So you’ve upgraded from that studio apartment and you’re rockin’ a fancy shmancy one-bedroom. We’re here to help you maximize your living space, so you’ll have even more room for those impromptu Beyoncé dance parties. While your apartment may be short on space, that doesn’t mean it has to be lacking in style. Use these 19 tricks to make your small living space welcoming, cozy and clutter-free.
1. Create a Statement Wall: Thanks to removable wallpaper and stick-on decals, you can completely change the look of a room without paint. We love how this floral wall perks up an otherwise chromatic little kitchen. (via Home DIT)
2. Break the Norm: Not all living rooms need a huge coffee table front and center. A couple of small side tables, or better yet, a set of small nested tables, can do the job just as well. (via Apartment Therapy)
3. Make Space for You: Having a functional workspace may or may not be necessary, but it is nice to have a place to tuck all your work and projects away, rather than having them strewn around the kitchen or dining room table. (via Decoist)
4. Choose Your Seating Thoughtfully: Accept that a smaller living room won’t seat all your friends at once, and resist the urge to cram it full of sofas or multiple armchairs. Choose more versatile seating, like a few different types of chairs, to maximize the seating options available. (via Chapter Friday)
5. Light It Up: Ideally, a small living room would have a ceiling fixture. If that’s the case in your apartment, choose a pendant which is both visually striking and gives off a lot of light. If there’s no possibility for a pendant, a floor lamp or two is the next best thing so you can avoid having too many side tables sitting around. (via Women’s Day)
6. Color Is Key: Creating contrast is essential to making each space feel like a separate room, and color is a great way to achieve this. If you can’t or don’t want to paint, then just add bold focal points of color to establish dramatic contrast. (via Brooklyn Bride)
7. Open Shelving: Tiny kitchens can seem limiting, but put in some inexpensive shelving units and embrace the open-living concept. (via Refinery 29)
8. Fake It With Mirrors: Mirrors are perfect for making your apartment look bigger than it actually is. If you position them to reflect your source of natural light, they will create space and make your apartment brighter. (via PopSugar)
9. Edit Your Technology: A wall-mounted television saves valuable space in a small living room. Try using a web-based movie service to get rid of the bulky DVD player and slim speaker docks instead of a whole sound system. (via Refinery 29)
10. Make Room for Treasures: There are always hidden spaces, no matter where you live. Try to find those spaces and use them to your advantage, especially if you have some furniture pieces you can’t bear to part with. (via Lonny)
11. Leave No Corner Untouched: Every square foot of space in a tiny apartment has to have a purpose — even in that awkward corner we all seem to have. A sexy little bar cart is the perfect way to show off a little personality and color. (via Refinery 29)
12. Fill It Up: Rugs are great for anchoring the seating arrangements and establishing a true sense of separate rooms. They also help absorb noise and protect the wood floors if you’re worried about getting your deposit back. (via A Cup of Jo)
13. Embrace Color: Bright colors, bold patterns and large furniture can work surprisingly well in a small space. Even though you don’t want to crowd the room, grand items can actually make a space feel bigger and more interesting. (via Domaine Home)
14. Floating Shelves: Sneak in storage wherever you can with floating shelves, baskets for storing pillows and blankets or tray tables where you can keep books and special trinkets. (via Glamour)
15. Consider Textures: Less is more in small space, but that doesn’t mean your home has to be stark and boring. Think about bringing in textures like metals and woven rugs to create interest with minimal furniture. (via Domaine Home)
16. Don’t Play It Safe: Just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you should shy away from statement pieces and dramatic colors. Even though this room is barely big enough for the bed, a solid wood headboard and colorful curtains accentuate the natural light, rather than dominating the view. (via Domaine Home)
17. Be a Good Host: Many one-bedroom apartments aren’t lucky enough to have a separate dining room, but they usually do have a breakfast nook or a living room with space to carve out a dining area. If you like entertaining, invest in a good table — preferably one with leafs — where you can host dinners and brunch. (via Vogue)
18. Ottomans Are Your Friend: Don’t go overboard by buying oversized chairs. Instead, get yourself a sofa and one or two armchairs, then make room for extra guests with ottomans, stools or benches. Multipurpose furniture can be a lifesaver when you’re entertaining. (via One King’s Lane)
19. Keep It Clean: Nothing makes your one-bedroom kitchen feel more cramped than a lot of clutter. Instead of displaying knickknacks, add personality with colorful appliances and fun cabinet knobs. (via Rue Mag)
How do you make the most of small living spaces? Share your tips in the comments below!
