Furniture Tricks For Small Apartments
Furniture Tricks For Small Apartments.
When space is something you don't have much of, every square inch matters. The thing that takes up the most space in apartments is furniture - living on a pile of pillows and having your computer laid out on the ground is a recipe for back pain, even for the most nimble young professional trying to save.
So here are some tips and tricks for using your apartment furniture in a way that saves space while still looking good.
Use furniture that doubles as storage.
If there is something else that's often lacking in a studio apartment or your average starter apartment, it's storage space.
Instead of having furniture pieces like a table that doesn't use the space beneath it to serve as double duty for extra storage, buying a table with integrated storage is a great option.
If you have the requisite tools, there are other DIY tricks for adding storage to your furniture, but it takes some effort to make this type of piece yourself.
Some bedframes can also come with built-in drawers. In addition to giving your extra space in the bedroom, your bed frame can be used to store bulky items like blankets, big sweaters, and more. The extra space frees up space in your closets and prevents overcrowding.
In the living room, you can find a coffee table with storage space that can be used to store things like remotes, board games, and more.
The one drawback for pieces like this in a small apartment is the apartment stairs they likely will have to travel up on the way in.
Get creative with your furniture placement.
When you're short on space, the best way to make use of every square inch is to get creative with your furniture placement. Try these tips:
Place your bed against a wall to save space. If you don't have room for a traditional bed frame, consider using a platform bed instead.
This will free up floor space on two sides of the bed. Having more space to walk in your bedroom means more living space, so arrange furniture in a way that helps you get going in the morning.
With less space to work with, finding the right balance is supremely important.
Though you may have a small space, you can still express your preferred style whether it's your first apartment or a new apartment. Taking the time to maximize space without compromising your personal style can make a rental feel like a home.
There is the other side of something we talked about just above where you can use storage pieces to double up as seating.
Throw a cushy pillow on an end table that sits a little low and, there you go, extra seating. Just because you have a tiny apartment doesn't mean you can't entertain.
With the right furniture, you can make a space feel much bigger than it really is and if you use an area rug to delineate space then it will naturally guide guests to spread out in a more balanced way throughout the apartment.
If you have a closet, use it as much as you can. Creating dedicated areas for each type of clothing item will be such an advantage when you need to sort out clothes.
Pay attention to the light.
Natural light is essential both for your own physical and mental health but also for the look and functionality of your living space.
Arranging furniture in a way that does not obstruct windows, or using a large mirror at a key location can make your living area feel bright, somewhere worth spending time in.
If you intend to keep some blank walls, try to keep them on the walls where the light will hit them directly. The flat uninterrupted surface will reflect the light throughout the space. If you have wall art, try to place it opposite of the well-lit wall to direct the light toward it.
If you use a computer or television in the hours where the light enters your apartment the most, position the screens in the room in a way to prevent glare.
Watching TV can be very frustrating if sunlight is obscuring the image, especially if you gathered people to watch something together.
Though you could simply close the curtains so that you can entertain guests without pulling furniture around - making it so that it's unnecessary in the first place is a better idea.
Choose multifunctional furniture.
Multifunctional furniture is furniture that can be used for more than one purpose. This kind of furniture saves space, allowing more room for functional items.
It also makes cleaning easier by reducing the number of separate pieces to be dusted.
This may save money because it is used for multiple purposes and doesn't need to be replaced as often as single-purpose furniture.
It can make decorating easier because there are fewer items to choose from. It may also help the environment by saving energy and material resources during manufacturing since it can be created using smaller amounts of wood or other materials.
Multifunctional furniture may be used for your home office space, being able to pack a lot of what you need in a small area is a lifesaver and prevents you from getting distracted if you need to move around your apartment to look for things.
Just because you have the space for a bed and a sofa separately doesn't mean that shouldn't get a piece of apartment furniture that can do both. In a studio apartment especially, this will help you create a different mood depending on the time of day.
Invest in a few key pieces of furniture.
Learning how to use space in a small apartment is an exercise in boiling down the excess of your wants to get to the core of your needs.
As long as you have enough seating for your day-to-day life, do you really need a coffee table? To create a living space that works doesn't just mean throwing out the furniture you won't use but instead, it means investing in the right pieces of apartment furniture.
Extra counter space, for example, can be life-changing and you could get a stable bar cart with a sturdy top that you can dock to your kitchen.
If this is your first apartment then it's perfect, you can start with a blank slate and not carry over anything unessential with you in the future. If there is enough light in your living room, then there is no need for table lamps that would also require their own surface to sit on.
Open shelves, when used right, can make your interior decor sign with style. Since you can still see the wall behind the open shelves, the space they occupy can be used to house a variety of different items while still creating an interesting and cohesive look.
Sadly, for apartments, you cannot usually make changes to the apartment itself because then these shelves would be replaced by a built-in piece that clears up even more room.
Don't be afraid to get rid of furniture you don't need.
Table lamps? Gone, so are the floor lamps. If you're headed in that direction why stop there? Floor lamps take up space near walls and on the floor which makes small spaces feel even smaller.
Think about the uses of side tables in your bedroom, can those uses be replicated by floating shelves?
Think outside the box when it comes to decorating.
One of the key elements of interior design is finding a room's focal point.
A focal point is a specific area in a room that is given more attention than the other areas. This could be a piece of furniture, a painting, or a TV. Focal points help to create a sense of cohesion in a room and make it feel like everything has been designed with a purpose.
In small spaces, you have to use focal points in a way that makes people look upwards to create a greater sense of scale. Try to pick furniture pieces that are not too tall so that your walls don't feel crowded.
Every room should have its own focal point; a TV, a painting, or some other decor piece that catches the eye.
Whether you live in a studio apartment or a mansion, decorating tips always bring it back to a simple thing: your own home should reflect your sense of style.
If you are having trouble figuring that out while you shop or search for the right pieces, you can get in touch with a professional organizer that will give you both tips for style and for making the most out of a small space.
To conclude.
First apartment, tiny apartment, studio apartment - they all need the same three things.
One, maximize space; with storage spaces cannibalizing living spaces, being able to jam multiple functions into one furniture piece will let you lead a full life without verging on clutter.
Two, take advantage of natural light; light is what makes any space feel more alive. Keep your rooms well lit and the rest will follow.
Three, creativity; whether you are decorating or finding the right way to place an area rug to direct guests during special events, your creativity will help you make the best of any small space.
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