Taking A Tiny Apartment From Drab To Chic

If you’re like most, you couldn’t help but notice how apartment rents just keep going up and up.  And if you’re taking a new position in one of the big cities, it probably means you’re going to have to settle for less space.  But that little apartment doesn’t have to feel like a jail cell.  Here are some tips to turn a small apartment into a chic pad.

Colors

Many apartments are painted in pretty basic colors.  And I get it that you don’t want to spend a ton on improving something that doesn’t belong to you.  But with the landlord’s permission and a couple gallons of paint, you can make an amazing difference. And the notion that all white will make it look bigger is incomplete if not incorrect.

When dealing with paint colors for a small space, you want to keep three things in mind, according to HGTV.  Use sharp colors, create a focal wall, and use color splash accents.  When you put together your colors, remember that dark colors generally make the item or area recede, while lighter, brighter colors pop and seem to come forward.  So, for example, you want to put the darker accents on the long walls of a long, narrow room.

Furniture

The last thing you want to do is put big, clunky furniture in a small space.   Perhaps because of the growing number of small apartments out there,  there’s a huge selection of fun furniture with trim lines and a minimalist feel.  And if you’re concerned about how to fit in that big screen you just can’t do without, rest assured it will look great on smaller credenzas, or home entertainment units,  that not only look good but hide all the electronic clutter despite their size.

The key to furniture selection is to think small, just like the space you’re filling.  In a sprawling ranch house, you might need a pair of sofas and two chairs.  In the small apartment setting, a small love seat or perhaps just two chairs might be perfect.  Remember, this is definitely a case of less is more.

Decor

Once the painting  is done and the furniture is in, finish it off with decor items that fit both your personality and what you’ve created so far.  There’s a ton of inspiration on this on Pinterest, so grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and spend some time picking out your favorites.

With a couple weekends of work and a little of your own creative genius, you can change that small space from something that’s just spendy to something that perfectly trendy.  Perfect inspiration to set your sights on that next job opportunity!

Images:

Colors: Mathias Appel Main  daryl_mitchell   before and after     syrguide