20 DECORATING IDEAS FOR SMALL APARTMENTS

Beautiful and inviting home. Actually, there are many things you can do to make your apartment feel bigger, brighter and more spacious. And the good news is that these ideas will cost you very little money or time.

Go vertical with storage wherever possible.

When it comes to maximizing space, go vertical. Look for creative storage solutions that can be used in your apartment. This could be shelves, cabinets, baskets and bins—anything that allows you to store items up high. You’ll also want to think about hanging storage if you have the ceiling height for it.

Use a folding screen as a room divider.

A folding screen can be an excellent way to divide a room or create a visual divide. Some people use them as headboards, others as room dividers. If you’re looking for something inexpensive and easy-to-find, a folding screen is your best bet: they’re available at any home store and cost only about $50 to $200.

Another option is using curtains for dividing spaces in apartments that don’t have enough walls for regular doors or windows. You can hang curtains from the ceiling using curtain rods to create an area where you can hang out with friends or work on homework without feeling like you have to leave the apartment!

Don’t be afraid to use big furniture in small spaces.

• Don’t be afraid to use big furniture in small spaces.
• Bigger pieces of furniture can help make a small space feel more spacious, but they can also be more expensive and take up more space.
• Bigger pieces of furniture don’t just look good—they can also be more comfortable, stylish, versatile and durable than smaller ones.

Keep the floor plan open.

If you have a small apartment and want to create the illusion of more space, keep your floor plan open. This is easier said than done, but there are plenty of ways to do it.

• Use furniture that allows for a clear flow from room to room. A large table can act as the centerpiece for an open living area or dining space, or two even bigger ones can be used together to define both areas at once. Alternatively, a coffee table (or two) could work in this function if it’s placed between sofas on opposite sides of the room; this way people can easily get up and move around as they’re talking during parties or when watching TV together.
• Use rugs strategically throughout each room (and especially near entrances) instead of carpeting everywhere—it’ll help define each area visually without creating dead space within the apartment itself! If you must use wall-to-wall carpeting anywhere else in your home though…just keep some furniture in front of those walls so none will look empty behind it all day long!

Utilize multipurpose furniture.

The living room is the most important room in a home. It’s where you spend most of your time, hang out with friends and family, and if it isn’t designed properly, it can lead to problems with clutter. So how do you solve this problem?

One solution is to use furniture that can serve more than one purpose. A coffee table that doubles as extra storage space is ideal for smaller apartments because it doesn’t take up too much space and provides an area where people can put down their drinks or snacks while socializing at home. Another way to utilize multipurpose furniture is by combining multiple pieces into one unit (a bed-sofa combination) or simply placing them together side by side (a dining table with extra seating capacity next to the kitchen countertop).

Look for pieces that serve multiple purposes, like a large ottoman that doubles as a coffee table and has storage inside.

One of the easiest ways to make your apartment feel less small is to look for furniture pieces that serve multiple purposes. For example, if you have a large ottoman or coffee table with storage inside, then you’ve got a spot for extra blankets and throws for when guests come over.

And don’t forget about multipurpose lighting! A floor lamp can do double duty as both a reading light and ambient light source in your living room or bedroom. It’ll also give off soft light instead of harsh overhead lighting from ceiling lights. And hey, if you ever need it as an emergency flashlight? You won’t mind cranking it up either!

Make your small space feel larger with a few clever visual tricks…

• Keep window treatments to a minimum. If you already have a lot of windows in your apartment, consider getting rid of some of them or covering them up with sheer curtains.
• Use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of space. Mirrors can be used on all the walls, or just one wall if it’s particularly long—it’ll make your small space feel bigger than it is!
• Use bold colors to create an illusion of space. Vibrant colors like yellow, red and orange will help make your small living room look larger by blocking out walls behind furniture that you can’t see when sitting in front of them (and thus making those walls seem farther away).
• Use vertical space to create an illusion of space. By hanging shelves high above eye level on each wall rather than in corners near floor level, they become less noticeable—and therefore more effective at creating an illusion that there’s more open floor area than there really is!

…like keeping window treatments to a minimum.

The bedroom is a great place to start, since it’s the most intimate space in your apartment. Since you want it to feel cozy and inviting, you’ll want to avoid window treatments that take up visual real estate. Instead of using curtains or blinds, try using decorative valances above the windows instead—they can make a room feel larger by letting in more light without creating the same kind of shadowing effect that curtains do.

Put extra thought into the little things, like lighting.

As you’re making decisions about the big things, like paint and flooring, don’t forget that lighting is the little thing. It can make a big difference in any room and will help make your small space feel larger and more open. You may not think it sounds like much, but light can inspire creativity and productivity (and maybe even romance).

