Imagine being away from home for the first time and given a 12×12 space to share with another person – that’s the college life. Or go forward a few years into a 500 square foot one-bedroom apartment, in which you struggle to find decent places for all of your items because the space is too cramped.
Discovering fresh ways to make a space feel homey can be difficult without the physical capacity to execute your ideas. Following are tips on how to get the most out of a tiny space and strategies to utilize visual illusions to make your space seem larger.
Clever kitchen storage
In order to open up kitchen space and make the space appear less cluttered, remove the cabinet doors. This idea could backfire if your cabinets are piled with items only holding up by the door hinges, but this is a sure way to clear out the unnecessary items. Removing the doors will open up the room making everything inside visible.
Bustling bathroom blues
While most bathrooms come with a towel rack and under cabinet storage, the sink is left to become the party of your toothbrush, razors, makeup and other hygiene items. If installing an over the toilet stand isn’t an option, try to create shelving on the walls. A creative idea involves woven baskets in various sizes. Secure the base of each basket to the wall using nails and use the basket sides (now the basket bottom) as an extra shelf for towels and grooming tools.
A pop of color
One of the easiest ways to help enlarge a petite space falls within the color scheme. Choosing bright, bold and eye-catching patterns instead of dark and obscure colors, is a sure way to make your place feel right at home.
It’s all in the reflection
Mirrors are a great way to make a room appear larger because they reflect a group of items although they may not be within the visual zone. Hang mirrors in your living room, bedroom and even kitchen. Using glass as a backsplash during kitchen decorating can make all of the difference.
Think vertically
Many items are placed within eye level for easy access, but thinking vertically when it comes to décor and storage that isn’t used often can maximize space. Try installing floor-to-ceiling shelves to store plants, picture frames or books.
Create a scene
Wall murals are a way to escape into your own world without leaving the comfort of your home. Not only do these large floor-to-ceiling stickers paint a visual dream for you, they also create the illusion of making the room seem larger by using bulky objects to cover the walls. Try a sandy beach or rain forest landscape just for fun.
