Whether you are living in an apartment, townhome or condo, your small spaces can be transformed into beautifully decorated and smartly designed interiors you can be proud of. Bigger isn't always better...what's important is getting the most out of the space you have.
Builders and Architects are being challenged to make every square foot count with more and more apartment communities being built nationwide. Some apartments have natural elements built into the space like lots of windows or high ceilings.
Glass Shelving Unit
Some are made with built in niches and focal points like fireplaces. But all have one thing in common: many apartments just aren't large enough. The small spaces are a challenge for many of us who live in apartments. So how do we make the most of small spaces?
With a little creative planning and some clever ideas we can transform a cramped, small space into an airy, somehow larger living space. It's all in the proper choices of background paint colors, furnishings and clever use of the space. The truth is there is no definite answer or one fail-proof strategy...there's hundreds!
Apartment inhabitants learn to be creative multi-taskers... a living room can function as a home office by day and a dining room by night. A day bed or futon offers a couch to sit on by day and a bed to sleep on at night.
Many have drawers underneath for more storage. You can purchase beds that have headboards converted into desks and footboards that turn into a work surface.
Use only functional furniture. Consider vertical space as well as square footage. Armoires are great for storing the TV and the home office...all behind closed doors.
Remember to always shop for furniture with measurements in hand. Size and scale is key. You don't want to purchase furniture too big for the space.
Utilize all the nooks and crannies to maximize storage space. Storage space can be found in an ottoman, footstool, coffee table or the bench around the kitchen table. Even the kitchen table can have storage space.
Arrange 4 or 5-tier shelving units in your laundry room and wire shelves in your pantry closet for maximum storage. Utilize baskets for storing.
Don't forget your doors. By using pegs or hooks, you can "store on your door". You can hang clothing, shoes, handbags and hats on your doors.
You can always swap solid doors for clear or frosted glass. Whether it's a door to the kitchen or bath, cabinet doors or even closet doors. A transparent door, frosted or glass gives the illusion of depth.
Windows should be simply dressed with light or sheer panels to bring in lots of natural light. Sometimes a room's best feature is right outside the window. Bring the outdoors in. Stained glass windows will bring in extra light and always opens up space.
Mirrors create the illusion of more space. Mirrored glass reflects and magnifies light, bringing sparkle and shine. Utilize shiny accessories that reflect light like crystal sconces and silverware. Shiny wallpaper creates light and space within the room.
Painting is the cheapest way to redesign a room. Painting just one wall in a rich, deep shade like warm chocolate or spicy chili pepper red, will actually cause it to visually recede when paired with a milder neutral color like tan or cream. Light colors make a room feel more airy... dark colors actually make your room look larger.
Proper lighting is one of the most important design elements there is to consider and more importantly in an apartment. The right lighting can dramatically impact a room's appearance and create an illusion of width and size.
The key to creating more space in small places is organization and removing every morsel of clutter. Less means more in apartment decorating. Holding on to things you don't need only creates chaos and clutter and steals valuable space.