Having a small apartment or home without enough space is a common challenge, especially if you live in a city. Thankfully, there are a few strategies you can use to get the most out of the space you have.
Ahead, we’ll give you our top five suggestions for maximising small apartment space with minimum effort.
1. Keep Furniture Against the Wall
A small apartment means minimal floor space. When floor space is at a premium, it helps to take full advantage of it. One of the best ways to make the most out of what you have is to keep your furniture against the wall.
This tip is particularly useful if you live in a studio apartment. Keep the couch and the bed in the corners of the apartment or flush against the wall. The more space you have on the floor, the bigger your small apartment can seem.
Installing a murphy bed is another excellent tip - though not so practical for some. Studio apartments with murphy beds are almost like having another room.
For those who don’t know, a murphy bed is a bed that can fold into the wall. These beds aren’t too difficult to install if you have DIY experience, but if you’re renting a small apartment it might not feel as though it’s worth the time investment.
If you’ll be living there for years, a murphy bed can add significant space to the apartment.
2. Build Vertically
Studio apartments in particular suffer because everything has to be squeezed into one room. One of the ways to get the most out of these spaces is to take advantage of vertical space where you can.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have high ceilings, but those who do can build a bit higher than those who don’t. Still, you can put your bed on stands and use the space underneath for a bit of storage.
Keep your TV on a stand that offers room underneath for extra storage. Just go a bit more vertical if floor space is limited.
3. Get Rid Of Some Stuff
One of the best tips we can give you on how to maximise space in a small apartment or house would be to get rid of some of the things you don’t need. Go through your closet and be brutal; if you don’t wear it, donate it.
The same goes for other items in your house. If you’re not using furniture or appliances that are still in good condition, consider selling them. It saves space in your apartment while earning you extra money at the same time.
Don’t forget to purge your unneeded documents. If you’ve been living in the same place for a long time, there’s a good chance you’ve accrued a thick stack of papers. Shred what you no longer need and convert to online documents where possible.
While having a hard copy of some documents—like birth or marriage certificates—is a good idea, many may actually be safer with cloud storage programs like DropBox.
That way if something happens you still have a backup copy of the document on hand. Getting rid of some unneeded documents can help you save a lot of space.
If you don’t want to sell items or get rid of documents, you can always rent some additional storage to keep lesser-used things. Of course, a storage unit is another added cost. Small apartments usually mean you’re on a budget, and renting storage might not be possible.
4. Install Smart Devices
This tip might not be as feasible for those who don’t want to commit to their current living space, but there are still some smart items you can add to your apartment to get the most out of it.
Smart devices don’t add space to your home, but can help you maximise your apartment. You can get smart thermostats, smart lights, automated assistants, smart TVs, and more. The living space becomes more efficient and practical, regardless of its size.
These interconnected devices allow you to take your small apartment further than even some of the larger ones. Sure, you might not have a ton of space, but you can do more with the space you have when you purchase a few smart devices for your apartment or home.
5. Get a Room Divider
This tip is another that will be especially useful for those living in studio apartments. Adding a room divider might take up a bit of extra room, but it creates the feeling of more space by partitioning one space into multiple spaces.
You can also purchase a divider that has added storage—like a large bookshelf—so you get the best of both worlds. These dividers don’t have to be expensive (you could even get them secondhand), and they’re easy to install.
For more clever and easy tips to maximise space in your home, or to compare home loans and save, visit ratecomparison.com.au
Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.
