Nowadays, small apartments such as studio apartments are getting more and more popular. But when you live in a small space, it can be difficult to arrange your furniture so that it is functional, stylish, and spacious. We don’t need to tell you how difficult it can be to decorate small spaces if you live in one. Maximizing storage, utilizing square footage, and following creative interior hacks are critical. While we frequently share new tips for making the most of your house, it is sometimes more helpful to share what not to do. Because we’ve all made mistakes along the way, we thought we’d share our quick fixes so you don’t have to learn the hard way. So here are our picks of some common small apartment decor mistakes to avoid.
Using too Many Furniture
There is no denying that furniture is a necessity. However, if you are not being smart about which furniture to place where, then your small apartment could look even smaller. Understand that functionality can be achieved with minimal furniture as well. For instance, while buying a bed consider choosing an option that has extra storage space that can be folded into a sofa whenever you want. It doesn’t only look good but saves a lot of extra space for you to use around the house.
Not Utilizing Natural Light
Lighting is key in your interior. Always play around with furniture or decor options that help you utilize the natural light. Did you know that adding mirrors to the wall across from your natural light-receiving windows will help bounce the light around a room? Take it one step further and opt for furniture and decor pieces with mirrored surfaces. Make sure when you place the furniture or the decor piece, it should be facing opposite of the direction that the natural light is coming from so that it can bounce off of the reflection. Another great way to let some natural light in your apartment is through curtains. Use light colored and material of curtains and let the sun wake you up in the morning.
Using the Wrong Paint Color
We all like to paint our walls the way we want. But unfortunately, if you are living in a small apartment then playing with paint colors might backfire for you. Light colored wall paints like white, off-white, baby pink, sky blue etc. give an illusion that your apartment is bigger than it actually is. On the other hand, using dark colors like black, red, royal blue will make your space look more cramped and congested.
Underutilizing Shelves
Start making use of your imagination when it comes to storage areas and areas where you can carve out more usable extra space. Incorporating floor-to-ceiling shelving, using the space above the window frame, and adding built-in seating, for example, can help maximize a room’s functionality as well as the entire aesthetic of your apartment will enhance. Use that extra space above your bed and create shelves to store more stuff. Don’t need to invest in a new kitchen rack when you can just build new shelves just by the sink to hang your daily cooking essential. Scan every nook and corner of your home and you will realize there are so many options to make some extra space through shelves.
Not Decluttering when Needed
One of the major small apartment decor mistakes that many people make is keeping the place cluttered. Well, if your place looks cramped, it means it IS cramped. We often don’t value the importance of decluttering and how much it can affect the look of our entire apartment. Tackling your entire apartment in one day can feel overwhelming. Instead, declutter in set periods. Set yourself a timer and work on one area for 10 or 15 minutes and take a break or call it quits until tomorrow. Once all the extra unnecessary things are out of your sight, you will have so much extra space in your apartment.
However, Small apartment decor mistakes can occur at any point, from the physical construction of the room to the use of the incorrect paint color. It’s also common to choose furniture that’s too big or too small for the room. These decorating blunders can make a small space appear even smaller. So next time you are decorating your small apartment, keep these simple tips in mind.
