Let’s face it, the reality is when you’re starting out, you’re not going to be living in the biggest apartment, much less a penthouse suite. Chances are, your first apartment is going to be something within your pay grade: affordable and, usually, small. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. With these 10 design tips, not only will you be able to maximize your living space but improve the overall look of it as well.
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1. Mirrors.
Nothing opens up a space like a well-framed mirror. It can make the room look twice its size. Try hanging a horizontal mirror below or above eye-level, it opens up the space where it’s least expected and isn’t your typical looking glass mirror.
2. Draw out a floor plan, organize and design your space with it as a guide.
Looking at the space from a different point of view will give you a better handle on how to design your space using a more thoughtful eye rather than just shooting from the hip.
3. Get rid of clutter.
Nothing makes a space look smaller than it already is than piles of clutter. Throw out whatever you don’t need and keep key pieces that will enhance your space.
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4. Go vertical.
Maximize the walls above a desk or the hallway to streamline storage space by using shelves to house books, supplies or even artwork.
5. Edit, edit, edit.
Remember when designing for a small space, less is indeed more. Take a step back after each new design addition and evaluate its place in your apartment. Does it weigh down the room or does it open it up? If the answer’s the former, lose it.
6. Use pieces that fit the scale of the room.
Take into consideration the measurements of each piece of furniture you buy and evaluate it in relation to the size of your apartment. The worst thing you can do is to dwarf your already tiny apartment with a piece that’s way too big for your place.
7. Two words: Storage bed.
A UK company conveniently called “The Storage Bed” manufactures beds with mattresses that lift up, similar to how you’d lift the hood of a car, where you can store your things. They offer customizable beds from a single to a king sized bed.
8. Use multi-purpose, mobile, and light furniture.
Ottomans make good chairs and when you’re not using them you can easily store them underneath a table to open up your living space. Find ways of using the pieces you already have for different functions, like a dining table that can double as your work desk.
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9. Start with one important piece and go from there.
Designing your apartment can get a little overwhelming, especially when you’ve got limited space. Start with a statement piece, something that you believe will effectively dictate the rest of the room’s design aesthetic and build from there.
10. Small doesn’t have to mean boring.
Yes, white walls do make a room seem bigger but we bet you didn’t know that charcoal grey walls can really open up a space as well. Adding stripes is also another trick that keeps the eye moving and makes your space seem larger.
