A small apartment can soon be turned into the home of your dreams or a perfect rental space if you design and decorate it with care. With any space, it is not about the size but how we utilise it and allow it to reach its full potential.
Here are 10 top tips from interior design expert Sylvia James at HomeHow.co.uk on how to make your small apartment an ideal living space:
Decorate a Small Apartment – Avoid Clutter
A tidy and organised space is proven to reduce stress and create an overall sense of well-being. Therefore, it is important that we avoid over-cluttering our small apartments.
That’s not to say that you can’t make space for all of your beloved books, trinkets, artwork, etc.; just ensure that everything has its rightful place and adds to your sense of peace rather than take away from it.
Decorate a Small Apartment – Use Light Colours
Light colours for walls and flooring will bring a fresh, light and airy feel to any room and make it feel more open. Darker colours will draw the walls in, which is fine if you are going for a small, cosy feel; however, it can be counterproductive in creating the illusion of more space.
White can be known to reflect sunlight when applied correctly, so using this colour for the base of your walls can maximise the natural light in your apartment.8
Decorate a Small Apartment – Make Use of Mirrors
Mirrors and other reflective surfaces can also be utilised for their ability to enhance lighting. They will bounce both natural and artificial light around a room, creating the illusion of it being more open and spacious.
The placement of the mirrors is something to carefully be considered, and for maximum effect, you should set them up opposite windows or behind artificial light sources such as lamps.
Have Multifunctional Furniture
A perfect way to save on space in a small apartment is to bring in furniture which can be used for multiple purposes. This could include sofas and beds with built-in storage or multi-purpose cabinets.
Another great idea is to replace a coffee table with an ottoman. This will make for great storage space and also add visual appeal as they come in a wide variety of colours and patterns.
Think about Scale
When designing our home, we will likely be thinking about the decorations we can add around the space to make it feel more homely and aesthetically pleasing. However, it is important to be mindful of the scale of these items, as too many large décor pieces can make a room feel overwhelming and cluttered.
As previously discussed with avoiding clutter, you need to utilise the space that you have and fit pieces in carefully to create the vibe you are going for, whether it be a minimalist or maximalist approach.
Make Use of Wall Space
The wall space in an apartment can be used for a variety of purposes. For one, it can be used to hang artwork and decorations to add to your interior design and make the space feel more personalised and welcoming.
As well as for visual appeal, your walls can be a great place to utilise to free up floor space. Examples of this include installing shelves and cabinets for storage, adding lighting such as LED strips and mounting your television.
Add Greenery
Living in a small apartment may mean that you do not have access to your own personal garden space, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t bring nature indoors! Houseplants can really bring a sense of well-being and will look beautiful when used to decorate your apartment.
In addition to looking stunning, plants have a number of benefits that impact our physical and mental health, including the potential for better air quality, improved sleep, and lower stress levels.
Divide the Space Into Zones
Some apartments may have fewer rooms than other abodes, such as houses. By dividing the space into zones and having set spaces for different functions, such as living and dining areas, it will be more manageable and appear more open and spacious.
This look can be achieved through how you arrange your furniture and by making use of room dividers, curtains, bookshelves, and different flooring or rugs to separate each space and give it its own feel and atmosphere.
Add Pops of Colour
Whilst we previously discussed using lighter colours for the base of your room to make it feel more light and open, adding pops of colour will bring more depth and personality to your design.
You may wish to add accent colours to your walls through wallpaper designs or a feature wall, or through artwork and soft furnishings. Adding colourful cushions and blankets to a plain sofa or bed can make it feel like a more inviting and vibrant space.
Hang Curtains High
Floor-to-ceiling curtains will create the illusion of your room being taller than it actually is, so they can really elevate a small apartment space.
Curtains have a huge impact on natural light and room temperature, so it is good to opt for a style that can easily be opened to let in the fresh summer air and sunlight, but also keep out the cold air and create a warm, cosy feel on those long winter nights.
SYLVIA JAMES: Sylvia James has worked as an interior design expert for over 15 years.Sylvia is skilled at creating beautiful home designs and can work with a range of budgets to suit the homeowner. In addition,Sylvia also provides expert interior design tips and advice for HomeHow.co.uk, and her tips have been published in a range of leading press publications.