Do you have a small apartment and don’t know how to make the most of the limited space? You’ve come to the right place! We’ll show you how to optimize your small living space and provide you with tips and tricks based on our years of experience. For great furniture options in NZ that fit perfectly into small spaces, check out HomeMart’s selection.
Furnishing Small Spaces: 10 Quick Tips
Setting up a new apartment often takes a lot of time. You need to choose new furniture, find the right wall colors, and pick out decorative items. And in the end, everything needs to be bought and arranged in the new space.
When it comes to furnishing small spaces, these steps can be particularly challenging. What furniture will actually fit? How can I store all my things, and what might I have to give up if necessary? These are questions you’ve probably already asked yourself. To make this process easier, we’ve put together ten simple tips to help you make the most of your small apartment:
- Declutter your belongings and gain more space through minimalism.
- Draw a floor plan of each room and plan exactly where everything will go. You can also mark the furniture on the floor using tape or paper to get a better sense of the available space.
- Consider custom-made furniture to use every inch of space.
- Choose flexible furniture that can be moved out of the way or resized.
- Use the full height of the room to create more storage space.
- Install floating shelves or wall-mounted units when floor space is limited.
- Opt for glass furniture, which reflects light and makes spaces appear larger.
- Avoid bulky furniture and go for smaller, more compact pieces.
- Use room dividers to separate different areas. Ideally, these can double as extra storage.
- Make sure everything has a designated place to keep your space tidy. Clutter like books, magazines, and clothes can take up unnecessary space.
Make Rooms Look Bigger: Design Ideas for Visual Expansion
You can often use simple tricks to make a small apartment, like a studio or one-bedroom, feel more spacious. Certain colors and furniture can make a room appear taller, wider, or longer, creating the illusion of more space.
Here are four tips to help you save space and make a small apartment feel larger for both you and your guests.
1. Use Light Colors to Design Small Spaces
Light colors make rooms appear larger, while darker shades can make them feel smaller. If you’re setting up a small apartment, these colors are ideal for your walls:
- Pastel shades
- Natural tones
- Whites
For those who find plain white too dull, you can choose off-whites like cream or papyrus to add a subtle touch of color to your walls. It’s also a good idea to keep the floor slightly darker than the walls. However, it’s best to keep the ceiling white, as a colored ceiling can make the room feel lower and more confined.
A great trick is using horizontal stripes. You might already know this effect from the fashion world: clothing with horizontal stripes can make a person appear wider. The same applies to walls—adding horizontal stripes, whether through paint or wallpaper, can visually stretch the room, making your small apartment feel more spacious.
2. Mirrors for Small Apartments
Just like light colors, mirrors can also make a space feel larger. The concept is simple: mirrors reflect light, which brightens the room and creates the illusion of more space. Additionally, a strategically placed mirror can double the appearance of the room or certain parts of it.
This makes the room appear deeper to the eye than it actually is. You can achieve a similar effect with other glass elements, such as a glass coffee table.
Mirrors can also become stylish decor pieces. Whether small or large, square or round, with or without frames—there’s something for every taste. There are even tinted mirrors that add a touch of color to your small apartment, giving it a fresh look.
3. The Right Lighting
When furnishing a small room, making the most of natural light is key. Avoid blocking windows with large pieces of furniture. Ideally, use semi-transparent curtains and place them well above and to the sides of the windows. This creates the illusion of a much larger space hidden behind the curtains.
For artificial lighting, opt for several indirect light sources instead of large ceiling fixtures, which can feel overwhelming in a small space. A combination of floor lamps, table lamps, LED strips, and string lights creates the perfect ambiance for a small apartment.
4. Practical Furniture for Small Spaces
You can save space effectively with the right furniture. Plan in advance where each piece will go, and try to use space-saving furniture to make the most of the room. Built-in wardrobes, for example, are especially practical since they don’t take up floor space but still offer plenty of storage.
For small spaces, consider furniture with wheels. When you have guests over, you can simply roll the pieces aside to create more room.
Creating More Storage in a Small Apartment
There is a wide range of furniture with hidden storage options. Classic choices include sofas, coffee tables, or beds with built-in storage—perfect for stashing items that aren’t used often. Because these pieces save extra space, they are ideal for setting up a small room.
When dealing with the challenge of furnishing small spaces, it’s important to use the floor space wisely. It often makes sense to plan upwards. For instance, floor-to-ceiling shelves provide ample storage while also making the room feel taller.
Furnishing a Small Apartment: Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few things you should definitely avoid. Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Avoid using too many different colors and patterns: Stick to just a few shades. Combinations of two to three colors tend to work best.
- Stay away from oversized furniture: While a large sectional sofa may be cozy, it’s not the right choice for a small space.
- Don’t let clutter build up. Once your apartment is set up, remember to keep it tidy. Clutter can quickly take away valuable space.
- Skip the large ceiling lights that illuminate the entire room: Opt for multiple smaller, indirect light sources instead.
- Avoid dark wall colors: Choose light colors that can make your rooms appear larger.
Conclusion
With a few smart choices and some thoughtful planning, you can transform even the smallest apartment into a comfortable and stylish living space. By avoiding common mistakes, such as overcrowding with large furniture or using dark colors, you can make your home feel more open and inviting. And when it comes to finding the perfect furniture for your small space, HomeMart has a wide selection of options that combine functionality with style, helping you make the most of every square inch.
