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Whether you are a recent college graduate or are starting over after a recent breakup, you have at least one thing in common: the struggle to find an affordable apartment that is bigger than a refrigerator box. It is no easy task, and chances are that you may have to settle for a space that is much smaller than the trendy lofts with cathedral ceilings depicted on your favorite TV show. Have no fear—there are some simple things you can do to ensure that your apartment doesn’t have the same feel as your old college dorm room. No matter what your style is, these 10 Hacks to Make Your Tiny Apartment Feel Bigger will allow you to finally show it off to your family and friends.
Dark Is Out
Paint color cannot be a spontaneous decision based on your favorite color of the rainbow. Choosing the right paint color for your apartment is key. Light colors on the walls and ceiling are more reflective and will make your apartment seem brighter and more open. The same goes for the floor, so keep this in mind before buying that royalty red area rug, which will absorb the light and make the room feel smaller. Head straight for the pale or pastel color samples when starting your search in the paint department.
Mirror Mirror on the Wall…
The strategic placement of mirrors on your walls can have a huge impact on the presence of your apartment. If you hang a mirror so that it faces a window, it will reflect light and cause the illusion of depth. Hanging a couple of mirrors is an easy solution to presenting more than meets the eye, and it’s also a convenient way to sneak a quick glance at your appearance. Guests will think that your apartment seems bigger even before cocktail hour begins just by looking at the mirrors.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Having some smaller pieces of furniture in your apartment is a great way to give it a bigger feel. You may have to say goodbye to your dream sectional couch, but opting for a less intrusive sofa or loveseat will likely allow you to add a café table and chairs to a corner of your living room. This will provide you with a sophisticated dining area so that your date isn’t forced to eat at your coffee table. Giving up your doublewide couch and dressing up your living room with smaller fixtures might just get you a second date.
Corner Pieces
Take advantage of all the available space in your apartment. The corners should not just be the place where dust bunnies procreate. This is the perfect place for small tables or stands that jazz up your apartment without taking away the space. These areas of your apartment are the perfect spots for a corner curio or a vintage basket, which can double as storage space for your favorite magazines and books. It’s an easy way to play up the fancy, hipster, or city sleek persona you have taken on.
You’re So Posh
People might be impressed with your purchase of a big entertainment unit, which will house your flat screen and other electronics. However, they would definitely be mesmerized more by a bigger NYC apartment. Mounting the TV to the wall and skipping the entertainment unit or bulky cabinet allows much more space for activities. Hanging a TV on the wall gives your guests a better view of just how big your flat screen really is without the enclosure, and also eliminates the “first row in the movie theater” feel. It will create more space for chairs and people, something that is crucial for big occasions like Super Bowl Sunday.
Let There Be Light
Whether you’re a nature lover or not, let the sunshine in! Simple window treatments like a set of sheer curtains are a great way to give your apartment a bigger feel. Letting in natural light will help the apartment become brighter and seem more spacious. Bulky curtains or drapes attract the eye and take attention away from the rest of the room. Remember, it is important to keep a constant flow in the apartment with similar colors on the walls and windows.
Clearly Better
Like mirrors, transparent furniture is another way to give your apartment that open feel. Using clear fixtures throughout your apartment allows you to show off some of your keepsakes without the look and feel of hoarding. For example, using a glass-topped coffee table or end table that is elevated off of the wood base allows you to store photo albums, coasters, or candles. This is an easy way to decorate your apartment without using up valuable living space.
Shelves—Your New Best Friend
Putting up shelves in your apartment will give you the space that you need for the picture frames and knick-knacks that you just can’t part with. Similar to transparent fixtures, shelves give you space to display the things you love without taking up precious space in your tiny apartment. Shelves allow you to keep all the old books that you have read or your beer mug collection without taking up counter space and becoming an eye soar. Shelves also help avoid stacking objects on the floor and other surfaces, which creates the feeling that the walls are closing in.
Leave the Art in the Gallery
While the blank walls of you apartment may get your creative juices flowing, be very selective in your artistic choices. Lots of colorful or textured pieces of art will make your apartment seem crowded. Instead, keep the art to a minimum and choose a sleek piece or a few small modest pictures that will give your apartment a warm feeling.
Lights In, Lamps Out
Hanging light fixtures from the ceiling is not only a unique styling technique, but it will also allow you to have more table space. Removing a bulky lamp will give you more room on your end table for an accent piece or to help avoid a cluttered look. Instead of one lamp in the corner of your apartment, you can have three lights enhancing the room from above. Not only will these light fixtures give you the chance to be creative with your apartment’s style, but they will also add to the brightness and open feeling of the room.