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small space

Furnishing a small apartment with all the luxuries of life can be a tricky project. You need to have enough room in there for the essentials, and you need to make sure you don’t take up too much space either. Then you have to figure out a way to make sure that you still have enough space left for storage, for things like your clothes and all the kitchen utensils. 

It can be tricky business, but furnishing a small space to look open and spacious is all about using the right tricks and optical illusions. Interior decorators know all about this stuff, and they don’t hesitate to give us plain folks some pointers now and then. 

If you want to know what these tips and tricks are, keep reading. 

Keep the Decor Simple 

It can be really easy to make an apartment feel like it’s stuffy and too small if you’re working with limited space, and you need to be mindful of how you decorate it. Now is not the time to bring in the vases and the tabletop decorations – in fact, this is the time to be scaling down on your decor and keeping it simple. 

The same goes for color as well. You need to lean towards plain and neutral colors to give your apartment an airy, light, and spacious feel. 

If you want to throw in some color though, you can get one bold statement piece and hang it on the wall – but avoid letting it take up any extra floor space, which brings us to the next tip. 

Clear the Way 

When arranging furniture in your new space, make sure you’re not putting anything near the doors, and that you have a clear path for people to walk through. 

It won’t hurt if you just group all your furniture to a single side of the apartment as long as no one’s bumping into anything. 

Clear the Floor 

A great tip to help make a room feel open is to be careful about how much floor space your furniture is taking up. Even if you have a chair to place at a certain place, get a sleek one that leaves the floor visible under it, and has narrow legs. 

Enough floor space being visible will make the space feel much more open and will help you avoid feeling claustrophobic in your new place. 

Avoid Bulky Furniture 

Sleek and minimalist furniture is the way to go for small spaces, but when we say minimalist not only are we talking about the design but also the way it’s built. A wide chair or slim wooden sofa will be able to seat just as many people as a puffed-up couch, but it will take up much less space – and will leave the floor visible under it. 

This needs to be a rule for all the furniture you get for your new place or any that you alter for it. Don’t underestimate how much space just one or two bulky items can take up when it’s already limited. 

Vertical and Horizontal Lines 

Remember when we talked about how maximizing space is all about creating a big optical illusion? Well, you can have a little help from straight parallel lines in creating that optical illusion. 

If you add any kind of vertical lines on the walls of your apartment and then add tall and slim furniture along the walls, you’ll have a really easy time making the room look like it has a higher ceiling than it actually does. 

Applying the same theory to horizontal lines, combining them with low and wide furniture can make the room itself look wider. 

Don’t Block Out the View 

Heavy drapes or curtains block out natural light and make the area look closed off and small even when it’s really not getting any smaller. This is why vertical or horizontal blinds or shades are a much better idea. 

Going on this same advice, we suggest opting out of anything with heavy fabrics and drapes. Instead, go for sheer fabrics or none at all for a nice, light, and airy look. 

Use Mirrors 

A strategically-placed mirror on the wall can help make your apartment look spacious and roomy – it gives the illusion of extra space.

This is why putting up mirrors on the wall, or even getting a closet with mirrors on the doors is a great idea to give yourself the illusion of space. 

Leave the Floor Bare 

The more floor space that’s visible in your apartment, the better. This is why we suggest opting out of using any kind of carpets or floor coverings – it’s basically the same thing as making sure you use furniture that allows the floor to stay visible.  

Decorating your new apartment can be hard, and you might not get it right the first time. Don’t be scared to move things around until they feel okay, and remember to keep your decor from becoming too overpowering or taking over the space. 

At first glance, one-room apartments do not seem like a perfect stage for design ideas. On the contrary, these cramped spaces give decorators many headaches. However, one Swedish small haven is about to change this notion. The irresistible charm of the Scandinavian decor was used to pull together a striking home, which responds to obstacles with stylish ingenuity and interior design prowess. It demonstrates the art of making every inch count, and deploys smart design tactics: This is a master class in how to engage in decorating a small space.

White sensation

The first thing that stands out in the unique shelter is the monochrome visual appeal, as this enthralling all-white space embraces the Scandinavian color philosophy. Gorgeous white floor and walls are accompanied by pastel accents that make the room more captivating. Furthermore, the clutter is kept at bay, which provides enough room for daily activities and for people to move around freely. Finally, a large count of windows infuses an airy and spacious feel, which is paramount to Nordic flats.

A photo of a small white kitchen

This shows in the open kitchen and dining area that emanate a sense of freedom. Differently-colored pastel chairs add drama and deliver a whimsical touch to the room, which is complemented by minimalistic wall art. An industrial pendant light draws the eye up, and reminds us of the importance of lighting in assembling a stunning environment. Wall shelving provides storage space in the kitchen, with effective lamps located above it. A small ’50-style, pastel green refrigerator is a spectacle in its own right, and it also acts as a room divider.

A photo of a small apartment in Scandinavian decor

Make room

A comfortable sitting area is the hub of domestic life. It serves as a convenient place for various household activities and social gatherings. There are many windows that let the natural light and fresh air in, summoning the sense of openness and calmness. A grey ARÖD floor lamp compliments the natural blessings, and with its adjustable arm and head, it is a highly-functional source of directional light.  The statement wall on the opposite side introduces some style with the wacky artwork, and shows us we should not shy away from daring focal points when decorating.

Small Apartment

A private sleeping nook is concealed behind the wall, offering sublime coziness. There is also a door that breaks the room and creates an illusion of more space. Behind it, an open wardrobe is located, which is a nice solution for the shortage of storage capacities. There was even space left even for a chill-out corner, which is located above the bedroom. This is a great way to maximize the horizontal space and take advantage of the high ceilings. Make an effort to nurture such strategic thinking whenever decorating and designing a spatially challenging home.

Scandinavian Inspired Apartment

More power to you

Sometimes less is more. Nothing proves this statement as superbly as a tiny, adorable Scandinavian-style home. It has everything one could need, and it is astounding indeed how much style and beauty were packed in 45 m2. This proves that by making the most out of small space, it is possible to transform it into a retreat that transcends the spatial limitations. Merging unparalleled functionality with minimalistic edge and appealing design, this is a small dream home come true.

Images via vaningen.se