Decorating a small condo or apartment isn’t as easy as you would think. Not only do you need to find décor and furniture that suits your taste, but you also want to make sure it suits the space – which can be especially tricky in smaller spaces. If you’re looking to decorate a small apartment in order to make it look bigger and less crowded, here are some tips you should keep in mind.
Paint: shades, sheens, and more
One of the easiest ways to make your small condo or apartment look bigger is to pick the right paint. This sounds like it could be tricky, but a few helpful tips will help lead you in the right direction.
Choose light shades: Lighter shades rather than darker shades will give your room a more open and airy feel, so if you want the appearance of a bigger space, stay away from dark tones. Whites, creams, and even pale blues give the illusion of more space.
Solid tones: Another tip is to stick with one solid tone and not add another colour. While adding another and having an accent wall can make a statement, it’s also more likely to draw the eye to the corners, which brings attention to the size of the space. Keeping it uniform helps avoid that.
Choose semi- or high gloss: When it comes to the sheen of the paint, you’ll want to choose a glossier option rather than matte. Glossy sheens are more reflective, which will give the illusion of more light and by default make the space appear bigger to the eye.
Furniture: size, shape, and space
When it comes to choosing furniture for smaller condos or apartments, you’ll want to prioritize your comfort and functionality. But, there’s still few key tips to follow to keep your space from feeling cramped.
Leave space: When it comes to arranging and choosing the size of your furniture, a good tip to follow is that you’ll want to leave some space around the furniture piece. Again, this gives the illusion of more open area. For example, if you have a couch, don’t push the side against the wall - instead, leave about an inch of space around it.
Low profile: Another helpful tip is to keep your furniture low profile (lower to the ground). This is because it increases the space above the furniture, making the area look roomier and airier. Of course, this might make it trickier for some individuals to sit up or down, so keep that in mind!
Add legs: Low profile furniture may not be a fit for everyone, and that’s okay. Another option is to choose furniture with legs rather than furniture that sits directly on the ground. Again, adding space and creating an airy appearance will make your apartment or condo space look bigger.
Decorating
Add mirrors: Mirrors serve as a great tool to trick the eye into believing a space is bigger than it actually is. This is partly because mirrors reflect light and also the view, which makes it seem like there’s more space in the room.
Window coverings: Drapes are great for keeping spaces dark and private, but they also block out the light and view, which results in giving your apartment a smaller appearance. Also, they tend to be big and bulky and just add more to your space. Instead of drapes, consider shutters that you can close when needed but without adding too much bulk around the window. Alternatively, you can use curtains, but choose light, airy fabric ones.
De-clutter: Finally, de-clutter your space. As you’ll have noticed throughout this article, one of the biggest themes with these tips is to keep things open and airy. If you want your space to be bigger, you can’t fill it up. So, tuck away the knickknacks on tables and bookshelves and stick to one to two pieces of artwork on the walls. Be selective in what you choose for your space to contribute to that open, airy feeling – it’ll all help make your condo or apartment space look bigger in the long run.
Hannah Logan is a Canadian travel writer who dreams of being just like Indiana Jones. You can follow her travels on her personal travel blog
Eat Sleep Breathe Travel where she shares her travel tales and (mis)adventures around the world.