Creating Space in a Small Apartment
Posted on September 7, 2008
Filed Under Apartment Living | 9 Comments
Space means everything especially when you live in a small apartment. When l looking at your small space, it may seem impossible to create room in such an undersized area, but there are many ways to do just that. Following a few easy guidelines, you can make the most of your small space and live comfortably.
Living in a small living space such as an apartment, you are faced with many difficult challenges when it comes to managing space and keeping your area from appearing cluttered and unorganized even if you are a tidy person.
First and foremost, you want to try and minimize the clutter in your apartment, so it’s necessary to employ some creative organization methods. First, you will need a place to store every day paper-like items such as newspapers and mail. You can try to purchase furniture with storage, such as a coffee table with drawers or shelves or large storage ottoman. The idea is to purchase furniture that serves a dual purpose.
In your bedroom, you may want to purchase an elevated bed rather than a platform bed, where there is no storage for such a large piece of furniture. You can even consider using bed risers to create even more usable storage space. You can then use under bed storage containers to store just about anything.
Make the most of closet storage by using closet organizers. Hook a double clothes rack over an existing clothes rod. This will provide twice the hanging space for clothes. Also, consider adding shelf dividers to hold folded items and shoe organizers to corral all your shoes in one tidy area. Adding a bit of organization to a small closet will make a huge difference by supply more storage space.
Think about acquiring cabinets or bookshelves that are very tall. Take advantage of space vertically, that would normally only hold a painting or pr picture frame. You can also consider sliding doors rather than hinged doors to give you more space because you don’t need room to open the doors.
Try mounting shelves, pot and utensil racks, and things like that to create functional storage space. As I said earlier, you should furnish rooms with shelving units that are vertical instead of horizontal. They will take up less floor space but still provide needed storage area.
For even more additional storage you can try using over the door racks or hooks. You can use them in your bedroom or bathroom, or any room for that matter. You can use them for holding towels, organizing shoes, and holding small miscellaneous items. The key is to take advantage of unused space as much as possible.
In the end, you want your space to look and feel comfortable, yet provide you with useful storage and organization, rather than clutter and disorder. You want to be smart in your furniture purchasing and creative in your usage of space. Just keep this idea in mind when planning your design and you will be just fine.
Watch the video related to small apartment living
Othmar Michaeler, the CEO of the Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group explains PREMIUM LIVING by Falkensteiner. Whether a small apartment for the weekend, a residence for a longer vacation or a second home: serviced accommodation, ie living in a holiday apartment with use of the infrastructure and amenities of a hotel, is becoming increasingly popular. Falkensteiner residences are always part of a hotel complex, boast impressive architecture and high-quality facilities and, not least due to …
Help answer the question about small apartment living
I'm moving into a small apartment with a narrow living room. How can I make it look sophisticated and larger?The apartment is a one bedroom with a living room. The kitchen area is so small that the fridge is in the dining area. I can paint the walls, but only light colors. Also, I can share pictures if you're as intrigued as I.
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9 Responses to “Creating Space in a Small Apartment”
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click on thumb nail some have the WOW! factor
http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/gardens/intro/index.html
Scroll down to step # 8…You'll have to scale yours down to the balcony size.
Step 8
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/article/create-a-zen-garden-087264/
several ideas all must be scaled to size
http://rol.vn/weben/chuyende/machban/2009/04/06/050023/1094/
No matter how you make it you have several options of photos to help you decide.. If you can get someone to build you a maybe 1 1/2 " tall 2-1/2' wide X 3 feet long box X treat it with something waterproof and paint it a very High Gloss Chinese or Japanese Red or black then buy your stone and some mosses to develop your garden
I don't think I would use sand since if leaving it on the balcony it would be floating in water every time it rained. Using larger stones maybe egg size or smaller will allow you to put drainage holes in the bottom.
For added interest add some small round, square or oblong phineals to the bottom of the container to serve as legs. about 1 or 2 inches tall.
You can either purchase bonsai trees and plants to add to the beauty.
Make sure the stones are oval and flat.
This will give the appearance of looking larger when it actually is just taller.
You can hang a pot rack – usually looks nice if the kitchen is open to the other room and has a counter/bar area – if a galley kitchen would not work.
You can purchase in inexpensive rolling card or chopping block and use the underneath for extra storage and can also be used as extra counter space. Purchase some inexpensive metal shelves – to display your dishes
Would love to see a picture of it – may help others as well
I see no reason why you can't put up paneling on a temporary basis: they are lighter per square inch then most pictures. Tack the panels in along the top or, for that matter, suspend them on picture hangers, using a cleat on the panel instead of wire. Join the sides of the panels with duct tape on the back. Apply to the wall a few of those tacky strips for hanging pictures here and there so your panels hug the wall. Done.
Panels are available as wood, as rock, as painted brick -which is actually fairly convincing from a distance. The real el-cheapo way: Get luan panels, 1/4" thick and treat the surface as you please to make your own finished product.
So …what are you waiting for -get busy!
forget raising the ground floor, it's neither affordable or practicable. Unless your son is over seven ft I wouldn't bother personally. Should you wish to continue, however, I'd suggest you start by excavating an inspection pit by the foundation to see how far down it goes. You may be able to reduce the floor height without underpinning. If you need to underpin the whole house it will cost thousands of pounds (tens of thousands of dollars)
Check your local antique stores, estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores.
Most mirrors have a hanging wire. Use picture hooks to hang.
You could make your bed higher up off the floor and use totes that slide under it (they even make drawers on wheels that can be used). You can also use storage trunks or storage boxes as your coffee and end tables which act as great storage places. Purchase an armoire for each room as they can hold alot of stuff and have many different uses. Think about customizing your closet to get the ultimate storage advantage. Use baskets throughout the apt. to store things like shoes, snacks, hand towels and such. Hope this helps, and you can always go online and search for great storage ideas, I'm sure you'll find a bunch.
First thing is get a second lock and use it whenever you are home. He may not walk in at his convenience. Ever! It sounds like you do have a written lease, so he may not reduce your living space. Only after the lease expires and re-negotiation may he do anything other then required maintenance. And then only scheduled in advance with your approval. I see others have touched on just how creepy this guy is. I will only reinforce that perception. You need to look carefully for spyware and peep holes. If this guy is up to what I think he is, you have criminal grounds to have him arrested. Then you can own the building and move downstairs into the nicer areas of the house. Of course, only after you fumigate the place to remove all hints of this perv.
i have a rack (like a shelf) its wire and has 3 little shelves. i think it could probably hold like 20 pairs of shoes!!!! it really nice and sturdy (i sit on it and it holds me) i just keep it on the flore in the closet it dosent take up much space either. i think i got it at target or walmart.i hope this helps!! =)
Years ago when I had a studio, I got a futon couch that looked
good during the day but was a comfortable bed at night. I
used a bookcase to make a divider between the futon and
the small table I used for eating or studying. Next to the futon
I had a steamer trunk that my comforter and bedding fit into
during the day, it also held a small TV and odds and ends on
top during the day. I had a desk and small sewing table on
the wall across. I kept my dresser in the closet (the place
had 2 just outside the bathroom, so there was room to hide
it in there. It was a cute place, I really felt comfortable there
but after I got married my landlady thought it was too small
for 2 people, so we found a one bedroom place which worked out even better. Ikea has a lot of cute inexpensive
furnishings, figure out what you need and try a few different
layouts, you will find out what works best for you and the kitties.