Here are some questions to consider when choosing lighting for your apartment:

• How much light do I need? If you work at home or just plan on spending lots of time in one spot—whether it’s reading a book or studying for exams—consider investing in an area lamp next to your favorite chair. Some apartments have tall ceilings with exposed ducts near them; this makes these areas feel dark even if they aren’t. A task lamp would help brighten those areas up without taking up too much space on a crowded desk or table surface. Also keep in mind that different rooms have different amounts of natural light coming through windows (or lack thereof). If there isn’t enough natural lighting available during certain times of day then artificial lights might be needed throughout all day long instead just during certain periods like evening hours which would require brighter bulbs than normal incandescent bulbs would emit.”

Mount shelving on unused vertical space.

If you have a small apartment, then you know that every inch of space counts. You might even have an extra-small kitchen or bathroom, which requires you to get creative with your home decor. One way to improve the look of your space is by mounting shelving on unused vertical space such as the side of a dresser, cabinets or even an entertainment center. Mounting shelves behind doors is also another great idea for creating storage space where it’s needed most in a small apartment!

Shun unnecessary furniture.

• Remove unnecessary furniture. The more clutter you have in your apartment, the more it’ll feel small. If you don’t use a piece of furniture often, consider donating it or selling it on Craigslist to make room for something that gets more action.
• Remove furniture that doesn’t fit the space properly. Your living room may be lovely and spacious until you try to squeeze in an oversized couch along with a coffee table and end tables—then suddenly things feel cramped and cluttered! Be sure to choose pieces that are proportional to the rest of your living space so they don’t overwhelm or look lost when they’re surrounded by other furniture.
• Remove too-small furniture where possible. While most people think bigger is always better (and truthfully, sometimes it is), smaller pieces can help create a feeling of spaciousness if they’re placed correctly within their surroundings: Think about an eclectic mix of large and small items arranged in clusters rather than uniform rows or columns; this creates visual interest while making each item stand out on its own terms rather than blending into one big backdrop for everything else around them.”

Try out wall-mounted or suspended tables.

If you’re looking to create more space in your small apartment, try using a wall-mounted or suspended table. These pieces can give the illusion of more space and make your space feel larger than it actually is.

A suspended table is an excellent choice for small apartments because they don’t take up floor or tabletop space, which makes them ideal for smaller spaces. Wall-mounted tables also look great in any room, but are especially great in kitchens and dining rooms where they offer a convenient surface to eat on while freeing up valuable countertop space.

Hang up your pots and pans.

A pot rack is a great way to keep your pots and pans handy. This one is made from an old ladder, and it hangs on the wall like a picture frame. It’s simple enough that you could DIY one yourself!

If you don’t have room for a full-on pot rack, you can use other hanging brackets as well. A magnetic strip or pegboard can be used for any number of things in the kitchen—you can hang knives on them so that they’re out of reach for small hands, use them as storage space for cutting boards and bowls, or even find some hooks that are specifically designed for hanging pots and pans on their sides (like this one).

Project an illusion of space with mirrors.

One of the most popular decorating tricks for small spaces is to use mirrors to project an illusion of space. Mirrors can reflect light, artwork, natural light and even views! If you’re lucky enough to have two windows in your apartment, try placing a mirror between them to make the room feel larger.

When it comes to mirrors, you can never have too much of a good thing. Use multiple large mirrors throughout your apartment as a way to brighten up dark corners and give viewers multiple perspectives on what they’re seeing (like this piece above).

Think twice before putting in full-size appliances — you may not need them..

It’s important to keep in mind that smaller appliances can be just as efficient and cost-effective as their full-size counterparts. Smaller appliances are more environmentally friendly, space efficient, aesthetically pleasing and versatile.

In some cases you’ll need a larger capacity appliance (for example, if you’re planning on cooking for 6 rather than 4 people), but here are some reasons why smaller is better when choosing kitchen appliances:

• Smaller ranges require less energy to run than larger ones do. In addition to conserving electricity, this means that your electric bills will be lower for the same amount of cooking power.
• The average electric stove draws about 800 watts per hour at full power (when heating or boiling something). This translates into $29 per month at 12 cents/kWh — that’s enough money not only for food and rent but also entertainment!
• Electric stoves require less cleaning than gas stoves because there are fewer parts inside which could potentially get dirty over time so long as you don’t spill anything onto them while cooking in an attempt to impress others with fancy dishes made by hand rather than using pre-packaged mixes found at local supermarkets.”

Pass on the knickknacks, especially if you have kids or pets — or both! Use only what you love and store it well so it doesn’t create clutter and an overwhelming feel to your home. One piece of art can make just as big a statement as many smaller pieces clustered together will do the opposite of creating visual calmness to your small space.

• Keep it simple.
• Don’t overdo it, especially if you have kids or pets — or both!
• Use only what you love and store it well so it doesn’t create clutter and an overwhelming feel to your home. One piece of art can make just as big a statement as many smaller pieces clustered together will do the opposite of creating visual calmness to your small space.