First things first: Put the mattress against the wall. Don’t put it catty-corner and have it poking out into the center of the room. And if you have a huge bed, many retailers sell bins that can be slid underneath. Also, you can put a couple ottomans with lids at the foot of your bed, which gives you a place to sit and store.

BATHROOM

In the case of apartments, you may have a stand-alone sink or not have a medicine cabinet. But you’ve got both high-quality and modestly priced storage options. Over-the-door wire storage racks, standing metal tables with multiple levels and standing-over-the-toilet cabinets are available at stores like Lowe’s, Wal-Mart and Home Depot, while more designer-friendly options are available at stores like Pottery Barn.

CLOSET

When it comes to closets, aesthetic qualities tend to take a backseat to functionality, especially in apartments. To get more room to hang your clothes, Bed Bath and Beyond sells Ultra Slim Camel Flocked Hangers, which are three times slimmer than regular hangers. They, along with Target, sell the Wonder Hangar, which can hold multiple garments on one hanger. Johanna Carttar, executive team leader of guest services at Target, says it can do the trick.

“I know these are ‘as seen on TV’ products, but they actually work really well,” she says.

For women who have a ton of shoes but are sick of them overflowing out of the bottom of the closet, you can find over-the-door shoe organizers at most retailers.

And like apartments, college dorm rooms often provide similar space issues. According to Mary Bishop, sales force manager at Bed, Bath and Beyond in St. Joseph, the retailer has a “Shop For College” section on www.bedbathandbeyond.com, which has plenty of storage items like canvas totes and plastic boxes for shoes and other items to aid in getting the most out of small spaces.

Lifestyles reporter Blake Hannon can be reached at blakehannon@npgco.com.