I have lived in a lot of small places! I find going to the IKEA catalog (or an actual store if you have one nearby) gives me lots of inspiration. They always have some crazy 250-square-foot or so space to show how everything can fit.
Love nonnameslob's ideas! Do as much double duty as possible (like the storage ottoman, the bedside table). I used to use a small cedar chest with a flat top for a coffee table, with bedding stored inside.
Matching opaque baskets or boxes that fit in shelves are great for storing a lot of small things without looking cluttered. A bookshelf open on both sides holds a ton of stuff and can be a room divider. Apartmenttherapy.com has some great ideas, for example
this.
You can also elevate your bed with lifters to get even more storage space
Vacuum bags are a great idea in principle to reduce the size of extra bedding, out of season clothing etc (though I have had some serious problems with the bags ripping; it's a horrible waste of plastic in that case)
Hang as much as you can - a three-tier basket and pot rack (if you have any pots)in your kitchen area, hanging lamps instead of tabletop or floor lamps save precious space. Also hang shelves where you can (google "floating shelves") and hang photos instead of having them clutter surfaces. Hang a couple of plants in the windows if you can
Those 3M hooks that stick to surfaces without damage (and are removable) are amazing! I have them everywhere, even on the sides of bookshelves.
And lastly - have you considered a kitchen cart for your kitchen supplies? You might even have a flat cutting board surface remaining if you can store everything on the shelves. Most have wheels so you could pull it away from the wall when needed... Here is a random link to
Bed Bath and Beyond (might be able to use that 20% off coupon!) - wow they have some that look like real furniture, with closed-in cabinets, which would give you an even less cluttered look. Those are $300-400 though... simpler ones are less than $100. Also a small kitchen rug might help define that kitchen area...
Could you mount your microwave on the wall or build a shelf for it? I know my microwave took up a lot of space when I had a small apartment. I kept it under the table!
If your place is too small for a kitchen cart, what about a corner baker's rack to put your appliances? Something like
or
Good luck to you and have fun! The main key is hiding things and avoiding looking cluttered.
Need advice how to organize & decorate my small studio apartment
