We all dream of having penthouse suite proportions in our apartments but chances are that the shoe box you call home sweet home has limited space.
So what’s a guy or gal to do, especially if remodeling isn’t in the cards? In addition to keeping your stuff well organized, try these decorating tips to make your place feel more spacious, even if the reality is a little more snug.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Place a sizable mirror on a wall across from another can give the appearance of a bigger room. You can also have fun by decorating with mirrors, in a creative way to shed light to the four corners of your little world.
Paint in Pastel
A light Tiffany blue might not be your style, but think about painting in light cool shades to make your space look grand. Painting your rooms in eye-popping reds and oranges will unfortunately have the reverse effect.
Warm colours trick the eye into making a space seem smaller and cozier while cool colours give off the false illusion that the room is larger and more airy than it actually is. Even if bright and bold is your style, save those colours for some fun furniture or accent pieces.
Tip: If you’re a renter you might not be able to paint your place so try hanging vistas on your walls instead for a Trompe-l'œil effect, creating windows into other worlds.
Zen Surfaces
Albert Einstein once asked, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” The answer? Peace of mind, of course.
Clear your surfaces of unnecessary objects like toiletries, office supplies, knick-knacks, and create a place for everything instead.
Double Duty
You’ve heard it before, and seen it a million times on Pinterest, but not all of us can afford a bed that doubles as a dresser or stairs that double as secret storage.
At this point, you just want a nightstand that doesn’t wobble. However the key to keeping your space well-ordered and roomy is making sure that that everything has a purpose.
To that end, treat yourself by giving your small every-day objects special treatment too. Do you keep a journal? Buy one with a beautiful cover and station it by your bedside like a piece of art. Instead of looking like clutter. Going for practical quality over quantity will save you money in the long run.
Furniture Fun
You’d kill for built-in bookshelves, but for now you’ve got to think out of the box. Start by working with the furniture you have and rearrange it creatively for maxim fun and multiple uses.
Instead of shoving the couch against the wall, angle it creatively. Ask yourself, “What is the minimum DIY work I need to do to make something multifunctional?” For example, to make a living space that’s both great for morning yoga and for chilling with friends, maybe all you need to do is throw some wheels on the bottom of your coffee table to make it easy to push out of the way.
Fight Entropy
You barely have time to get dressed for work, let alone make the bed, and tidying up on weekends is about as appealing as a root-canal. However, if you try to put things in place after using them, you might have some semblance of order, space, and sanity left over at the end of the day.
For those with less discipline, leave a decorative box on a counter near the door for the stuff you promise you’ll put away later and just sort it out once a week while catching up on your favourite show.
Feel free to share some of your favourite tips for maximizing small spaces below.
Photo Credits:
Blue bedroom / Ellen Silverman
The Nest Mirror / Mark Lund
Good Housekeeping Zen Surface / Getty Images
Apartment Therapy / Desire to Inspire
Decorative box / Collections Etc
Feature image: Apartment Therapy
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