6 Tricks to Make Your Small Living Space Feel Larger
With real estate prices in many cities on the rise, many people are foregoing large houses in the suburbs for smaller spaces in the city, such as condos or apartments.
The challenge with apartment or condo living is the lack of space. It can be difficult to fit everything into your space without things looking cluttered. If you are looking to maximize your small space, here are some tips you can use:
1. Create zones
Many condos are built with a more open concept feel in order to maximize light and make them feel more open. The difficulty with this is that your whole condo can feel like one giant living room, with items scattered all over the place. So, consider creating “zones.” This can be done through furniture placement, as well as with small fixes, like hooks near the front door to create a “mudroom” feel. These zones will make it feel as though you have several rooms, as opposed to one large one.
Read: The Pros and Cons of Condo Living
2. Look for multiple-use items
When buying furniture, look for pieces that can have several different functions. For example, a fold out couch can turn your living room into a makeshift guest room. Or a coffee table can double as a dining room table if necessary. Fewer furniture pieces means less clutter in your small space.
3. Use trickery
Do your research and find out about slight-of-hand tricks that can help your space feel larger. For example, lighter colours tend to make the room feel larger and more airy, as do sheer curtains that allow you to see light coming in. Consider mirrors on the walls.
4. Consider going against your instincts
This probably sounds counter-intuitive, but think about filling your rooms with large, grand furnishings. Large furniture pieces, and rooms that are full of furniture, actually feel larger than rooms with a lot of empty space.
5. Think carefully about your paint colours
As we already mentioned, lighter colours will make your room feel more open and airy. However, you should also keep in mind that continuous colour will trick the eye into thinking the space is larger. Instead of breaking the space up with several different colours on the walls, which can make each space feel smaller, paint the entire space in one colour.
Read: Insider Information For Choosing The Best Paint For Your Money
6. Can’t go out? Go up
Making use of vertical space will draw the eye upwards, making your space feel larger. Since many condos tend to have slightly higher ceilings, this can be used to your advantage. Install kitchen cabinets that expand all the way to the ceiling, and make sure that larger pieces, such as bookshelves, do the same.
A smaller living space can be cozy, but there’s no reason why cozy has to mean cramped. Use these tricks, and your small living space will be feeling much larger in no time!