Living in a small apartment is a charming concept for many people. However, while it has plenty of advantages, it also has quite a few disadvantages. Working with limited space can be challenging when it comes to design, decoration, and overall convenience. After all, you want the place to feel like home, so you ought to ensure you make the most of every inch of available space.
Small apartments often have weird dimensions and even weirder features that you don’t know what to do with. Fortunately, designers have thought long and hard on the topic and have come up with some great, practical ideas. In this article, we will present you with our top picks for design and decoration concepts for your small apartment:
Use Bright Colors
Color plays an essential role when it comes to the look and feel of any apartment. For smaller ones, it is advisable to go with a lighter color scheme. Colors like white, beige, and light grey will make your rooms look bigger and brighter. Light colors make even the smallest rooms feel airier and more spacious than they really are.
Of course, you can go with darker tones for contrast and accent colors. Effective use of those will help put the focus on specific areas of the apartment. If your apartment is one big open space, use bright and contrasting colors to define different areas and set a tone for each individual space.
Remove Interior Walls
Some small apartments feel even smaller because of interior walls that separate the available space into tiny sectors. If possible, it is a good idea to get rid of those walls. Having one big open space will certainly feel and look better than several small ones. If you combine this idea with the color schemes suggested above, you will find yourself in a much bigger and more open space where you can breathe.
If your kitchen is separate from the living room, it is a good idea to combine them into a single space. With walls out of the way, you can even look into creating a small dining area in the living room. However, if you are renting, taking down walls might not be possible for you. No worries — we have plenty of other great ideas on this list!
Get Some High Furniture
Bulky furniture that is placed right on the floor can make your already small apartment feel even less roomy. Low sofas and couches, as well as short chairs, are not the best solution when you have limited space available. In order to make your apartment feel bigger and more spacious, we suggest getting some leggy furniture.
Look into furniture pieces that have long legs and sit high off the floor. The same goes for any other decorative items in your apartment. Make sure every piece is as elevated from the ground as possible. As a result, even the smallest apartments will look and feel roomier and airier.
Use Rugs Efficiently
Getting some good-looking rugs is generally a good idea for any apartment, no matter its size. However, when it comes to small apartments, they can serve more purposes than to just cover up ugly floors. With rugs, you can define zones in your apartment, making it look more organized and spacious.
Feel free to get creative with your choice of rugs. You don’t have to go with the classic rectangular shape, which might just end up accenting how small your room is. There are plenty of asymmetrical rugs that create a sense of flow in your design. Round rugs, for example, are excellent for adding warmth to your room without drawing attention to its size.
Divide Your Available Space With Furniture
We already talked about the benefits of having one large open space that you can divide into separate areas. One of the most efficient ways of pulling that off is with furniture. For example, you can use the back of a large sofa as a wall, dividing your living room area into two zones.
Another item you can use as a divider is a bookcase — just make sure it’s open-back so that it looks great on both sides. Check out Interiorbeat bookcases selection to find one you need.
Think Vertically
One of the essential things to keep in mind when it comes to decorating a small apartment is verticality. You need your design to be efficient and optimize whatever space you have available so that it works as a normal home should. Verticality plays a key role here — for example, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves or windows can do a lot for the overall feel and functionality of your home.
When it comes to designing small apartments, every little inch of space counts. However, it is not all about the floor — make sure you take advantage of all your wall and ceiling space as well. For extra inspiration, explore what professionals are doing — the Bush Temple is a good example of efficiently utilizing verticality in small spaces.
Get Some Cool Art Pieces
Displaying beautiful wall art can go a long way toward setting the mood and overall tone of your apartment. What’s more, it can draw attention away from its size and make it look more attractive and stylish. We are not just talking about pictures — consider small sculptures and artsy wallpapers. Depending on the type of art pieces you are into, you might even find some practical uses for them.
As you can see, there is plenty you can do to improve the look and feel of your small apartment. From bright color schemes and high furniture to carefully chosen rugs and art pieces — you can make your home not only visually pleasing but practical and convenient as well.
