If you’re renting in a big city or moving out on your own, you might be looking at places that have less square footage than you’re used to, but small apartments are great. Small apartments let you save on utility bills, rent, and general maintenance. However, you might be asking yourself: How can I make my small apartment look bigger? Searching for small apartment décor and decorating ideas is fun, but be careful not to buy too much. You don’t want your space to feel cramped. If you’re about to move or want to rearrange your current place, here are some tips and tricks to make your small apartment feel bigger.
Organize Your Small Apartment
Declutter your home
Moving or redecorating is always a great time to organize and declutter your home. Take this opportunity to go through your belongings and donate anything you don’t want. Decluttering will take a weight off your shoulders and open a lot of potential space. When renting in a smaller unit, a minimalist approach is great for making your space feel open and airy.
Add renter-friendly shelves
Shelves are your organization friend. Floating shelves or wall shelves are a great way to add character to a room and display your décor. To avoid any deductions from your security deposit, make sure your shelves are renter friendly by asking your landlord. After you get the okay from your landlord, play around with the placement of the floating shelves. Putting them up higher will make the walls look longer because the eye is drawn upward. If you can, leave a few shelves empty to make your space feel airier and less cluttered.
Utilize multi-use furniture
You’ll want to find creative ways to store things. Look for furniture with built-in storage. Multi-use items will be a life saver. For example, a bed with storage underneath might save you from having to buy a dresser. An ottoman or couch with storage under the cushions would be a great place to store blankets and linens. You can also utilize fixtures like doors to add hanging storage devices for shoes, coats, and other accessories.
Small Apartment Furniture
Choose low-profile furniture
While it’s great to have furniture that doubles as storage, you’ll want to make sure that it’s low profile. Instead of the classic, overstuffed, floral-print loveseat or sectional, opt for a slim couch that sits up a little higher. If you don’t have storage underneath, pick a sofa that has legs. This will make it appear less bulky and taller. This goes for all other furniture as well. When searching for small apartment furniture, make sure you’re looking at light colored items that appear light weight and sit up higher. If you like the style, exposed legs on couches and chairs help add visual height to the room. Again, multi-use pieces are superior when you’re searching for small apartment furniture. Something like a futon is great for a living room because it can be used as a guest bed. It doesn’t have to be your college dorm futon. There are plenty of chic options out there.
Reflect natural light
Natural light is key for opening up a room. Everyone’s apartment will have different amounts of natural light, make the most of what you have by hanging mirrors. Mirrors not only make the room look bigger, but they reflect natural light, making the room brighter. Overhead lighting is not great in general, but this is especially true in a small apartment. Table lamps, sconces, and standing lamps can create a cozy atmosphere by providing light that brightens your space.
Skip unnecessary furniture
Skipping unnecessary furniture will save space and make the room look larger. Things like nightstands and coffee tables crowd a room and can be replaced by other storage units or something smaller. You can also get rid of the area rug. It might be traditional to have area rugs and curtains, but they drag a space down and make it feel cramped. Letting the natural light flow from windows and having your floor exposed makes the room look spacious. If you have a studio, use smaller rugs to break your apartment into “rooms.” Put a small rug under your desk and another under your bed to make it feel like separate areas. If you must have curtains or drapes, go for a breezy, light-colored fabric and hang the curtain rod above the windowsill to make the room appear longer.
Ideas For a Small Living Room
Having a small living room isn’t a bad thing. You have the chance to make this central area of your house cozy and inviting but not cluttered. Before you purchase your furniture, take measurements to see what will fit in your space.
Leave space around your furniture
Make sure you have space around your furniture. Nothing should be touching. If you went for end tables in lieu of the coffee table, there should be a gap between the table and couch. Another trick is to not have the furniture touching the wall. Adjust your furniture, and make sure the piece is never as long or longer than the wall it’s in front of.
Play around with patterns and colors
The good thing about most rentals is that they’re often painted in light colors, which helps open the room. If your apartment has darker paint, you may want to alter the color. Check with your landlord to see if this is an option. If you’re not able to make renovations to your rental, you can find removable wallpaper alternatives that add a bit of color and depth. Depending on your lease and ceilings, you could add a pattern to the ceiling to give the room that extra depth. Stripes make the room look long. If you’re feeling adventurous, add striped, removable wallpaper as an accent wall. If wallpaper isn't your thing, consider adding a striped rug or curtains. Follow the rules on rugs and curtains above and make sure the stripes are vertical.
