Living comfortably in a small space is possible if you find the right furniture that can do double duty.
The benefit of this approach is that it's often friendly on the budget since you're maximizing your furniture and space.
Little details can make a big difference in small space living. Think vertically and use wall space and little nooks and crannies that you might otherwise dismiss as unusable space like below a sofa or bed.
Read on to find our tips on how to optimize your space effectively in a small apartment.
The trick to optimizing space in a living room is choosing dual-purpose furniture, such as a sofa or ottoman that folds out into a bed or a couch or ottoman that includes built-in storage. This offers plenty of comfort without having to sacrifice space. Decorative elements, such as big mirrors on walls and glass tabletops project light around the room and give the impression of a larger space.
Nesting tables, which are great for the dining room, too, can not only serve as end tables in a living room but as office furniture when you need to work from home and don't have a dedicated space. Folding TV trays are another space-saving alternative that can act as end tables, a desk or dining table with the added benefit folding away in a small, vertical storage space when not in use.
Another often underused piece of furniture is a large bookshelf. Not only is a bookshelf usually easy to move because it's can be broken down, it takes advantage of vertical space in your apartment. The shelves allow you to store a number of things, from books and records to even clothing when not in season.
So it doesn't look messy or unorganized, use containers or bins that fit into the spaces neatly. IKEA's KALLAX is popular because it can serve as a room divider or stand against a wall — the uniform size of each cubby makes it really easy to include drawers, boxes or other inserts.
A space-saving solution for small dining rooms is the use of nesting tables, which can be separated and placed around a room where needed (and can be used in other rooms in your apartment). Instead of having a large dining table taking up unnecessary space in a room, you can place these several smaller tables around your couch or other seating to keep a room clear.
If you prefer to have a dining table, consider one with added storage or an extendable table, which minimizes space during the day while providing plenty of seating for nighttime gatherings.
A rolling kitchen cart provides additional countertop space for prep work while offering space below for additional storage shelves. A half-ladder towel stand easily props against a wall, alleviating the need to drill into a wall and taking advantage of wall space or a seemingly useless corner.
You can further optimize space in your kitchen cupboards by making sure to nest bowls or items within larger bowls and make good use of wall hooks for large utensils or over-the-door hooks to hang heavier pots and pans.
Another smart tip is to use shoe storage hangers for a host of things like reusable mugs. Storing reusable mugs in each shoe pocket makes it easy to put them away once they're washed, and keeps them organized and accessible whenever you need one. You can use one in the kitchen, and another one in an office to store electrical cords, batteries, scissors, tape and things normally dropped into the endless abyss called the junk drawer in the kitchen.
Consider choosing an alternative bed to save space, such as a folding bed or a futon. The use of tall decorative elements in your bedroom can give the illusion of a larger space, so place plants, vases, bowls and lamps on top of high bookcases or shelves to create the appearance of a bigger bedroom.
Storage is usually an issue in the bedroom, so try to take advantage of the area under the bed to stow unwanted or bulky items. A light shade of paint will also make a room look larger.
In closets, take stock of your clothing and consider if adding hanging organizers will make sense, especially if you have heavy sweaters. This is another smart and space-efficient solution for storing items for a baby since the cubbies are smaller.
When decorating a small bathroom, make sure to stick to a monochromatic color scheme that will make the room look larger. A large mirror and proper lighting elements can also achieve the same effect. Take advantage of under sink or shower storage for toiletries.
If possible, install a few simple shelves above the toilet to utilize space that's often overlooked. Yet again, don't forget that back of the door space! IKEA's hand-crotched hanging accessory is both pretty and functional for storing smaller items, as well as wet brushes.
Another design element that can also serve as clever storage is to use clear glass or decorative containers for everyday items.
Beware the paper clutter and electrical cords that seem to be the bane of every office space user. While it's entirely possible to turn your home office into functional storage space, it's even better when there's less physical stuff. Thanks to cloud storage devices, you can store most paper online. For those concerned with privacy, there are a number of external hard drives that allow you to back-up your computer's desktop data, as well as store files you don't need to access regularly.
And don't forget the super-versatile hanging accessory for behind the door or even inside a closet. IKEA's hanging shoe accessory comes with a hanger so it can be squeezed into a closet if your apartment office doesn't have a door. Use the pockets for everything from your electric cords to various office accessories including pens, scissors, tape, rulers or postage stamps.
By considering the details, using space vertically and finding items that can do double duty, it's easy to live comfortably in a small space. Another perk? These choices can be budget-friendly, too.