On 20/12/2018
Having a small apartment or house without enough space is a common challenge, especially if you live in town. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can use to get the most out of the space you have.
We will share our five main suggestions for optimizing small apartments with a minimum of effort.
1. Keeps the furniture against the wall
A small apartment means a minimal area. When the floor space is reduced, it is useful to take full advantage of it. One of the best ways to make the most of what you have is to keep your furniture against the wall.
This tip is especially useful if you live in a studio. Keep the sofa and bed in the corners of the apartment or against the wall. The more space you have on the floor, the smaller your apartment can seem.
The installation of a Murphy bed is another excellent tip – although impractical for some. The studios with foldaway beds are almost like having another room.
For those who do not know it, a Murphy bed is a bed that can be folded against a wall. These beds are not too difficult to install if you have a DIY experience, but if you rent a small apartment, it may not seem like it's worth it.
If you live there for years, a retractable bed can add a lot of space to the apartment.
2. Building vertically
Studios in particular suffer because everything has to be grouped together in one room. One of the ways to get the most out of these spaces is to take advantage of the vertical spaces as much as possible.
Not everyone has the chance to have high ceilings, but those who do it can build a little higher than those who do not. Nevertheless, you can put your bed on supports and use the space below for a little storage.
Keep your TV on a stand with enough space under the TV for extra storage. Just go a little more vertically if the floor space is limited.
3. Get rid of certain things
One of the best tips we can give you on how to maximize space in a small apartment or house would be to get rid of some things you do not need. Go through your closet and be brutal; if you do not wear it, donate it.
The same is true for other objects in your home. If you do not use furniture or appliances in good condition, consider selling them. This allows you to save space in your apartment while allowing you to earn extra money.
Do not forget to purge your useless documents. If you have lived in the same place for a long time, chances are you have accumulated a pile of papers. Shred what you do not need anymore and convert it to online documents whenever possible.
Although it's a good idea to have a paper copy of some documents, such as birth certificates or marriage certificates, many of them may actually be safer with cloud storage programs like DropBox.
This way, if something happens, you always have a backup copy of the document. Getting rid of some unnecessary documents can help you save a lot of space.
If you do not want to sell items or get rid of your documents, you can still rent additional storage space to keep less used items. Of course, a storage unit is another additional cost. Small apartments usually mean that your budget is limited and you can not rent storage.
4. Installing Intelligent Devices
This trick may not be as feasible for those who do not want to engage in their current living space, but there are still some smart things you can add to your apartment to get the most out of it.
Smart appliances do not add space to your home, but can help you maximize your apartment. You can get smart thermostats, smart lights, PDAs, smart TVs, and more. The living space becomes more efficient and practical, regardless of its size.
These interconnected devices allow you to take your little apartment further than even some of the bigger ones. Of course, you may not have much space, but you can do more with the purchase of some smart devices for your apartment or home.
5. Get a room separator
This tip is another that will be particularly useful for those living in studios. Adding a room divider can take up a bit more space, but it creates an extra feeling of space by dividing a space into multiple spaces.
You can also buy a separator with additional storage space, such as a large shelf, to enjoy the best of both worlds. These dividers do not need to be expensive (you can even buy them used) and are easy to install.
For more clever and simple tips to maximize the space of your home, visit our blog.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Your Investment Property.
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