Possessing a small apartment would initially look intimidating. I can still recall the day when I first resided in my very own little studio. It consisted of a bed, a small table, and a one-person kitchen. It looked as if it could not be transformed into something lovely or warm for me then. But then I came to see that it’s not necessarily a matter of how much room you have when working with a tiny apartment—so much more a matter of how you can work with it. And with planning and lots and lots of imagination, the smallest room can be lovely, snug, and sophisticated. If you have a teeny apartment and are economically required to make the most of it, I’d be happy to share some tips that rescued my teeny space from oblivion.
1. Start With Vision, Not Square Footage
The first and most important thing when decorating any room—no matter how small—is to start with a vision of what you require. Instead of dwelling on the apartment’s size, I began thinking about how I would want it to be. Do I see boho cozy, minimalist modern, or both? I made a mood board on free sites and pinned Pinterest and Instagram images. It helped me settle on colors, furniture, and decor that fit my style. When furnishing a small apartment, everything that goes in must be your choice and have some functional purpose. Once you know your choice, selecting furniture and accessories is easy.
2. Think Vertical: The Walls Are Your Friends
One of the pieces of advice that I found helpful was making use of walls. Space on floors in small apartments is scarce, but walls are full of space. I mounted floating shelves above my bed and workspace to hold books, small plants, and other decorations. It wasn’t only efficient in space usage and tidied the apartment nicely. I even converted a height-challenging bookshelf to a room divider to split my bed from the rest of the living area. Hung objects like organizers, mirrors, and artwork boosted my apartment without taking up floor space. When you can’t go wide, go vertical!
3. Multifunctional furniture = Magic
Something else that served me was choosing multifunctional furniture. Rather than a boring coffee table, for example, I bought an ottoman that contained storage inside. My bed had drawers underneath for clothes and blankets. My sofa had a pull-out bed in case the guests decided to stay. Multifunctional furniture is the ultimate trick to success in a small apartment. It prevents clutter from getting a foothold and makes your living area look larger and cozier. Always look for space-saving furniture or one with hidden storage. It’s the intelligent way to be organized without giving up style.
4. Mirrors Make Everything Better
I also discovered how much mirrors can do to assist. I hung a big mirror across from my window once, and suddenly, the room was lighter and less cramped. Mirrors bounce light around and give the eye the impression that there is more room. I hung other smaller mirrors in the room, and they, too, made a lot of room in the space. Even glass or mirror surface furniture will have the same effect. It’s such an easy trick, but it does make such a big difference to the atmosphere of your flat.
5. Let There Be (Layered) Light
Lighting was another area where I made some playful changes. My flat ceiling light was flat and harsh, so I added my homely lighting with fairy lights, floor lamps, and little table lamps. I could shift the room’s mood to the time of day with over one light source. Harsh work light and warm, soft evening light are needed for relaxing.
6. Plants: The Green Game-Changer
Plants were one of my favorite aspects of decor. At first, I thought I did not have space for them, but I understood there are many ways of having plants, even in a small room. I bought some little succulents for the windowsill and hanging pots to free the shelves. Besides bringing beauty and colors, the plants make the room lively and peaceful. Even two plants will brighten and lift a room.
7. Declutter Like You Mean It
All of that won’t work very well unless you do regular decluttering. Being cramped together makes you confront how honest you must be with yourself about what you use and love. I had to let go of so much non-essential stuff that I didn’t need—second-hand wardrobe items, unnecessary cooking gadgets, and even adorable little decorative useless things. Today, I try my hardest to follow a simple rule: something must leave whenever I add something new to my environment. This prevents my universe from becoming cluttered and me from losing what is most important in the spotlight.
8. Use Corners and Nook Space
I sometimes get creative and utilize dirty, odd spots or weird places in the flat. I used space in the doorway as a neat entrance with a mirror, a little key table, and a mailbox. A window corner used to be a reading corner with a nice chair and lamp. Those minor adjustments provided the apartment with that personal and finished feel. Even in a small apartment, there are options that aren’t so readily obvious to create functional or homey spaces. You have to get creative with the space.
9. Make It Yours
Finally, the most remarkable thing about living in a small apartment is all yours. I constructed my shelves for the things that reminded me of where I was from, pictures of the ones in my life, and the small things that made me happy. Your space must be you. It does not have to be gigantic, but it must feel homey.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re frustrated and stuck in a small apartment, I hope this motivates you. You don’t need much space or money to build a fantastic home. You require vision, imagination, and a will to take your space and own it. Any small corner can be a space where a big story is created, and any small room can be charged.