Want an effective, yet aesthetic small apartment? No worries! With these 13 small apartment design ideas you’re guaranteed to create the tiny home of your dreams!
We know it, small one-bedroom apartments are a real struggle to make homey. You’ll have to be super cautious not only with how you put your space together or what kind of layout you decide on, but also with your paint color choices & even rug choices!
There’s just so many tiny details in a small apartment that have the power to make or break the look. So it’s totally understandable if you’re feeling lost right now.
But if you keep reading, you’ll learn 13 valuable small apartment design ideas that’ll help you bring that homey small apartment to life!
01. Don’t underestimate the power of natural light
When it comes to designing a beautiful small space, natural light is a factor not a lot of people consider. But it’s really a key element!
Of course, natural light provides illumination, which is great. But let’s talk about its importance in home decor & interior design instead: natural light creates focal points! And in a small space, you’ll have to have accentuated areas to make your apartment feel much bigger – & more functional – than it is!
So if you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, make sure you flood it with natural light. Always have someone over? Create a layout where your living room is next to the windows! Would rather socialize over a plate of delicious food? You guessed it, your dining area has to have all the natural light!
02. Mirrors are your best friend
Mirrors are real game changers for small spaces! That’s why making use of mirrors is one of the most essential small apartment design ideas out there!
Nail a mirror above your couch, create a mirror wall in your entryway, place one in an empty corner & don’t forget to reflect some natural light by putting a mirror against a wall that faces a window! To accentuate this space enlarging effect even more, try installing lights above your mirrors – getting a simple standing light will also suffice, however!
03. Go vertical with decor
No need to overcrowd your space: keep your small apartment decor light! The “less is more” principle is acutely true for narrow spaces, so definitely don’t go overboard with decorating!
Of course, you can put a decorative tray, some candles, a few vases & tiny decorative items on your coffee & side tables, as well as your window sills. But avoid including too many items or creating an extravagant composition.
Want to know how to style a coffee table properly, though? Here you go!
Rather, try to go vertical & embelish those walls! Textured canvas art, 3D metal wall art, hanging macrame & a gallery wall set will provide that beauty factor while keeping your space nice & organized.
04. Use a light, neutral color scheme -with just a pop of naughtiness
Curating a color scheme of bright, light neutrals is probably one of the most crucial small apartment design ideas you’ll ever come across. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t bring a little excitement into your tiny space!
For maximum aesthetics, you’ll want to develop a bright, neutral color palette as a foundation. You’ll incorporate that into your paint color choices, as well as your furniture choices! Warm or cold undertones are both suitable for your small space, so don’t overthink that.
Then, you’ll want to choose one-two bold complementary colors, that you’ll use for the decorative details in your home. Bright pink, pastel green & shades of yellow are all super ideas. If you’re feeling lost, get to know the best paint colors for small rooms right here!
05. Prioritize natural materials
Your best shot at creating a warm ambience in your small apartment is through an airy, flowy design. And what else could achieve that effect for you better than natural materials?
Rattan, seagrass, wood, bamboo, jute, cotton, rope or linen will look so good in your small home! So go & get a rattan coffee table, woven rope or seagrass baskets for extra storage, a cotton couch with jute throw pillows, a set of wood kitchen cabinets & a nice linen bedding!
06. Don’t rush your rug choice
Finding the perfect rugs for a small apartment is a real struggle! That’s why one of the most advised small apartment design ideas on this list is to not rush your rug choices!
It shouldn’t be too small, because that just looks tacky, but it should also not be too large, because that’ll create the illusion of a smaller, more overcrowded space. So where’s the golden mean here?
The general rule is that an area rug in your living room should be wider than your couch by no more than 3 inches. The same is true for your dining room rug, but this time, you’ll want to measure the 3 inches from your pulled out chairs, and not from your table!
If you want to get a rug for your kitchen as well, go with a runner rug that’s shorter than the length of your kitchen – & only do so, if there isn’t a rug in your dining area! This way, you’ll avoid creating a tacky outcome.