Follow the cantaloupe rule
For small apartment décor, follow the cantaloupe rule. No item should be smaller than a cantaloupe because small pieces of décor can crowd a room. Go for a few statement pieces and stick to a cohesive aesthetic. You could pick a color pallet or choose different shades of the same color. This will also help you from buying unnecessary items!
Ideas For a Small Bedroom
Everyone’s bedroom looks a bit different, but there are plenty of options for decorating a small bedroom.
Section off your room
First off, if you are in a studio apartment, create the illusion of a separate space by sectioning off your bed from the rest of your apartment. You can hang curtains around your bed, line bookshelves around the bed, or get room dividers. Play around with all these options or combine all three to make your bedroom separate from the rest of your space.
Choose simple bedding
If you have a one bedroom or don’t want to section off your bed, there’s plenty to do to make a small bedroom look spacious. Simplicity is key here. Invest in a low-profile bed and bedding. The same rule for couches applies to your bed. Go for a bed that sits up high and has exposed legs. For your bedding, choose something simple. Try looking for a solid color instead of something that has a lot of patterns.
Utilize closet space
Make sure you don’t have any unnecessary furniture in your room. If you can do without a nightstand, it’ll free up space to add items like floor lamps. Make sure you’re utilizing your closet space as well. Instead of having a bunch of visible storage, see if a set of drawers will fit in your closet. Hang items like shoes, jewelry, and accessories behind doors. If you don’t have a closest, purchase a clothing rack to fit your clothes. It can double as storage and a cute piece of décor.
Ideas For a Small Kitchen
Having a space to prepare meals is essential. Even if your apartment has a small kitchen, make the area feel open with a few small apartment kitchen ideas.
Keep counters open
The main way to do this is by leaving the countertops open. Try to keep the appliances you leave on the counters to a minimum. Things you don’t use on a daily basis should be put away to create more space.
Hang extra hooks
Utilize cabinet space by hanging extra hooks for items like mugs and small pans. Add a lazy Suzan for storing spices or small items you need to access regularly. Get as creative as you want and utilize spaces that aren’t obvious. For example, use magnetic strips on the fridge to hang spices or other lightweight items. Some cutting boards or colanders fit over the sink in order to save counter space.
Stay organized
Similar to having uncluttered countertops, your kitchen will feel more spacious if you’re organized. Baskets, bins, and containers keep track of utensils and other kitchen items. Buy cute jars or get small containers to go in the cabinets, so you can stay organized.
Ideas For a Small Bathroom
Whether you’re sharing a small bathroom or have one to yourself, you’ll want to follow these tips to make sure the space doesn’t feel cramped.
Choose the right curtain
If you need a shower curtain, choose a clear curtain and hang the rod as close to the ceiling as possible. This will help make the shower and room look longer.
Get creative with storage
Keep the same mentality that you had in the kitchen. Make sure the countertops aren’t cluttered, utilize unexpected spaces, and keep your items organized. Something like a magazine rack would work as towel storage. If you have a sink with no drawers, purchase a small chest of drawers that fits underneath the sink.
If you have drawer or cabinet space, little containers work great. Larger bottles can be organized in small bins and a utensil holder works for organizing small items in a shallow drawer. Like the kitchen, this is a fun way to get creative because you can organize things to make it perfect for you.
Use dual storage
It’s best to leave your countertops free, but a few items on the sink will save drawer space. Purchase dual soap and toothbrush holders that fit on the sink. If you wear makeup, put your brushes in a little vase on the counter.
How to Make the Most of a Tiny Dining Area
Every renter has a different dining area, but every renter needs a table that works with their space. Take measurements before you buy a table to make sure it fits in the room and isn’t too big or small.
Go for simple designs
Choose simple designs. Unless it’s your style, a heavy, dark, wooden table will make a room look smaller. A slim mirrored, Lucite, or light-colored wooden table will make the room feel airy. Instead of cluttering the table with individual chairs, opt for benches. Benches take up less space and fit more people.
Consider a dropdown table
Finally, if you have a studio apartment that doesn’t have table space, don’t worry! You can install a dropdown table. After you’re done eating, the table folds back into the wall. Before installing one, check with your landlord. A dropdown table will need to be mounted on the wall, which could be considered damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Use a folding table
If the dropdown table isn’t right for you, consider a folding table. You can eat, fold it up, and slide it under a couch or into a cabinet after you’re done. Even if you have a dining table, consider purchasing a folding table. They’re a great addition to a small table when you have guests. Just put a tablecloth over to make it look cute.
Decluttering, organizing, and making your space feel bigger will make you love your small apartment. Remember that it all boils down to what you like. Take these tips and make the space your own!
