We all want to live in a cozy home where we can move freely, relax and enjoy the surrounding atmosphere. But sometimes the place where we live is small, and we need to look for ways and ideas to increase it.
For your comfort at home, let’s look at all the options for improving and expanding the space from leading experts.
How to Decorate a Small Studio Apartment
Many people choose studio apartments and furnish them in a way that is convenient for them without thinking about how best to optimize their space. After all, we always have so many things that need to be put away somewhere.
So first, go through all your belongings and furniture and leave what only you and your family need. Don’t clutter your home, and minimize interior details. And you will immediately see how your tiny apartment has become a little bigger.
Play of Colors
Most designers choose light or white colors for walls and floors because it visually enlarges the space. But sometimes you want to try something new, something different.
Let’s look at wall decoration:
- Buy wallpaper or paint in cool colors (brown, blue, green, or purple). Make a light ceiling and floor – and magically your room will increase.
- Use a small pattern to visually expand the walls.
- Change the geometry of the room with a textured wall finish.
- If you want to lengthen the room, use a horizontal stripe on the walls (it should be darker than the background below).
- Similarly, to increase the height, make vertical stripes.
It is not only wallpaper that helps visually expand your home. It is also important to choose the color of the floor and the materials for it:
- Select a shiny finish: glossy tiles, parquet, laminate, or linoleum.
- If you choose laminate, it is better to lay it diagonally or at a 45° angle.
- Be careful when choosing carpets for your home, as large patterns or long piles make the room look smaller.
Even in a small space, you can experiment and successfully realize your fantasies and dreams.
Play of Light to Increase the Space
Lighting plays a very important role, as it not only makes a room brighter but can also make it look bigger:
- Point the wall lights upwards to make the ceiling appear higher.
- To expand a narrow corridor, hang a sconce along one of the walls.
- For low walls, install minimalist lamps.
- For large ceilings, choose fancy large chandeliers and hang them closer to the ceiling.
Pick different options, experiment with light – and you will be surprised how it will make your apartment even more comfortable.
Space Organization – yes, clutter, of course – no!
Do you see how much space household items, furniture, and decor take up? Of course, most of them are very necessary. But if you can improve them, you will win the space you want.
So let’s consider small room organization ideas:
- do not squeeze the furniture as much as possible, make sure that there is space between it so you can easily pass without getting caught;
- choose compact furniture (you don’t need to buy a massive folding chair, a soft chair with a back is better);
- refuse curtains – this will visually increase the room;
- say “yes” to mirrors and mirror objects to visually extend the apartment;
- if you like lightness and light, pick transparent furniture – you will look through it, eliminating barriers and increasing the area.
There are many more ideas for enlarging an apartment, but by using at least these, you will already expand your space.
Each Thing Has Its Place
Sometimes it makes sense to hide unnecessary things, thus increasing the area. That’s why we’re going to introduce some storage ideas for small spaces.
Do you have a small room with high walls? Congratulations, you’ve got a big bonus – you can build upwards! Choose shelving up to the ceiling and fill them with ease. They can be open, so guests can see your books and decor. Or they can be closed to hide an old set that you’re not ready to throw away yet. The choice is yours.
Lift and mount what you can. Lift TVs, bedside tables, and shelves and hang them on the wall. The space below can serve as an additional place for your things.
It is also worth considering storage ideas for small apartments in the context of the hallway. Often, it will be the smallest, and it is quite difficult to organize free space there.
Consider the shape of your hallway:
- A square hallway is the most comfortable for accommodation. Use every corner and place a wardrobe, ottoman, or shoe rack there.
- A narrow hallway needs more detailed planning. Place furniture and decor along the walls and make them narrow and retractable.
- A corner hallway involves the use of corner furniture and built-in wardrobes to make the most of the space.
There are many solutions to optimize your home, so sometimes you just need to look for them and use your imagination.
Storage Furniture for Small Spaces: The Secrets of Multifunctionality
The world of furniture is expanding every day and surprises with great functionality and beauty:
- Choose a bed with drawers for storing bed linen, clothes, and children’s things.
- Give preference to a large wardrobe with a mirror, which can not only hide your clothes but also enlarge the room due to the mirror.
- Instead of a chair near the dressing table, use a pouf with a folding top to hide compact things there.
- Buy a folding table that can be easily folded and placed against the wall after receiving guests.
- Install high shoe racks with hooks for clothes to save space in the hallway.
Nowadays, there is a lot of furniture with various mechanisms for folding, height adjustment, and expansion, which helps in the planning of small spaces.
Having analyzed a lot of small apartment storage ideas and a sea of design solutions, you determine what you want. Go for something bright and stunning, or stick to light colors and minimalism. Do as you feel – your comfort depends on you.
