Last week, I signed a lease on my first apartment in New York City and it was a surreal moment to say the least. The fact that I now have my own place in Manhattan at age 20 is beyond cool, but it also means I have to be super savvy with a small space. My tiny studio apartment on the Upper West Side has only 250 square feet of living space to work with. Stumped about how to furnish my new place, I embarked on a massive online investigation to find the smartest small space living ideas and compiled a list of the best and most effective 10 tips. Whether your living in a college dorm room this semester or moving into your first (and probably tiny) apartment, here are the best hacks for maximizing your small space.
1. Be creative with your bed.
The only thing you want after a long day at school or an even longer night out is some quality sleep in the comfort of your bed. However, with limited space it can be hard to avoid having a bed take up the majority of the floor space. The best ideas are to either loft the bed, creating an upper level and leaving the rest of the floor for living space, or investing in a storage bed (a bed with built in shelving units on the sides or underneath).
2. Let the light in.
The easiest way to make a small space feel cramped is to drown the walls in a heavy dark color. In order to create the feeling of a bigger room, paint the walls white or a light shade of the color of you want. Try to keep all of the furniture white or light too (consistency is key). Additionally, adding lots of lighting fixtures will literally brighten the space but also make it feel larger too.
3. Build up.
In a tiny room there is no space for big dressers and wardrobes even though you definitely need the storage they offer. Instead, make the most of your walls by hanging stylish shelving from ground to floor. Shelving above a kitchenette can hold all your dishware and shelves above a desk can hold all of your school supplies. Additionally, if you have extra junk to hide, place colorful baskets on the shelf for out of sight storage and fun pops of color.
4. Create your own closet.
Unfortunately, more often than not, you won't find a closet in a tiny studio or dorm room. However, that doesn't have to be the end of the world. You can create your own open closet space by purchasing shelving and clothes racks for a low cost from stores like Ikea and Target. If you don't want all your hanging clothes on display just hang a curtain above so you can easily cover it up.
5. Create an art wall.
Since painting an accent wall can actually make a space feel smaller, try adding artwork or pictures all over one wall to create depth and add personality to your room.
6. Don't bring more than you need.
If you have the option to leave clothing you don't need for the season elsewhere, than do so! Less is always more. Donate anything you don't use on a regular basis in order to make staying organized easy as possible.
7. Keep it clean.
This may sound a bit cliché, but spending 15 minutes every day to straighten out your space is so important. Putting everything in it's place will prevent you from waking up one day drowning in uncontrollable clutter.
8. Add mirrors.
Hanging mirrors on the wall will instantly make your room feel larger. Mirrors are an easy way to add dimension to a small space.
9. Buy multipurpose furniture.
I bet you never thought a studio apartment could have enough room for overnight guests too, but think again! If you loft your bed and place a futon underneath, you have a cozy couch for relaxing, but also a pull out bed for when friends and family visit. Another idea is buying a high top table that functions as both a dinner table and a work space.
10. Add plants.
Bringing in plants is an easy way to freshen up a cramped apartment. Having a couple plants in your small studio is sure keep the energy light and airy.