How can I optimize space in a small apartment?

Sunita Vellapally Sunita Vellapally
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Living in a small apartment comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Most homeowners choose a tiny apartment in the centre of the city for easy access to everything. While a small apartment can be cosy, the flip side is that it runs out of storage space quickly. We all tend to accumulate things when we live in a house for a few years. The difference is that in a large house, the ample storage provides space for all the extras. The challenge of how to optimize space in a small apartment lies not only in planning the layout, furniture, décor and storage but also in making a few lifestyle changes. We present tips on how to maximize space in a small apartment or house to make it more comfortable and beautiful.

1. Optimise space in a small apartment by designing an efficient layout

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When designing the layout, section the area into smaller rooms or zones after considering the purpose for each. For example, the living room might need seating for guests, but one might also need it to serve as an extra bedroom for accommodating overnight visitors. Similarly, a small bedroom might need to double up as a study. When looking for ideas on how to maximize space in a small house, it’s vital to understand the requirements from each space before finalizing the layout.

2. Use the right colours to optimise space in a small apartment

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White is the preferred shade for tiny spaces as it enhances the sense of airiness and presents the ideal background for the furnishings to stand out. While this is true, it can make the area look too dull. Infusing colours can make a small apartment look more interesting besides helping to brighten up the interiors. Interior designers often resort to using colour to differentiate areas within an open plan house. It is a small space design idea that one can easily implement in any apartment or house.

3. Large furniture can help to optimise space in a small apartment

Although the perception is that a large sofa will occupy too much space in a small living room, it is a much better option than tinier furniture. A small room with tiny furniture will resemble a doll house and draw attention to the limited dimensions of the area. One of the popular small living room ideas is the use of a bigger piece that will not only provide more seats for guests but also create the impression of largeness in the area.

4. Optimise space in a small apartment with multifunctional furniture

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Furniture that serves more than one purpose is ideal for organizing the space in small rooms. Whether it’s a sofa with a pull-out bed in the living room, a kitchen island that doubles up as a dining table or a folding bed that converts into a desk during the day, it’s worth investing in a few of these pieces when you are wondering how to maximize space in a small house.

Find inspiration from these multi-functional furniture designs for small homes.

5. Using hidden storage to optimize space in a small apartment

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In a small home, storage is critical to make the area clutter-free. One can run out of storage in closets and cabinets quickly, and in such cases, it’s wise to create layered storage that can be hidden away. An example of this is to install a high bed in the bedroom as boxes or bins can easily fit underneath it. When one is looking at ideas on how to create storage space in a small house, it pays to go vertical. For instance, building floor to ceiling wardrobes will allow one to store seasonal clothing and linen in the upper tier until it’s time to use it once again. A box bed is also an excellent alternative for this purpose in a bedroom. Similarly, among the space saving ideas for small kitchens is to store items such as cake stands or Christmas crockery in the higher cabinets until one needs it.

6. How to maximize space in a small kitchen

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Space saving design is the key to optimising the space in a small kitchen. One should start by analysing what one expects from the space. If the family doesn’t cook very often, then a large stove is unnecessary. Instead, a built-in microwave for reheating might be a better choice. If the kitchen is a part of an open plan social area, then designing organized storage can help to minimise the clutter in the area. In-built drawers or cabinet systems such as cutlery compartments, plate stacking units or carousels for pans can help to achieve this effortlessly. In case one requires additional counter space from time to time, a slide-out counter might be a better alternative than a countertop. We recommend consulting a professional kitchen planner for assistance in designing the perfect cabinet systems for the kitchen based on one’s requirements and preferences.

7. Optimise space in a small apartment by decluttering

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Clutter is one’s biggest enemy when it comes to organizing the space in a small apartment. A messy room will look more crammed, whereas a neat one appears larger than it is. Besides having ample storage space in every room or area, one should make it a habit to get rid of things one doesn’t need. Every couple of months, one should assess the things that are piling up, whether its old newspapers and magazines or utensils that one hasn’t used for over a year. Regularly purging the home of junk will help to optimize the available storage space so that one doesn’t have to look for new areas for arranging things or invest in furniture that will make the small room look crowded.

Use these easy ideas to declutter the home.

8. Don’t forget to decorate!

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Using light colours and efficient furniture can make a small apartment look dull and uninspiring. Therefore, when looking at ideas to optimize space in a small apartment, it’s important to decorate it suitably to make it look cosy and beautiful. The right types of furnishings and accessories can bring a luxurious look to the interiors to make the small apartment look bigger than it is. It just takes a couple of eye-catching pieces to transform the look of a small apartment. In a bedroom, a stunning headboard can help to create a focal point in the room. In a living room, a mirror with a decorative frame will not only serve the purpose of reflecting the light and space to create the impression of a larger area but also add a stylish element to the room.

Not every homeowner has a large budget to redesign the apartment to optimize the space. In such cases, a few DIY ideas such as getting storage boxes for stashing things under the bed or buying a sofa-cum-bed for the living room can work to a small extent in maximizing the potential of the home. However, for creating a layout to optimize space in a small apartment or designing efficient storage that helps to keep the interiors clutter-free for years, one needs long-term solutions that are best left to professionals. That’s why we recommend consulting an interior architect or designer who can advise on the best design ideas for a small home.

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