07. Going compact is not enough: choose furniture with storage
Whether it’s a lift top coffee table, a storage ottoman, a kitchen island with shelves or a storage bed, you’ll have to prioritize furniture with storage in your small apartment!
Let’s be honest, sometimes furniture are a waste of space. Especially in crowded spaces. That’s why you should always have functionality in mind, when choosing the right fit for your small apartment! Compact pieces of furniture alone will not suffice here: preferably go with furniture that provide a place to hide/store your items!
08. Try to keep it open
An open layout will always make a huge impact even in the tiniest spaces! Opening up your home is one of those small apartment design ideas that’ll instantly transform the way you perceive your space.
So ditch any room dividers, walls or columns that break up a fully open layout! Instead, opt for area rugs or console tables if you want to separate the different areas to preserve their functions. A nice wood console table behind your sofa to help distinguish your dining area from the living area will look so much better than a wood slat wall, just to give an example!
09. Convertible & multi-purpose furniture are the way to go!
Thanks to the rise of studio apartments, the market has been filled with never-before-seen convertible & multi-purpose furniture. So dive into all the possibilites, because even a one-bedroom apartment can be made more functional with their help!
A wall mounted folding desk can turn every nook into a useful workstation. But a 3-tier hanging desk will also do the job!
Need more small apartment home office ideas? No problem! Here are 15 smart small home office ideas to make it work even in the tiniest spaces!
Can’t fit a dining area in there? Get a pull-out dining table! It’s a total space-saver!
These are just a few exceptional ideas, but there’s much more to the world of multi-purpose furniture. Take a look at this extensive list of creative furniture that’s guaranteed to elevate the functionality of your space!
10. Loft your bed for more space
In a tiny one-bed apartment, your bedroom can have a surpisingly huge role. So here’s one of the most useful, yet most underrated small apartment design ideas ever: loft your bed to create more space!
Whether you need more space to store your clothes, or just a place to hide all your clutter, you’ll be able to do so by simply elevating your bed! So go & get some bed risers to lift your bed by a few inches to create more valuable space for yourself! Underbed storage bags, underbed carts, baskets & storage boxes are all you need to store your items discretely & efficiently.
Interested in more small bedroom ideas? Read & learn 12 inspiring small bedroom decor ideas right now!
11. Try sliding doors
You might have never thought about the importance of your door choice on your small apartment design, but it really does affect its functionality. Regular doors demand much space & it’s all thanks to the fact that you can’t place anything directly in front of them so that they can be opened.
However, if you’re really short on space, you’ll definitely want to save some by installing sliding doors! These are much more functional & let you utilize that tiny space in front of your doors for either decorative or functional purposes. And you definitely don’t want to miss out on that!
12. Don’t force a dining area in there
There’s absolutely no need to force a dining area into your small apartment! It’ll do more harm than good. That’s why ditching a dining area will be one of the most useful small apartment design ideas for some of you.
Of course, a dining room is a great place to socialize & it’s home to lots of unforgettable memories. But what you can do in a dining room, you can also do in a kitchen-living room combo. So why would you want to overcrowd your apartment by forcing a dining room in there?
Rather, go with a breakfast bar or the previously mentioned pull-out dining table. These are much more rational choices in small spaces.
13. Transparent & glossy: the best surfaces
Ever wondered how to enlarge your tiny space with minimal effort? Here’s a tip: transparent items & glossy surfaces are all you need for that!
No matter, if it’s a glass dining table, a ghost chair for your vanity desk, a polished tile kitchen backsplash or a metallic coffee table, it’s of high importance to include a few reflective accents into your design. This is to make your space feel larger, but the decorative advantages of such elegant surfaces is also not to be underestimated!
Need more small living tips? Check out this post on 20 small living room decorating ideas to make your space feel bigger! Or this one on 18 insanely good small kitchen ideas as well! Or here’s 10 genius small bathroom decor & 16 small bathroom storage ideas for you!
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